Central Castle, the backyard.
"Whoosh, whoosh."
Pebbles whistled through the air like bullets. Charlotte Smoothie, one of the Sweet Commanders, launched them with incredible speed from fifty meters away. Beside her, Amande, Pudding, and other beautiful women readied their own stones, working quickly and efficiently.
Fifty meters away, Lucien moved in afterimages, dodging the pebbles that flew faster than ordinary bullets. His amethyst, diamond-patterned eyes flickered red intermittently. Each flicker allowed him to glimpse one second into the future, enabling him to anticipate and evade Smoothie's attacks with deadly precision.
"Faster."
Holes occasionally appeared on Lucien's body, the result of attacks he could not fully avoid.
"Yes," Smoothie replied, increasing her speed at his command. The pebbles, moving with the force of sonic booms, shot densely toward Lucien. Those he couldn't dodge left small, transient wounds—but with his rapid regeneration, they healed instantly.
Smoothie, the only female among the Sweet Commanders, carried a bounty of 932 million Berries. Her long white hair framed her strikingly tall frame, nearly 464 centimeters in height, accentuating her elegant, long legs—legs that could be admired for years.
Nine days prior, Lucien had signed a Wish Contract with Katakuri and fought for an entire day and night in the Calm Belt. The outcome had been Lucien's victory. His ability to regenerate at the cellular level allowed him to employ a destructive, no-holds-barred fighting style without concern for lasting injury.
After the battle, he rested for a day, then spent the next seven cultivating Future Prediction. Initially, he could only glimpse one second into the future at a time. Even this small span was extraordinary. Without the Wish Contract, he would never have gained such an ability.
If he continued his cultivation, Lucien knew that one day, he would predict events at will—five seconds, one minute, ten minutes, half an hour, even a full hour. And if he extended it further, perhaps a month, half a year, or an entire year… he would become untouchable.
For the past seven days, from the moment he gained Future Prediction, Lucien had been nearly sleepless, consumed with the excitement of mastering this skill. That drive led to the current scene.
"Master, Doflamingo is calling."
Galette entered, wearing a red hip-hugging skirt and high heels, holding a Den Den Mushi. She handed it to him gracefully.
"Whoosh."
A pebble grazed Lucien's forehead as he approached the resting area, the wound disappearing almost instantly. Not even a frown appeared on his face.
Sitting down, he picked up the Den Den Mushi. Galette, Pudding, and the others wiped sweat from his body and gave massages. Lucien was living the life of someone untouchable, cared for like an immortal.
"Fufufu, Master," Doflamingo's voice crackled through the Den Den Mushi, "the Marine will execute Fire Fist Ace tomorrow. A few days ago, they issued a mandatory summon to the Seven Warlords of the Sea. I must go to Marineford immediately."
Lucien accepted the cigarette Galette handed him, lighting it with a calm exhale.
"You go first. I have another target," he said, blowing smoke rings lazily.
"Yes!"
The Den Den Mushi went silent. Lucien tapped the armrest, enjoying Pudding's massage. "Tell Katakuri, Cracker, Daifuku, and Oven to return. Tomorrow, once the war begins, we'll pay a visit to Impel Down—the world's greatest prison."
Indeed, Lucien's sights were set on Impel Down. There were countless powerful figures inside. Rather than letting Blackbeard benefit, it would serve Lucien better to seize the advantage himself. He wanted to study how Blackbeard consumed a second Devil Fruit. Once he had extracted everything he could from the prison, he would turn his attention to Marineford, striking at the perfect moment.
Afternoon, clear skies.
Marineford.
The atmosphere was tense, oppressive as mountains. Tomorrow, Fire Fist Ace would face public execution. The possibility of confronting both the Whitebeard Pirates and the Revolutionary Army weighed heavily on the Marines.
From the announcement of Ace's public execution, Sengoku had ordered elite Marines and officers from all branches, fortresses across the Four Seas, the Grand Line, and New World to return. Every preparation pointed to an all-in gamble.
At Marineford Port, Vice Admiral Mosambiya waited as the Seven Warlords of the Sea were set to arrive. For a Vice Admiral to greet them personally was a sign of deep respect from Sengoku. Normally, a Captain would suffice.
"Fufufu, Marineford still impresses as always," Doflamingo said with a smirk. His pink feathered coat swayed arrogantly as he strode forward, sunglasses hiding his eyes.
"Heavenly Yaksha, Donquixote Doflamingo," Mosambiya said, his expression grave, a flicker of unease crossing his features as he regarded the audacious man.
Doflamingo narrowed his eyes at the insignia on Mosambiya's shoulder.
"Tyrant Bartholomew Kuma," he noted.
Behind him, a towering, bear-like man walked silently, holding his Bible. The sheer pressure from him caused Mosambiya to flinch slightly.
"Do not waste time. Where is the meeting room?" Kuma's voice rumbled like stone.
"Rear Admiral Sicily, please escort these two Seven Warlords of the Sea to the reception room," Mosambiya said firmly.
Doflamingo smirked at the tense Rear Admiral. "Could I trouble you for a cup of coffee, no sugar?"
Kuma remained silent, sitting like a stoic statue, Bible in hand.
"Please wait," Sicily replied.
Minutes passed, and more Shichibukai arrived.
"Gekko Moriah has arrived," the announcement rang out.
A massive figure entered, his head shaped like an onion, devilish horns protruding from his forehead, and cross-shaped stitches tracing scars down to his neck. Gothic attire and a bat-collared shirt completed his sinister appearance.
"Hee hee hee, looks like I'm not first!" Moriah laughed, but Doflamingo and Kuma paid him no attention.
"Knight of the Sea, Jinbe has arrived!"
"Dracule Mihawk has arrived!"
One by one, the room filled with legendary figures. Jinbe was no longer imprisoned, and his Shichibukai title remained intact.
Just as the room buzzed with arrivals, a commotion sounded outside, punctuated by faint exclamations.
"Hee hee hee, looks like an incredible woman has arrived!" Moriah whispered, already guessing who it could be.