"So that's how it is—Issho and the others have already started moving so quickly!?"
The New World, Cake Island.
After hearing Koby's report through the Den Den Mushi, Red—who had been continuing his exploration of Pokémon Sword/Shield—couldn't help but smile and sigh with emotion.
Sensing the worry in Koby's voice, he spoke calmly into the Den Den Mushi in his hand.
"Relax. With Issho's strength, dealing with someone like Doflamingo won't be a problem."
"In that case… the Seven Warlords of the Sea can finally be said to have completely exited the stage of history."
With just a few words exchanged, Red ended the call.
"Come to think of it, that guy Law still seems to be training relentlessly, waiting for his chance to take revenge on Doflamingo…"
"If he finds out Doflamingo died at someone else's hands, I wonder if he'll go berserk."
"Better have someone notify him. If he leaves now, maybe he can still catch the tail end of it."
"And while we're at it… we can bring back some of Dressrosa's local specialties."
A sharp glint flashed through Red's eyes. Without hesitation, he picked up his personal terminal and issued a series of commands.
With Vegapunk's technological support and the scientific personnel and equipment of the Vinsmoke Family, the Straw Hat Pirates had finally developed a device akin to a mobile phone from Earth.
Though it was still far from a true product of the information age, at the very least, within the Pokémon Sea, people could now freely conduct long-distance communication and enjoy some simple forms of entertainment through personal terminals.
With the fall of the Big Mom Pirates' rule, the people living in the Pokémon Sea were no longer forced to hand over their lifespans on a fixed schedule.
However, living safely in a perilous sea like the New World naturally couldn't come without any cost.
Conveniently enough, the various companies recently expanded by the Straw Hat Pirates were in urgent need of manpower.
With the advent of personal terminals, even ordinary civilians could complete certain communication-based jobs remotely, as long as they were within designated signal zones.
In plain terms—
Office work.
In the New World, where survival itself was a challenge, having a nine-to-five job with decent pay and even the occasional holiday…
It was practically a dream come true for ordinary people.
It could be said that even if the Straw Hat Pirates' business eventually grew to influence the entire world, with the endless stream of applicants from the Pokémon Sea alone, they would never have to worry about a labor shortage.
"Hard to say whether I changed the world… or the world just freeloaded off my ideas."
After browsing the forums and discussion boards on his personal terminal for a while, Red chuckled softly. His consciousness suddenly sank, plunging straight into the game world.
When he opened his eyes again—
What appeared before him was an indoor wilderness overflowing with verdant vitality!
Even Red hadn't expected that one day he'd put the words "indoor" and "wilderness" together like this.
Yet what he saw was undeniably real.
All one could say was—
In a fantasy world, no explanations were ever needed.
"Is it over!?"
Just as Red was marveling at the scenery, a youthful female voice suddenly sounded beside his ear.
He turned his head and saw Bonney, who had reverted to her ten-year-old form. Using psychic power, she floated in midair so that her gaze was level with Red's as she asked her question.
"Yeah, it's finished," Red replied with a smile, nodding.
His gaze then shifted toward the depths of the indoor wilderness.
Turning back to Bonney, he grinned.
"In that case… our adventure can continue."
"Tch~" Bonney pouted. "An opponent that weak—how can that even count as an adventure?!"
Even so, when her eyes drifted toward the distant horizon, a spark of excitement couldn't help but dance within them.
After all, this was a Gym Battle~!
A legendary game experience that even many of Red's companions in the Straw Hat Pirates rarely got to enjoy—yet she was experiencing it firsthand!
Ever since she learned that Kuma, due to Saint Saturn's death and the suspension of the original Pacifista surgery plan, was now being secretly treated by Vegapunk…
The ten-year-old girl who had been single-mindedly reenacting Where Are We Going, Dad? finally shed her disguise and truly felt at ease.
And after everything that followed, Bonney—who had long since lost the ability to remain innocent—sought out Red directly, asking him to provide her with even more assistance and resources.
