"Cover serial: Donquixote Arc—The 150th tally mark"
"In a filthy, dim prison cell, the passage of time was almost impossible to feel. To remind oneself, a person had to do something."
"Doflamingo was curled up in a corner now, his eyes hollow and lifeless, without a trace of their former spark. He lowered his head to look at the fresh swill just delivered, then numbly extended his right hand and mechanically added another stroke to the wall covered in tally marks..."
What was the problem?
The problem was enormous!
Noah pressed a hand to his forehead, speechless. With no intention of explaining further, he said gravely, "Forget it. I'll go myself."
Huh?
The old king froze. Before he could ask another question, Noah turned into a streak of blue lightning and shot into the sky, shrinking into an indistinguishable black speck in the blink of an eye.
The marines aboard the Thunder Eagle were long accustomed to this and went their separate ways.
The members of Caledia's diplomatic delegation, however, stared up at the sky with their jaws hanging open, unable to recover for a long time...
The capital of the Caledia Kingdom.
Nestled between mountains and the sea, its buildings stood in orderly rows, and its people lived comfortably. It had been a prosperous city well known throughout the surrounding waters.
But now...
Devastation scarred every corner of the city. Since the outer city had fallen, the kingdom's army and royal guards had been forced to mount a desperate defense behind the inner city walls.
Although the pirates were temporarily held outside, cannonballs still occasionally fell into the city, causing widespread explosions.
Night fell.
The offensive had paused, but sporadic cannon fire still sounded from time to time. Fires blazed in many streets near the city's outskirts.