The Kraken Kingdom was, by any measure, a military powerhouse. Its population exceeded ten million, matching the size of the Alabasta Kingdom as a whole.
Even so, countless residents had abandoned the kingdom over the years, unwilling to tolerate its oppressive internal atmosphere. Many fled to the Tirisfal Kingdom, once its sister nation. The two countries had originally been one, and their split left old grudges simmering beneath the surface.
With most of its resources funneled straight into militarization, Kraken Kingdom possessed overwhelming military strength. Its army alone numbered two million, one fifth of the nation's entire population. Sustaining such a force placed crushing pressure on its economy.
To maintain this edge, Kraken Kingdom had pushed weapon manufacturing to world class heights. Its firearms and artillery were top tier, and its borders contained the largest machinery factory in the West Blue, a secret known to only a few. It also happened to be the greatest arms dealer in the region, selling advanced weapons to neighboring countries to feed its insatiable military.
A million soldiers lined the border between Kraken Kingdom and the Tirisfal Kingdom. Both sides held their ground in a tense stalemate. They almost never waged open war, but the unease was constant.
Despite its outward strength, Kraken Kingdom simmered with internal turmoil. Tirisfal's covert operations only worsened its instability. The kingdom's collapse felt inevitable, waiting for a single spark to ignite.
Out on the open sea, the Nightfall Pirates' three ships cut across the waves. Some crew members trained, some sparred, others played cards, and the rest rotated lookout duty.
High above them, Doflamingo soared toward their direction, boots stepping across invisible threads. Each step launched him dozens of meters through the sky. This method of travel was the origin of his title, Heavenly Yaksha, and a clear marker of how dangerous he was.
His short blond hair framed a sharp grin. He wore a white shirt, a garish pink feather coat, and floral-patterned capri pants. A red silhouette drifting across the sky was hard to miss.
On deck, Pito paused mid page, her fingers tightening on her book as she glanced upward.
In the sky, she sensed a presence rapidly approaching.
Doflamingo had confirmed their location through his network and located the Nightfall Pirates after only a short search. Their three ships stood out clearly from above.
"Someone is coming," Pito murmured.
"What? From where?" Several pirates froze, scanning the horizon.
"It's in the sky," Pito said, marking her page and closing the book.
"In the sky? Where?" More crew spilled out from the training room. Wallace and the others joined them, gazing upward.
A red figure descended toward them like a falling star.
"Bang bang." Van Augur reacted first, firing two shots into the sky. Both bullets cut upward with lethal accuracy, aimed for Doflamingo's foot, heart and skull.
Doflamingo felt the threat immediately. Even from that distance, the danger pressed against him like a blade at his throat. His expression sharpened.
"So they want to show off?" Doflamingo smirked. "Let me show something in return. String Bullet."
Threadlike projectiles burst from his fingertips, hissing through the air. Each struck a bullet mid flight, knocking them aside.
Van Augur's eyes widened. "A Devil Fruit user who can shoot down my bullets." Even their own crew rarely managed that.
Baccarat was nearly impossible for him to hit, thanks to her luck. Pito reacted faster than he did. But this stranger's reflexes were extraordinary.
Nelson cracked a smile and vanished. In an instant he reappeared beside Doflamingo, sword already drawn.
The sudden slash made Doflamingo raise his hand. "Spider Web."
Threads wove into a dense white net, firm as steel. Nelson's blade struck it with a sharp clang, throwing sparks. The slash achieved nothing.
"What about this?" Nelson teleported again, reappearing behind Doflamingo and swinging.
"How troublesome," Doflamingo muttered. "A teleportation ability."
"Shaving Foot String." Threads burst from his feet in eight thin lines, cutting through the air as he met the next slash head on.
Their clash escalated in the sky. Though Nelson fought with skill and speed, Doflamingo quickly began to dominate the exchanges. His Rankyaku and Shigan countered Nelson's sword style with ease. Doflamingo's counterattacks, however, failed to land against Nelson's teleportation.
The Heavenly Yaksha grew bored. This back and forth offered him no advantage.
"Is this how you welcome guests?" he called out with a grin.
"No, no, no," Wallace answered calmly. "Our captain says only those with strength are guests. The weak are just lambs delivered for slaughter."
He stepped on Moonwalk, rocketing upward, crimson light flaring along his legs. "Our captain is busy, so we will entertain you."
Doflamingo felt the heat radiating from Wallace's approaching fist. He had not yet learned Armament Haki, and this blow could seriously harm him.
