A bustling street lined with mangrove trees teemed with people. In a single, chilling instant, all movement ceased. Every single person dropped to their knees.

Pirates, residents, even merchants from around the world, though some wore expressions of intense displeasure, they all parted to create a path.

At the end of the street, several figures with bubbles encasing their heads approached, their gait regal, as if deities descending upon the mortal realm. They were the World Nobles, the Celestial Dragons.

"So we've run into them," several pirates muttered, a glint of ambition flashing in their eyes. Assassinating a Celestial Dragon would surely make their names echo throughout the world.

However, such an act would invite the relentless wrath of the Marines and the World Government. Admirals would be dispatched without hesitation, and escape from this island would be impossible.

While Sabaody Archipelago was considered the Celestial Dragons' playground, encountering them wasn't an everyday occurrence. What were the odds of such an encounter?

The Celestial Dragons, surrounded by a retinue of servants and slaves bound by chains, approached. They stopped before an attractive woman, scrutinizing her appearance.

Then, one of the Celestial Dragons, his face etched with an conceited sneer, declared, "You. Come with me. You will be my thirteenth wife."

His tone was laced with an imperious command, and neither the kneeling crowd nor his servants reacted, their faces impassive, as if accustomed to such pronouncements.

The woman, clearly taken aback by the sudden declaration, froze, her face paling with terror.

"My lord, please spare me! I have a family!" she pleaded, dropping to her knees. She knew what awaited her, a life of servitude, likely ending in discard or even death. To be chosen by a World Noble was not an honor; it was a curse.

"Very well. I'll arrange the accommodations immediately."

The Celestial Dragon's attendant glanced at the woman with a flicker of pity, powerless to intervene. Another soul would soon be added to the list of victims claimed by the World Nobles.

Cocooned within their bubbles, these self-proclaimed gods refused to breathe the same air as commoners.

"What's that? A giant flamingo? I'm going to shoot it down!" As they waited, a shadow appeared on the horizon, seemingly materializing from thin air, gliding silently towards Sabaody Archipelago.

Others noticed the shadow as well, but their expressions were not those of wonder, but rather bewilderment. As the shadow drew closer, its form became clearer. It was not a bird, but… a person.

"Donquixote… Doflamingo… Damn it!"

The attendant, clad in a black suit, seemingly responsible for intelligence gathering, recognized the figure and attempted to intervene. However, the Celestial Dragon had already raised his pistol, aiming at the approaching crimson figure and pulling the trigger.

"you're in my way, Celestial Dragon." Doflamingo, hovering in mid-air, effortlessly dodged the bullet, his gaze sweeping over the World Noble with undisguised contempt.

"Fufufufufu. Since things have come to this, let's have some fun."

"Fufufufufu. You dare fire upon me? You have some nerve." A chilling voice, laced with malice, echoed through the air. The figure descended from the sky, landing gracefully on the island.

His face bore a sinister grin, a nightmare made flesh, his gaze sweeping over the crowd as if they were insignificant insects. His identity was unmistakable.

Donquixote Doflamingo.

Even without unleashing his Conqueror's Haki or exuding any visible aura, his presence alone sent shivers down the spines of everyone present, pirates and civilians alike. They instinctively recoiled, as if facing a Devil.

This was the gateway to the New World, and even those who hadn't seen Doflamingo's wanted poster had heard whispers of the terrifying deeds committed by the Donquixote Family.

His 340 million berry bounty was an insurmountable figure to these pirates, a fraction of his true power. This bounty had been frozen for years, a testament to his status as a Warlord of the Sea, his true strength undoubtedly far exceeding that number.

Though alone, he radiated an aura of impending doom. How could they possibly stand against such a monstrous figure? Doflamingo's presence crushed their spirits, extinguishing any flicker of resistance.

Before him, they were as fragile as dust motes, their lives hanging by a thread, the world teetering on the brink of collapse.

Sweat trickled down their backs, their hearts pounding in their chests, their minds blank with terror. Why was he here? And why now, at this most inopportune moment?

The clear blue sky, dotted with fluffy white clouds, darkened ominously, as if a storm was brewing, a palpable sense of dread filling the air.

"Warlord Doflamingo, get off of him immediately! Assaulting a Celestial Dragon is a grave offense, even for a Warlord like yourself!" the attendants shrieked.

Doflamingo, perched casually on the Celestial Dragon's back, his expression hidden behind his red-tinted sunglasses, remained unmoved.

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The Celestial Dragon, after a few futile struggles, went limp, his pampered lifestyle having rendered him weak and helpless. Crushed beneath Doflamingo's weight, he could barely speak, his face pressed against the ground.

Doflamingo rose, his gaze fixed on the darkening sky, his voice low and menacing.

"As a Celestial Dragon attendant, you should know my true identity. The only regret I felt when I killed my father was seeing those gluttonous pigs, those repulsive creatures who do nothing but indulge in their hedonistic desires. Fufufufufu…"

His voice dripped with malice, a chilling reminder of his lineage. Who was he?

A powerful pirate with Conqueror's Haki, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, and once, a member of the highest nobility, a Celestial Dragon.

No background, no authority, could intimidate him. Would he cower before a foolish World Noble? Never.

Every time he saw these repulsive creatures, he was reminded of the day his father had taken him away from Mariejois, the day he had returned his father's severed head to the Holy Land, questioning his actions, plagued by doubt. But then he remembered the agonizing fear, the uncertainty of when the bullet would come, chained and blindfolded, and his regret vanished.

