The captain had gone mad!
Pirates who sailed the New World did not survive long without sharp instincts.
The moment their captain attacked, everyone nearby leapt backward. None of them appeared weak.
But their captain had already transformed into something entirely different.
His once-burly body had expanded several times over, horrifying masses of muscle resembling black steel.
Most striking of all were the uneven horns that had sprouted from his head.
Boom!
The ground exploded beneath the towering monster's feet.
He moved so quickly that his body tore through the air with a piercing crack.
Then flesh and blood erupted everywhere.
Along the path of his charge, mangled remains sprayed out to either side.
In a single breath, the stunned pirates suffered devastating casualties.
No one needed to give an order. Those still alive immediately scattered.
Several who had not eaten Devil Fruits threw themselves directly into the sea, while most leapt toward the other pirate ships anchored nearby.
The outer vessels had already begun turning away after realizing something was wrong.
"None of you will escape."
The enormous demon, surrounded by an ominous black aura, swept its pitch-black eyes across the fleeing pirates.
A moment later, every trace of reason disappeared from its gaze.
Only the desire to kill remained.
Similar scenes were unfolding across the world.
…
Sky Island.
The reports Cyrus had been waiting for soon arrived.
Robin stood beside him and read the information in his hands.
"It looks bad. Just as you said, there are far too many of them."
At least seventy percent of the Hunter Guild's branches across the world had reported demons appearing within their territories.
"Mm."
Cyrus's expression remained unchanged.
"If we don't stop them quickly, this could become disastrous. Didn't you say these creatures can infect others?"
Robin's voice carried visible urgency.
"That's true. But judging by what we're seeing, Imu can't fully control them."
Cyrus heard the concern in her voice and set the report down.
"There are simply too many. If she could control all of them properly, she wouldn't be as weak as she is."
He rested one hand on the documents.
"But the threat they pose is still real," Robin reminded him.
"Of course."
Cyrus smiled faintly.
"It also proves that she's panicking. She didn't even wait to observe the situation before recklessly playing her trump card."
Robin frowned and thought for a while before finally shaking her head.
This situation was beyond her experience.
She could not imagine any perfect solution.
"Relax. I had Crocodile make preparations in advance."
Cyrus understood what she was worried about.
"This outbreak was unavoidable. Those creatures were always a hidden danger, and I don't know what will happen to them once I drive Imu out of this world."
"If I chase her and temporarily leave, any outbreak that happens afterward could become much harder to resolve."
"So you deliberately forced the danger to surface early?"
Robin looked at him.
"Exactly. There wasn't much choice."
Cyrus nodded.
"Imu's ability is extremely troublesome. She can even project her consciousness into anyone resembling one of her dependents."
"At the moment, I have no way to prevent that."
"But the casualties will still be severe."
Robin sighed.
"That's why we need to move quickly."
Cyrus beckoned toward the entrance.
"Chairman!"
The Hunter waiting outside hurried in respectfully.
"Bring those people inside."
"Yes!"
The Hunter bowed and left.
Footsteps approached a short while later, and several people entered.
"You're not leaving with Dragon?"
Cyrus looked toward Kuma.
"The commander said my ability would be useful to you."
"That makes sense."
Cyrus nodded, then turned toward the others.
He picked up a sea chart from one corner of the table.
"I suppose this means I've been accepted into the Hunter Guild."
Doflamingo, now missing one arm, spoke when he saw the map.
"Unhappy about it?" Cyrus raised his eyes.
"No."
Doflamingo immediately shook his head.
"Even if you are, keep it to yourself and do your job properly."
Cyrus tossed the chart across the room.
Doflamingo caught it with his remaining left hand.
"Your assignment is the Four Seas. You'll travel together. The approximate locations of every target are marked there."
"The targets are those creatures? The same ones from Wano?"
Doflamingo looked up.
"Yes. Eliminate them. Leave none alive."
"That won't be easy."
