Chapter 34

"Xilan, it must be that damn Xilan, he did it!" Akainu seethed with anger upon learning that his younger brother was to be auctioned off. He felt a deep sense of shame.

In his frustration, he took the initiative to seek out Sengoku, hoping for action against the perpetrator. However, his effort was met with a scathing response from Sengoku.

"How dare you investigate a Marine Admiral without my permission?" Sengoku thundered. "Sakazuki, are you a fool? You are not qualified to issue such orders. Remember this clearly: I am the Marine Marshal!"

Sengoku's reprimand echoed throughout Naval Headquarters, and Akainu was so thoroughly scolded that he dared not offer a word in defense, after all, such thing could lead to a civil strife among Admirals, something Sengoku would never like to see.

----

Both the Blackbeard Pirates and Marine were resolute in their mission to eliminate Doflamingo once and for all. Doflamingo's actions had drawn the ire of both parties.

On the Marine side, Akainu and Garp were dispatched. Even if they encountered Doflamingo's older brother, the Black Dragon, they were prepared to engage in combat.

As for the Blackbeard Pirates, the task was straightforward. Blackbeard himself led the comrades who had been wronged by Karma to hunt Doflamingo down.

Dressrosa found itself shrouded in turmoil as the impending clash approached. Doflamingo sensed the impending war and urgently contacted Xilan.

"Why are you panicking? This is precisely what I've been waiting for," Xilan reassured him as he arrived at the extravagant palace.

Xilan, fully clad in black with dragon scales covering his form, appeared in his second form as a black dragon.

"Big bro, Marine's Garp and Akainu are here, and they're really out to get me!" Doflamingo complained with exasperation.

"With me here, you'll be safe and sound," Black Dragon assured him, though beneath his calm demeanor, he couldn't help but feel a rare sense of pressure. While facing either Garp or Akainu alone posed no fear, the prospect of a two-on-one battle was a different matter.

"That's good," Doflamingo sighed in relief. He understood that offending so many powerful individuals could cost him his life at any moment unless he clung to the Black Dragon's protection.

That night, Doflamingo arranged the most luxurious accommodations for the Black Dragon, ensuring that he had a comfortable evening. He even sent two of his family members, Baby 5 and Violet, to cater to the Black Dragon's needs. One was responsible for foot massages, and the other handled full-body massages, creating a perfect combination. 

That night, the Black Dragon left their land of floods and droughts.

(AN: I think we all know what this sentence is trying to convey... )

At dawn the next day, numerous warships from around the world converged on Dressrosa.

The Dressrosa auction was a bustling spectacle. People had gathered for various reasons—some sought slaves, some were there purely for amusement, and others coveted the Devil Fruits on offer.

By noon the following day, the auction officially commenced. The grand venue was already packed with attendees. The enthusiastic host set the tempo, and each item up for sale was quickly snapped up.

When the Ghost Spider came up for auction, the atmosphere reached a minor climax. Princes and nobles hesitated to bid, but the pirates present had no such reservations. The Ghost Spider was eventually sold for a staggering 600 million berries to a prominent New World boss.

As the auction proceeded, the last few items were brought up for bidding, including the kidneys of Blackbeard and his associates.

"These kidneys are worth 100 million berries each!" A mysterious figure in black stood up angrily.

This person was none other than Blackbeard himself. He had arrived in Dressrosa early but wisely chose not to confront Doflamingo directly after their last encounter. Realizing that Black Dragon was the force behind Doflamingo, he knew better than to underestimate him, considering his formidable combat abilities. Even with the soul of Rocks residing within him, the Black Dragon was still a force to be reckoned with.

Blackbeard had been waiting for the right opportunity. Hearing that Marine was also making its way to the auction, he planned to exploit the chaos that would ensue when the Marines clashed with Black Dragon.

However, to Blackbeard's disappointment, the Marine did nothing during the auction itself.

As Blackbeard held his own kidney, memories flooded back. He recalled Doflamingo's cruelty when he removed the organs, causing Blackbeard excruciating pain and making him cry out in agony.

"Teach... Marine is approaching," a hoarse voice echoed in Blackbeard's mind.

He looked around, but there were no Marines on the streets nearby.

"I sensed it. My Observation Haki detected them ten kilometers beneath the sea. The Marine battleships are rapidly approaching, and they've coated their ships. There are about forty ships in total, and they seem intent on destroying Dressrosa completely."

Rocks relayed the information one piece at a time, and Blackbeard clicked his tongue in annoyance. Was this the full extent of Rocks' power? Even with just his soul, he could sense events happening ten kilometers away. If he were at his peak...

"As for the black dragon, I can't quite place it, but he feels oddly familiar. I just can't remember who he is."

Rocks' voice grew more animated. "It's a good thing we didn't act during the auction. The Black Dragon happened to be there—he's here!"

With a sudden change in tone, Rocks exclaimed, "He's in the sky!"

Blackbeard looked up, his gaze met by a colossal black dragon. Its body covered in purple patterns, the beast's malevolent and piercing eyes surveyed the scene below.

The confrontation between Marine, Blackbeard, and the enigmatic Black Dragon was about to unfold in Dressrosa.

Title: The Calm Before Chaos: Upcoming Chaotic War

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