Chapter 97: The Birdcage, Doflamingo's Final Frenzy!
Meanwhile, on the Thunder God Ship, Issho furrowed his brow as he slowly ascended into the air from the deck.
"What is it, Uncle Issho?" Nami asked curiously.
"It seems Doflamingo is planning to leave this place," Issho replied with a grave tone.
Using his keen Observation Haki, he detected the Donquixote Family hurriedly packing their belongings, clearly preparing to flee.
"Leave this place?" Nami grabbed her binoculars and peered into the distance, noticing that the Donquixote Family, who had been there moments ago, were nowhere to be found.
"They're really gone!"
"Uncle Issho, are you going to stop them?" Nami put down her binoculars and asked.
"Helping Law take down Doflamingo is already part of our agreed plan," Issho said firmly.
"Besides, something sinister seems to be happening in this country. I cannot allow Doflamingo to escape so easily."
"Do you need our help?" Robin asked kindly.
Issho paused for a moment before smiling and shaking his head.
"No, that won't be necessary."
With that, he disappeared into the sky, heading straight for Doflamingo's location.
After Issho's departure, Nami turned to Robin with a slightly deflated expression.
"Were we just dismissed?"
Robin shrugged with a wry smile.
"I think so."
Compared to the battle-hardened subordinates of the Donquixote Family, the crew of the Thunder God still lacked sufficient strength.
Even Robin, who had been aboard the ship the longest and had mastered basic Armament and Observation Haki, could barely hold her own against a single Donquixote Family officer.
As for Nami, while her Rumble-Rumble Fruit granted her incredible offensive power and speed, she still lacked proficiency in martial arts, Haki, and combat experience. After all, she had only had the fruit's powers for a few months.
"It looks like the captain was right. We need a few years to train. We're still too weak!" Nami said dejectedly.
"It's not so bad," Robin comforted her, gently ruffling Nami's orange hair with a smile.
"You're a navigator. For now, you don't need to be overwhelmingly powerful. You're still young, and there's plenty of time to grow."
Turning to Law, Robin added, "And you, our doctor, don't need to look so guilty either."
Law twitched slightly but kept his eyes on the fierce battle between Sanders and Kaido.
He watched with intense focus, hoping to learn something from the clash of top-tier powerhouses.
Even just observing a battle of this magnitude could be incredibly enlightening.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, Nami let out a surprised exclamation.
"What is it?" Robin asked, puzzled.
"I forgot about Shirahoshi! She's been so quiet all this time—do you think Kaido's Conqueror's Haki knocked her out?" Nami exclaimed.
Nami had taken a strong liking to the adorable mermaid princess, who had joined the crew not long ago. Despite their age difference, they had quickly become close friends.
Without hesitation, Nami dashed towards the upper deck, leaving Robin shaking her head with a smile.
"Shirahoshi! Shirahoshi! Are you okay?"
On the upper deck, Nami stood by a large bed, shouting near Shirahoshi's ear.
"Hmm?"
Shirahoshi mumbled sleepily, her eyes fluttering open.
"Why did I fall asleep?" the mermaid princess asked in confusion.
"Are you okay? Do you feel unwell anywhere?" Nami asked anxiously.
"No, I don't feel anything unusual. I just… somehow fell asleep," Shirahoshi replied sweetly, her expression innocent.
"Did something happen?" she asked, tilting her head.
Seeing Nami's worried expression, Shirahoshi asked gently, "What's wrong?"
Nami shook her head with a faint smile. "It's fine as long as you're okay. You must've been knocked out by Kaido's Conqueror's Haki earlier. That monster is fighting Sanders right now... It's my fault; we should've stayed farther away."
Feeling a pang of guilt, Nami's voice softened.
"I'm really fine," Shirahoshi replied, poking Nami's cheek with her finger and giggling. "I just took a nap, that's all."
"Kaido, one of the Four Emperors? Is he like Whitebeard, the one who protected Fish-Man Island? Whitebeard was an Emperor too, wasn't he?" Shirahoshi asked curiously.
Nami nodded. "Exactly. Kaido of the Beasts, Big Mom, Whitebeard, and Red-Haired Shanks are known as the Four Emperors—Sea Emperors ruling over the New World. They're the strongest pirates out there."
Though Nami's knowledge was limited, it was enough to satisfy Shirahoshi, who had spent years isolated in the Hard-Shell Tower on Fish-Man Island, with almost no information about the outside world.
It was precisely this lack of exposure that made her so curious about life beyond Fish-Man Island.
"The strongest pirates? Then… will Lord Sanders be hurt?" Shirahoshi asked with worry.
She was deeply grateful to Sanders for freeing her from the Hard-Shell Tower and bringing her to explore the surface world.
"Don't worry! Sanders is very strong," Nami said confidently. "The New World's four strongest pirates are going to have to make room for a fifth soon!"
Shirahoshi's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Wow, that's amazing!"
Nami chuckled. "Do you want to watch Sanders fight Kaido? But Kaido's a bit scary, so don't get too spooked."
