As an awakened Devil Fruit user, Doflamingo was able to extend his powers directly to the surrounding environment.
With Doflamingo at the center, the ice-covered ground within a radius of nearly one hundred and fifty meters instantly transformed into a vast sea of thin white threads.
The ocean of threads surged violently, sweeping up countless Marines before crushing them to pieces. Only the truly strong managed to escape this disaster.
Screams echoed everywhere.
No one had ever imagined that Doflamingo, one of the strongest figures on the Marine side, was actually a traitor.
He was a subordinate of Elior.
Of course, even within the Elior Pirates — except for Baby 5 — almost no one knew about this.
Just how deeply had Doflamingo hidden the truth of being Elior's subordinate?
The Marines were terrified—and furious.
"Damn you, Doflamingo!"
In the distance, Akainu could no longer suppress his rage.
As Fleet Admiral, he had fought desperately throughout the day.
Not only had the Marines suffered massive losses, but now traitors had appeared among their highest ranks.
How could he not be furious?
If he weren't locked in battle with Big Mom, Akainu would have rushed over and personally reduced Doflamingo to ashes.
With Akainu's strength, killing Doflamingo would be effortless.
But now, he had no choice but to focus on Big Mom.
And as the battle dragged on, Akainu's injuries continued to accumulate.
"Akainu, get serious! Mamamama—!"
Big Mom laughed wildly as flames and thunder erupted from her body, bombarding Akainu. He blocked hastily, but was still forced several steps back, unable to concentrate all his power into a single strike.
"I already knew those Shichibukai couldn't be trusted!"
"They're pirates, after all!"
After Kizaru finished off Bondi with a flash kick, he turned his gaze toward Doflamingo.
The unreliability of the Shichibukai had always been a consensus among many Marines.
Now, it seemed that consensus was absolutely correct.
Doflamingo had betrayed them.
No — more accurately, Doflamingo had never truly belonged to the Marines.
The whole world knew how many dark businesses he had run. The Shichibukai system had merely been his protective umbrella, preventing Marine from touching him.
After all, the Shichibukai system was created by the highest authorities of the World Government —or even directly by the Celestial Dragons.
At this point, among the Shichibukai present, excluding Doflamingo and the one he had just killed, only four remained, including Mihawk.
Among the three newer members, when Elior approached them, all three began trembling uncontrollably.
Though Shichibukai were famed as powerful pirates, in front of Elior, they understood what true weakness meant.
They were like ants.
Elior struck them once—but it was not fatal.
Someone of their level did not require Elior's personal attention.
A fighter on Crocodile's level was more than enough.
And if one wasn't sufficient, then two would do.
Now, excluding Mihawk, only three Shichibukai still stood in opposition.
Two men and one woman.
The female Shichibukai wasn't particularly beautiful — barely even considered attractive.
Her strength was roughly on the level of Gecko Moria.
Against them, Crocodile and the others held overwhelming superiority.
Soon, the remaining three Shichibukai were brutally killed through the combined assault of Crocodile, Cavendish, Jack, Cracker, and Oven.
They were dismembered without mercy.
This was not a competition.
There were no rules. No fairness.
Only blood, brutality, and absolute dominance—where the weak were crushed without exception.
Who told them to answer the call of the World Government?
In the end, those Shichibukai begged for mercy — but none of them showed sympathy.
Who among those who had reached such heights didn't have blood on their hands?
Elior swept across the battlefield.
Filling countless hearts with fear.
And because of Elior's overwhelming dominance, the members of the Three Yonko Alliance were filled with excitement, their combat power rising even further.
In wars like this, leaders at the forefront inspired their subordinates immensely.
Conversely, the constant loss of generals shattered morale.
Just like the Marines now.
Many Marine forces had already begun retreating.
Some even wanted to kneel, beg for mercy, and surrender.
But escape was impossible.
Everything within their line of sight — including Marine' ships — had been frozen by Elior.
"Lord Elior! We've captured these two women!"
At that moment, Yamato and Baby 5 dragged Hina and Tashigi forward, both of them visibly excited.
Including Ain, who had been captured earlier, all three Marine women had now been taken.
Hina and Tashigi burned with humiliation and fury.
They knew that once captured, they would become spoils of war — destined for the place known as Paradise.
Paradise?
It was nothing but hell.
The fate of prisoners of war was always miserable.
"Take them away. Don't ask me anything."
Elior merely passed by, already heading toward Shiryu of the Rain.
"Yes, Lord Elior!"
Yamato and Baby 5 nodded eagerly.
They were Elior's battle maids — and his women.
Every one of them had been personally claimed by him.
Though Hina and Ain were powerful Rear Admirals, Elior's women were stronger.
They grew stronger simply by engaging in countless "battles" with Elior.
One day, they might rival Big Mom herself — or even surpass her.
And that day was not far off.
How could Hina and the others possibly resist them?
No Marine force could rescue them now.
