Just as Koala had turned her head after being thrown to the ground, she saw a bendable lightning strike from Sabo's right, from foot to shoulder, erupting into a spray of blood mist.
"Sabo!!"
Kuma!!
As the lightning raked across, a ball of flame suddenly exploded, almost forming a fireball in mid-air, forcing the lightning to refract backward.
A flame shot out from the fireball, descending directly next to Koala, transforming into Sabo's form, collapsing onto the ground.
He was in great pain now, with a hole in his left shoulder and abdomen, while his right side, from shoulder to foot, was slashed open with a large gash, skin and flesh split apart, blood gushing wildly, pooling underneath him in mere moments.
"Was Haki used to block it?"
The cold thunderous sound in the air shot over, forming Lily's figure in front of Koala's eyes, just as she stabbed a sword at Sabo's head.
Clang!!
At this moment, an unknown force of gravity suddenly slowed her movements, a sword attached to a plain wooden staff held before the stabbing blade, blocking the attack.
The staff sword even slid along the blade in its guard, slicing horizontally.
Clang!
Lily withdrew her white thunder, parrying forward, taking advantage of the force to retreat lightly, standing firm with the white thunder, frowning at the obstruction ahead.
This guy, deeply etched in Lily's memory, was the purple-clad blind uncle she had seen in the arena before, now with a Navy coat draped over his shoulder.
"A Navy officer?"
The blind uncle kept his staff sword half-drawn, speaking slowly: "Young lady, such intense killing intent is not a good thing."
Whoosh!
In a flash, a flock of crows appeared from somewhere, swooping onto the Revolutionaries, and with a turn, the enveloping crows flew away in groups, leaving no trace of people.
Seeing this, Lily frowned tighter.
This guy is not weak, not so easy to kill, at a critical moment he actually used Haki to block her attack, otherwise that sword could have cleaved him entirely from front to back.
The plan was to use the terrain and tactics with people to seize the opportunity to cut down the person daring to steal their goods, such opportunities are rare.
In a one-on-one duel without obstacles, Lily wouldn't easily win against him.
"Forget it, there's benefit in that as well..."
She relaxed her furrowed brow.
There are benefits whether resolved, or unresolved.
The Revolutionaries and the World Government are adversaries, Sage's dream will sooner or later clash with the World Government, keeping this strong second-in-command alive can divert the World Government's attention.
Compared to the pirates, the Revolutionaries are the target the World Government wants to eliminate.
Keeping him alive can also trouble the World Government.
"Admiral Issho, that is..."
Behind her, Maynard was shocked seeing Lily, clad in white battle armor skirt and wielding a sword:
"Disaster Pirates' high-ranking officer, bounty fourteen billion three hundred sixty million Belly Great Pirate, one of the Three Phases, Thunder Phase! 'Sword Princess' Bienta Lily!"
"Oh? Such fierce swordsmanship aura, I had been wondering where such a powerful figure came from, turns out it was the Swords Princess of the Fallen Nation..."
Issho spoke solemnly: "Though I've just accepted my position as Navy Admiral, I am still an admiral, and must fulfill my navy duties. What's a subordinate of the Four Emperors doing in Dressrosa, do you share in these crimes?"
"Admiral? Fujitora?"
She glanced around, and behind Fujitora, Rebecca seemed to have flown next to King Liku, there were also the one-legged swordsman who appeared at the Dome Palace earlier, and Viola.
Further away, Doflamingo's birdcage strings progressed rapidly, now contracting half the distance of Dressrosa, the ruins and sobbing, wailing civilians around made her furrow her brow slightly.
While on the street, some continued to howl in pain, raising their slaughters to others, further agitating her.
Doflamingo, what on earth is he up to?
She sheathed the white thunder once more, assuming an Iaido stance, causing everyone except Issho to instinctively prepare for battle.
Shing!
"Flying Bird·Gale Attack!"
Boom!
The rapid swing of the sword sent a ring of slashes over everyone's heads, severing all the parasite threads above those crying but uncontrollable people's heads.
"How we carry on, there's no need to explain to you navy, will you wage war against the Four Emperors? Even as a Navy Admiral, you cannot make such decisions." Lily said.
The navy, when faced with Four Emperors, can only defend passively, needing authorization even to wage war.
"I have no intention of starting a war with the Four Emperors, but as a Navy Admiral, I do have the authority to counter."
Issho opened a pair of white-glowing eyes, asking: "Young lady, did you just free those people from being puppets? It doesn't seem to be an evil act, yet such contradiction is beyond my understanding, what exactly is the relationship between Celestial Yaksha and the Disaster Pirates?"
Lily did not reply, only frowned as she glanced at King Liku and the others, then turned to Fujitora, half-drawn, considering turning away.
There was no immediate need to clash here with a Navy Admiral...
Boom!!
As she thought so, she suddenly noticed a balloon-like figure in the sky compress its feet to an extreme, kicking Doflamingo, sending him flying, crashing through several buildings.
"That is..."
Lily's pupils contracted, "Straw Hat?!"
That guy was filled with Haki, using Haki Hardening to stretch his body to the limit, unleashing an incredible power.
"Is that the transformation form Leyti mentioned? Such staggering intensity..."
This intensity harkens back to Sage's transformation years ago, whether it's 80% or 100%, it is beyond what Doflamingo can handle!
Especially since...
"Birdcage strings released outside, this idiot!"
Lily's eyes darkened, her mind made up, as she gazed at King Liku and his company, a murderous aura filled her gaze.
"This young lady's fierce killing intent, aimed at..."
Issho sensed something, turning toward King Liku's direction, "Is it at the Royal Family?"
"Hand them over."
Lily said: "Those people have nothing to do with you, your task isn't to protect the Royal Family, is it?"
Whether victory or defeat, Lily wasn't planning to intervene, nor interested in acting as Doflamingo's lackey, Sage had given her the power to decide, initially observing quietly but now, a decision had to be made.
She didn't like Doflamingo's oppressive existence, especially as a trading partner who ceased transactions recklessly, if victorious all was well, but with Doflamingo potentially defeated…
Taking over Dressrosa, that's her goal!
Sage promised not to go into Impel Down, not anything else.
This place isn't just a country, sitting at the forefront of the New World, unlike the chaotic rear, its unique arches encompass the entire Kingdom, serving as a natural fortress harbor.
The underground port could serve as a powerful trading hub, shipping goods to the West Sea and North Sea.
She wanted it!
"Stories of the Swords Princess of the Fallen Nation, I have heard of them, it seems the young lady also has other decisions but I... do not agree!"
The half-drawn staff sword was pulled out by Issho, "King Liku has renounced his Royal Family position; he's now just a common civilian, and the navy... has a duty to protect civilians!"
"Would your World Government approve?" Lily sneered.
"The World Government is not a deity; I act for justice, although Celestial Yaksha rebels, I am willing to place my bet..."
Issho gripped his sword hilt tightly, exclaiming: "On Straw Hat!"
"No one can prevent Sage's rule, nor can you."
The crimson flickered once more in Lily's eyes, "Civilian or not, it's not your word that counts. All these years, look at those surrounding the Royal Family, they still worship the old king. Without them, even if Doflamingo is defeated, the foundation wouldn't shake, while he acts arrogantly as a fool, I am not."
Beneath Flamingo's rule, she could spare Rebecca since there was no relation but if it's under their rule...
Not a single declared one can remain!