Doflamingo frowned.
Cleaning out the Four Seas with only this group was absurd. They could work themselves to death and still never finish.
"The Hunter Guild is mobilizing as well. You're responsible for the powerful individuals they can't handle."
"I see."
Doflamingo tightened his grip on the map.
"And once we finish?"
Cyrus laughed.
"Negotiating already?"
"If you perform well, you can participate in the attack on Mary Geoise. Once everything is over, you'll become part of the Hunter Guild's leadership."
"You can manage a portion of the Guild's affairs or operate independently as a Hunter."
"Good."
Doflamingo nodded as soon as he heard Cyrus's promise.
That was enough.
He had received exactly what he wanted.
The price had been high, but as long as he achieved his objective, it was worth paying.
"Then get moving."
Cyrus waved them away.
Before turning, Doflamingo glanced at the Devil Fruit resting on the table in front of Cyrus.
He then left alongside Kuma and the others.
"That man may not be trustworthy." Robin spoke quietly.
"He's intelligent. Intelligent people know what they should and shouldn't do."
Cyrus rose from his seat.
"Mihawk and Issho have already left. What are you planning to do?"
He looked toward Hancock.
Hancock hesitated.
Logically, she should help Cyrus by going out and fighting.
But she had heard what he said earlier.
She feared that if she left and Cyrus suddenly departed this world, she might never see him again—or at least not for a very long time.
Cyrus shook his head when he saw her expression and did not press the matter.
He picked up the Devil Fruit from the table and headed outside.
"Come with me. It's time for us to move too."
Robin and Hancock exchanged a glance before immediately following.
…
Not long afterward, aboard the Rose Hunter.
"Over here—and that one too…"
Baby 5 directed the ship's sole crewman around the deck.
Marshall D. Teach was scrubbing the planks, though his eyes kept drifting toward one side.
Kuina and Zoro were sitting beneath a parasol nearby.
Thud!
A Devil Fruit landed on the deck and rolled to a stop in front of Teach.
He froze and stared down at it before turning toward Cyrus, Robin, and Hancock.
"Cyrus!"
Kuina and Zoro immediately rose when they saw him.
"Mm. We'll be leaving shortly."
Cyrus looked toward Teach.
"What is this?"
Teach picked up the Devil Fruit, his expression uncertain.
What was Cyrus trying to do?
"Golden Lion's ability."
Cyrus watched his reaction closely.
Teach froze, then stared at the fruit in astonishment.
"The Float-Float Fruit? Wait… the Dark-Dark Fruit…"
Understanding dawned on him.
His gaze returned to Cyrus, filled with complicated emotions.
The Dark-Dark Fruit had always been the ability best suited to him.
But Cyrus already possessed it.
That meant Teach would never obtain it.
"This is for me?"
He swallowed.
He might have lost his chance at the fruit he wanted most, but he knew how terrifying the Float-Float Fruit could be.
He had witnessed its power himself.
"For now. Issho and Mihawk are operating together, and this ship needs a suitable crewman."
Cyrus gestured toward the vessel.
"Good!"
Once Cyrus confirmed it, Teach did not hesitate.
He bit into the fruit and swallowed without changing expression.
In only a few bites, the entire Float-Float Fruit disappeared into his stomach.
"Set sail."
Cyrus raised one hand.
A gigantic green doorway appeared before the Rose Hunter.
Its doors opened to reveal a dark emerald space beyond.
The ship slowly lifted from the water and sailed straight through the portal.
News of Cyrus's departure soon reached Crocodile.
"The chairman has begun moving."
The countless thoughts spinning through Crocodile's mind briefly came to a halt.
Reports had been pouring in continuously from every corner of the world—some good, many terrible—and anything important enough to reach him required an immediate response.
He had not rested for a single moment since the declaration of war.
Even with his powerful body, exhaustion was beginning to set in.
But he did not dare stop.
