"Fufufufu... This era really is exhilarating..."
As Doflamingo spoke, he waved both hands and let out a wicked grin. Instantly, one of the Marine giants lost control of his body and swung his massive axe at his comrade.
"What...?"
The other giant didn't even have time to react before the axe hit him. Blood sprayed as his mountain-like body collapsed, crushing countless buildings in its fall.
"This is our chance... Everyone, go!"
The crowd erupted with excitement. The faster ones had already climbed aboard their pirate ships...
Just then, a golden flash lit up the sky behind Doflamingo.
"These rookies are terrifying... So, Doflamingo—struck by light-speed again, huh?"
Doflamingo broke into a cold sweat. He turned his head stiffly to see Kizaru hovering behind him.
"Damn..."
At that moment, a flash of lightning streaked across the sky, followed by a defiant voice.
"Hey... That's what I wanted to ask you, Marine..."
"Oh... Sky Pirates' First Mate Enel. You again..."
Kizaru's face remained calm, but his light-speed kick never landed.
"Yeah…Kizaru. Looks like we finally get to go all out."
The two squared off in midair, and Doflamingo, watching the standoff, grew even more delighted.
"Looks like I dodged a bullet... Fufufufu... Sky Pirates, I'll let you off for taking my slaves... See you in the New World."
In a flash, Doflamingo soared away toward his pirate crew.
Once Doflamingo had cleared out, Kizaru suddenly turned and launched a light-speed kick at Enel.
"You really are dangerous... In that case, I can't let you escape."
Enel met the attack head-on without hesitation.
Boom!
Lightning and light clashed violently in midair. The resulting shockwave rippled outward, sending tremors through all of Loguetown and stirring up waves across the sea.
"Oh? Seems like your power's grown."
Kizaru could clearly feel Enel's increased strength, even without using his full force.
Enel grinned, eyes gleaming with confidence.
"I should be thanking the Marines for that. That technique you call Rokushiki is pretty fascinating. Gathering physical strength into focused attacks, accelerating blood flow to increase muscle speed... thanks to that, I've managed to power up this much in such a short time."
"Oh? I see... But it's only been fifteen days, hasn't it? And you've already mastered Rokushiki? Definitely a dangerous one. That just makes it even more necessary to stop you now..."
"Ama no Murakumo...!"
"Try it, if you think you can stop us..."
Enel, just as eager, raised his golden staff and struck back.
In the skies above, lightning and radiant light exploded like thunderclaps on a clear day, with deafening booms echoing in every direction.
...
Aboard the Twin Goddesses, Tiger was busy at the helm, preparing the ship to depart.
Flare held Baby-5 tightly in her arms, staring wide-eyed at the fierce battle overhead.
Every single clash between Enel and Kizaru shook the heavens and earth. That level of monstrous strength made Flare finally understand what Yemu meant when he said she'd be completely outmatched in the coming battles.
"Enel-sama... so strong..."
"Incredible... Is this your true strength...? You're like monsters..."
Yemu gave a helpless glance at his new crewmates and head chef.
"What... You guys... We're all in the same boat now..."
"S-Sorry... I'm just not used to this yet... But are you really sure you don't need help?"
"No need. When it comes to speed, not even I can catch up to Enel... Besides, the real trouble hasn't even started yet."
"The real trouble...?"
Flare blinked in confusion.
"That's right."
"But..."
Flare glanced around. As the battle raged on, she noticed that many had already boarded their pirate ships and were heading out to sea.
"Is there really any more trouble? Everyone's already escaped to the ocean. How could the Marines possibly stop them now?"
Yemu chuckled.
"That's exactly what the Marines planned. They deliberately let us reach the sea to avoid civilian casualties. Because from the moment we set sail, we've all—officially—become pirates. And that means the Marines can go all out and kill us without holding back."
"But we're already out at sea. Even if the Marines had more men, there's no way they have enough warships to chase down this many people all at once."
"Who said anything about warships?"
"!!!!"
Flare was about to ask more, but Yemu suddenly murmured.
"They're coming..."
"Coming? What's coming...?"
Before Flare could finish her sentence, a familiar voice rang out beside her ear.
"Ara ara... looks like it's time. In that case, let's begin Admiral Sengoku's capture operation..."
"All of you pirates—stay right where you are."
"Ice Age."
In just a heartbeat, the sweltering summer heat was swept away by a bone-chilling cold, as if the dead of winter had suddenly descended.
Flare didn't even have time to process what was happening before it felt like the world itself had changed.
The storm-tossed sea, wild with waves just moments ago, had turned into a frozen white wasteland. As far as the eye could see, the entire ocean had been sealed under a thick layer of ice.
Once she realized what had happened, Flare clutched Baby-5 tightly and let out a terrified scream.
"Eh?!"
"The sea... the sea is frozen?!"
"How is that even possible..."
She wasn't alone. The other pirates were just as horrified, staring in disbelief as their ships were instantly locked in place, entombed in ice. All eyes turned to the center of the Marine forces—to the man who had unleashed that freezing cold.
"So... this is the Marines' power...?"
"You've gotta be kidding..."
"Is this really something a human can do...?"
"Mama... I don't want to sail anymore... I want to go home..."
...
Aboard the Donquixote Pirates' ship.
Doflamingo stood stunned for a moment at the sight of the frozen sea and the immobilized ships—but more than anything, he looked thrilled.
Beside him, Pica, the Ishi Ishi no Mi user, looked like he was about to leap down and smash through the ice, but Doflamingo held out a hand to stop him.
"No need to rush. Someone still hasn't made their move yet... This era's just about to catch fire..."
Fufufufu...
Just as the words left his lips, all the pirates shivering on the frozen sea suddenly felt a wave of heat—so warm it was like standing under the sun itself.
They instinctively turned toward the source of the warmth—and froze in place, eyes wide with shock.
"T-That... That's the sun..."