Clack.
A crisp yet heavy sound cut through the chaos.
The noise of a metal knee striking the floor was especially clear, drawing everyone's eyes toward it.
One of them had firmly knelt down. His voice was low, but powerful.
"Mama's decision… is our will."
Those words fell like the final strike of a judge's hammer, carrying a force that allowed no doubt.
Inside Brûlée's strange Mirror World, every reflection seemed to be under a spell as they lowered their heads in unison.
Even the younger brothers and sisters who had already fainted seemed to feel that crushing weight in their dreams, letting out weak, unwilling whimpers filled with helplessness.
Looking through the window, candy rain had begun falling over Whole Cake Island at some point.
Colorful, sweet crystals drifted down from the sky, tapping against the glass with crisp little cracks.
It should have been a scene of joy and sweetness, yet now it felt more like a solemn funeral held for the end of an era.
At the highest point of the castle, the Big Mom Pirates' flag, which had flown for decades and carried countless glories and dreams, was slowly being lowered.
At the same time, the flag of the Eternal Divine Kingdom rose inch by inch, gradually taking its place.
It snapped fiercely in the wind, declaring that a new era had arrived.
...
The Kingdom of Dressrosa.
The towering royal palace stood like an enormous fortress, displaying absolute authority and nobility.
Inside its high tower, the atmosphere was luxurious yet suffocating.
At that moment, Doflamingo lounged lazily on his gorgeous throne, which was inlaid with glittering gemstones.
The throne was a carefully carved masterpiece.
Every gemstone shone with a captivating brilliance, reflecting the symbols of power and wealth.
He sat with one leg crossed over the other, leisurely holding a glass of rich red wine.
With a slight motion of his wrist, the dark crimson liquid swirled in the glass, releasing an alluring fragrance.
Outside the window, warm sunlight passed through the colorful stained glass like thin golden threads, spilling over his pink feather coat in mottled patches of light and shadow, making him look both noble and faintly sinister.
"Fufufu… I wonder how long that old hag Big Mom can hold out before…"
Doflamingo had started speaking in a mocking, playful tone, but before he could finish, his voice suddenly stopped as if something had jammed itself in his throat.
"Young—Young Master!"
Trebol rushed in from outside in a panic, dragging a long trail across the floor behind him like a twisted serpent crawling forward.
His forehead was covered in beads of sweat, and his eyes were filled with extreme panic and unease.
"Latest news! Big Mom, she…!"
Trebol's voice trembled from the tension.
Doflamingo slowly raised a hand and adjusted the sunglasses on his face.
Reflected clearly in the lenses was the shocking front-page photograph of the newspaper.
In the picture, Charlotte Linlin's enormous body actually stood behind Ron with the respect of a subordinate.
Normally, her face was always ferocious and terrifying, like a demon ready to devour someone whole.
But now, she wore an expression of rare obedience.
That contrast was enough to make one's skin crawl.
At that instant—
Crack.
A sharp sound broke the silence in the room.
The crystal goblet clenched in Doflamingo's hand had suddenly split with a fine crack.
The 1982 Blood Mary red wine inside flowed down between his fingers like fresh blood.
One drop, then another…
Finally, the wine splattered across the steps below the throne, blooming like shocking red plum blossoms, as if warning of the enormous crisis to come.
"Fufufu… Well, this…"
Doflamingo tried to let out his signature laugh again, but this time, it sounded as though someone had mercilessly strangled it in his throat. It came out broken, weak, and uneven.
The upward curve at the corner of his mouth gradually stiffened, and a trace of fear and despair he could not quite hide appeared on his face.
"There really is no way back now."
The sunlight outside, which had been soft and warm a moment ago, suddenly seemed to surge with endless energy and became painfully bright.
The intense light pierced through the glass like sharp swords, spilling wildly into every corner of the room.
Even the air seemed to grow tense and oppressive.
Doflamingo stood there in silence.
The lenses of his unique sunglasses now looked like a pair of mysterious mirrors, flickering with shifting light and shadow.
First, they clearly reflected Kaido's domineering, majestic figure, carrying the weight of the sea overlord's former fame.
Then the image changed, flashing to Big Mom's submitted posture.
Those two Emperors, once arrogant and untouchable, had now both lowered their noble heads toward that mysterious young man.
It was like a scene from some reality-shattering play, quietly unfolding within the lenses.
Trebol stood to the side, his expression full of unease.
His body twisted slightly without him realizing it, and fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead before sliding down his cheeks.
"Young… Young Master?" he stammered, his voice trembling with doubt and shock, clearly overwhelmed by this sudden change.
Doflamingo's eyes were firm and resolute. There was no hesitation in them at all.
He gave the order loudly.
"Set out immediately. Full speed to the Eternal Divine Kingdom!"
With that command, the entire sea was stirred into motion.
Countless eyes—whether from pirates across every sea, the Marines, or the hidden powers lurking in the shadows—turned toward the Eternal Divine Kingdom.
Those gazes carried curiosity, awe, worry, and even more anticipation.
Who could have imagined that in just a few short months, this once-unknown rising power would expand like a ferocious beast, swallowing the territories that three Emperors had spent years building?
The news spread like wildfire, shaking the entire sea.
And Big News Morgans had gone completely mad with excitement.
His printing factory was brightly lit, machines roaring nonstop as workers toiled overtime without rest.