A/N: Don't forget to check out my original novel: Can I Magic Please. It's like really good. đ
ANYWHOOO. ENJOY THE CHAPTER
---
The pirate's words echoed throughout the underground auction hall.
"If we want somethingâŠ"
He raised his sword high, his grin stretching from ear to ear.
"âŠwe take it!"
For one brief momentâ
The entire hall fell silent.
Thenâ
A shadow dropped from above.
"FuffuffuffuffuffuâŠ"
The pirate barely had time to look up.
A thin string flashed through the air.
SHNK!
The man's head separated from his shoulders.
Blood sprayed across the seats.
The severed head rolled across the floor, eyes still wide with shock.
His body stood motionless for half a second before collapsing.
THUD.
Screams erupted throughout the hall.
Standing where the pirate had beenâ
Hands in his pockets.
Pink feather coat fluttering behind him.
A grin carved across his face.
Donquixote Doflamingo.
"FuffuffuffuffuâŠ"
He glanced lazily around the room.
"If any of you have similar ideasâŠ"
His smile widened.
"âŠI encourage you to reconsider."
The hall went deathly still.
Even veteran pirates swallowed nervously.
The killing intent radiating from Doflamingo was unmistakable.
---
Several rows away, Marco watched the scene unfold with narrowed eyes.
"âŠStill as dramatic as ever."
His gaze shifted briefly toward the display containing Roger's cutlass.
'Pops probably wouldn't mind if Red Hair got that sword.'
Marco could almost hear Whitebeard's voice.
Roger's weapon belonged in worthy hands.
And among those gathered hereâ
Few were more worthy than Shanks.
But then Marco's eyes moved toward the glass case containing that fruit.
The Fenrir Fruit.
His expression hardened.
'That fruit is another matter.'
Whitebeard had no interest in legends about saving the world.
He cared about family.
Not prophecy.
StillâŠ
Marco understood one thing.
'That fruit is too dangerous to let just anyone eat.'
Without warningâ
BOOM!
A black-winged figure shot forward like a missile.
King.
In one smooth motion, he seized the reinforced case containing the Devil Fruit.
Thenâ
KRAAAAAASH!
His body tore through the auction hall wall in an explosion of stone and steel.
Moonlight flooded the chamber.
A hurricane of dust blasted across the room.
"THE FRUIT!"
"HE TOOK IT!"
Marco was already moving.
Blue flames erupted around his body.
His arms transformed into brilliant phoenix wings.
FWOOOSH!
He shot through the opening directly behind King.
Doflamingo's grin twisted in fury.
"âŠMine."
Strings burst from his fingers.
He launched himself after them.
"Fuffuffuffuffu!"
---
Back inside the hallâ
The three Red-Haired Pirates stared at the massive hole in the wall.
Shanks scratched his cheek.
"âŠSo."
Yassop blinked.
"Is the auction over?"
Giovanni folded his arms.
"I think the auction might be over."
Suddenlyâ
"D-DON'T MOVE!"
A shaking voice rang through the hall.
All eyes turned.
Trebol stood at the center aisle, slime dripping as he pointed a trembling finger at the crowd.
"S-STAY WHERE YOU ARE!"
"O-OR ELSE I'LL⊠I'LL DO SOMETHING!"
Silence.
Thenâ
Dozens of pirates stood up simultaneously.
Predatory smiles spread throughout the room.
The scent of greed became almost tangible.
Trebol took one step backward.
"âŠB-BeheheheâŠ"
"âŠOh no."
Among those risingâ
The Red-Haired Pirates stood.
At the exact same momentâ
So did Charlotte Katakuri and Charlotte Perospero.
The room seemed to shrink.
Giovanni's eyes locked onto Katakuri.
Katakuri stared back.
Neither smiled.
Neither blinked.
An invisible pressure filled the air.
Giovanni slowly stretched his shoulders.
A grin spread across his face.
"Shanks."
Shanks glanced sideways.
"Yeah?"
Giovanni pointed toward the center display where Roger's cutlass still rested.
"You and Yassop go get the sword."
His eyes never left Katakuri.
"I'll handle him."
Shanks studied his best friend for a moment.
"âŠYou sure?"
Giovanni rolled his neck.
Crack.
Crack.
His grin widened.
"Absolutely."
Inside, however, a very different thought crossed his mind.
'It's about time I learned Future Sight.'
Shanks' smile spread.
"Alright."
Without another word, he and Yassop burst forward.
Perospero clicked his tongue.
"Perorin~ Not so fast."
Candy surged beneath his feet as he shot after them.
Above Dressrosa
King blasted through the night sky.
Black wings spread wide.
The reinforced case clutched tightly in his talons.
The moonlight reflected off his mask.
Below him, Dressrosa glittered like a jewel.
Behind himâ
A blue comet.
Marco.
Phoenix flames illuminated the night as he accelerated.
"Oi!"
Marco's voice cut through the wind.
"Hand it over, yoi!"
King didn't even look back.
"âŠNo."
Marco's eyes narrowed.
"Worth a shot."
He surged forward.
His wing slammed into King's side.
BOOOOM!
The impact detonated in a burst of blue flames and sparks.
King was driven sideways.
But his grip on the case never loosened.
King retaliated instantly.
His sword flashed.
A crescent of blazing fire sliced through the sky.
Marco crossed his wings.
BOOM!
The flaming slash exploded against his guard.
Phoenix flames scattered like fireworks.
Thenâ
Thin strings shot upward from below.
Doflamingo arrived.
Coasting through the air as if standing on invisible pathways.
"Fuffuffuffuffu!"
"Children shouldn't play with other people's toys."
