Above, the thunder grew even more deafening, like a divine punishment threatening to annihilate the entire island.
However, the lightning did not fall. From within the dark, churning clouds, enormous warships broke through, flying towards Fear Island.
"The Sky God! The 'Demon Dragon's' flagship has appeared! They're here! The Fire Tank Pirates are really here!" A jolt went through everyone. All the inhabitants of Fear Island craned their necks, eyes wide as they stared at the thirteen massive warships arrayed in the sky.
"Fuffuffuffu! What a grand entrance! Flying warships, and their territory is ten thousand meters up in the sky. No wonder they've always been so fearless," Doflamingo remarked, a flicker of jealousy and envy in his eyes as he watched the airborne fleet.
The atmosphere vibrated. The flying warships parted the air, leaving a faint trail as they descended, finally hovering a hundred meters above Fear Island.
At the prow of each flying warship stood a ramrod-straight figure, visible to everyone below.
Bege, draped in a blood-red greatcoat, a cigar clamped in his mouth, stood at the bow of the Sky God, his gaze imperious, his presence unmatched in its domineering aura.
"'Demon Dragon' Capone Bege!" "'Shadow Demon' Gecko Moria!" "'Storm Swordmaster' Modi!" "'Demon Man' Oars!" "'High-Pressure Cannon' Riki!" "'Whitebeard Jr.' Edward Weevil!" "'Little Thunder God' Enel!" "'Bone Demon' Marklode!" ...
The figures on the flying warships appeared on the live broadcast feed. All the known powerful combatants of the Fire Tank Pirates had arrived, and among them were many unfamiliar faces, such as Wiper and Ingram.
"Apart from the Sky God, every warship has a number. Do these numbers represent the fleets under the Fire Tank Pirates? Are those standing at the bows their captains?"
"Thirteen fleet captain-level individuals! The Fire Tank Pirates' strength is even greater than imagined!"
"Look at that largest pirate ship, the Giant! It's full of giants! Ten of them! The once-famous Giant Warrior Pirates have finally reappeared!"
Among the thirteen divisions, apart from Bege himself, the most eye-catching was the Giant Corps commanded by Oars. Their towering figures were intimidating to behold. In recent years, they had recruited more giants, bringing their numbers to ten. Not an overwhelming amount, but undoubtedly, each possessed formidable combat strength. Some of these giants had even consumed powerful Devil Fruits, making them even stronger.
"Who's that dark-skinned young man covered in tattoos? He looks about the same age as Enel. How can he command a warship too? Could he be a young genius like Enel?"
They were talking about Wiper. The young Wiper, standing at the prow of his ship, was indeed quite conspicuous. Besides Wiper, Ingram and his crew, with their bizarre appearances, also drew considerable attention.
"So, he really was hiding more strength. 'Demon Man' Oars is only the commander of the Second Division? Just how strong is Gecko Moria?" Doflamingo's face was dark, veins bulging on his forehead. The fact that 'Demon Man' Oars had single-handedly crushed his Donquixote Family was a scar that had never healed. Now, with the Fire Tank Pirates deploying their full might, this massive display of power tore open that scar anew, raw and bloody, stinging his pride.
The full turnout of the Fire Tank Pirates shocked everyone.
"The 'Demon Dragon's' division commanders certainly don't seem like mere placeholders. Pops, I'm really looking forward to this fight now," Marco said with a grin.
"That brat 'Demon Dragon' has been sharpening his claws for so long, probably all for this moment. Hopefully, he can step over Andrew's corpse and claim the throne of the New World," Whitebeard grabbed another jug of wine, gulped it down, and laughed heartily.
"Yo, but Pops, what's the deal with that 'Whitebeard Jr.'? He isn't really your illegitimate son, is he?" Marco suddenly asked.
Whitebeard's expression darkened for a moment, then he too burst into laughter.
"Gurararara! How could that be? But that Weevil kid does have some of my old style, a shame he's a bit dim-witted. If he weren't under the 'Demon Dragon,' I'd actually consider taking him in as an adopted son."
Weevil had made quite a name for himself executing missions in the New World over the past two years, taking down numerous high-bounty pirates and Marine ability users. His own bounty had reached six hundred million.
On the execution platform, Treade lifted his head, looking at Bege and his crew, an excited smile spreading across his face.
Finally, finally, they've come! Captain!
Above Fear Island, Bege, cigar in mouth, looked down at the towering execution platform, at Treade, and suddenly spoke, "Oi, Treade! You're not dead yet, are ya?"
Treade shouted back, "Captain! I'm doing great!"
"Hahahaha! Good, good! Just stay put! I'm coming to get you now!" Bege laughed boisterously, his voice full of absolute dominance.
"KAGAGAGAGA! 'Demon Dragon'! You won't be saving anyone today! I'm going to wring your head off to avenge my son!" Andrew let out a savage laugh, thick with killing intent. A terrifying aura swept across the entirety of Fear Island.
At that moment, the pupils of everyone on the island constricted. Terror contorted their faces. They clutched their heads in agony, collapsing involuntarily to the ground. Some with weaker wills even went mad on the spot.
This aura wasn't Conqueror's Haki. This was the Demon Lord of Fear's unique ability: Fear Aura.
The Demon Lord of Fear was a user of the Paramecia-type Fear-Fear Fruit. He could emit an aura that induced terror, an aura that could awaken the deepest fears within any living being. The more Fear Aura one inhaled, the more their inner fear would be infinitely amplified, instantly plunging them into a state of horrified dread, thereby drastically reducing or even completely nullifying their combat capability.
However, the most terrifying aspect was that the more others feared, the stronger the Demon Lord of Fear became. He fed on fear; the more fear there was, the more powerful he grew. This was the true source of the Demon Lord of Fear's power, the reason he had become a hegemon of the New World.
Under this Fear Aura, even Bege's own loyal followers and crew members couldn't remain calm, looks of fear appearing on their faces. Only the commanders of the thirteen divisions and the top few combatants in each squad could maintain their composure under its influence.
"What a truly frightening ability," Bege remarked. He could feel a faint stirring of unease within himself.
Suddenly, with a flash, a fierce wind howled. A powerful wave of Conqueror's Haki instantly swept out. This utterly ferocious Haki washed over the area like a hurricane, and people in the square began to fall unconscious one after another.
A heavy, overwhelmingly fierce Haki pressed down on the Fear Pirates, weighing on everyone's shoulders.
Andrew's expression darkened. He could gauge Bege's strength just from his Conqueror's Haki. The Three Demon Generals rose simultaneously, their gazes fixed gravely on Bege.
"His Conqueror's Haki... it's become even more savage, more tyrannical," Alletha said, his face grim, taking a deep breath. Two or three years ago, during the battle on Black Fist Island, he had experienced Bege's Conqueror's Haki. But now, compared to before, it was far more ferocious, several times stronger.
"Hahahaha! Andrew, you old fossil! You should have been swept aside by the tides of time long ago! Today, I'm not just rescuing Treade, I'm burying your entire Fear Pirates!" Bege's eyes blazed. He spread his arms wide, laughing with wild arrogance and dominance.
"Today, I will step on your corpse and ascend to the throne of a New World hegemon!"