Neptune stood quietly beside the throne, watching the messenger disappear into the distance, his heart filled with tangled emotions.
He let out a soft sigh, then turned to Fukaboshi at his side.
"My son, prepare to welcome the new era that is coming. This time, we cannot simply wait for fate to decide our future. We must move first, seize the reins of destiny with our own hands, and fight for a path of survival for Fish-Man Island."
Ten thousand meters beneath the sea, Fish-Man Island was like a fragile yet dazzling pearl, suspended alone between the powers of the world.
Now, it stood at a crossroads in history, making the boldest and most decisive choice it had ever made.
And as that plea for aid, carrying the hopes and despair of every citizen of Fish-Man Island, slowly rose upward through layer after layer of seawater, the entire undersea kingdom seemed to hold its breath.
Everyone waited quietly for fate's verdict.
The deep sea, once calm and undisturbed, now seemed to stir with hidden currents, as if warning of a great storm soon to arrive.
...
The Kingdom of Dressrosa.
The towering spire of the royal palace rose like a giant's watchtower, piercing straight into the clouds.
Inside, the space was vast and magnificent, filled with an atmosphere that was both oppressive and luxurious.
Night had already fallen.
A soft night breeze, carrying a faint chill, slipped silently through the slightly open windows and entered the quiet chamber.
The scarlet velvet curtains swayed gently beneath its touch, as if they had been given life, whispering secrets no one else could hear.
Every fold looked like the texture of history itself, recording the countless storms of the past.
At the center of this splendid scene, Donquixote Doflamingo lounged lazily on his extravagantly ornate throne.
The throne was a work of art, inlaid with countless dazzling gemstones. Under the candlelight, they shimmered with multicolored brilliance, like stars fallen into the mortal world.
One of his legs was crossed gracefully over the other, swaying lightly in a steady rhythm, as if keeping time with some peculiar beat that somehow matched the atmosphere around him.
A newspaper lay casually open in his hand. The paper was wrinkled, clearly having been read many times.
The headline was especially striking.
Marine Kill Order.
Those words burned like flames.
Beneath the wavering candlelight, they shone with a blood-red gleam that made the heart turn cold, foretelling the storm that was about to arrive.
"Fufufufufufu…"
A low, eerie laugh slipped from Doflamingo's mouth, echoing through the vast, silent hall like a ghost and lingering for a long time.
The lenses of his iconic sunglasses reflected the flickering candlelight, neatly hiding the faint movement in his eyes.
However, anyone observant enough would have noticed that beneath the seemingly relaxed posture of the man known as the "Heavenly Yaksha," there was an indescribable tension.
His fingers tapped quickly and rhythmically against the armrest of his throne, each tap betraying the unease buried deep within him.
Just as the tension grew heavier, Doflamingo suddenly spoke.
"Trebol."
His voice was not loud, but it carried unquestionable authority.
The moment his words fell, a shadow slowly oozed out from a dark corner.
It was Trebol.
His figure appeared silently before everyone like a demon crawling up from the depths of hell.
"Notify all the officers. Have them gather at the palace immediately."
Doflamingo's voice still carried that faint smile, but upon closer inspection, the curve of his lips had become strangely sharp, like a blade drawn from its sheath, filled with resolve and decisiveness.
"We… should start considering our position."
A cold light flashed through his eyes, as though he had already made some major decision.
Outside the window, the entire city of Dressrosa was still brightly lit, beautiful as a dreamlike fairy-tale kingdom.
The toys in the streets continued working tirelessly, mechanically repeating their actions, completely unaware of what was about to happen.
Yet at the highest point of this dreamlike city, inside the royal palace tower, Doflamingo had already smelled the scent of change.
"The Emperor crews have all been absorbed into the Eternal Divine Kingdom…"
He lowered his head slightly and murmured to himself, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the frame of his sunglasses.
A complicated emotion flickered in his gaze.
"Even a monster like Kaido lowered his head…"
At that point, his brows tightened faintly, as if a fierce struggle and calculation were taking place within his heart.
Then, suddenly, he rose to his feet.
His posture was tall and agile.
The pink feather coat draped over his shoulders snapped in the wind like the sounding of a battle horn.
"It's time to choose a side!"
His voice rang out with firmness and resolve, as though he were declaring his choice to the entire world.
Trebol had been listening intently, and Doflamingo's sudden movement startled him hard.
His body trembled slightly, and a trace of shock and confusion appeared in his eyes. Even his voice unconsciously carried a little tremor.
"Young Master… are you saying… we're really going to submit completely to the Eternal Divine Kingdom?"
His words were full of disbelief and unease.
Doflamingo did not answer him directly right away.
Instead, he walked slowly toward the enormous floor-to-ceiling window, his steps steady and powerful.
When his gaze fell outside, it was as if the entire world lay within his grasp.
He quietly looked down over this kingdom that carried so many of his ambitions and schemes.
Every building and every street seemed like a piece on a chessboard he had carefully arranged.
Looking farther out, the busy harbor in the distance had fallen into chaos.
Several ships flying pirate flags were fleeing in panic, their hulls rocking violently in the waves as though they might be swallowed by the surging sea at any moment.
Sailors ran wildly across the decks.
Shouts and curses tangled together, yet none of it could hide the fear in their hearts.
"The Marines are serious this time."
Doflamingo's voice suddenly turned icy, like winter wind cutting to the bone.
His eyes narrowed slightly, gleaming with danger.
"But the Eternal Divine Kingdom… Fufufu… they hold cards that even the World Government fears."
At that point, the corner of his mouth curled into a meaningful smile.
There was insight into the situation in that smile.
And also a trace of awe toward an unknown power.