The dagger streaking for Sengoku's skull was the Orichalcum Dagger ( Mogana had gifted Doflamingo.
Killing Whitebeard would be crude… boring.
If you're going to kill someone, Sengoku is the best return on investment.
And now that Doffy had fully learned how to control the dagger, the plan was simple:
stab Sengoku, then pivot mid-air to pierce Garp and Kizaru in one fluid arc.
Pull it off, and the Navy would implode—
Doflamingo could surge past the Yonko in a heartbeat.
The blade was less than five meters from Sengoku's head.
Garp and Kizaru sensed it—but had no time to react.
Doflamingo's heart pounded; adrenaline roared; he could already see the spray of brain matter—
Clang.
A longsword dropped from above, intercepting the strike.
The orichalcum dagger rang off the blade and snapped back into the air.
Akainu flashed into view, eyes burning in the dagger's direction.
"Looks like you're ready to wage war on Marine HQ."
He hadn't helped Sengoku or shared Demon Dragon's pressure for a reason—
he'd been waiting for this ambush.
Doflamingo's voice drifted from the shadows, mocking:
"Akainu, you're such an eyesore.
Declare war? Fufufufu…
The Marines aren't worthy. I'm declaring war on the World Government."
His presence vanished—clean escape.
He knew he couldn't beat Akainu head-on, not today. Better to disappear, rally the Donquixote Family, and burrow in.
The Navy would be hunting him nonstop within days.
Sengoku, still shaken, blurted, "That dagger—and your sword…"
Both felt wrong: sharper, tougher than even the Supreme Grade blades.
"No time to explain," Akainu snapped. "Doflamingo must die—now—before he becomes a catastrophe."
With a flare of heat, Akainu took off, Flame Sword in hand, tracking Doffy's fading trail.
Whitebeard was fading; the real future threat was a 2nd-gen body Doflamingo armed with that dagger.
Left unchecked, he could butcher Vice Admirals—
even Kizaru or Aokiji might fall.
Sengoku seethed. So you won't even spare a second to finish Whitebeard?
Dock the pay. Suspension. Paperwork. All of it.
Rayleigh stepped forward, setting Ace down.
"Continue? I'll oblige."
Sengoku nearly coughed blood again.
"Pick: end this here… or see how far you get," Rayleigh said evenly.
"At best, you kill one Whitebeard. In return you eat his dying strike—and the fury of his whole fleet."
Whitebeard straightened, laughed thunderously—then paled.
"Gurararara… If I fall today, I'll take one of you with me."
Sengoku's mind raced. The Vice Admirals were pinned by Whitebeard's commanders; reinforcements would be too slow.
Kizaru's organs were scorched; wounds everywhere.
Garp's fists were flayed to the bone.
They'd come to seize Ace, then stage the true war at Marineford.
With Shendu guarding him, that plan was dead.
Push this fight, and they'd only deepen that enmity—and get nothing.
At last, Sengoku ground out, "Go. Leave Sabaody. Now."
A warning—and a threat.
They hadn't lost to Whitebeard's pirates; they'd lost to Shendu and chaos.
Rayleigh exhaled.
"Worry about yourselves first. We'll leave when we choose."
Whitebeard chuckled, then hacked up blood.
Sengoku ignored him and raised a transponder snail.
"All units—withdraw."
The order seemed to drain the last of his strength.
His eyes dimmed; he collapsed into Garp's arms.
Ronn finally spoke. "Why not stop by my bar? It's near your landing—Area 13."
Rayleigh nodded. "Kid's drinks are worth it. You'll like it, Whitebeard."
"Good," Whitebeard said simply.
His snail rang—Marco on the line.
"Pops, the Marines are pulling out! Did they take Ace?"
Whitebeard smiled. "No. Ace is safe. There's a tavern nearby. Wait there. Ace's injuries are severe—treat him first."
Ace shook his head hard. "No, Pops—you're worse. Treat him first, Marco."
Whitebeard didn't answer. He picked Ace up and started toward Area 13.
Watching their backs recede, Garp clenched his fists, face dark.
So you only care about that other dad, huh? Your grandpa can keel over and you won't even blink?
—
Led by Ronn, the group reached the tavern.
The door swung open—
and there on the windowsill, Yoruichi arched her sleek back, claws sliding from pink pads, fangs bared toward the bar.
Still very much on edge, fur puffed to a halo.
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