The roar of the sea pounding against the cliffs was drowned out by the tension that filled the air. The Suvelians hovered on the edge of the battlefield, looking at the vicious combat happening before them. Their leader, Solian Flare, was embroiled in a battle that would decide the destiny of Dressrosa—and perhaps the world at large.
Kael "Rustfang" Deyn, Vance "Ironfist" Rhoan, Jorin "Crimson Fang" Vael, and the rest of the crew were holding their breath. Each one of them knew that nothing had ever been in greater peril, but none of them was able to turn away from the savagery of battle. It was hard to imagine that the person they had followed—Solian, a man who at some point in his life was just like them, an outsider who owned nothing—was now against a great one like Donquixote Doflamingo.
We have to do something," Kael snarled, his hand on the pommel of his sword. His brow was creased in worry. He could feel the sheer strength of the fight even from a distance, the ground trembling beneath his feet as Solian let loose his fires and Haoshoku Haki. "He's pushing himself too hard. He needs help.".
Vance, the gentle giant of a man, placed a hand on Kael's shoulder. His deep voice was authoritative, but there was a touch of concern beneath that was equal to Kael's own. "We can't do anything for him now. If we act, it'll just give Doflamingo an upper hand. Solian has to deal with this one alone.".
Jorin, beside them, clenched his fists. Red eyes flamed with a powerful mixture of outrage and respect. "I hate watching from the sidelines. But. I acknowledge that Vance is right. It is Solian's battle to see through. He must do it himself, end it the way he desires."
The crew stood silently for a moment and observed as Solian and Doflamingo exchanged vicious blows. Solian's portal skills were out in full force as he teleported around the battlefield with ghostly precision, avoiding Doflamingo's strings. But the Donquixote Captain was giving him a hard time. His Haki was acrid in the air, and his strings appeared to be attacking him from every angle, cutting through the air like deadly whips.
Solian was more than the boy they had met on the pirate ship now. He had been turned into a force to be reckoned with. But despite all of the power that he possessed, the crew understood the seriousness of the situation. Doflamingo was not just an extremely powerful opponent; he was a man of years, and he was one who manipulated human beings as well as the mechanisms of the universe itself. Solian wasn't fighting just for himself. He was fighting for his team, for this country they envisioned changing, and for his vision of the future.
"You can do it, Solian," Kael muttered to himself, never once removing his eyes from the field. "We believe in you."
But even as they spoke words of encouragement, all of them knew the odds against Solian. The force brute Doflamingo used with his Haoshoku and strings was something new to them. It was a terror to watch. Nevertheless, there was something in the manner Solian was battling that made them hopeful—a spark in his eyes, a fire that was equal to his solar fires. They all knew Solian could do anything, but would he be able to do it in time?
Vance's eyes narrowed as Doflamingo's strings cut through the air with lethal accuracy. He could feel the intensity of the battle even from where they were. "This isn't just a fight for control of Dressrosa," Vance said slowly. "This is a battle for our future. Solian is fighting for all of us, and we need to be ready.".
Jorin stood before Vance, his voice low but fierce. "I don't need you to remind me of that. I've never had any uncertainty about Solian, and I'm not going to now. But there is something about Doflamingo. He's not like the other foes we've encountered. The power he possesses is. gigantic."
"I know," Vance replied, never taking his eyes from the battle. "But Solian has changed. He's not what he used to be. He's stronger now, and he's proven it again and again."
The air was heavy with tension as the battle reached its peak. Solian's Haoshoku flared again, a wave of raw willpower washing over the battlefield, and for an instant, Doflamingo faltered. The crew's hearts skipped a beat. They had witnessed Solian fight with brute force, but this. this was something else. This was the power of a conqueror.
Kael gripped his sword. "He's got it. He has to."
Jorin's eyes narrowed, watching the fight with increasing intensity. He could feel the weight of Solian's struggle, and it was a reminder of the kind of leader Solian had become. "We've always been behind him. But this. this is the defining moment. If Solian wins here, everything changes."
"Always believed in him," Vance spoke softly, his voice unyielding. "Solian is our captain. And he's harder than anyone else on this field. Even if it means we have to fight the entire world. I know he'll fight for us."
The air was electric with energy as the battle raged on, and Solian's power only grew. The crew could sense the resolve in his movements, the manner in which his body coiled to its limit. They could sense his resolve—a man who would do anything to make the world a better place.
"We'll follow him," Kael said, his voice firm, a sense of pride swelling in his chest. "We'll follow him to the end."
And so, they stood united, silent but resolute, their eyes never wavering from the battlefield. They would battle with Solian, as his crew, as his Suvelians, no matter the cost. They trusted him, and they knew, deep in the very core of themselves, that this was just the start of something much bigger than themselves.
The determination of the crew remained as strong as ever, yet still the battle continued on, and the ultimate fate remained undetermined.