Snowflakes drifted down.
After Byrnndi World and his crew passed through a snow-covered forest, the view suddenly opened up.
On a vast, white plain, a dozen figures dressed in black mafia suits stood watchfully, a stack of wooden crates piled behind them.
A mocking sneer tugged at Byrnndi World's lips.
"Where's that brat Doflamingo? What, for a deal this important, he doesn't even have the guts to show up himself?"
"The so-called King of the Underworld in the North Blue... tch! He's just a rat hiding in a sewer! What a joke."
The members of the Donquixote Family turned pale with anger, but none dared speak in the face of Byrnndi World's taunts.
"Doflamingo-sama is occupied with pressing matters and couldn't make it," one of the mafia men said with a slight bow.
Byrnndi World glanced at him.
"So? Everything I asked for—is it all here?"
The mafia leader raised a hand, and the others immediately sprang into action.
One large crate after another was brought forward and pried open with a loud clank of iron rods.
"Enough arms to equip 3,000 men, all top-grade."
Byrnndi World let out a cold snort and waved a hand.
The World Pirates, already flushed with excitement, couldn't hold back anymore—they rushed forward and pulled out weapons from the crates packed with straw.
"Hahahaha! Captain World! This is top-quality gear!"
"Even some World Government member nations don't have this kind of firepower!"
"..."
The pirates were all grinning wildly, handling the firearms with barely contained excitement.
Satisfied, Byrnndi World asked again,
"And the most important item?"
The mafia leader replied gravely,
"It's ready as well."
He turned and walked toward the edge of the snowy forest. Bending down, he felt around for a moment—then, as if grabbing something, he gave it a hard tug.
Shhh!
A huge sheet of snow was ripped away, revealing a terrifying object beneath the canvas as snowflakes flew into the air.
A gleaming black cannon barrel came into view—over three meters wide and more than eight meters long. Its surface was smooth and cold, and the gaping muzzle gave off a strong scent of gunpowder.
The carriage, fitted with two massive disc-shaped wheels, held the enormous cannon upright in the snowy field. It looked like a hulking, misshapen beast of black steel—menacing and impossible to ignore.
The moment Byrnndi World saw the cannon, his eyes lit up with a fierce gleam.
Whoosh!
His figure vanished, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared beside the cannon like a ghost.
He reached out and gently ran his hand across the monstrous weapon. A twisted look of exhilaration gradually crept across his face.
"The shells?"
"Right over here."
The mafia man walked to the side and pulled back another snow-covered tarp, revealing ammunition crates beneath it.
"This cannon is unlike anything ever built. It took an enormous amount of resources to construct. Its range easily exceeds three nautical miles. Paired with these special shells, it can sink a large warship with ease."
Byrnndi World grinned.
"I don't trust your evaluations. When it comes to weapons, I'd rather test them myself."
With that, he opened a crate, effortlessly hoisted a black shell over two meters in diameter, and loaded it into the cannon's gaping maw.
The burning fuse snaked in the wind, its sparks lighting up Byrnndi World's face, which was twisted in wild ambition.
The next moment—
BOOM!!
A thunderous blast tore through the air. Snow clinging to trees within a hundred meters was shaken loose by the roar.
The black shell shot through the sky in a wide arc, slamming hard into a distant snow-capped peak.
RUMBLE!!!
The ground trembled with a deep, resonant quake. Flames surged skyward from the mountain's summit as avalanches of snow and rocks tumbled down in waves.
Everyone stared in stunned silence at the destruction—the mountaintop was collapsing, nearly flattened—and couldn't help but gasp.
"Hahahahahaha!!! That's it!! That's the feeling!!"
Flames danced in the sky, thick smoke billowing upward, casting light and shadow over Byrnndi World's face as he laughed maniacally.
Byojack stood frozen, eyes wide with shock at the cannon's horrifying power. His mind went blank.
His brother hadn't even used his Devil Fruit powers just now!
That meant... this absurd power came solely from the cannon itself!
He couldn't imagine it—if this level of firepower was enhanced a hundredfold by Byrnndi World's Moa Moa no Mi...
Could it really wipe out a town? No—an island... or even flatten Marine Headquarters in one strike?
For a moment, Byojack doubted his own thoughts.
"Good. That brat Doflamingo didn't let me down. I'm very satisfied."
Byrnndi World gave the black cannon barrel a gentle pat.
"The Donquixote Family's reputation in the underworld is well known across the North Blue," the mafia man said with a bow.
"Mm, but we've only tested this big cannon. The rest of the weapons haven't been tested yet..."
Byrnndi World's mouth curled into a grin.
The mafia man froze.
Bang bang bang bang!!
Suddenly, a burst of rapid gunfire rang out.
The mafia man's eyes went wide in shock.
Not far away, all his comrades had collapsed onto the snow, their bodies riddled with bullet holes. Blood seeped from beneath them, staining the white ground red.
The World Pirates grinned cruelly, smoke curling from the muzzles of their brand-new guns.
"You dare—!"
Bang!
The mafia man's head jerked to the side as a crimson flower of blood burst from his forehead.
He collapsed heavily to the ground, his dimming eyes locked onto Byrnndi World, blood gurgling from his mouth.
"Doflamingo-sama... no... Daren-sama... will never... forgive you..."
Byrnndi World slowly lowered his smoking flintlock and strolled up to the fallen man, looking down on him with a mocking smirk.
"I know that brat Doflamingo... but who's this Daren?"
He clicked his tongue with amusement—then suddenly frowned.
Vrrrrrrrmmm!!
A sharp, shrill noise tore through the air from afar, rapidly closing in at terrifying speed!
Something was slicing through the atmosphere with incredible force.
Byrnndi World's eyes sharpened, a strange red gleam flickering in his pupils.
Without looking, he spun on his heel and thrust his rough palm out with force.
BOOM!!
A violent gust exploded outward, snow spiraling into the air. Byrnndi World's body was pushed back a meter, carving a deep groove into the ground. His gray cloak billowed wildly behind him.
Hovering in the air, he had caught a streamlined metal skateboard in mid-flight, its tail whipping from the momentum.
He squinted.
"That's me."
A low voice suddenly came from behind him...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake