-Broadcast: Dressrosa Underground-
The casual efficiency with which Trebol had been eliminated sent shockwaves through Monet's consciousness that went far beyond simple tactical reassessment. As one of Doflamingo's most devoted followers, she had viewed the family executives as nearly invincible—elite warriors whose combined strength could challenge even Yonko crews under the right circumstances.
He's just... gone, she thought with growing horror as she stared at the empty space where Trebol had been standing moments before. No dramatic final words, no spectacular death scene, just molecular dissolution and scattered ash. That's what happens when you face opponents with technology beyond our understanding.
The naked demonic form of Robin dominated the battlefield like some primordial goddess of war, her black skin seeming to absorb light while radiating an aura of supernatural menace. The transformation was complete—no longer the elegant archaeologist who had joined the Straw Hat Pirates, but something that transcended human limitations entirely.
"Your friend is dead," Robin observed with the clinical detachment of someone cataloguing facts rather than gloating over victory. "You should go down and accompany him."
The words carried no emotional weight, no satisfaction or anger—just the mechanical certainty of someone stating inevitable conclusions. But it was precisely that lack of emotion that made the threat so terrifying.
She's covered in Armament Haki from head to toe, Monet realized with growing desperation as Robin's enhanced form moved with predatory grace. Every attack she makes can hurt me directly, regardless of my Logia intangibility. And that demon transformation gives her physical capabilities that exceed normal human limitations.
The tactical situation was hopeless. Monet's Yuki Yuki no Mi (Snow-Snow Fruit) powers had been specifically developed to exploit the weaknesses of opponents who lacked Haki training, but faced with someone whose entire body radiated advanced Armament enhancement, her usual strategies were useless.
Every palm strike hits exactly where it will cause maximum damage, she noted with professional appreciation even as her body absorbed punishment that would have killed normal humans. She's targeting nerve clusters, joint connections, organ placement—this isn't random violence, it's surgical dismantlement.
Desperation drove innovation. "Snowstorm: Snow Mist!" Monet gathered her remaining strength and unleashed her most devastating technique, drawing every bit of supernatural cold from the underground environment.
The attack that erupted from her transformed mouth carried temperatures that dropped below minus fifty degrees Celsius in seconds, creating a localized blizzard with enough thermal differential to freeze human blood solid within heartbeats. Even Armament Haki couldn't provide complete protection against such extreme environmental manipulation.
If I can't defeat her through direct combat, Monet thought with grim determination, then I'll create conditions that make survival impossible for anyone without specialized cold resistance.
The snow tornado that engulfed Robin's demonic form was a masterpiece of Logia manipulation, combining raw destructive force with environmental control that should have been insurmountable for any opponent relying on physical enhancement rather than elemental immunity.
But the confidence that had driven Monet's attack shattered when two black arms emerged from the heart of the blizzard, moving with mechanical precision to grasp her snow-harpy form in an unbreakable grip.
She's not just surviving the cold, Monet realized with growing terror. She's operating at full efficiency despite thermal conditions that should have incapacitated her completely.
When the female demon stepped out of the supernatural blizzard, the sight that greeted Monet defied every assumption she had made about Robin's capabilities. Not only had the archaeologist survived the extreme cold, but her demon form had evolved during the attack.
Eight arms, Monet counted with academic fascination despite her impending doom. Enhanced physical capabilities, complete Haki coverage, and now multiplicative limb generation. What kind of Devil Fruit development allows such dramatic transformation?
The goat horns that now crowned Robin's demonic head gave her an otherworldly appearance that spoke to power sources beyond simple human enhancement. This wasn't just advanced Devil Fruit usage—it was fundamental alteration of her essential nature.
"My patience has reached its limit," Robin announced with the cold finality of someone who had decided to end a tedious chore.
The six additional arms that had manifested during her evolution moved with synchronized precision, each hand forming an identical gesture that Monet recognized with growing dread. The finger positioning—index and middle bent together, ring and little finger curled, thumb slightly extended—was unmistakably martial arts preparation.
Dragon Claw Fist, Monet identified with scholarly precision even as terror flooded her consciousness. Advanced Revolutionary Army combat techniques that focus on internal energy manipulation and precise targeting of vital points.
"Multiple Dragon Claw Fist: Dragon Breath!"
The attack that followed transcended anything Monet had witnessed during her years serving Doflamingo's organization. Six simultaneous dragon claw strikes, each enhanced with Armament Haki that carried the concentrated force of a master martial artist, descended toward her snow-harpy form with mechanical inevitability.
This technique could shatter mountains, she realized with crystal clarity as the attacks approached. And my body is going to absorb the full impact of all six strikes simultaneously.
The penetrating power of each Dragon Breath was catastrophic. Advanced inch-power techniques combined with Haki enhancement to create attacks that bypassed surface defenses entirely, targeting internal organs and bone structure with surgical precision.
Monet's snow-form provided no protection against techniques specifically designed to disrupt life force itself. Each claw strike that connected sent devastating energy waves through her transformed physiology, pulverizing organs and shattering skeletal structure while leaving claw marks carved deep into the stone wall behind her position.
