[What kind of adventure will Chopper experience when he joins the Straw Hat Pirates?]
[Please continue to watch in five days: the Dressrosa incident, the Straw Hat Pirates vs. Donquixote Family, the peak battle between the two strongest teams]
The Sky Screen shimmered as a new poster materialized across its vast surface. The image depicted two figures locked in combat—one tall, one short—their legs colliding in a devastating clash that sent visible waves of Conqueror's Haki rippling through the air around them. The taller figure wore a distinctive flamingo-feathered coat, his blonde hair wild and his signature sunglasses gleaming menacingly. The shorter combatant bore a massive X-shaped scar across his chest, a straw hat somehow remaining firmly planted on his head despite the intensity of their battle.
Below each fighter, their names appeared in bold lettering. Donquixote Doflamingo, former Celestial Dragon and current Shichibukai. Monkey D. Luffy, captain of the Straw Hat Pirates. The subtitle made it clear that their final confrontation would determine the very fate of Dressrosa itself.
Every intelligent being across the planet witnessed this ominous preview. Dressrosa—a nation in the second half of the Grand Line, known primarily for its passionate people and vibrant culture. Most remembered it as a land of beautiful women and fierce flamenco dancers, not as a battlefield that could potentially vanish from the nautical charts forever, just as Loguetown had.
In the royal palace of Dressrosa, the atmosphere had grown suffocating.
"Young Master, should we be on guard?"
Trebol's nasally voice cut through the tension, mucus trailing from his perpetually runny nose as he shifted his considerable bulk nervously. His grotesque appearance seemed even more unsettling in the dim light filtering through the palace windows. What worried him most was their family's most lethal secret—if the Sky Screen exposed it, the World Government would descend upon them like hungry vultures.
"Fufufufufu... I never imagined I would become a mere stepping stone for some nobody from East Blue."
Doflamingo reclined in his throne, one leg crossed over the other in a picture of casual arrogance. His trademark grin never wavered, but the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. The other family executives unconsciously stepped back as they felt the murderous intent radiating from behind his rose-tinted sunglasses. "This future certainly isn't being kind to me, is it?"
In the corner, a small figure sat delicately eating candy, her childlike appearance completely at odds with the mature wisdom in her ancient eyes. "Should I hide? I have a bad feeling about this," Sugar murmured between bites, her voice carrying the weight of someone far older than her appearance suggested.
"Sugar, once the Sky Screen reveals our operations, you must stay close to the Young Master at all times." Trebol waddled over to the eternally youthful girl, his usual confidence replaced by genuine concern. "There will be countless people gunning for you specifically. I'm afraid even I might not be able to protect you alone."
Sugar—Special Executive of the Donquixote Family and wielder of the Hobi Hobi no Mi. Her Toy-Toy Fruit ability was perhaps the most terrifying power in their arsenal. Any living being she touched would be transformed into a toy, and worse still, all memory of that person's existence would be erased from the minds of everyone who had ever known them. Families would forget their own children. Friends would lose decades of shared memories. The transformed victims would then be enslaved, forced to work for the Donquixote Family in absolute silence.
Through this horrifying ability, Doflamingo had systematically eliminated resistance fighters, government spies, Marines, and rival pirates who threatened his operations. The dark history of Dressrosa had been literally erased from living memory, allowing him to maintain his facade as the beloved King while operating as one of the underground world's most powerful arms dealers and maintaining crucial business relationships with Yonko Kaido.
"From this moment forward, all executives remain on high alert." Doflamingo's voice carried the authority of absolute command as he addressed his gathered family. "I suspect we'll have curious parties extending their claws toward us very soon. We'll sever every hand that reaches for what's ours, then face whatever final judgment the Sky Screen has planned."
The former Celestial Dragon understood the precarious nature of his position perfectly. His past status among the World Nobles was both shield and target—it made most Marines hesitant to move against him directly, but it also painted him as a valuable prize for anyone bold enough to try. The Sky Screen's plan to use pirates against pirates was almost certainly being orchestrated by future Marine leadership from behind the scenes. Those persistent bastards never knew when to quit.
Each executive knew their fate was tied to Doflamingo's. If the Young Master fell, the Marines wouldn't show mercy to his subordinates. He was their anchor in both the physical world and in their hearts—they would follow him into the depths of hell itself if necessary.
