Unbelievable. Xayuki's dominance was far beyond what Donquixote Doflamingo had anticipated.
And the fact that it was Sakazuki he had sent…
If Xayuki had chosen to dispatch Kizaru or Kuzan, Doflamingo might have held onto a sliver of hope.
But Sakazuki?
Just imagining the scene of Sakazuki arriving in Dressrosa, engulfing the royal palace in magma, sent a chill down Doflamingo's spine.
Without hesitation, as Sakazuki leapt off the platform and made his way toward the port, Doflamingo frantically pulled out his Den Den Mushi. Ignoring the presence of everyone around him and completely discarding his usual composed image, he shouted into the receiver: "Attention, all members of the Donquixote Family! When Admiral Sakazuki's fleet reaches Dressrosa, no one is to resist! I repeat, you must comply with Admiral Sakazuki's orders!"
"Young master?"
A sluggish voice came from the other end of the line. "What... what's going on?"
Doflamingo didn't bother to explain. "If you don't want to be wiped out, follow my orders!"
Ending the call abruptly, Doflamingo stowed away the Den Den Mushi and looked up at Xayuki. For the first time, there was a hint of pleading in his eyes.
The once-mighty Heavenly Yaksha, a name that struck fear across the Grand Line, now seemed utterly broken.
Xayuki, fully aware of what was going through Doflamingo's mind, responded calmly, "The only thing you can do now is pray that every single member of the Donquixote Family obeys your orders."
"Because if they don't, Sakazuki will show no mercy. He'll eliminate them all. And even if there are survivors, they'll be nothing more than stray dogs."
"Of course," Xayuki added, his tone sharp, "you have another choice—kill me, escape Marine Headquarters, and stop Sakazuki yourself."
The moment Xayuki finished speaking, Gion stepped forward, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, her piercing gaze fixed on Doflamingo.
At the same time, Kuzan and Borsalino shifted their attention toward Doflamingo, the oppressive aura unique to Marine Admirals silently enveloping the area.
Feeling the overwhelming pressure from the Admirals, the last trace of defiance in Doflamingo was crushed. He slumped back into his chair, his face a mix of frustration, helplessness, and despair.
Xayuki's sheer dominance and decisiveness were far beyond what Doflamingo had ever imagined.
At first, Doflamingo thought Xayuki's goal was merely to make the Seven Warlords of the Sea bow to him. But now, he realized how naive he had been.
Xayuki wasn't just aiming to subdue the Warlords—he was using this opportunity to dismantle the power structures they had painstakingly built over the years, cutting off any chance of them escaping his grasp in the future.
While Crocodile and Gecko Moria remained relatively composed, the intense pressure Xayuki placed on Doflamingo sent chills down their spines.
Meanwhile, Jinbe and Dracule Mihawk exchanged subtle glances. Watching Xayuki strip Doflamingo of his usual arrogance, they couldn't help but narrow their eyes, their gazes falling on Xayuki.
In that moment, they saw not just a Fleet Admiral, but a natural-born king—a leader whose every move exuded authority.
Xayuki, uninterested in Doflamingo's broken state, shifted his gaze to Crocodile.
Although Crocodile had mentally prepared himself, the moment Xayuki's eyes landed on him, he felt an inexplicable unease.
It was a feeling he despised.
After all, Crocodile was a seasoned Warlord. He had once faced Edward Newgate, the world's strongest man, without flinching. Even though he was ultimately defeated, he hadn't crumbled like Moria, whose crew was annihilated by Kaido.
Instead of succumbing to despair, Crocodile's ambition had only grown, fueling his dream of becoming the next Pirate King.
Having weathered countless storms, Crocodile prided himself on his fearlessness. Yet, witnessing Xayuki's relentless pressure on Doflamingo and his uncanny knowledge of their secrets, Crocodile found himself unable to meet the Fleet Admiral's gaze.
"Crocodile, what's with that reaction?"
Xayuki tilted his head, noticing the cigar nearly falling from Crocodile's mouth. Blinking in confusion, he asked, "Am I that terrifying?"
Terrifying?
You're practically a devil.
Crocodile cursed silently, taking a deep drag from his cigar before forcing himself to speak. "What are your orders, Fleet Admiral Xayuki?"
"Ah, now that's the spirit!"
Xayuki spread his arms, turning back to Doflamingo. "If only you were as cooperative as Crocodile, we'd be done here and off to dinner by now!"
Before Doflamingo could respond, Xayuki cut straight to the point. "Crocodile, summon all members of Baroque Works to Marine Headquarters. And forget about your 'Fantasyland Project.' Alabasta doesn't have the Pluton you're looking for."
"!!!"
Crocodile's eyes widened in shock as he stared at Xayuki. "You... just how much do you know about us?!"
"Didn't I already say?" Xayuki shrugged. "You have no secrets from me."
He continued, "Since I know all about your plans and ambitions, I also know that Alabasta doesn't hold what you seek. If you pledge your loyalty to me, I'll personally take you to the Alabasta royal palace for an inspection. I'm sure the king will grant me that courtesy."
"Of course, I have no interest in Baroque Works itself."
"The reason I want your organization brought to Marine Headquarters is because of Nico Robin."
Hearing this, Crocodile's expression darkened. "You're handing Nico Robin over to the World Government?"
"Hand her over? No. I need her ability to decipher ancient texts."
As he spoke, Xayuki stood and approached Crocodile, placing a hand on his shoulder before walking to the edge of the platform. Gazing out at the horizon, he said slowly, "I've declared my intent to end the Great Pirate Era, and I will see it through."
"Ending the Great Pirate Era requires more than just eliminating the lawless pirates roaming the seas."
"Because the root of it all lies in Laugh Tale—and the so-called One Piece Roger spoke of."
"If that's the case, then I'll find the source and cut it off."
"And to reach Laugh Tale, we need to gather the four Road Poneglyphs, decipher their texts, and chart a course based on their descriptions."
Hearing Xayuki's calm declaration of his intent to reach Laugh Tale, not only were the Warlords stunned, but even Borsalino, Kuzan, and Gion looked up at their young leader in surprise.
Even the ever-composed Dracule Mihawk was visibly moved, blurting out, "You're planning to send a fleet to Laugh Tale?"
Xayuki's eyes narrowed, his aura intensifying as his Fleet Admiral coat billowed dramatically despite the lack of wind.
Turning slightly, he glanced at the gathered Warlords, a faint smile playing on his lips. His previously calm tone now boomed like thunder:
"If pirates can go, so can I."
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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