Chapter 122

"Yasakani no Magatama!" Kizaru bellowed from his position in the air, unleashing a barrage of light beams aimed at the pirates, who were overwhelming the Marines. Despite their lower numbers, the pirates held the upper hand, pushing the Marines back with relentless ferocity.

Just as the light beams were about to wreak havoc on the pirate ranks, a powerful ripple emanated from the shore, with Issho at its center. "Fierce Tiger!" he roared, his voice carrying the weight of his immense power. A colossal burst of gravity erupted from him, clashing with the incoming light projectiles.

The force of Issho's gravity was so intense that even the beams of light seemed to bend and warp under its influence. The battlefield was momentarily bathed in a surreal, distorted glow as the gravitational force countered Kizaru's attack. Within moments, the light projectiles dispersed, their destructive energy neutralized by the overwhelming gravity.

Kizaru's usual smirk faltered for a moment. "Interesting, Issho, was it ?. You're quite an interesting fellow; I wonder how someone like you ended up with such a pirate group," he muttered, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the gravity-wielding warrior below.

Issho's expression remained calm and focused. "I hope you don't target the rest; I will be your opponent," he declared, his voice steady despite the chaos around him. He raised his sword, channeling his gravitational power to create a barrier that protected the pirates from further aerial assaults.

The pirates, emboldened by Issho's display of power, renewed their efforts. Cannons fired in unison, their thunderous booms echoing across the battlefield. The air was thick with smoke and the scent of gunpowder, and the ground was shaking with each explosion.

Aokiji, not to be outdone, stepped forward with a determined look. "Ice Age!" he shouted, sending a massive wave of ice toward the shore. The ice crept forward rapidly, freezing everything in its path, intending to immobilize the pirates and their artillery.

But before the ice could reach its target, I stepped in, raising my hands to summon a storm. Lightning crackled in the sky, and with a swift motion, I directed a barrage of lightning bolts at the advancing ice. The intense heat from the lightning strikes caused the ice to melt and evaporate, turning it into a thick, obscuring mist.

"Nice try, Kuzan-san, but you're forgetting that I'm still here," I said, my voice filled with determination. The battlefield was now shrouded in mist, adding an element of uncertainty to the clash.

Kuzan looked at me, his expression serious. "Ross, are you sure you want to do this? You weren't meant to be a pirate," he commented, trying to reach out to the part of me that once had a different path.

Before I could respond, I detected an attack from my flank. I unsheathed Kitetsu, coating it with Armament Haki. "Clang!" The resounding clash echoed as my sword met Tsuru's arm, also coated with Armament Haki.

"Hehe, Tsuru-san, did you think I would fall for such a trick? You'll have to try better next time if you want to catch me off guard," I taunted, a smirk playing on my lips.

As our weapons clashed, the impact sent shockwaves through the mist. Black lightning crackled and tore through the skies, targeting both Kuzan and Tsuru. They quickly realized the seriousness of my attack. Tsuru's Paramecia fruit was particularly dangerous if she could come into contact with her enemies, especially those who did not possess a high level of Armament Haki or Haoshoku.

Kuzan moved swiftly, his ice powers forming a shield to intercept the lightning. "Ice Wall!" he shouted, creating a thick barrier of ice that absorbed the brunt of the lightning strikes. The air sizzled with the intense heat and energy of the clashing elements.

Tsuru, on the other hand, gracefully dodged the lightning bolts, her experience and agility allowing her to evade the deadly strikes. "You're strong, Ross, but don't underestimate us," she said, her voice calm but with an edge of determination.

I didn't let up, pressing my advantage. "I won't underestimate you, Tsuru-san. But you should know by now, I am not the same Rosinante you Marines ambushed back in Marineford." I pushed forward, my sword swinging in a blur as I aimed to break through their defenses.

"You Majesty, we should take this chance to support the Marines. We can hit them hard and fast; they are already being overwhelmed by the pirates," one of the ministers suggested urgently as the entire eastern port succumbed to chaos. King Riku stood with more than a hundred thousand of his troops behind him, but he had yet to give the order to attack.

Doflamingo, standing leisurely on the pier, had not yet engaged in combat. He was merely observing the fight, a smug grin on his face. Riku knew that the Donquixote brothers must be aware of their plans to attack from the rear. Doflamingo was waiting for Riku to make the first move.

As a cautious man, Riku wanted to see how the fight would unfold because, from the current situation, it seemed that the Donquixote family had the upper hand. Especially Ross, who was holding back two of the highest-ranking officers single-handedly. The mysterious lightning strikes that had recently plagued Dressrosa now made more sense.