"The chairman is acting personally? Is he heading to Mary Geoise?"
Reiju looked up from the mountain of documents before her.
"I don't know. Why don't you ask him?"
Crocodile glanced at the curly-browed woman.
"I'd rather not disturb him."
Reiju shook her head quickly and returned her attention to the paperwork.
"Has your father begun moving?"
Crocodile suddenly asked.
"You already know the answer."
Reiju looked back at him.
They had discussed that report earlier.
"If we asked Germa to accelerate clone production, how long would it take to create a complete army?"
Crocodile studied her closely.
"That would take a considerable amount of time."
Reiju frowned.
"Combat clones are different from ordinary workers. They require stronger bodies and properly conditioned battle instincts."
"All of that takes time."
"You want them to participate in this war? It's already too late unless the fighting continues for a very long time."
"No."
Crocodile shook his head.
He was thinking about what came afterward.
Cyrus had said that the Marines would maintain order in the future world.
But as a former pirate, Crocodile did not trust the Marines very much.
There were plenty of criminals and corrupt officers within their ranks.
He had no intention of allowing the Marines to hold all authority once the war ended.
Unfortunately, with the exception of a small number of core members, the Hunters could not be commanded perfectly.
Most of them barely listened at all.
They might obey Cyrus.
They certainly would not obey Crocodile with the same devotion.
If he wanted the Hunter Guild to stand against the Marines after the war and retain an equal voice in shaping the new world, he needed a reliable military force of his own.
A vast army of clones seemed like the ideal solution.
They would follow orders absolutely and fight without fear of death.
From what Crocodile knew of Cyrus, the chairman would not stop him as long as he could make it work.
"Contact your father for me later. I have something to discuss with him."
"All right."
Reiju was curious but did not ask questions. She nodded and returned to her work.
…
Cyrus's departure attracted little attention.
When the Rose Hunter emerged from the other side of the portal, it was already floating upon another sea.
A short distance ahead, black smoke rose from a burning island.
"Go."
Cyrus waved.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Kuina and Zoro clearly knew what they had been brought here to do.
The moment he gave the order, both launched themselves toward the island.
"You four as well."
Cyrus looked toward the others.
Robin nodded.
White arms blossomed and linked together behind her, forming two enormous wings that carried her toward the distant island.
Hancock and Baby 5 followed.
"Can I go too?"
Teach asked cautiously.
"Yes, but unless something unusual happens, you don't need to fight."
Cyrus nodded.
"Understood."
Teach had a reasonable idea of what Cyrus meant by an unusual situation.
His body floated into the air, and he followed the others toward the island.
Cyrus had already surveyed the situation with Observation Haki.
A considerable number of demons had appeared there.
However, ordinary people did not suddenly become mighty fighters simply because they were corrupted.
They were stronger than normal civilians, but they were hardly powerful by the standards of the sea.
After the initial panic, the situation had actually begun to stabilize.
Then Kuina and Zoro arrived.
Watching them fight made Cyrus frown before he shook his head.
They were still too naïve.
These creatures only needed to be killed.
Yet the two swordsmen were holding back, trying to knock them unconscious and capture them alive.
Cyrus had no intention of interfering.
Truthfully, he was no longer sure what to do with either of them.
They both possessed considerable talent.
But the current situation was too dangerous for fighters at their level to wander around alone.
Without someone watching over them, one powerful enemy could easily kill them.
Cyrus did not believe they possessed some miraculous protection simply because they resembled the heroes of a story.
At the same time, they would never grow quickly without experiencing genuine danger and battles where they were forced to use everything they had.
Cyrus scratched his cheek.
"Should I contact Koushirou and ask him to start training them again?"
He immediately reconsidered.
"No. If Koushirou learns they're with me, there's a ninety-nine percent chance he'll simply leave them in my care."
Cyrus shook his head, sat beneath the parasol, and closed his eyes to wait for the battle's conclusion.