Blood, she noted with detached fascination as crimson fountains erupted from multiple impact points across her body. So much blood that it's turning the entire battlefield red. I didn't realize snow-forms contained that much biological material.
The damage was systematic and total. Her internal organs had been reduced to pulp, her bones had been pulverized to powder, and her circulatory system had been so thoroughly disrupted that maintaining consciousness was becoming impossible.
I can't even return to full snow-form, Monet realized as her vision began to dim. The Dragon Claw techniques have disrupted my Devil Fruit abilities at the fundamental level. This is what it means to face a true master.
Robin examined her defeated opponent with the clinical interest of a scientist studying experimental results. When she was satisfied that Monet posed no further threat, she released her grip and allowed the broken harpy to fall like discarded refuse.
Doflamingo's number one fan girl, Robin reflected without sympathy as she studied the corpse. Dead because she relied on Logia intangibility without developing proper Haki defenses. In the New World, that kind of oversight is always fatal.
The body that lay motionless in the blood-stained snow still maintained human appearance, but the internal structure had been so thoroughly destroyed that calling it a corpse was generous. Monet had been reduced to a biological shell with no functional systems remaining.
She didn't even get the chance for final words, Robin noted with academic interest. Sometimes death comes too quickly for dramatic gestures.
From her hiding position among the loading equipment, Sugar watched her sister's execution with eyes that had seen too much horror for someone trapped in a child's body. The Hobi Hobi no Mi (Hobby-Hobby Fruit) user had been forced to witness the systematic elimination of Doflamingo's executive structure, powerless to intervene against opponents whose capabilities exceeded anything their organization could match.
Monet, she thought with the desperate grief of someone who had lost the only person who had ever shown her genuine affection. Walk slowly in the underworld. I'll come to accompany you soon enough.
But before she joined her sister in death, Sugar was determined to extract payment for the suffering that had been inflicted on her family. Before I go to find you, I'll drag our enemies down to be buried with you.
Her small hands moved with practiced stealth as she accessed the special contingencies that Doflamingo had prepared for exactly this kind of catastrophic scenario. Hidden throughout the underground facility were resources that could turn the tide of battle, but only if deployed by someone with the knowledge to use them effectively.
Young Master always planned for the worst-case scenarios, Sugar recalled with growing determination. He left surprises that could eliminate even Admiral-level opponents if used correctly.
The loading and unloading area contained more than just standard cargo—it held weapons and tools that represented years of careful preparation and strategic planning. If the Straw Hat Pirates thought their victory was assured, they were about to discover how wrong they had been.
With the elimination of all environmental threats, Robin's demonic form began dissolving back into constituent petals, the transformation unwinding with the same supernatural grace that had marked its creation. The countless black flower fragments swirled through the air before converging into her normal human appearance.
The Snow-Snow Fruit user's death has ended the supernatural cold, Robin noted with relief as ambient temperature began returning to tolerable levels. No more risk of hypothermia, and my normal combat effectiveness should be fully restored.
The melting snow created pools of slush that mixed with blood from the recent battles, turning the underground chamber into something resembling a charnel house.
Sanji approached with the careful steps of someone whose recent technological enhancement had left him slightly unsteady on his feet. The FAIZ armor had provided incredible capabilities, but the physical cost of using such advanced systems was becoming apparent.
"Sister Robin," he said with genuine admiration, his voice carrying the slight vocal modifications that marked his okama transformation. "I had no idea you were so proficient in ki manipulation. Your mastery of advanced combat techniques is truly impressive."
The praise carried weight coming from someone who had just demonstrated technological capabilities that exceeded most people's understanding of what was possible. If Sanji was impressed by her martial arts development, then her training had clearly been exceptional.
Armament Haki is essentially organized life force, Robin reflected as she examined her hands for signs of strain from the recent techniques. Most people use it crudely, simply coating themselves or their weapons with enhanced energy. But proper ki control requires systematic training and excellent instruction.
"I owe everything to Master Sabo's teaching," she replied with genuine gratitude as memories of her training period surfaced. "Without his guidance in Dragon Claw Fist techniques, my demon form would have been nothing more than visual intimidation. I wouldn't have possessed any reliable finishing moves for close-quarters combat."
As if responding to her words, the Sky Screen obligingly provided an image of the man who had shaped her combat development. Sabo appeared as a young blonde figure wearing a distinctive black top hat, his left eye marked by a scar that spoke to violence survived during his formative years.
The second-in-command of the Revolutionary Army, Robin thought with growing fondness. Son of Goa Kingdom nobility who chose to dedicate his life to overthrowing the same class he was born into.
"I remember hearing about your time with the Revolutionary Army," Sanji said with the careful tone of someone probing for potentially sensitive information. "But this is the first time I've encountered the name Sabo in any of the reports."
His observation was tactically sound. The Revolutionary Army featured prominently in newspaper coverage and Marine intelligence briefings, but Sabo's name had been notably absent from public discourse despite his apparent high-ranking position.
There are good reasons for that absence, Robin thought with growing sadness as she considered how to explain the complex political dynamics that had shaped recent Revolutionary Army history.