"No, have you not noticed yet? Doflamingo has yet to join the battle. We cannot risk it," King Riku declared, his voice steady despite the rising tension.

However, the other ministers did not share Riku's caution. "Your Majesty, we have more than a hundred thousand soldiers ready to fight. This is our best chance to take down the Donquixote pirates. If we wait any longer, they will establish a stronger base, and it will be too difficult to remove them," another minister argued, his tone filled with urgency and desperation.

"Yes, Your Majesty, this might be our one and only chance to drive the pirates away from Dressrosa," the minister in charge of Balsa urged. After a few seconds of contemplation, Riku finally relented to the pressure.

"Let's drive all the pirate scum out of Dressrosa! Charge!" Riku bellowed, leading from the front as more than a hundred thousand troops rushed forward, their battle cries echoing like a tidal wave of justice.

"Hehehe, so they finally couldn't hold back anymore, huh?" Doffy chuckled, turning towards the incoming army from the rear. This was all part of their plan; they had anticipated Riku trying to team up with the Marines.

"My little brother is too soft sometimes, but now that you've attacked us first, it's only right that we retaliate," Doffy declared, his voice dripping with menace. He turned towards the advancing army, and three kids arrived next to him, ready to confront the soldiers.

Tsuru, who was fighting me, felt a sinking premonition. Despite the overwhelming numbers rushing towards them, Doflamingo stood unfazed. "Kuzan, stop Doflamingo. I don't like where this is going," Tsuru commanded, her voice tinged with urgency.

Kuzan disengaged from our fight, but Tsuru underestimated me. "Lightning Dragon!" I shouted, as Kitetsu traced the ground, creating a barrier of lightning that restricted the two officers from confronting my brother.

"Hehe, Vice Admiral Tsuru, you seem quite adamant about eliminating my brother. May I know if you have a personal grudge against him?" I taunted, my voice dripping with mockery.

"Busoshoku Koka!" Tsuru clad herself in Armament Haki, bracing for the powerful, lightning-clad slash that struck at blinding speed. Kuzan quickly raised an ice shield in front of her, buying her precious seconds to dodge the attack.

"You guys shouldn't interfere. Riku needs to understand that every little action has consequences. I've been holding back my brother since we arrived in Dressrosa, but now Riku himself is giving us a chance to let loose. He can only blame himself," I chuckled as my Lightning Dragon clashed with Aokiji's counterattack.

"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!" A massive blue bird of ice manifested, but the black dragon tore through it, shattering it into hundreds of pieces.

"I hope you guys watch what happens carefully. Dressrosa is no longer the domain of the World Government," I remarked, my eyes gleaming with determination, as the Dressrosa army closed in on Doffy and the three kids.

As the army charged, the three kids stood their ground beside Doffy, their expressions unwavering. Doffy stepped forward, his Haoshoku Haki bursting forth like a raging volcano, knocking out anyone with weak wills. Even the horses charging in the front were knocked out, and more than half of the hundred thousand-strong army collapsed, unconscious.

With a wicked grin, Doffy yelled, "Flame Commandment: Fire Dragon's Roar!" He unleashed a torrent of flames that incinerated the front lines of the advancing soldiers, almost engulfing the entire army . The heat was so intense that, even from a distance, the air shimmered.

Doffy watched with sadistic pleasure, his eyes glowing with malice. "See, Riku? This is what happens when you try to play a hero. You and your precious kingdom are nothing but playthings to us," he mocked, his Haoshoku Haki flaring up again, sending waves of pressure crashing down on the battlefield.

In the chaos, King Riku tried to rally his troops, but the sight of his soldiers being decimated by the Donquixote's relentless assault shook his resolve. "We can't let them win! For Dressrosa!" he shouted, trying to inspire his men, but his voice was drowned out by the sounds of battle and the despairing cries of his soldiers.

Smoker raised his hands and punched forward with ferocity. "White Hound!" he roared. Hundreds of massive wolves made out of dense smoke materialized around him, launching themselves at the soldiers with ferocious intensity. The soldiers' cries of panic and pain filled the air as the smoke wolves tore through their ranks. Enhanced by the flames, the smoke wolves transformed into burning beasts, their fiery maws ripping through the enemy army.

Gladius chuckled as he saw Smoker showing off. He stepped up and planted both his palms on the ground. The next moment, dozens of meters around him rumbled, and countless spikes made of crystals erupted from the ground, tearing through the enemy army. He manipulated the crystal to form a barricade, stopping the remaining cavalry in their tracks as the crystal spikes shredded through horses and armor alike.