Over time, Nami had noticed Shirahoshi's timid nature, where even small frights could bring her to tears. However, after experiencing more of the outside world, Shirahoshi's confidence had noticeably improved.
"Can I?" Shirahoshi asked hesitantly, her curiosity piqued.
"Of course!"
The two quickly headed to the top deck platform.
On the way, they passed several Fish-Men lying unconscious, sprawled across the floor. Even Shirahoshi's second brother, Ryuboshi, the Second Prince of Fish-Man Island, lay on his back, mouth agape and drooling.
"Will they be okay?" Shirahoshi asked, worried.
"They'll be fine. Just sleeping it off," Nami reassured her.
Shirahoshi gently picked Nami up in her hands, and the two soon reached a vantage point overlooking the battlefield.
From their position, Shirahoshi peered out toward the battleground. The once-beautiful landscape had turned into a wasteland, with ruins stretching as far as the eye could see. Amidst the devastation, two figures could be seen clashing in an intense, unrelenting struggle.
"I don't have a telescope as big as you, so you'll have to make do," Nami joked.
Shirahoshi didn't mind at all. She stared intently at the battlefield, utterly captivated.
Meanwhile, on another front, Doflamingo, realizing Sanders could hold his ground against Kaido, decided to make a strategic retreat.
"Live to fight another day," he thought. As someone who had navigated the treacherous seas for years, he knew when it was time to cut his losses.
Within the royal palace of Dressrosa, Doflamingo's subordinates were busily packing valuables. Over the years, he had amassed an immense fortune from Dressrosa's resources and underground dealings. However, with time running out, it was impossible to take everything with him.
Doflamingo stood at a high vantage point, gazing coldly at the chaos enveloping the once-prosperous Dressrosa.
This had been his carefully crafted base of operations, and leaving it behind filled him with rage and frustration.
At that moment, Diamante approached with a grim expression.
"Doffy, the princess of the dwarves has been rescued. It must've been Viola's doing," Diamante reported.
Viola's Glare-Glare Fruit ability made her uniquely suited to locating the imprisoned princess of the Tontatta Tribe, whose whereabouts had been known to only a select few.
Doflamingo's laughter echoed ominously. "Fuffuffuffuffu!"
"What a loyal subordinate you are!" Doflamingo sneered coldly. "The slightest hint of trouble, and you betray me!"
He had anticipated Viola's betrayal to some degree but hadn't expected her to act so decisively.
Not only had she turned against him, but she had also taken the wielder of the Heal-Heal Fruit with her, costing him two significant assets in one fell swoop.
This loss infuriated Doflamingo.
"Should we send someone to catch them?" Diamante asked cautiously.
Doflamingo pondered briefly before shaking his head. "No, this isn't the time for that. But..."
A sinister smile crept across his face.
"Did you really think I'd leave so quietly? That's underestimating me far too much!"
"If I can't have it, I'll destroy it!"
Doflamingo's gaze fell upon the kingdom of Dressrosa below, his expression turning maniacal.
Raising one hand, countless thin strings shot forth, spreading high into the sky.
Like a meteor shower, the transparent threads descended, weaving together into an immense structure.
"Fuffuffuffuffu!" Doflamingo cackled maniacally. "If I'm leaving, then I'll destroy everything before I go!"
His ultimate technique.
The threads formed a massive "Birdcage", blanketing half of Dressrosa. As the Birdcage tightened, it would slice through everything in its grasp.
The reason it only covered half the kingdom?
Kaido and Sanders were locked in combat near the coast. Doflamingo knew that either of those monsters could easily break out of the Birdcage, and worse, they might turn their wrath on him.
But this much was enough.
Thanks to the ongoing battle, most of the citizens had gathered on the opposite side of the island—making them perfect targets for his sadistic plan.
"Fuffuffuffuffu!"
"I wish I could see the despair on their faces. What a shame I can't stick around."
Doflamingo laughed as he strutted forward with a cocky, arrogant gait.
Suddenly, his steps faltered. His expression turned ashen as he stared ahead in shock.
A blind middle-aged man appeared, walking toward him with a steady rhythm. The man's bamboo staff tapped against the floor with a quiet thud as he advanced.
"Issho, the Blind Swordsman!"
Diamante immediately unsheathed his rapier, glaring at Issho warily.
Issho raised his head, his empty white eyes now visible. His calm voice broke the tense silence.
"I don't know what you've done, but I think it'd be better if you stayed right here."
"Fuffuffuffuffu! Issho, was it?" Doflamingo chuckled darkly.
"You're not by Sanders' side. Aren't you worried Kaido might kill him?"
As he spoke, dozens of threads silently shot from his fingers, hurtling toward Issho like falling meteors.
Swish!
In an instant, every thread was severed, scattering harmlessly to the ground.
Issho's calm voice followed immediately.
"Kaido killing Sanders would be difficult. Sanders killing Kaido would also be difficult."
He then tilted his head slightly, adding, "And tricks like this won't work on me, Donquixote Doflamingo."
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T/N:
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