"Is that so? As expected of your captain." The red sunglasses hid his eyes, but his grin sharpened with irritation. He wanted to show his power as well.
"Shaving Foot String."
"Five Color String."
"Molten Steel Fist."
"Rankyaku."
"Parasite."
Their battle turned wild and fast. As Doflamingo fought, shock crept into his thoughts. Wallace's Steel Steel Fruit and Nelson's spatial ability far outstripped their public bounties. They were not lacking in any area. Their bodies, their powers and their teamwork were overwhelming.
Only his Devil Fruit kept him from losing ground.
On deck, the rest of the crew watched the skirmish overhead. After firing his shots, Van Augur simply observed with calm detachment.
"Is the captain not coming?" Pouf stretched on a lounge chair, sunbathing and sipping juice. His muscular frame gleamed in the light.
The unknown man in pink was clearly here for Teach. But Teach was deep underwater, and only Pito sensed his exact location.
Pouf's Observation Haki could spread through his scales, but once submerged it became useless. Van Augur had awakened his Observation Haki recently, extending his range past one hundred meters. The rest of the crew had only a few dozen meters at most.
"Lord Teach has already arrived," Pito said quietly.
She had already sensed the figure rushing upward from the sea floor.
Teach had noticed Doflamingo the moment he surfaced. Their only previous encounter had been in Loguetown, back in the East Blue. Seeing him again here came as a surprise.
He rose from the depths in a burst of water.
Splash.
Teach broke through the surface and launched himself upward with Moonwalk, landing on deck. Water streamed off his frame.
At once, Nelson and Wallace returned to the ship. Doflamingo descended slowly, hands in his pockets, an arrogant stride in each step.
The crew watched him closely, but Doflamingo showed no fear. After enduring a two on one assault without falling, he held his head high.
"Bring a seat for our guest," Teach said.
Nelson nodded. Chairs materialized from his inner space and landed neatly beside the executives. Only they received seats. The rest of the crew remained standing.
"What a convenient ability," Doflamingo laughed. He realized Nelson's power was more than simple teleportation. He carried an entire spatial dimension.
"Doflamingo, what do you want with me?" Teach asked. "You're from North Blue, but I know who you are."
"Fufufu, I came to propose a deal. A long term one, if it goes well." Doflamingo's grin widened.
"Oh? Speak."
"I hear you're collecting Devil Fruits. I have a channel for acquiring them. But I need funds to expand my influence. If possible, I want to trade with you."
He reached behind him and set down a box tied beneath his coat. Opening it revealed three Devil Fruits. The gathered pirates inhaled sharply.
Three Devil Fruits at once. His identity had to be extraordinary.
"These three will be our first transaction," Doflamingo said. "The Antelope Fruit, the Husky Fruit and the Hair Hair Fruit."
Teach nodded. "Two Zoans for two hundred million each. The Hair Hair Fruit has far greater potential, so I'll offer four hundred million. Eight hundred million total."
Doflamingo blinked. He had expected at most five hundred million. Instead, he received an additional three hundred million beyond his hopes.
Nelson immediately transferred the money.
Teach leaned back. "You want to expand your influence, right? I'll give you another billion. Think of it as an advance. You repay it later through Devil Fruit transactions. The stronger your network grows, the more you can bring me. I'll take everything you can get."
Doflamingo chuckled. "Not afraid I'll take the money and run?"
Teach smirked. "You can try."
"Fufufufu. Why would I? I want this partnership."
He could feel it. Teach radiated the subtle force of a conqueror. That pressure was unmistakable. Doflamingo had suspected it before. Now he was certain.
"Then, happy cooperation."
"Fufufufu, happy cooperation."
Carrying two boxes filled with eight hundred million and one billion Berries respectively, Doflamingo launched himself skyward. The profits far exceeded his expectations. Even the billion Berries loan was invaluable, interest free and perfectly tailored to accelerate his rise.
He had also gained a powerful partner. The Nightfall Pirates were far stronger than their bounties suggested. Wallace and Nelson alone matched him in combat, and Teach was on an entirely different level.
Doflamingo clenched his jaw. He needed to resume his own training. Expansion had made him complacent. Without overwhelming strength, no one survived long on this sea.
And Wallace's words echoed in his mind. Guests without strength were lambs for slaughter.
This deal would not be their last, and he refused to remain the weaker party.
"Fufufufu. What an interesting era."
Doflamingo soared across the sky, laughing as his coat fluttered behind him like a monstrous Yaksha.