King Riku watched in horror as his forces were decimated. "Hold the line!" he bellowed, but his voice was lost amidst the chaos. His once-proud army was being systematically destroyed, their spirits crushed under the sheer might of the Donquixote family.

Doffy stepped forward, his laughter echoing across the battlefield. "Is this the best you can do, Riku? You should have known better than to challenge us. Dressrosa belongs to the Donquixote family now and ever!"

At that moment, one of Riku's top generals charged at Doffy, his sword raised high. "For Dressrosa!" he cried, aiming for Doffy's head. But with a casual wave of his wrist, Doffy ensnared him with a fiery inferno of blue flames, lifting him off the ground and burning him to cinders even before he had the time to scream.

"Futile," Doffy sneered, as he turned his attention towards the remainder of the army that was already showing signs of breaking. "You can't save them. You can't even save yourself," he taunted Riku, who was being defended by some of his soldiers.

Meanwhile, little Gladius continued his assault, his crystal spikes now forming a deadly labyrinth that trapped and slaughtered any soldier who dared to enter. "Die, you bastards!!!" he taunted, enjoying the carnage. "This is the price of defying the Donquixote family!"

The battlefield was a scene of utter devastation. Flames and smoke wolves rampaged through the ranks, crystal spikes impaled soldiers and horses, and Doffy's Haoshoku Haki crushed the wills of anyone who tried to stand against him. The combined might of just four members of the Donquixote family was unstoppable; their power was overwhelming.

King Riku, seeing the hopelessness of the situation, clenched his fists in despair. "Fall back! Everyone, fall back!" he ordered, his voice breaking with sorrow. But it was too late. His army was broken, their spirits shattered by the might of the Donquixote pirates.

Just then, Rob Lucci moved in earnest. "Tobu Shigan: Hibachi!" he shouted, flickering into the enemy ranks like a shadow of death. Despite his young age, Lucci's prowess in battle was unmatched, and his attacks were nothing short of lethal. His fingers tore through the armor as if it were paper, piercing the necks and hearts of the soldiers with precise, deadly strikes. Wherever Lucci materialized with Shave, cold, lifeless bodies followed, piling up in his wake.

The battlefield was a scene of horror as Lucci's small frame moved with inhuman speed and grace, leaving a trail of destruction behind him. The soldiers, already demoralized by the overwhelming power of the Donquixote family, now faced a new terror. Many could not even react before they fell; their lives were extinguished in an instant by the young assassin.

King Riku watched in helpless despair as his troops were massacred. "Hold the line! We must hold the line!" he cried, but his words fell on deaf ears. His soldiers were paralyzed by fear; their morale was shattered by the unrelenting onslaught.

Lucci's cold, emotionless eyes scanned the battlefield, calculating his next move. "These men are no challenge," he muttered, his voice devoid of empathy. He flickered again, appearing behind a group of soldiers who were attempting to regroup. "Rokuogan," he repeated, his arms moving with blinding speed. The soldiers barely had time to register his presence before they collapsed, blood spurting from their wounds.

As Kizaru engaged in a deadly battle with Issho, his normally lazy demeanor was replaced with a sense of urgency as he witnessed the carnage Doflamingo was unleashing with his flame powers. Despite his superior speed, Issho managed to keep him pinned down, preventing him from interfering with the battle on Doflamingo's side.

"Hiss! You have two more Logia users among your ranks?" Kizaru exclaimed, his tone betraying his surprise. He immediately aimed his light projectiles at the two children, but before they could even travel a few meters, they were intercepted by two flying slashes from Issho.

"Please don't target the young ones! They are the future of the Donquixote family. I have grown quite fond of the kids in the recent days since I have started tutoring them," Issho remarked, using his gravity powers to launch himself at Kizaru.

"Abare Himatsuri," Issho whispered, causing the entire area's gravity to shift. The sky darkened ominously as hundreds of meteorites descended, almost covering the entire shore and targeting the Marines' side.

"Ama no Murakumo," Kizaru materialized a sword made of light and began slicing through the largest meteorites, rapidly descending on the Marines.

"You have two more Logia users on your side, and they are barely kids?" Tsuru couldn't help but ask; her attention momentarily diverted as a lightning bolt struck her squarely in the face, causing her to stagger.

"Reapers' Edge!" I bellowed, flickering above Tsuru as she was momentarily immobilized by the lightning bolt. With my blade imbued with Armament Haki, I aimed to strike her down before she could recover.

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