"Sables!"

With a cold shout, the yellow sand swept across the ground like it had received a command, suddenly surging violently.

In the blink of an eye, the swirling sand condensed into a towering sandstorm over ten meters high, roaring toward the three fighters in the melee with crushing force.

"A sandstorm?!"

"A Logia-type Devil Fruit user?!"

"That ability... It has to be him!"

...

The sudden upheaval made the nearby Marines tense.

In the midst of battle, Doflamingo and the other two reacted instantly, retreating in perfect sync as they activated their abilities!

Threads surged like saw blades, blades flashed like waterfalls, and shadows twisted like serpents...

Together, they shredded the massive sandstorm hurtling their way!

The next second, all three figures shot backward out of the swirling sand and landed steadily, cold smirks on their faces as they stared at the figure forming at the center of the storm.

"Kuhahaha, not bad."

"But if that's the best you've got, you're not qualified to stand alongside me as one of the Shichibukai..."

A low, mocking laugh echoed. The flying sand began to settle, as if alive, and the figure at its core gradually became clear.

A tall man appeared, clad in a mafia-style overcoat, an orange vest, and black trousers. His hair was slicked back, and a lit cigar hung from his mouth.

His left wrist was gone—replaced with a gleaming golden hook.

"It's Crocodile!"

"Bounty: 281 million Belly!"

"They say he was the first Great Pirate recruited into the Shichibukai!"

"Wait... why is he missing a hand too?!"

"Hold on... among all the Shichibukai candidates here—besides Doflamingo—everyone's lost an arm!"

As the Marines around them exclaimed, Crocodile narrowed his eyes. His smile froze briefly, like he was recalling something unpleasant.

Moria's eye twitched as well.

"Fufufufu, looks like it's true, huh?"

Just then, Doflamingo let out a sly chuckle, fingers twitching as he eyed the three before him with mock amusement.

"Is this the latest trend or something?"

"As a fellow Shichibukai, maybe I should chop off one of my arms too?"

Crocodile's eyes sharpened.

Clang!

A blade of sand clashed midair with a bundle of silk threads, erupting in a deafening boom.

"Fufufufu, struck a nerve, did I?"

Doflamingo licked his lips and sneered at Crocodile, whose arm had crumbled into floating sand and whose gaze had turned deadly.

"Crocodile, right? I remember your name…"

"You wrecked two of my bases in the New World. I haven't settled that score yet..."

Crocodile sneered.

"Scum like you are what disgrace the name of pirates. Can't cut it as a real one, so you scurry into the underworld like a filthy rat… I just couldn't stand watching it."

As he finished, his arm suddenly expanded. With a powerful swing, a massive desert blade tore through the earth, howling toward Doflamingo.

"Fufufufu, still better than you one-armed weaklings dreaming of being a Shichibukai!"

Doflamingo burst into wild laughter.

His words spurred Moria and Mihawk to act as well.

All three launched their attacks at the blond youth who had been mocking them!

"Desert Spada!"

"Tsuno-Tokage!"

...

The devastating sand blade, the razor-sharp shadow spear, the cutting force of a sword slash... all thundered down, laced with deadly killing intent!

Doflamingo's pupils shrank behind his shades.

But in that moment—

"Fishman Jujutsu: Kairyu Ipponzeoi!!"

Boom!!

The oval-shaped military port was thrown into chaos. As countless bubbles surfaced, a raging torrent erupted from beneath the sea, surging upward with terrifying force and shattering all three attacks instantly.

Everyone, including Doflamingo, froze in disbelief.

Splash...

A downpour of seawater rained from the sky.

At some point, a towering figure had appeared in front of Doflamingo.

His skin was blood-red, his body massive and muscular. Clad in casual clothes, with thick lips and steam rising off him—he looked like a monster.

"Fishman?"

Crocodile frowned as he sensed the sudden rise in humidity.

Moria's expression darkened as well. After being drenched in seawater, he felt his control over the shadows grow sluggish.

"It should be about time, right?"

The towering, blood-red fishman stood with clear water swirling around his arms, eyes locked sternly on the "one-armed trio" before him.

Only then did the nearby Marines get a clear look at his face.

"It's Fisher Tiger—the Blood Dragon!"

"Bounty: 263 million Belly!"

"The only fishman among the Shichibukai!"

"Why is he helping Doflamingo?!"

"Wait—don't tell me it's because he still has both arms like Doflamingo?!"

...

The Marines buzzed with speculation, as if they'd stumbled onto some hidden connection.

Doflamingo glanced at Fisher Tiger and curled his lips into a smirk.

Of course he knew why Fisher Tiger stepped in—it had nothing to do with missing arms.

It was because back then, he and his Godfather were the ones who rescued this guy from the Celestial Dragons.

"Fishman, why are you helping that guy?" Moria asked sharply.

Fisher Tiger replied coldly,

"That's none of your concern."

"But if it's a fight you want, I'm happy to oblige!"

He turned and leaned toward Doflamingo, murmuring,

"Thanks for the help with those ships."

Doflamingo shrugged.

Just a few slave trade route details from the underworld. Since the guy wanted them, he handed them over. He'd never been interested in that outdated business anyway.

Not that it had anything to do with a certain man telling him to stay away from it.

Hearing Fisher Tiger's words—and watching the two still-armed men exchange silent signals—Crocodile, Moria, and Mihawk glanced at each other.

Slowly, the tension in the air thickened as battle lust flared.

The two sides subtly shifted into formation. Swords drawn, claws ready, the atmosphere grew dense, like a storm waiting to break.

Around them, the Marines watched, faces flushed with a mix of nerves and excitement.

"It's about to start…"

"A full-on clash between the Shichibukai!"

"The one-armed camp versus the full-armed camp!"

...

A brawl between Shichibukai—this was the kind of rare spectacle most people wouldn't witness in a lifetime.

And here they were, front row, popcorn in hand.

At the same time...

Powerful figures began arriving from the distance, flashing into view one by one.

Their long, white capes billowed behind them as they lined up atop the fortress wall in a commanding display.

"These Shichibukai are getting way too reckless..."

"Do they think this is just some playground?!"

"Looks like Admiral Sengoku wants to see what they're really made of..."

"Then let's wait and watch."

As the commotion mounted, the surrounding Marines turned their heads.

"It's the elite officers of our 'Golden Generation!'"

"Almost all of them are here!"

"Rear Admiral Gion, Rear Admiral Yamakaji, Rear Admiral Onigumo, Rear Admiral Doberman, Commodore Strawberry..."

...

Gazing at the commanding line of officers standing tall atop the wall, a surge of pride welled up in their chests.

The battlefield quieted.

Five Shichibukai faced each other in a tense standoff, lines drawn.

Water churned around Fisher Tiger's arms.

Doflamingo twitched his fingers, lips twisted in a grin.

Moria's shadow writhed behind him.

Mihawk stood with cold eyes, his black blade seeming to devour the light.

Sand spiraled around Crocodile's body.

The air was taut—like a bowstring pulled to its limit, ready to snap at any moment.

...

(100 Chapters Ahead)

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