In return…
She was willing to charge at the very front, becoming the spearhead in the coming clash between the Straw Hat Pirates and the World Government.
Already deeply interested in Bonney's Devil Fruit ability, Red agreed without hesitation.
After accumulating enough power to ensure he could sustain a major battle, Red brought Bonney directly into the world of Pokémon Sword/Shield.
The sheer scale of the Sword/Shield world map far exceeded Red's expectations.
Compared to Let's Go, which was essentially a re-skinned version of the first-generation world, or Legends: Arceus, which revolved around a single village as its base…
Sword/Shield not only possessed vast Wild Areas rivaling—or even surpassing—those of Arceus, but its cities were also unimaginably large.
Coupled with the fact that his companions frequently needed to travel to the Arceus world to train high-level Pokémon…
Despite having unlocked Sword/Shield quite some time ago, it wasn't until today that Red finally completed the early storyline and arrived at the first Gym of this world—or, using the local terminology of Sword/Shield—
Turffield Stadium of Turffield Town!!!
"So the name's no longer 'Gym,' but the badges still exist…"
"In that case, the achievement rewards for 'Badge Collector' and the skill rewards for defeating Gyms should still trigger, right?!"
"Man… this really brings back memories~"
Red licked his lips lightly, anticipation clearly written across his face.
…
…
Meanwhile.
On an uninhabited island near the Kingdom of Dressrosa.
BOOM!!!
A bizarre wave of energy swept across the island's flowers, trees, and soil.
In an instant, the once-lush forest transformed into a stark white world—eerily unnatural.
Upon closer inspection, the massive waves were composed of countless razor-thin white threads.
"Die, Marines!!! Ever White!!!"
With his Devil Fruit awakening unleashed, Doflamingo's arms bulged with muscle, nearly tearing through his white coat as he swung forward violently.
The next moment, the white sea of threads writhing across the ground surged forward like enraged waves, crashing toward its target.
"To develop such an ordinary Devil Fruit to this extent… truly an opponent not to be underestimated."
High in the sky, sensing the oncoming torrent of white threads, Issho murmured softly.
Yet despite his inner astonishment, his movements never slowed.
Whumm—
A faint violet glow suddenly expanded outward from his unsheathed cane sword.
Then Issho called out in a low voice:
"Gravity Blade: Fierce Tiger!!!"
BOOM!!!
An overwhelming aura erupted from Issho, taking the form of a colossal tiger with purple fur, its gaping maw unleashing a thunderous roar.
In an instant, everything before him seemed to be shoved by an invisible, colossal force—objects were hurled and crushed backward in the opposite direction.
As for the massive white wave conjured by Doflamingo, it was cleaved cleanly in half and then scattered at an even greater speed, as though swept away by a violent gale.
"Tch…"
At the sight of this, a dark glint flashed deep within Doflamingo's eyes.
Though the battle had only just begun, he had already realized that the blind swordsman in a Marine Vice Admiral's uniform before him was a wolf in sheep's clothing!
Since when did Marine Vice Admirals possess such terrifying power!?
If that were truly the case, pirates should have been wiped out long ago!
What infuriated him even more was—
This man had Sugar positioned behind him, forcing Doflamingo to hesitate, unable to launch a direct sneak attack from the rear.
Despite already possessing such overwhelming strength, he still resorted to tactics this underhanded…
Doflamingo had only ever seen two existences like this!
And the other one was the Straw Hat Pirates he had encountered back on Jaya Island!
What Doflamingo could never have imagined was—
That the blind swordsman draped in the Marine's coat of justice before him also belonged to the Straw Hat Pirates!!!
Of course, whether he knew that or not didn't really matter.
Because this battle wouldn't change its outcome either way.
"Marines—why are you attacking us!?"
"Don't you know that the Seven Warlords of the Sea are legally recognized pirate crews by the World Government?!"
After seeing his attacks repeatedly neutralized with ease, Doflamingo finally lost his patience and brought up his Warlord status.
Yet Issho's response made his expression falter for a split second.
