Souta Kiryuu's eyes stayed fixed on the waves, his gaze sharp and cold as he watched the sea's surface. He had to make sure Isaac was truly gone.
If Isaac were to ambush them now, only Souta and Barrett might be able to fend him off — the rest of the crew would be helpless before that monstrous cyborg.
"Clean up the battlefield," Souta ordered gravely. "We're heading back to the airship — prepare to depart immediately!"
He couldn't deny it: Isaac, with that Fishman blood running through his veins, gave him more pressure than even the Five Elders themselves.
At least when the Five Elders moved, Violet could use her Devil Fruit to sense their presence. But Isaac — lurking somewhere in the deep sea — was undetectable. That was far more terrifying.
Following Souta's command, the Dragon Pirates moved quickly, looting the Donquixote Family's treasure vaults and seizing every piece of hidden wealth.
At Monet's urging, Sugar released her Toy Contracts on Dressrosa's citizens, turning them back from puppets into human beings once more.
Memories returned. Faces long forgotten came flooding back. The people's rage toward the Donquixote Family burned hotter than ever.
Even the toy soldier, Kyros, regained his true body.
Before all this, Souta had already told Rebecca the truth — that the toy soldier had always been her father. But knowing and feeling were two different things. When her memories came rushing back, Rebecca threw herself into Kyros's arms and sobbed uncontrollably.
The soldiers of King Riku's army — who had also been turned into toys — wept with raw emotion as they returned to human form, swearing loyalty once again to King Riku III and restoring his reign over Dressrosa.
However, the pirates, marines, and bounty hunters who had been transformed into toys did not return.
Those toys would now serve as the Dragon Pirates' Second Toy Legion, second only to the Moon Mechanical Corps — obedient and powerful.
King Riku III, Princess Violet, Rebecca, and Kyros all expressed their deep gratitude to Souta Kiryuu.
But now, Violet bore the insignia of the Dragon Pirates — she was one of them.
After a long discussion, it was decided: Violet and Rebecca would remain aboard the flying fleet, while Kyros stayed behind to help King Riku III rebuild and govern Dressrosa.
After all, the matter of Princess Scarlett's "death" and secret marriage to Kyros was something very few people knew about.
Souta didn't mind Riku III's decision to stay — as long as Violet, the wielder of the Glare-Glare Fruit, remained under his command, that was enough.
Now, the entire Donquixote Family and their underground operations had fallen into Souta's hands.
Robin and Lafitte immediately began negotiations with the Queen of the Pleasure District, Stussy, the News Emperor Morgans, and the Golden Emperor Tesoro to jointly control the Donquixote Family's underground empire.
Souta even ordered a share of the profits to be given to the Revolutionary Army — to expand this cake together, and make it bigger than ever before.
Far beyond Dressrosa's shores, the G-5 Naval Base Fleet was sailing at high speed when a terrifying presence suddenly appeared before them.
Vice Admiral Vergo broke out in a cold sweat.
If it hadn't been for the Marine uniform the man wore, Vergo might have jumped overboard out of sheer terror.
"There's no need to go to Dressrosa," Isaac said coldly, his tone carrying absolute authority. "Doflamingo is finished. Take me to Mariejois — now."
He flashed his Cipher Pol insignia — the seal of the CP Chief himself. His face was emotionless as he issued the command, treating Vergo like some low-ranking grunt.
Even CP0 agents didn't bother acknowledging Marine Admirals or even the Fleet Admiral — and Isaac, the Chief of CP, stood above them all.
To him, Vergo — a mere Vice Admiral — was nothing but an insect.
The rank of CP Chief was second only to the Commander-in-Chief, Kong. But Isaac didn't even hold Kong in high regard. In his eyes, he was an equal to the Five Elders — a partner, not a subordinate.
"Sir… my orders are to rescue Warlord Doflamingo," Vergo said nervously.
Isaac's expression didn't change, but the chill in his gaze was enough to freeze the air itself.
"You're defying my orders?" he asked quietly.
The tension snapped.
Before Vergo could even reply, BOOM!
Isaac's kick smashed into him like a thunderclap, sending him flying into the main mast. His Armament Haki-infused bamboo staff shattered instantly.
"Ugh—!"
Vergo spat blood, his face pale as death. Around him, the G-5 marines could only stare, trembling and swallowing hard as their commanding officer was brutally crushed before their eyes.
"Turn the fleet around," Isaac ordered coldly. "We're heading for Mariejois."
"Yes, sir!" the junior officers stammered, not daring to breathe as they obeyed the CP Chief's order.
Vergo could only watch helplessly as his fleet turned away from Dressrosa — and with it, his last hope of saving Doflamingo vanished.
Doffy… I'm sorry. I've failed you.
That was his final thought before he lost consciousness.
Isaac's single casual strike had been enough to crush a Vice Admiral — a man skilled in Armament Haki — in an instant.
He then raised a communication transponder snail. "Mission failed," he said flatly. "Doflamingo has not been eliminated."
Of course, he'd never intended to complete that mission — his focus had been entirely on Souta Kiryuu's blood. But he still needed to keep the Five Elders calm and cooperative.
A low, rumbling voice came through the line — that of Saint Saturn himself.
"You engaged Souta Kiryuu, didn't you?" Saturn asked coldly.
A smirk tugged at the corner of Isaac's mouth. "His Conqueror's Haki… seems stronger than yours."
The words dripped with arrogance — whether he meant to elevate Souta or mock the Five Elders, even Saturn couldn't tell.
"Return to Mariejois," Saturn ordered icily. "When you arrive, you'll resume studying the Primordial Energy and review Vegapunk's remaining research notes. Lord Imu is particularly interested in the Project: Holy Flame. If you can unravel its secrets, your reward will be everything you've been seeking."
Isaac's gaze hardened. He could hear the threat beneath the Elder's calm tone — but he needed their research, their secrets. Without them, his experiments would never advance.
"Understood," he replied coldly.
Meanwhile, news of Dressrosa's downfall spread through the underworld like wildfire.
Doflamingo — the broker emperor of the black market — had fallen. Every faction he'd ever dealt with was in chaos.
Within days, the Golden Emperor Tesoro publicly declared he would take over Doflamingo's underground empire, backed by both Stussy and Morgans — the twin sovereigns of the shadow world.
The other four dark emperors — Dragul Pyklo, Du Feld, Giberson, and Umit — dared not move.
They sensed danger — the shadow of the Dragon Pirates loomed behind it all.
None of them were foolish enough to reach for a piece of meat that Souta Kiryuu already had his hand on.