The moment before Doflamingo's Raigo fell, the members of the Donquixote Pirates thought they were about to die. They closed their eyes, quietly awaiting death.
"Room... Takt."
A soft, quiet voice echoed in each of their minds. Compared to the awesome power in the sky, it was nothing, but it was the medicine that would save their lives.
Right before the Marines' eyes, the Donquixote Pirates vanished. But the Marines had no time to worry about them; the immensely powerful Raigo was already descending from above.
"Ice Age!"
"Final Judgment!"
"Supreme Sword!"
Aokiji, Kizaru, and Mihawk had no time to worry about anyone else. Their immediate priority was to deal with the Raigo bearing down on them.
Lightning, ice, lasers, and sword energy endlessly intertwined, creating an earth-shattering explosion.
Everyone was engulfed. A blinding light pierced the eyes of every person still on the island.
"Aaargh!"
Screams of agony rang out, but they were quickly silenced, as the intense force of the attack vaporized them all.
From outside Puerco Island, one could see that the island itself had vanished, leaving only floating debris of earth and ice.
There were survivors, but that was no longer any of Doflamingo's concern.
Aboard the Cook Pirates' ship, Law had managed to teleport all the members of the Donquixote family, though it had taken a great toll on him.
While the crew were still in a daze, Doflamingo had already appeared at the prow of the Ark Maxim.
"Young Master!"
Someone with sharp eyes spotted Doflamingo's figure and cried out in a mixture of surprise and joy. They had survived.
"Doffy."
Enel also appeared at Doflamingo's side, carefully observing his condition.
"Go! Retreat for now," Doflamingo ordered without delay.
"Understood," Enel nodded, grasping Doflamingo's meaning.
The two pirate ships, one after the other, began to sail away from the sea region.
At that moment, Robin and the others came over from the Cook Pirates' ship to Doflamingo's side.
"Brother, are you all alright?" Robin asked with concern.
"Thanks to you all. Otherwise, the Donquixote Pirates might not have been able to escape," Doflamingo said, looking at Robin and the others seriously.
"As long as I could help you, brother."
"Mr. Doflamingo, I'm glad I could be of assistance."
"Young Master, as long as you don't blame us for acting on our own."
Doflamingo looked at each of the people who had come to their aid, taking in their expressions.
"You all did very well. Thank you," Doflamingo thanked them all.
Robin and the others were overjoyed to hear his words. After all, no one wanted to be a burden. The feeling of having been able to help was wonderful.
"Alright, Law, go check on Diamante and the others. Their condition is very bad right now," Doflamingo said, not forgetting that his officers were still lying wounded. He urged Law to hurry.
"I know," Law said with a serious expression and immediately headed into the ship's cabin.
Inside the cabin, Diamante, Gladius, and Monet lay prone, each looking worse than the last.
Pica, who had been watching over them, urged Law on, "Law, quick, save Diamante and the others!"
He was a mess of anxiety, wringing his hands, not knowing what to do.
"Pica, don't disturb Law," Doflamingo said, consoling him. "Don't worry. Leave everything to him. We all have to trust him."
"I'm sorry, Doffy." Pica knew he couldn't do anything now and that being near Law would only be a distraction.
Doflamingo and the others gathered around the three injured crew members, watching Law work.
Law took a deep breath, trying to relax as much as possible. This was his first time treating such severe injuries. He had to be cautious, careful. A single mistake, and Diamante and the others could lose their lives.
Sensing Law's tension, Doflamingo encouraged him, "Law, just do your best. We all believe in you."
Following Doflamingo's words, the others also gave Law looks of encouragement.
"I know." Receiving everyone's support, Law felt an unparalleled sense of courage.
"Let's not disturb him," Doflamingo said to the onlookers.
They were all outsiders when it came to medicine, completely clueless.
Soon, everyone dispersed, leaving only a few medical staff to assist. Not a single extra person remained.
On the operating table, Diamante's body was laid out.
"Let's begin," Law said to his assistants.
"Room."
The surgery in the cabin began. The lives of Diamante and the others were now all in Law's hands.
Outside the cabin, Doflamingo walked out, surrounded by his crew. Before he could even speak, the injuries suppressed within his body erupted. Don't think for a moment that his fight against the three had been easy.
Fighting one against three, while it looked impressive, had come at a great cost that only Doflamingo himself knew. If he could help it, he would never want to do something like that again. He had been so busy dealing with them that the price he paid was immense.
"Doffy, are you alright?" Ibes, who was walking beside him, saw that something was wrong. There was blood at the corner of his mouth, and she asked with deep worry.
"Brother, you're injured!" Robin also asked with concern.
"Young Master!"
Everyone looked at Doflamingo nervously. He was the spiritual pillar of the Donquixote Pirates; he absolutely could not fall.
"It's nothing. Just a small scratch," Doflamingo said, waving his hand to reassure them.
Hearing his words, those who didn't know better let out a sigh of relief. Only those who truly knew Doflamingo understood that the truth was certainly not what he was saying.
However, they didn't call him out on it. For now, it was best to stabilize the morale of the Donquixote family.
"Everyone must be tired from this battle. Go and get some rest," Doflamingo said to the crew.
Soon, everyone left, seeking their own quiet time to lick their wounds.
Doflamingo also went to rest. He was exhausted from the fight. If he hadn't forced himself to stay standing, he would have been captured by Aokiji and the others long ago.
Thankfully, fate was still on his side. He had succeeded once again.
Five days later, the two pirate ships drifted side by side on the boundless sea.
After five days of rest, everyone's spirits had improved, and they were gradually recovering. It had to be said, for these past five days, Law and Red-Leg Zeff had been incredibly busy.
One was busy treating the injuries of the Donquixote crew, while the other was busy preparing therapeutic meals for the wounded.
These five days were the quietest, most peaceful time they had.
Thanks to Law's treatment, Diamante and the others' lives had been saved. Diamante's injuries were the most severe, and he had yet to wake up. Gladius was next, waking up on the second day. Though it was just a single slash from Mihawk, it had sent him on a trip to death's door.
Monet's injuries were the lightest. Although both her opponents were swordsmen, Mihawk's sword was not something an ordinary person could compare to. The moment Doberman had struck her, she had consciously dodged his attack, which is why she had escaped without mortal danger.
Doflamingo, naturally, was also wrapped in bandages, big and small. He had lost his usual imposing aura and looked more like a sick person.
While they were recuperating in peace, a great tremor shook the seas.
News spread like wildfire across the ocean, causing widespread panic.
In the newspapers, Doflamingo's name once again became famous, appearing before everyone's eyes.
The Donquixote Pirates were now at the height of their power.
It had to be said, Morgans' news network was truly efficient. The battle with the Marines had only just happened, and it was already being sensationalized.
Doflamingo looked at the newspaper in his hand. The headline, "The World's Strongest, Whitebeard, Has an Enemy," was extremely conspicuous, catching his eye immediately.
"What a character, that Morgans," Doflamingo sneered. Is he trying to build me up just to tear me down?
He wondered what those who saw the newspaper would think. As far as he was concerned, their expressions would probably be quite spectacular.
"I'll remember this."
Lightning flared in Doflamingo's hand, and the newspaper vanished into nothing.
Miles and miles away, Morgans felt a sudden chill, as if someone had just put a target on his back.
"What was that?" Morgans wondered, puzzled. He quickly shook it off.
"This big news must be spread to every corner of the world! Doflamingo, you should thank me! Your name will be known by everyone!"