Bang!
A punch wrapped in Haki slammed into the wall, embedding itself deeply. Monet's half- elementalized body proved her Logia ability was completely ineffective against Zephyr. Her slender form was stuck in the stone wall, and she wouldn't be getting out anytime soon.
Monet barely opened her right eye and looked down. Gladius, Giolla, Buffalo, Baby 5, and the others were all defeated.
"As expected of... an Admiral,"
Monet managed to utter this last phrase before collapsing into unconsciousness, her body still stuck in the wall.
Plap! Plap! Plap!
Zephyr continuously slapped Señor Pink's chubby face, stating coldly, "I've seen too many ability users who can only rely on their Devil Fruit powers."
With the final Donquixote Family member, Señor Pink, collapsing, Zephyr looked down at the floor, a ferocious, never-before-seen grin appearing on his face after sixty years of life. "Hmph. Scum of the sea!"
"Ugh... Argh!"
Zephyr suddenly frantically clawed at his own face with both hands, suppressing the surge of crazed blood in his heart and head. He hastily pulled out a tranquilizer spray from his pocket and squirted several large doses into his mouth.
The anger, a great rage, was causing the Blacklight Virus to influence him, nearly transforming him completely into a monster.
Meanwhile, the soldiers who had initially been defeated by Gladius and the other Donquixote officers stared wide-eyed at Zephyr.
It ended that fast?
"Wait, wait, is this a joke?"
"He defeated all those terrifying monsters... alone?" "Who exactly is he?"
Zephyr managed to suppress the Blacklight Virus's worsening condition. He stood up and looked at the overall situation of Dressrosa projected on the surveillance Den Den Mushi screen. He saw that Doflamingo, along with his three top officers, had appeared, holding King Riku by the neck and beginning to suppress the Royal Army.
"There were still many sacrifices, but at least the casualties here were prevented. This must be my limit, I suppose," Zephyr muttered to himself. "Just you wait, Doflamingo, you traitor who dares to usurp a nation. Although I don't know why you're allowed to be a Warlord, you have severely violated the agreement."
"Excuse me, but who are you exactly..."
Just as Zephyr was about to leave to confront Doflamingo, a few soldiers stood up and asked him.
Zephyr paused, suddenly recalling a moment from his childhood, wearing a mask from a hero movie and striking a pose. He gave a light laugh. "Z."
"Z?"
The soldiers were confused; this was clearly not his real name.
"King Riku is being manipulated by Doflamingo's ability. Immediately inform the townspeople of this. Hurry. I will deal with Doflamingo."
After saying this, Zephyr quickly left.
Meanwhile, the "hero," Doflamingo, had descended from the King's Plateau to the ground. He held King Riku by the neck and noticed he was unconscious, but his expression of confusion lasted only half a second. Doflamingo continued with the initial script, standing above his three officers, and declared, "I am Donquixote Doflamingo! We have come to save this country!
Trebol, Pica, Diamante! Go and clean up the scum in this country!"
The three top officers, under Doflamingo's command, flashed toward the un-manipulated Royal Army and were just about to attack.
In a sudden instant, a black blur appeared. With a single strike, the three top officers of the Donquixote Pirates were sent flying back to Doflamingo's feet.
"Cough, cough..."
Diamante touched his jaw, which had been knocked askew, and managed to look up. He said angrily, "Who is it?"
Doflamingo's previously arrogant expression turned serious. He looked at the man slowly emerging from the smoke. Normally, he might have been able to laugh it off, but this was about his future grand scheme, and an unexpected variable appearing midway completely wiped the smile from his face.
"It's you, huh..."
Doflamingo's face was taut. Zephyr's figure was fully revealed to the crowd. He pushed his glasses up on his nose. "Ah, it is me, indeed. Scum of the sea."
"Zephyr, is it?" Trebol's snot stretched out long from his nose as he spoke with extreme apprehension.
How did such a troublesome individual show up at the most crucial moment? "Another strange person appeared."
"Who is that man?"
"Is he a pirate too? But, he just hit those pirates, didn't he?"
Normally, Zephyr would have shouted, "I am a Marine, everyone remain calm!"
But now he did not. Instead, he coated his hands in Armament Haki and shouted as he charged toward Doflamingo and his crew, "I am... Z!!!"
"Damn it!"
Diamante drew his sword and rushed forward to meet the attack, thinking that he had just been careless earlier. The opponent was just an old man in his late sixties, so there was nothing to worry about.
"Get lost!"
Zephyr's move was a simple one, and his counter-attack was a simple punch. It instantly shattered Diamante's sword and landed heavily on his painted face.
Whoosh!!
Diamante's body spun and was sent flying backward, but Zephyr was still advancing.
Trebol and Pica also utilized their abilities, with a sticky, curved attack and a heavy punch, quickly approaching Zephyr.
"Ability users with power but no skill, get out of my way!"
Zephyr's Armament Haki erupted, making his entire upper body pitch black. With a punch and a kick, he sent the two remaining top officers flying away.
"Is this a coincidence? Or... did Alucard..." Doflamingo muttered through gritted teeth, just as Zephyr arrived right in front of him.
Far away, at the ruins of Arderay Kingdom, many members of the Alucard Pirates watched the scene broadcast on a visual Den Den Mushi—the battlefield between Zephyr and Doflamingo in Dressrosa.
"Amazing! Indigo, how did you manage to broadcast something like this?" Matthew gave Dr. Indigo a thumbs-up.
Dr. Indigo laughed exaggeratedly. "Well, I was the one responsible for the visual Den Den Mushi broadcast when Shiki attacked Marineford. This is nothing difficult."
And Alucard, in the inner hall of the castle, was also watching the show. Which direction will the situation develop now?
———————
Want to read ahead of schedule? Head over here ——— pa-tre-on.c-om/AlexandrusTL [remove the hyphen for normal access]