These pampered fools were indeed pathetic, but if his Conqueror's Haki hadn't awakened, he might have shared their fate. Even now, as a feared pirate, his influence spanning both the underworld and the legitimate world.

Silence.

An eerie, suffocating silence.

The already tense atmosphere grew heavier, more oppressive.

Those who dared to peek at the scene froze, their expressions masks of shock and horror.

Many pirates and civilians alike stared blankly, their bodies trembling, before collapsing under the weight of the unseen pressure. "Is that… Conqueror's Haki?"

The few who remained standing finally reacted, their screams and cries of terror echoing through the streets. They weren't naive rookies; they were seasoned pirates, ready to challenge the New World. Though Conqueror's Haki wasn't unheard of, it was still a rare and formidable power.

It was the mark of a king.

"Indeed. This isn't a matter for the Marines to interfere with. It's merely an internal squabble among the Celestial Dragons."

Realizing that even the Five Elders might favor Doflamingo over that foolish, pampered pig. While the Celestial Dragons were symbols of the World Nobles' authority, their power was largely symbolic.

They would gladly embrace a powerful and influential pirate like Doflamingo, though his true lineage remained hidden from the world.

"I'm looking for a devil. Has anyone seen him?" Doflamingo's voice was low and menacing.

"No one wants to answer my question?"

His chilling voice echoed through the silent streets. When no one responded, he flicked his wrist dismissively.

That simple gesture shattered the tense silence, unleashing a wave of killing intent that seemed to darken the very sky. Accompanying this palpable aura of menace,

Several invisible strings materialized from his fingertips, slicing through the air with razor-sharp precision, their strength surpassing even steel.

The strings swept across the street, as if to bisect everything in their path.

Every person present felt their hearts seize, their pupils constricting as they glimpsed their impending doom.

A lifetime of memories flashed before their eyes.

In that single, terrifying instant, jaws dropped and eyes widened as buildings crumbled like paper, sliced cleanly by the invisible threads. The expressions on their faces were masks of pure terror.

This was the power of a Warlord of the Sea, one of the strongest individuals in the world, second only to the Admirals and the Yonko.

Those who had narrowly avoided the attack scrambled back, sweat beading on their foreheads, their hearts pounding in their chests.

"Well, it seems I wasn't specific enough. Too bad for you. Your journey ends here. The New World isn't as welcoming as you might think. Don't come crying back when you realize your mistake." His grin widened, his eyes glinting with malice.

Several pirates wanted to retaliate, but he was a Warlord of the Sea, his words carrying weight. Even if it was mockery, what could they do?

Would shouting and cursing change the outcome?

They could only swallow their rage.

"But it seems this year has brought forth some promising rookies. I hear you possess Conqueror's Haki, Fire Fist Ace. And you carry the initial D."

Doflamingo turned towards a specific point in the crowd, the very spot where his strings had been stopped. Several figures stood there, unharmed, their presence having halted his attack.

"Wait… Why does he look so familiar? Could he be…?"

The residents of Sabaody, the passing pirates, and all those present stared in disbelief at the newcomers.

With everyone kneeling before the Celestial Dragons, no one had noticed their arrival. But now, as they stood defiant, their identities were finally recognized.

It was him! Fire Fist Ace, the man who had made waves in several seas and the Grand Line, the wielder of the Flame-Flame Fruit, with a bounty of 230 million berries.

The strongest rookie to reach Sabaody Archipelago this year, even surpassing Kid from the South Blue. Only the Marine Vice Admiral, Ian, the "Black-Winged Great Devil," surpassed him. Ace's accomplishments were dazzling.

But Ian had single-handedly clashed with two Warlords, fought the world's greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk, to a standstill, and recently battled the legendary pirate, Silvers Rayleigh. Ace had refused the invitation to become a Warlord, suggesting his strength was already at that level.

Ian, however, had surpassed that level, approaching the might of an Admiral.

Many onlookers felt a thrill of anticipation, sensing the impending clash between titans.

Donquixote Doflamingo, the "Heavenly Yaksha," a Warlord of the Sea for over a decade, and Fire Fist Ace, the strongest pirate rookie.

Their collision would undoubtedly shake the the Grand Line.

Who would emerge victorious? Would the rookie dethrone the established power, or would his journey end here? Unbeknownst to most, however,

This was a clash between two lineages, the World Nobles and the D clan, the only family capable of challenging the Celestial Dragons, their numbers dwindling with each passing generation.

Both Doflamingo and Ace were descendants of royalty, though Doflamingo had abandoned Mariejois. He couldn't escape the blood that flowed through his veins, the lineage that had granted him both privilege and a burning resentment.

"While my goal is to take down Whitebeard, Shanks, and the other Yonko, defeating a Warlord is a necessary stepping stone. And I've heard tales of your exploits. You killed your own brother, didn't you? I'm sorry, but for that alone,"

"I can't forgive you. Because I also have an annoying little brother." Ace stepped out from the Spade Pirates' ranks, dispelling the Busoshoku Haki he had used to block Doflamingo's strings, his gaze fixed on the Warlord.

Whoosh! A torrent of flames erupted, accompanied by a wave of oppressive aura.

Conqueror's Haki, unleashed for the second time that day.

"And you mentioned a devil, right? He's someone I'm looking for as well…"

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