One Piece: Crown of Darkness

Along the third of the seven starting points of the Grand Line, from left to right.

"Hey!"

"Boss Moria! Look!"

"Whoa~~~ It's Doflamingo again?!"

"..."

With a hot-blooded and flamboyant captain like Gecko Moria, the Moria Pirates were never short on boisterous laughter and fun. But today, they were all struck by a mix of shock and quietude.

"'Sea Scourge' reportedly destroyed another island recently..."

"Counting previous reports, that's... the fourth island now? What on earth is he so angry about, causing such insane destruction?"

"Yeah, he's making himself an easy target for the Marines to focus on and encircle."

"His bounty has increased to 200 million Berries. I say, have you noticed, his wanted poster specifically states 'Must be captured alive'? That's really strange!"

"..."

Suddenly.

"Kishishishishi~ My little ones!" Moria stomped onto the bow, raising both arms, and cheered excitedly, "It's decided! We can't fall behind! Let's quickly go destroy a few towns and show people how formidable we are too! Don't let that bastard hog all the limelight!"

"No!"

"Quickly drop that awful idea, boss! Do you think this is some children's rivalry game?!"

"Exactly, exactly!"

"..."

The Moria Pirates' crew members uniformly waved their hands in refusal, constantly putting Moria down. Each sentence was like a hammer, smashing Moria down until he couldn't lift his head.

"Kishi... shi... shi... shi..." Moria let out a desolate, miserable laugh. His tall body curled up in a corner of the deck, drawing circles and muttering, "I've been opposed. I'm a captain. What kind of captain gets opposed by his crew? I must be worthless, oh-oh-oh~ I'm worse than trash, useless..."

"So negative~"

Everyone complained, then exchanged glances.

"How could Captain Moria be worse than trash?"

"Trash makes 'poop-poop' sounds; the captain doesn't."

"I caught a super big, delicious fish this morning. Should we have a feast?"

"..."

The group exaggeratedly coaxed him.

"I'm really not worse than trash?" Moria turned his head, his pitiable expression lasting less than a second before reverting to his usual cheerfulness. "Party time! Party time! Party time!"

"Alright..."

....

Along the third of the seven starting points of the Grand Line, from right to left.

"The last guy who was this arrogant was 'World Destroyer' Byrnndi World," Crocodile said, perusing the newspaper, his face enveloped in cigar smoke. "Are you trying to follow in his footsteps, 'Sea Scourge'... 'Must be captured alive'? What secret are you hiding that makes the World Government treat you this way?"

"Captain!"

"'Sea Scourge's' speed is far beyond ours."

"..."

The crew members spoke cautiously.

"Quiet your mouths and listen to me! We don't fight meaningless battles, nor do we stir up meaningless trouble..." Crocodile tossed the newspaper aside, speaking calmly. "What's mine, I will absolutely secure!"

"Hooray!"

"As expected of Sir Crocodile!"

"..."

...

Along the leftmost of the seven starting points of the Grand Line.

With every distance gained, the confusion in his heart grew. The harsh reality and the darkness of the world weighed down on Dragon like a thousand tons, making it hard for him to breathe.

"Hahahahaha!!!"

"..."

"Ahhhhhh!!!"

"Wuwuwuwu~~~"

"..."

Laughter, shouts, cries—hysteria.

Dragon vented like a madman. He was afraid that if he kept it bottled up, he would fall into boundless despair.

Whoosh~~~

The fierce wind howled, and a newspaper fluttered by.

Dragon reached out and picked up the newspaper, staring blankly for a while. "Doflamingo... is that right? Yes, indeed. 'When I abandoned my duty and identity as a Marine, I had already made my choice'."

....

Along the rightmost of the seven starting points of the Grand Line.

His sharp hawk eyes scanned the newspaper. Mihawk scoffed, "Boring."

He poured himself a glass of red wine and drank it, then piloted his small boat closer to a pirate ship.

A moment later.

Swish swish swish!!!

Rumble rumble rumble!!!

The pirate ship was sliced into countless pieces by sharp sword slashes.

"Why are you attacking us?!"

"Bastard!"

"Our dreams!"

"..."

The pirates, suffering from this unprovoked disaster, were in agony.

Mihawk sailed directly through the pirate ship's wreckage, coldly uttering one word: "Boring."

...

Along the middle of the seven starting points of the Grand Line.

After half a month of frenzied travel covering thousands of nautical miles, the Flamingo finally docked, and had to dock. The ship was too severely damaged. Any further, and it would likely fall apart before reaching the New World.

Fortunately, the Donquixote Family's last stop before heading to the New World, after passing through the Sabaody Archipelago, was the famous shipbuilding holy land, Water 7.

"Behehehe~ Nyeh, nyeh, why is no one on the island? Did we scare them off, nyeh?" Trebol was confused by the deserted city.

Doflamingo's mind stirred, thinking of something. He used Geppo to rise into the air and observe.

Sure enough.

He saw it.

A large crowd had gathered on the coast at the other end of the city, and a World Government ship was docked in the harbor.

"Fufufufu~~ A traveling court, judging Tom the fish-man who built the Pirate King's ship?" Doflamingo's eyes narrowed.

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