Direct to the Point

The development of a Devil Fruit Ability depended on the user's own imagination.

That imagination blended with the world, creating a wondrous sea.

Like a person drowning in the desert.

Or an ocean ablaze with fire!

Boom! Boom! Boom...

One explosion after another rang across the sea.

Towering flames blazed fiercely, and the surrounding deep blue gradually turned crimson.

"W-what in the world is going on?!"

The King's Army soldiers aboard the patrol ships leaped into the sea to save themselves, then swam desperately toward the main fleet, where they were eventually rescued.

Quite a few people had been injured, but fortunately, the Alabasta King's Army had reacted quickly, so no one had died.

But...

The King's Army commander aboard the ship soon realized something was wrong.

"Something's not right!"

The commander's face changed as he looked around—and sure enough.

The vast sea of fire had spread into a circle, trapping the fleet right where it was. There was no way out!

"His goal isn't to inflict casualties. He's trying to trap us here!"

"Who is he?" the commander asked a survivor.

The man was trembling with terror as he stammered:

"Up in the sky! A dragon swept across the sea—the flames are everywhere!"

On the Uninhabited Island, inside the peace-talks tent.

The people in the tent had also noticed the attack on the surrounding waters.

Cobra frowned and looked up at Wapol in front of him. Wapol immediately threw back his head and laughed.

"Wahahahaha!"

Wapol raised both hands, brimming with excitement. "Well? This is the 'power' I just acquired! You're scared now, aren't you?"

"..."

The provocation was crude, but it wasn't enough to make Cobra lose his head.

Yet the towering sea of flames surrounding the Uninhabited Island kept him on high alert.

"Bastard..."

Cobra's eyes darkened, and a rare look of fury crossed his face. He stared straight at Wapol. "What have you done?!"

"Relax. It's just a little show of firepower. I wasn't trying to kill anyone."

Wapol laughed excitedly. "Well? I've proved my power now. Surely we can talk about the toll for passing through!"

"Your father was a good friend of mine. How could he have a son like you?"

Cobra frowned deeply.

As he considered what to do, a messenger from the Drum Kingdom suddenly rushed into the tent.

"Your Majesty, King Wapol! This is terrible!"

The messenger cried out in terror, "Our ships have been destroyed too! Many people are dead or injured!"

"What?!"

Wapol's eyes widened. He had no idea what was going on.

This wasn't the plan he'd discussed with his "adviser"!

According to the "adviser"—that is, Vergo—all they had to do was show off a little of the Drum Kingdom's firepower, and Cobra would surely consider paying up.

But this was nothing like what the "adviser" had told him!

Wapol immediately bellowed:

"Where's the adviser? Where is he?! Get him out here this instant!!!"

Tap...

A footstep sounded softly outside the tent. A moment later, someone lifted the curtain behind Wapol and walked in.

A white plaid coat, sunglasses, lightning-shaped sideburns, and a mask covering the lower half of his face.

It was Vergo, the Demon Bamboo, concealing his identity!

The moment Wapol saw his "adviser," he rushed over to blame him.

"Hey! This isn't what you said would happen! Why are my people being attacked too?! You—"

Thud!

Before Wapol could finish, Vergo swung his bamboo cane hard into Wapol's stomach, sending him flying.

Blood sprayed from Wapol's mouth and spattered across the ground.

Jace and Crocomon saw this and were so terrified they nearly wet themselves. They cowered to one side, shaking.

Vergo pushed up his sunglasses and said coldly, "I told you the first time we met: call me 'sir.'"

This was Vergo's true nature.

He'd only kept it in check until now to carry out his "young master" Doflamingo's orders.

As for why Vergo had chosen this moment to reveal his true colors, the reason was simple.

"As your country's 'adviser,' I'll answer your question one last time."

Vergo frowned and murmured in a low voice:

"To be honest, even I don't know what attacked your ships..."

Not even Doflamingo knew what it was.

But how could Doflamingo be frightened by a little thing like that?

If they couldn't figure out who their opponent was, they would abandon the original plan and use the quickest, most convenient way to achieve their goal!

"Time is short. Let's get straight to the point, King Cobra of Alabasta."

Vergo held his bamboo cane and slowly stepped forward. "You only need to answer my questions, and no one else will get hurt."

"Protect His Majesty!"

Bepo and Jaka realized how dangerous the man before them was, but they immediately stepped forward, transforming into their animal forms.

The three figures crossed paths.

Bang! Bang!

In an instant, Bepo and Jaka were both sent flying by the bamboo cane!

Vergo, on the other hand, had only a few tears in the fabric at his sides. His skin wasn't even scratched.

"Zoan Devil Fruit Users? Their abilities are barely developed..."

Vergo shook his head, then fixed his gaze on Cobra and asked impassively, "Is there really a 'secret' hidden in your country? And what is it?"

"..."

Cobra didn't answer—and couldn't.

To protect Alabasta, he would never reveal the Poneglyph, even if it cost him his life!

That was Alabasta's destiny, and the fate of the name Nefertari!

"Tch!"

Vergo knew perfectly well that Cobra and Wapol weren't even in the same league as "kings," so he had to find another way.

"You brought this on yourself..."

He stepped up to Cobra, raised the bamboo cane in his hand, and prepared to strike him.

Things had come to this, and an unknown enemy was surrounding them. Vergo could only abduct Cobra first, then slowly search out Alabasta's secret.

In truth, Doflamingo's side didn't have much information.

They only knew that Alabasta was likely connected to the Void Century, but they had no idea what the connection was.

The Poneglyph? Or some other hidden matter?

Whatever it was, it could be used to threaten the World Government!

Once Doflamingo got his hands on this "secret," he could use it as leverage against the World Government and secure a seat among the Shichibukai!

"I've always believed that the young master would become the 'king' of this sea."

Vergo's gaze, hidden behind his sunglasses, was ice-cold as he stared fixedly at Cobra.

"You're just a 'king.' Don't think you can stand in our way!"

Whoosh!

The bamboo cane came crashing down, about to strike Cobra.

And at that moment—

Boom!

A massive dark shape dropped from the sky, tearing apart the huge tent before crashing down right in front of Cobra and kicking up a cloud of dust.

Vergo leaped back, narrowly evading the fatal blow, then looked up at the newcomer.

A deafening roar greeted him.

"ROAR—!!!"

It was like some unknown monster, baring its fangs, ready to drag everyone into a terrifying abyss!

As the dust slowly cleared, Vergo finally saw the person he'd expected.

His throat bobbed as he murmured:

"Has the [Devil] arrived...?"

"Ha!"

Aiven Lindsey swept his hand through the dust and strode up to Vergo.

"Let's get straight to the point too. Enough—talk!"

He spread his arms and laughed excitedly.

"Come on, let's fight!"