Hundreds of razor-thin strings erupted toward both men.
King twisted sharply.
Marco transformed midair.
The strings shredded through blue flames and black feathers.
The night sky above Dressrosa became a battlefield.
King rocketed upward.
Marco chased relentlessly.
Doflamingo followed with murderous intent.
Three monsters.
One prize.
And clutched in King's graspâ
The fruit the world feared most.
---
Above Dressrosa, the night sky erupted into war.
The moon hung high over the kingdom.
Its pale light reflected off tiled rooftops, fountains, and marble streets.
For a fleeting moment, Dressrosa looked peaceful.
Thenâ
BOOOOOOM!!
A shockwave thundered across the city.
Windows shattered.
Roofs trembled.
Citizens screamed as they looked upward.
Three monstrous figures tore across the heavens like natural disasters.
King shot forward like a black meteor.
Massive wings carved through the air.
The reinforced case containing the Dog Dog Fruit, Model: Fenrir remained clutched tightly in his grasp.
His masked face remained expressionless.
Cold.
Focused.
His only missionâ
Deliver the fruit to Kaido.
Nothing else mattered.
Blue flames ignited the sky.
Marco accelerated in full phoenix form.
Wings of azure fire spread magnificently across the heavens.
Each flap left brilliant trails of light.
Like a living comet.
His eyes remained fixed on King.
"Not happening, yoi!"
Marco tucked his wings inward.
The flames around him intensified.
Thenâ
BOOM!
He struck King from above with enough force to crater the air itself.
The impact detonated like thunder.
King was hurled downward.
Straight through the roof of a merchant manor.
KRAAAAAASH!!
Stone and wood exploded into the street below.
"Fuffuffuffuffuffu!"
Thin strings glittered beneath the moonlight.
Donquixote Doflamingo streaked through the air using his mobility.
Like a puppet master dancing among invisible threads.
His grin was wild.
Predatory.
"Mine."
Dozens of razor-sharp strings shot forward simultaneously.
Overheat.
Athlete.
Bullet.
The techniques layered over one another like a web of death.
King crossed his sword.
Flames erupted from his body.
The strings sliced through buildings instead.
Entire towers were carved apart.
Stone blocks rained onto the streets.
Civilians ran in terror.
BOOOOOOM!!
Marco slammed into King again.
Blue flames exploded across the rooftops.
King spun and unleashed a crescent inferno.
The attack cleaved through three bell towers in a single arc.
Doflamingo descended from above.
"Five Color Strings!"
His fingers danced.
Five razor cords cut through the sky.
Marco banked sharply.
King twisted.
The strings missed their targetsâ
And sliced straight through the facade of an opera house.
The structure collapsed in a cloud of rubble.
Dressrosa trembled.
Street after street erupted into chaos.
The night was illuminated by fire, blue flames, and falling masonry.
The city itself had become collateral.
---
Inside the royal palaceâ
A soldier burst into the throne room.
Panting.
Sweat drenched his brow.
"Y-Your Majesty!"
Riku Doldo III rose from his seat instantly.
"What happened?"
The soldier struggled to catch his breath.
"There is⊠a battle⊠in the sky!"
Queen Seraphina clutched the arm of her chair.
Scarlett and Viola looked up in alarm.
The soldier's voice shook.
"Three incredibly powerful pirates are fighting over the Devil Fruit!"
He swallowed hard.
"The city is being destroyed!"
Riku's expression darkened.
"How severe?"
The soldier looked pale.
"âŠEntire buildings are collapsing."
Silence filled the room.
Riku tightened his fists.
"âŠMobilize every available unit."
He looked toward the windows, where flashes of blue fire illuminated the clouds.
"Dressrosa is under attack."
---
Back in the underground auction hallâ
The chaos below had strangely settled into an eerie stillness.
Because no one dared interrupt what was about to happen.
At the center of the hallâ
Norwell D. Giovanni and Charlotte Katakuri stood facing one another.
Several meters apart.
Neither moved.
Neither blinked.
The surrounding pirates backed away instinctively.
Even Perospero halted, choosing instead to pursue Shanks and Yassop elsewhere.
Katakuri's scarf shifted slightly as he spoke.
"You are no match for me."
His voice was calm.
Matter-of-fact.
Not boastful.
Simply true.
Giovanni stretched his neck.
Crack.
Crack.
A grin spread across his face.
"Yeah?"
He rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"I'm pretty sure I'll be fine."
For a heartbeatâ
Nothing happened.
Thenâ
The air split.
BOOOOOOM!!
Dark red lightning erupted from both men.
Their Conqueror's Haki exploded outward simultaneously.
The floor shattered.
Seats were ripped from the ground.
Dozens of weaker pirates collapsed instantly.
The chandeliers overhead cracked.
Trebol screamed and dove behind a pillar.
"B-BEHEHEHEHE!"
"T-THEY'RE MONSTERS!"
The two waves of kingly will slammed into each other at the center of the hall.
The collision generated black lightning that danced wildly through the air.
The building itself groaned.
The crowd stared in horror.
And awe.
Katakuri's eyes narrowed.
The pressure continued.
Neither side yielded.
Finallyâ
The thunderous energy settled.
Katakuri exhaled slowly.
"âŠI see."
For the first time, his tone held genuine respect.
He lowered his stance.
Mochi began spreading around his feet.
"Fine."
His eyes sharpened.
"I will take you on."
Giovanni's grin widened until it looked almost feral.
"Now we're talking."
Around themâ
The underground hall trembled.
Above themâ
Dressrosa burned.
And across the kingdomâ
Monsters had begun to clash.
---
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