Farewell, Kaido.
The Numancia Flamingo took off once again.
As for why Charlotte Linlin didn't try to stop them—
She was too busy going crazy over eating cake.
Eyes closed, blissfully resting her head on Smoothie's thigh.
Suddenly, Doflamingo remembered something—he might've forgotten to bring along his mercenary, Mihawk, when they fled.
Eh, it's probably fine.
Splitting up during an escape is par for the course.
He could just give him a good beating next time they met.
Smoothie's blazing gaze swept across Doflamingo's face like a high-powered scanner.
A man who could kill an Admiral—Doflamingo-sama!
So cool!!!
At any other time, Doflamingo would've stood up and had his way with the current version of Smoothie.
For a while, at least.
But not now.
Scratching his freshly regrown kidney, he let go of those lustful thoughts.
Pointing to the Den Den Mushi on the table, he changed the subject.
"Smoothie, ask Trebol for an update on Sky Island."
"Okay, Doffy!"
Smoothie nodded obediently, beckoning with her hand.
Her sickly sweet tone made Doflamingo instinctively tilt his head back, brushing against the softness above him.
"Guruguru!"
"Trebol, did you catch that good dog Aramaki yet?"
The more relaxed Doflamingo sounded...
The more terrified Trebol became as he arrived at the immigrant district and laid eyes on Tesoro, now completely entangled in vines.
"Doffy, Enel and Tesoro have both been captured by Aramaki."
"...?"
Doflamingo's eyes shot open.
Had he heard that right?
Aramaki—a Logia user who'd barely shown up before...
And now Enel can't even hold off someone like that?
What the hell was all that training for?
"What's going on?"
"Aramaki released—"
After a brief rundown of everything that had happened on Sky Island, Doflamingo issued an order.
"Then what are you waiting for? Stall Aramaki. Hold him off until Vergo finishes cleaning up this side."
Click!
A moment later, Vergo—who'd been traveling nonstop for days—picked up the call.
"Vergo, where are you now?"
Gazing out over the rising Jeet Clouds, Vergo gave his response.
"Doffy, I'm near Mock Town."
Hearing that, Doflamingo finally relaxed.
"Perfect. Aramaki's rampage cost us heavily in the immigrant district. Give him a proper welcome. But don't let him die."
"Understood."
Click!
"Let's go, Smoothie. We're heading back to Dressrosa."
...
Sky Island – Immigrant District
The vine ball wrapping around Tesoro was shrinking rapidly.
His internal struggle was growing weaker and weaker.
Chkkk!
His golden armor creaked under the mounting pressure.
One vine after another drilled into his body.
Feeling his strength fading, Tesoro's heart sank.
Was this really... the end? Would he never see Stella again?
"Lahahaha! This is what happens when you defy the World Government!"
Aramaki's laugh echoed louder and wilder outside. The full power of the Mori Mori no Mi was unleashed.
The vines spread like tentacles, stretching deep into the wild jungle of Upper Yard.
This time, he wasn't going to recklessly venture into places he didn't understand!
...
Hidden beneath a fake cloudbank at the edge of the immigrant zone—
Caesar had turned into gas form.
He vacuumed the surrounding air, forming a defensive zone to block the drifting floral scents and vines.
He pointed at two locations: one, where Enel was trapped on a grotesque flower; the other, where Tesoro was still wrapped in vines.
"I'll create a diversion. Trebol, look for a chance to blow up that disgusting plant."
He was a Logia user; Trebol was made of mucus.
Judge also had the power to block out the scent.
Together, they had a fighting chance.
"I'm going to rescue Enel!"
Judge adjusted the glass dome on his head, created through his ability. Sparks flashed beneath his boots.
"Hold him off with everything you've got. We can't afford to let Doffy take any more losses!"
Trebol wasn't expecting a miracle. He knew exactly how much he was worth.
If he could stall Aramaki, that'd be enough. Saving Enel and Tesoro would be a bonus.
"I'm going in!"
Under Caesar's control, the gas slowly crept forward.
The slightest shift in air pressure was instantly sensed by the surrounding plant life.
Aramaki turned his head—neither the clouds nor the gas could fool his Observation Haki.
His eyes gleamed red with fury at the sight of his enemies.
"Lahahaha! So, there are still some little rats lurking around!"
"Crap!! He saw us!"
Caesar's face went pale as he launched himself at Aramaki, slamming down both of his lighter-tipped palms.
Flames burst out from his arms, sweeping across the battlefield!
A giant pillar of fire exploded outward from his body.
The nearby vines, flowers, and trees ignited in an instant.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Sticky black globs coated in Armament Haki launched from Trebol's position, targeting the grotesque Lilicon Flower.
"Sticky Bomb Barrage!"
Judge took the opportunity and charged in as well.
But...
"That won't cut it!!! This ends now!"
From beneath Aramaki's feet, enormous trees sprouted like fortress walls, sealing off everything inside.
BOOM!
Trebol's sticky bombs acted like fuel, feeding Caesar's inferno.
But even with that...
The trees—reinforced with Armament Haki and fireproof—barely cracked under the searing heat.
Judge, racing in from behind, had thought the trees would be reduced to cinders.
But they were only singed and scorched.
He knew how hot Caesar's gas detonation could get—over 3,000 degrees Celsius.
Not to mention Trebol's highly flammable mucus.
And yet...
Judge now understood how Enel must've felt.
They were completely outmatched by Aramaki!
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Fanfic is finished 527 chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg