1. The Birdcage Begins to Close
From the center of Dressrosa, shining threads shot skyward—then curved, arcing outward and falling like spears of fate.
The Birdcage reactivated.
People screamed as the blades whirred toward them. Birds scattered into the sky. Whole buildings were sliced, trees split cleanly. Civilians scrambled to the inner city, where the bulk of the fighting was taking place.
Doflamingo, standing on a high platform of string in the palace's rubble, raised both arms wide like a conductor.
"This is your final curtain!" he howled. "No one leaves Dressrosa alive!"
2. The Battlefield Reacts
Franky, at the destroyed Smile Factory, grit his teeth as he looked up.
"That damn cage is back...!"
Bartolomeo, holding up a protective barrier over a group of civilians, swore under his breath.
"No way... this again?! We have to move people fast!"
Zoro turned to the gladiators. "We need to destroy the strings themselves. We can't let it close in."
Cavendish, his cape torn but eyes sharp, nodded. "Then we head to the center—and we cut him down."
3. Luffy and Law vs. Doflamingo
Luffy and Law stood side-by-side amid the crumbling palace ruins. Doflamingo hovered above them, arms crossed, threads twitching at his fingertips.
"You're both nothing but failed pirates clinging to dreams," Doflamingo spat.
Law wiped blood from his mouth. "And you're a failed Celestial Dragon pretending to be a king."
"Shut your mouth!" Doflamingo hissed, launching Overheat—a massive whip of burning-hot string.
Luffy dodged left, flipping through the air. Law ducked and rolled, slicing up with Counter Shock, sending sparks into the air.
Doflamingo's threads stabbed downward, piercing the ground. Luffy landed on a balcony and charged.
"Gear Second!"
He vanished, reappearing behind Doflamingo mid-air. "Gomu Gomu no... Jet Pistol!!"
Fist met face. Doflamingo reeled back, but retaliated instantly—thin strings sliced Luffy's shoulder.
Law launched Takt, hurling debris at Doflamingo, but the warlord sliced through it effortlessly.
4. Kael's Decision
Deep in the glowing heart of Dressrosa, Kael watched the Birdcage's threads descend from the sky through a projection from the weapon's core.
His breathing was shallow. Energy swirled around him.
"It's taking everything I have... but it's not enough..." he whispered.
Kanjuro turned to him. "Kael, you must rest!"
Kael shook his head. "No... not yet."
He focused all his will through the control glyphs. Across the city, massive stone hands erupted from the ground—supporting buildings, blocking falling debris, slowing the threads' descent.
He could feel the lives above him—civilians, warriors, children—and he refused to let them die.
5. The Fighters Regroup
Zoro, Bartolomeo, Cavendish, Rebecca, Kyros, and the gladiators all gathered at the palace's outer perimeter.
Sai, holding a wounded Baby 5, looked to Chinjao. "The real battle's up there. We leave the clean-up to the rest."
Ideo, BluGeli, Hajrudin, and others formed a front line to shield civilians fleeing the inner streets.
Bartolomeo summoned a massive barrier ramp leading up to the palace. "Come on! This'll take us straight to Straw Hat!"
Cavendish mounted his horse. "Let's deliver the final blow with style."
6. Bellamy's Stand
In a side corridor of the palace, Bellamy leaned against a cracked column, watching the strings tighten in the sky.
He coughed up blood. "I couldn't be a true pirate under Doflamingo... but maybe I can still do one thing right."
He looked down at his shaking hands... and walked toward the battlefield anyway.
7. Luffy Unleashes Gear Fourth
Doflamingo launched a web of strings, ensnaring Law midair and slamming him into the ground.
Luffy skidded beside him. "Law!!"
Law groaned, holding his side. "Do it, Straw Hat. I'll buy you time..."
Luffy stood. The steam around him thickened. His body inflated, arms bulging, veins rippling.
"Gear... Fourth."
His form shifted, coated in Busoshoku Haki. Blackened arms and chest expanded—he bounced in the air like rubber armor.
Doflamingo's eyes narrowed.
"What is this?!"
Luffy grinned, his voice deeper.
"Boundman."
8. The Sky Battle Begins
Luffy flew forward with monstrous speed.
Gomu Gomu no... Kong Gun!
The punch shattered the air. Doflamingo barely blocked, skidding back hundreds of feet through the air.
His threads lashed wildly, forming a cocoon of strings to defend.
Luffy slammed through it. "Kong Rifle!"
Doflamingo gasped—blood spraying as the blow hit him in the ribs.
"You can't win!" Doflamingo roared, unleashing Spider Thread, strings stabbing in all directions.
Luffy bounced off mid-air platforms of compressed air, dodging them all.
"You hurt my friends... You used Bellamy... You made everyone suffer!"
He launched himself again, screaming—
"You're DONE, Doflamingo!!"
9. Chapter Climax – Allies Ascend
As Luffy and Doflamingo clashed in the air, the gladiators and Straw Hats charged up Bartolomeo's barrier ramp.
Zoro: "Luffy's finishing it. We're backing him up."
Cavendish: "Let's strike the final blow together!"
From below, Kael's power surged again, launching light pillars that halted more of the Birdcage's descent, buying precious time.
On every street, people looked to the sky—to the pirate with the straw hat, holding back a king.