Atop the royal plateau of Dressrosa, the once-mighty Donquixote Family stood in ruins.
Only two of its members — the rotund Buffalo, user of the Spin-Spin Fruit, and the petite Sugar, wielder of the Hobby-Hobby Fruit — were spared and safely joined the Souta Pirates.
The rest of the Donquixote officers had been locked away within Capone Bege's inner fortress — his living prison. Once Dr. Vegapunk finished extracting their blood to create the synthetic "Green Blood" that replicated their Devil Fruit abilities, their lives would be discarded without hesitation.
As for Donquixote Doflamingo, the infamous mastermind behind so many tragedies — he had been completely defeated by Trafalgar Law. His body lay separated from his head, and even his heart was captured, leaving his very life under Law's control.
"Lord Souta, even if the World Government turns against me, I will never abandon the people of Dressrosa!"
King Riku Dold III once again declared his unwavering resolve. If the Government ever tried to use him as leverage against the Souta Pirates, he swore he would end his own life before dragging them into political schemes.
He even took time to comfort and prepare Viola and Rebecca, ensuring they understood his choice.
Seeing his determination, Souta Kiryuu chose not to interfere further. He allowed King Riku and Kyros to govern Dressrosa as they saw fit, hoping the kingdom's future would not fall back into the poverty and chaos it once knew.
As Viola and Rebecca tearfully waved their goodbyes, the Souta Fleet's sky armada took off once more, thundering across the clouds toward their next destination.
Aboard the Ark of Revelation
"Law, your dream has finally come true!"
Pejin, Shachi, and Bepo burst into laughter, hugging Law tightly. For the first time since they'd met him, the somber surgeon actually smiled — Doflamingo's defeat had lifted a massive weight off his heart. Even the dark circles beneath his eyes seemed to fade.
"My revenge is over," Law said softly. "But our journey isn't."
His voice carried warmth as he looked at his crewmates. He still had goals — to help Pejin and Shachi grow stronger, and to help Bepo find his homeland.
Their cheerful voices echoed across the deck, but they did not interrupt the strategic meeting happening nearby among Souta's top officers.
"Once we strike the Kingdom of Mars, the Celestial Dragons will definitely respond," said Lafitte, his pale face twisted into a sly grin. "By then, the Kingdom of Adams will surely receive direct protection from the World Government. Maybe we should ambush their reinforcements after taking Mars — a 'surround and destroy' operation."
"What's the point of hitting reinforcements?" Capone Bege scoffed greedily. "We'd be better off cutting straight through and looting the whole Adams Kingdom! After all, look how rich Doflamingo's empire made us — and that was only a decade of his work. Mars and Adams have flourished for over a thousand years. Imagine how fat those treasuries must be!"
As they debated, Nico Robin smiled faintly, glancing at the silent, frowning Souta.
"Our captain seems preoccupied — still thinking about Isaac, perhaps?" she teased lightly.
Her words drew everyone's attention toward him. Souta's eyes were sharp as blades.
"Isaac is dangerous," he said flatly. "If any of you underestimate him, you'll die. Forget the ambush idea. We finish this fast — no drawn-out fights."
The room fell silent.
Souta knew that while the Souta Pirates had grown stronger, so too had the World Government. The new global draft had replenished their forces with countless elite fighters. And the mysterious powers controlled by Imu and Isaac — those were the ones that truly made Souta uneasy. They possessed forces beyond anything he had yet to master.
"Understood."
Feeling the weight of their captain's words, the officers sobered up, their earlier excitement from Dressrosa fading into steely focus.
As the fleet sailed toward the Kingdom of Mars, Isaac had already returned to the Holy Land of Mary Geoise. News of Doflamingo's defeat spread like wildfire across the world.
"Another Warlord taken down by the Souta Pirates?"
"Will Doflamingo be forced to serve under Souta Kiryuu too?"
"How long until the last two — Hawkeye Mihawk and Jinbei the Knight of the Sea — fall as well?"
"The Seven Warlords are practically finished!"
Elsewhere on the Seas
While the world debated, Miss Bakkin trembled in fear on a remote island. She no longer dared to flaunt her title or her son's strength. Instead, she and Edward Weevil kept a low profile, plundering quietly — terrified that either Whitebeard or Souta Kiryuu might notice them.
Meanwhile, on Kuraigana Island, Dracule Mihawk read the latest news with a rare look of concern. Though confident in his power, even he couldn't ignore the overwhelming might of Souta's crew.
He had planned to rest a while, but with the Souta Fleet now hunting Warlords, he decided to leave the island and sail into the New World — to seek out Red-Haired Shanks.
"That straw-hatted boy… and the green-haired swordsman with him… both have potential," Mihawk murmured. "If I keep moving, Souta won't find me so easily."
At the same time, deep beneath the sea, Jinbei received warnings from the Whitebeard Pirates to stay vigilant. Fortunately, he reasoned, the Souta Fleet's numerous flying ships made it unlikely they'd descend ten thousand meters below the surface to Fish-Man Island. Still, one mistake could spell disaster for both him and his people.
The New World had never been this tense. Souta Kiryuu's advance through the seas was like that of a dragon crashing through boundaries — unstoppable, reshaping the balance of power.
The Red-Haired Pirates hastened to strengthen ties with Whitebeard's crew. Even Big Mom and Kaido began exchanging messages with unusual frequency.
The storm had begun.
The Government's Countermove
Under the World Government's command, several top forces were mobilized to the New World.
Aokiji (Kuzan), Green Bull (Aramaki), Garp the Fist, Peach Rabbit (Gion), and Tea Dolphin (Chaton) were stationed at the G1 Marine Base to suppress the growing chaos.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku, the "Buddha," remained at Marine Headquarters, supported by Kizaru, Zephyr, and Admiral Tsuru, to maintain order across the Grand Line and protect Sabaody Archipelago and Mary Geoise.
Meanwhile, Commander Kong and Heavenly Knight Tenmasa continued guarding the Holy Land itself alongside Isaac.
Both Marines and pirates alike kept a wary eye on the skies, terrified that Souta's floating armada might suddenly appear above their territories and rain destruction from above.
Days Later — The New World
The sea was heavy with silence and tension.
"Captain Souta! The Kingdom of Mars is in sight!"
Jewelry Bonney's excited voice echoed across the Ark's deck. The entire fleet buzzed with anticipation.
She had a personal grudge to settle — vengeance for Angel Island — and Mars was the perfect place to vent that fury.
"Those nobles of the old Celestial bloodline are said to be just as arrogant and decadent as the Celestials themselves," Lafitte said, baring his teeth in a grin. "So go wild — plunder everything you see."
Back in Dressrosa, they had shown restraint for Viola's sake. But here, there were no such limits. Against the corrupt aristocrats of Mars, there would be no mercy — rob, destroy, burn if needed.
"We should broadcast this live," Bonney laughed. "Let the Gorosei and the Celestials watch their precious nobles crumble — it would drive them insane."
The crew's laughter rolled through the clouds as the Souta Fleet descended toward the gilded, rotting kingdom below — their next conquest awaiting the wrath of the dragon.