The Marines watching were filled with anxiety.
As women themselves, they understood exactly what awaited Hina and the others.
History had proven it time and time again.
The men were killed.
The beautiful women were taken.
It was obvious what Elior's people intended.
Rumors claimed Elior was a lustful tyrant who plundered beauties across the world, keeping them as forbidden concubines.
His mansion was said to span thousands of acres, housing countless women.
Of course, those were rumors Elior spread deliberately.
In reality, there were fewer than ten.
But once captured, Hina and the others' fate was easy to imagine.
Who could save them now?
At Marine, Gion remained.
She was even more beautiful than Hina and the others — and possessed an extraordinary temperament.
Unbeknownst to the Marines, Gion had long since become Elior's woman, even more radiant than before her submission.
Yet the Marines still viewed her as an untouchable goddess.
Naturally, they worried for her.
But Gion was strong.
Still — if Elior personally acted, what could she do?
The Marines were furious.
And terrified.
Meanwhile, Hina and the others had fallen into despair.
They also worried for Gion—never knowing the truth.
From afar, Gion watched them being captured and sighed inwardly.
Yet she said nothing.
Whatever Elior wished to do, she would support it.
"Brothers! Together—we can kill him!"
"Charge!"
Hundreds of Marines, led by a Rear Admiral, stood in Elior's path.
They were shaking.
Facing Elior, fear was inevitable.
Elior released his Conqueror's Haki.
Instantly, all the weaker Marines collapsed.
Even the Rear Admiral fell to his knees, unable to withstand the pressure.
"Weaklings—if you don't want to die, then get lost."
Elior shook his head coldly.
For him, killing the Marine's middle and upper leadership was enough.
The rest could live.
After overthrowing the Celestial Dragons, Elior planned to absorb the Marine system entirely and make it his own subordinate organization.
He would establish a new order.
He even intended to end the age of pirates.
This world belonged to him.
No opposition would be allowed.
Adventurers could exist.
Pirates could not.
Although Elior himself was a pirate, he understood that pirates ignored all forms of order.
If he created a new world system, pirates would inevitably defy it.
After all — the mountains are high, and the emperor is far away.
As for Elior —
He would transform into the ruler of the world.
All the blueprints already existed in his mind.
Elsewhere, Shiryu was locked in a brutal duel with Mihawk.
Both were masters of the sword.
But Mihawk was undeniably stronger.
The shattered ice battlefield was soaked in blood, and Shiryu's body was riddled with wounds.
Even so, he fought with everything he had.
He was a battle maniac.
True growth came from constantly pushing beyond one's limits.
Even when facing an opponent several times stronger — one must fight to the end.
Shiryu was that kind of man.
Now, his entire body was drenched in blood.
Even the usually calm Mihawk was growing increasingly irritated.
Shanks had died.
Mihawk wanted revenge.
He wanted to kill Elior.
Yet time and time again, Shiryu stood in his way.
How could Mihawk not be furious?
"Damn it!"
"Shiryu of the Rain — you are a worthy opponent, even if your swordsmanship is brutal!"
"You deserve respect!"
"But you follow someone like Elior!"
"So — die!"
Mihawk swung Yoru, preparing the finishing blow.
He could tell — Shiryu was at his limit.
They had fought for nearly two hours.
If this dragged on, even Mihawk would suffer heavy losses.
He needed to face Elior in peak condition.
Even if defeat was likely —
If he didn't challenge Elior, Mihawk would never find peace.
He couldn't face Shanks otherwise.
Boom!
A violent green slash tore through the ice, ripping through space itself as it surged toward Shiryu.
"So strong…"
"I don't know if I can block this…"
Shiryu's expression hardened.
But just as he prepared to defend—
When the slash was less than ten meters away—
Elior appeared.
"Captain!"
Shiryu was stunned.
Elior had arrived.
Relief surged through him—followed by guilt.
Mihawk also saw Elior, his fury erupting.
The power of Yoru's slash intensified even further.
Elior stepped forward.
His right foot sank into the ice.
His right palm thrust forward horizontally—
Just like Jozu blocking Mihawk's slash in the original battle.
The slash was stopped — barehanded.
The ice collapsed.
Shockwaves roared outward like a tsunami.
Then—
A deep crimson magic circle appeared around Elior, spinning violently with overwhelming energy.
Boom!
That power erupted like explosive magic, colliding head-on with Mihawk's slash.
Two colossal forces crashed together.
The resulting shockwave surged outward, pulverizing the already shattered ice.
Those farther away trembled in terror.
They had witnessed it.
Elior blocked Mihawk's slash with a single palm.
Then released that mysterious power.
Mihawk was unquestionably strong.
But Elior —
Was stronger.
Even after enduring countless top-tier battles —
Even after killing someone like Garp —
Elior still looked unfazed.
From the outside, he showed no signs of exhaustion.
And once again —
People felt they were witnessing the moment Mihawk would fall.