The heavy atmosphere was suddenly broken by Violet's urgent voice. "Doffy, we have visitors. Yonko Kaido and King the Wildfire have just landed in Dressrosa."
The beautiful woman's Giro Giro no Mi (Glare-Glare Fruit) allowed her to observe everything within a 4,000-kilometer radius. No stranger could set foot in Dressrosa without falling under her surveillance.
Doflamingo's grin faltered slightly. "What brings Kaido here personally? The latest shipment of artificial Devil Fruits was delivered on schedule. Queen usually handles our business arrangements."
The relationship between the Donquixote Family and the Beast Pirates was built on mutual benefit, but Kaido rarely involved himself directly in their transactions. King typically remained in Wano Country, serving as its primary defender. For both of them to appear here together suggested something significant was afoot.
"Fufufufu... well then, let's not keep our business partners waiting."
Doflamingo led his executives out of the palace and into the open courtyard, positioning themselves to receive their unexpected guests. Even for someone of his stature, showing respect to one of the Four Emperors was simply good business practice.
The massive azure dragon descended through the cloud cover, its serpentine body undulating with impossible grace for something so enormous. Following behind, a figure with jet-black wings cut through the sky with predatory precision. The two strongest members of the Beast Pirates had arrived.
The earth trembled violently as Kaido's humanoid form crashed into the courtyard, sending up a massive cloud of dust and debris. The tremendous impact would have shattered the bones of any normal person, but for the man known as the "Strongest Creature in the World," it was barely worth noticing.
"It's been far too long, kid. Looks like you've been having some troubles lately."
Kaido had remained in his dragon form during the flight, watching the Sky Screen's ominous predictions unfold. Seeing Doflamingo featured so prominently in what appeared to be his own downfall had prompted this impromptu visit to his business partner.
King descended with far more grace, his black wings folding against his back as he touched down silently. Every inch of his imposing frame was concealed beneath dark armor and leather, with only his wings visible—a deliberate choice to hide his true identity as one of the last surviving members of an extinct race.
"I appreciate your concern, Kaido-san, but our artificial Devil Fruit production will continue uninterrupted." Doflamingo's tone carried the perfect balance of respect and independence. While he acknowledged Kaido's overwhelming strength, he wouldn't tolerate interference in his family's affairs—not even from a Yonko. Some matters were worth fighting for, regardless of the odds. "I'm perfectly capable of handling a few minor inconveniences myself."
"Wororororo! You're an interesting one, kid. If you were a Zoan-type user, I'd recruit you for the Beast Pirates in a heartbeat."
Kaido reached into his coat and withdrew a sealed scroll, tossing it casually through the air. Doflamingo's Ito Ito no Mi (String-String Fruit) powers manifested as nearly invisible strings that caught the scroll and drew it to his waiting hand. When he partially unrolled it, even the usually composed Shichibukai couldn't hide his shock.
"Kaido-san... this is quite the generous gift. A training manual for advanced Conqueror's Haki techniques." Doflamingo's eyes remained fixed on the scroll's contents, his mind already racing with possibilities. "I have to ask—what's the price for such valuable knowledge?"
"Just stay here and don't get yourself easily defeated by some upstart rookie. I need more artificial Zoan fruits, and this sea is about to become very turbulent indeed." Kaido's expression grew more serious as he surveyed the sky where the Screen continued its ominous display. "Even I will be caught in the coming storm. The Beast Pirates must grow stronger if we're to survive what's coming."
Despite his reputation for reckless violence, Kaido possessed a sharp strategic mind when the situation demanded it. During their flight to Dressrosa, he and King had analyzed the potential consequences of Doflamingo's fall. Losing their primary business partner would be equivalent to severing one of the Beast Pirates' most important arms.
The artificial Zoan Devil Fruit supply line represented just one aspect of their crucial relationship. Doflamingo also facilitated the sale of Seastone extracted from Wano Country's mines and weapons manufactured in the Beast Pirates' underground factories. His extensive network in the criminal underworld, combined with his status as a former Celestial Dragon, allowed him to operate with a level of impunity that even the World Government was reluctant to challenge directly.
Rebuilding such an intricate web of connections would take years—time they couldn't afford with the world teetering on the edge of chaos.
The irony wasn't lost on Kaido that their Seastone sales indirectly strengthened the Marine fleet through the construction of Seastone-hulled warships. But as long as the profits continued flowing and the Marines lacked the courage to assault Wano Country's natural fortress, the arrangement served everyone's interests.