"Seven Warlords of the Sea?"
After cutting apart another wave of white threads with a Gravity Blade, Issho's face showed a complex mixture of fury and anticipation.
Facing Doflamingo's accusation, he spoke bluntly:
"Soon… that will be nothing more than history!"
"The Marines have already approved the plan to abolish the Seven Warlords of the Sea. Before long, the entire world will know that you've returned to being pirates."
"And the Marine duty of purging pirates has always been only natural!"
"What did you say!?"
Doflamingo's brows furrowed tightly. Shock flashed through his eyes, along with confusion as to why he had received no news of something so critical.
"Oh, right!"
As if seeing through Doflamingo's thoughts, Issho spoke again.
He smiled faintly.
"This decision was passed under the witness of all mid- and high-ranking Marine officers."
"However, on the day of the meeting, Marine Headquarters deliberately refrained from inviting or consulting one particular Marine vice admiral."
"Care to guess… who didn't receive an invitation?"
!!!
Doflamingo's pupils shrank violently.
Vergo… exposed!?
But why!? When did it happen!?
Not long ago, Marine Headquarters had even transferred him from G-1Z Branch as a unit commander to become the base commander of G-5 Branch.
He had risen in one leap—from an outstanding squad leader to a regional power, holding authority second only to veteran elite vice admirals even within Marine Headquarters.
Doflamingo couldn't make sense of it.
But the battlefield before him clearly wasn't a place that allowed for calm contemplation.
Staring at Issho as he swung his blade once more, Doflamingo clenched his teeth, his expression turning vicious.
If what this Marine said was true…
Then wouldn't all his industries within the Kingdom of Dressrosa be plunged into danger!?
More importantly—
This man before him.
Doflamingo's gaze shifted as he waved his hand, raising countless white thread waves before himself to block Issho's attack.
At this moment, he realized he might not be this Marine's opponent at all!
So when necessary…
A cold, sinister light flickered wildly in his eyes.
Doflamingo glanced at Sugar behind Issho.
If it's to keep me alive, you'd be willing to sacrifice yourself for me… wouldn't you, Sugar!?
As the thought crossed his mind, the urge to flee took root.
First, he needed to verify whether this Marine was telling the truth.
If the World Government and the Marines truly intended to turn on the Seven Warlords…
Then he'd have no choice but to take his family back to the sea, just like in the old days.
This sudden upheaval did not crush Doflamingo's resolve.
Hesitation had never been part of his nature.
In an instant, his blood surged. Through the power of his awakened Devil Fruit, he spread Armament Haki across the white thread waves.
In the blink of an eye, sixteen massive white pillars erupted from the ground, launching a ferocious piercing assault at Issho.
Ultimate Technique—Sixteen Holy Bullets: God Thread…
This was Doflamingo's strongest attack!
However…
After fighting Issho for so long, he didn't believe this move would seriously injure him. But entangling him for a brief moment—there was no doubt it could do that!
The purpose of this attack was merely to carve out an escape route for himself!
With a flicker of thought, seeing Issho's figure swallowed by the pitch-blackened white waves, Doflamingo's lips curled upward.
With a flick of his hand, his body shot upward, rapidly ascending into the sky.
Yet at that very moment—
"Where do you think you're going, Doflamingo?!"
Whoosh!!!
The figure of a blind swordsman wielding a long blade suddenly appeared in midair—right beside Doflamingo.
"You may not know this…"
Issho spoke softly as the gravitational field continued to condense around him, as if he intended to cast Doflamingo into utter despair.
"Before joining the Marines, this old man once secretly visited Cake Island…"
"Though I didn't stay long, under Lord Red's guidance, I successfully comprehended a power known as Aura."
"Under the power of Aura, the thoughts in your heart are laid bare before me!"
"Today, I shall eradicate this evil for the people…"
"Together with your inescapable wickedness—fall here, pirate!"
"Gravity Blade: Divine Power—Earth-Splitting Slash!!!"
(End of Chapter)