"Sabo is Luffy's other sworn brother," she began, watching Sanji's expression carefully for his reaction to this revelation. "His official title was Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army, but there were internal disputes about strategic direction that created irreconcilable differences with Dragon's leadership."
The admission carried implications that extended far beyond simple family connections. If one of the Revolutionary Army's top leaders was personally connected to their captain, then the Straw Hat Pirates' political significance was even greater than anyone had realized.
"The disagreements became so severe that Sabo ultimately chose to leave Revolutionary Army headquarters, taking a significant number of loyal followers with him," Robin continued. "What seemed like a devastating split at the time actually preserved the revolutionary movement when Marine forces destroyed their main base."
Fate works in mysterious ways, she reflected. The internal conflict that appeared to weaken the Revolutionary Army was actually the factor that ensured its survival.
"You're telling me that Ace, Sabo, and Luffy all became sworn brothers together?" Sanji asked with growing amazement as the family connections became clear. "Three brothers, each one connected to legendary figures and revolutionary movements?"
"Exactly," Robin confirmed with a smile that carried genuine warmth. "According to Sabo's stories, all three of them grew up together in East Blue, and they were all 'trained' by the same Marine grandfather."
The euphemistic way she pronounced 'trained' suggested that Garp's child-rearing methods had been characteristically unconventional, probably involving significant amounts of physical violence disguised as education.
"They made their brotherhood official with a sake ceremony when they were children," Robin added. "Sabo told me it was one of the happiest memories of his life—three boys who had found family in each other despite coming from completely different backgrounds."
-Real World: Various Locations-
The revelation that Sabo was alive and connected to Monkey D. Luffy sent shockwaves through every major power structure in the world. Intelligence analysts, military strategists, and political leaders immediately began reassessing their understanding of the revolutionary movement and its connection to emerging pirate crews.
At Marine Headquarters, the implications were staggering. Not only had the future destroyed Revolutionary Army preserved significant operational capability through Sabo's split faction, but their second-in-command was personally connected to what was rapidly becoming the most politically significant pirate crew in the world.
"Portgas D. Ace—son of the Pirate King," Vice Admiral Onigumo summarized grimly as he reviewed the intelligence implications. "Sabo—Chief of Staff of the Revolutionary Army. Monkey D. Luffy—grandson of our own Hero. These three brothers represent connections to every major power structure in the world."
"It explains why so many forces seem interested in the Straw Hat Pirates," Vice Admiral Dalmatian added with growing unease. "They're not just another rookie crew—they're a nexus point for revolutionary activity, pirate royalty, and Marine family connections."
Fleet Admiral Sengoku studied the reports with the grim expression of someone watching carefully laid plans collapse in real time. "The siege of Revolutionary Army headquarters shown by the sky screen wasn't the decisive victory we thought it was. If Sabo escaped with significant forces, then we've been fighting a shadow war against an enemy whose true strength we never properly assessed."
"There's definitely been a serious ideological split within their ranks," Chief of Staff Tsuru observed with tactical precision. "The question is whether Sabo's faction represents a more moderate approach to revolution or a more extreme one. Either possibility has significant implications for our strategic planning."
-Real World: East Blue-
In the mountainous wilderness of Goa Kingdom, the bandit Dadan saw Sabo with emotions too complex for easy categorization. As the woman who had been forced to serve as surrogate mother to three of the most troublesome children in East Blue, she had carried the guilt of Sabo's apparent death for years.
That little brat is actually alive, she thought as tears streamed down her weathered face, her usual gruff demeanor completely abandoned in the face of overwhelming relief. All these years of thinking I failed to protect him, and he's been out there fighting for his ideals.
Her subordinates watched with concern as their usually iron-hard leader broke down in public, but they understood the emotional significance of what they were witnessing. Dadan had never fully recovered from watching one of her boys apparently die in front of her, and learning that he had somehow survived had unlocked feelings she had been suppressing for years.
-Real World: Marine Headquarters-
Vice Admiral Garp saw Sabo while sitting and methodically consuming rice crackers. The revelation that his third grandson had survived the Celestial Dragon incident brought a complicated smile to his weathered features.
The little noble brat pulled through after all, he thought with genuine pride, remembering Sabo's fierce determination and unshakeable moral convictions. I always knew he had the strength to survive anything the world threw at him.
He began whistling a cheerful tune, completely oblivious to the political implications of his reaction or the way other Marine officers were staring at him with expressions ranging from disbelief to outright horror.
Admiral Sakazuki, who had been forced to tolerate Garp's presence during briefings about the Straw Hat situation, felt his patience finally snap completely. "That senile old fool," he muttered under his breath, his magma-powered body radiating heat that made the air around him shimmer with thermal distortion.
First, he raises the Pirate King's son, then his own grandson becomes a notorious pirate, and now we discover his third grandson is a high-ranking revolutionary, Sakazuki thought with building fury. How many enemies has this man helped create through his reckless sentimentality?
Once Artoria takes over as Fleet Admiral, Sakazuki promised himself, this old fool's protection will disappear along with all the other sentimental weaknesses that plague our current leadership.
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