The Blackbeard Pirates had officially made their exit from the world stage, but the chaos within Gran Tesoro continued to escalate.
The entire ship was in an uproar. Because Law and Chopper had managed to knock Sugar unconscious, tens of thousands of toys had reverted to their human forms, sparking riots in every corner of the vessel.
Alucard, Dr. Vegapunk, Kuma, and Aranea remained within the Golden Colosseum. They were joined by Edward Weevil, newly deceived into joining the crew by Dr. Vegapunk, and the Whitebeard Pirates led by Ace.
The Sabertooth, originally led by Queen the Storm, had quickly weighed anchor and retreated as soon as Alucard obtained the Tremor-Tremor Fruit and Queen had left the arena. Queen had no desire to be dragged further into this mess.
Meanwhile, Doflamingo encountered Law and Chopper in front of the Royal Hotel. Law had just stepped out of the hotel elevator with Chopper, the entrance serving as their meeting point.
Stepping out onto the street, Law found Doflamingo standing in the center of the road, waiting for them.
"So you predicted my movement, Doflamingo?" Law said coldly, putting Chopper down.
Terrified, Chopper scurried behind Law, grabbing his calves with both hands, though his "hiding" was as backwards as ever. "Gyaaah! It's Doflamingo! Help!"
"Fuffuffu... you did well, Law. But you underestimate the Donquixote Alliance. We are a power in the New World second only to the Yonko. Did you really think you and that scatterbrained Straw Hat could topple my position?"
Doflamingo flicked his tongue and snapped his fingers. Snap! The images projected by the nearby visual Den Den Mushi shifted, showing the Donquixote Alliance systematically suppressing the riots.
The toy-driven uprising was already showing signs of being quelled. As expected of the Donquixote Alliance, they were capable of resolving such a massive incident in a remarkably short time.
"Heh... heh heh..."
Law let out a cold chuckle, causing Doflamingo's smile to falter and a look of confusion to cross his face. "You're the one who doesn't understand the situation, Doflamingo."
Law pointed to a screen in the upper left. "Look."
Doflamingo turned toward the large display. What he saw made his expression shift to one of shock. Ace and the Whitebeard Pirates had rendezvoused with Monkey D. Luffy, Roronoa Zoro, and the cyborg Franky; together, they were engaged in a fierce battle with Tesoro.
Simultaneously, another screen showed Revolutionary Army members Sabo, Emporio Ivankov, and the Mirage-Mirage Fruit user Harley pushing back the Donquixote Alliance officers with overwhelming force.
Even within the supposedly "neutral" Immortal Pirates, the Barto Club and the Bonney Pirates were actively clashing with Donquixote's men.
"These guys!"
Doflamingo's arrogant, carefree facade finally cracked, replaced by a flash of panic.
Law continued to sneer. "Straw Hat Luffy's value lies in the fact that he is brothers with the acting captain of the Whitebeard Pirates and a chief officer of the Revolutionary Army. I simply leaked the news that he was in danger to his two older brothers. Furthermore, Bartolomeo-ya and Bonney-ya are allies I went to great lengths to bring in. My apologies for lying earlier when I said the Immortal Pirates would remain neutral in our fight."
Suddenly, the battlefield had shifted: it was now the Heart Pirates, Straw Hat Pirates, Whitebeard Pirates, Revolutionary Army, Barto Club, and Bonney Pirates versus the Donquixote Alliance.
With these forces combined, the outcome of the war was no longer certain.
Doflamingo's fatal mistake was forgetting Luffy's family background. Had his father Dragon, the semi-retired Garp, or his late benefactor Shanks all shown up, the war would have been over before it began.
That was impossible, of course. But even so, the victory had become a giant question mark.
Doflamingo fell silent for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing. Like Alucard, these extraordinary men seemed to love laughing in the face of chaos. "That remains to be seen, Law. Look at the screens again."
"Hmm?"
Law and Chopper looked up. On the giant display, the Revolutionary Army members who had been sweeping through the Donquixote forces were suddenly blocked. Their path was barred by the Iron Arm Pirates, subordinates of the Immortal Pirates, along with Cavendish of the Golden Hair Pirates.
Meanwhile, the Whitebeard Pirates led by Ace were blocked by Weevil. Standing behind him were Dr. Vegapunk, Aranea, Kuma, and over a dozen Pacifistas, all in standby mode.
"They..."
Law's expression darkened significantly. In just a few minutes, the tides of war had shifted yet again.
"Fuffuffufu! I just received word. Weevil has joined the Immortal Pirates, and the Blackbeard Pirates have been wiped out, slaughtered by your Captain. Alucard has no interest in world domination, but his subordinates are quite keen on the idea. Do you think they would sit idly by when such a perfect opportunity presents itself?"
Doflamingo laid out the strategic reality. "Treasure has already gone to attack the Straw Hat's ship. The Goddess of Victory is standing with me, Law!"
Chopper gasped. The Thousand Sunny was being attacked by one of the Warlords of the Sea? This was bad.
"Dammit!"
Law grit his teeth and drew his odachi. Even if it meant a direct duel to the death, he had to kill Doflamingo. Though his primary goal was to personally hunt down officers like Gladius and Trebol, those who were involved in the death of Corazon, he now had no choice but to focus entirely on the man in front of him.
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