Two figures clashed in a blur, bodies pressed close, fists flying in a frenzy.
Fists, feet, elbows, knees, head—every possible weaponized body part was unleashed without restraint.
There was no defense.
Only full-force strikes, each one powered by sheer will.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The sound of flesh colliding echoed like a war drum.
...
On the other side of the surveillance feed, a group of newly arrived scientists stood frozen, stunned into silence.
"Hissss~"
The scientist sucked in a sharp breath, his heart pounding wildly as he murmured under his breath.
"So this... this is the fabled King of the North Sea?"
Beside him, Bone's tuft of grass tilted into the shape of a question mark atop his head.
A doctor turned scientist, even he felt something was off.
"This doesn't match the data I've seen... How are they still bursting with energy and drive, even wearing Seastone chains designed to suppress Devil Fruit users?"
"That's it! This is what the BOSS meant by evolved humans!!!"
Caesar's face lit up with fanatic zeal, like a zealot witnessing divine revelation.
"No," said Trebol flatly. "This is just Doffy's own power."
He remembered clearly—nine years ago, back when he brought Bone to Upper Yard.
Their very first voyage with Doffy.
Even with a rotation of challengers taking turns, none of them could outlast Doffy's bottomless stamina.
And when they finally came to, Doffy wasn't on the deck resting.
He had tied himself off with a safety rope, most of his body submerged in seawater...
...throwing punches.
...
Back in the battlefield.
Both fighters were battered and bruised, but neither had stopped.
The rhythm, however, was beginning to shift.
"Huff... Huff..."
Bullet staggered, gasping for air.
He was nearing his limit.
"Fufufufufufufu... is that all you've got?"Doflamingo's voice rang out just before his foot slammed into Bullet's chest.
Already unstable, Bullet fell flat on his back with a heavy crash.
Before he could react, Doflamingo was on top of him.
His massive fists like sandbags drew closer and closer to Bullet's face.
And then came the mocking question:
"What did you say you wanted to become the strongest at, again?"
The moment Doflamingo got serious—
Bullet, who'd missed his chance to hone himself in Impel Down...
...and never fully adapted to fighting in Seastone restraints...
—was completely overwhelmed.
He had no chance to fight back.
He'd missed out on twenty years of prison workouts.
The difference in physical power between him and Doflamingo wasn't just "a little."
...
At sunrise, the battle finally ended.
Clang! Clatter! Clunk!
The unlocked Seastone chains fell heavily onto Bullet's body with a dull thud, drawing another muffled groan from him.
But there was no further response—he was already unconscious.
Doflamingo, having vented thoroughly, cracked his neck and stretched, working out his loosened muscles.
Nothing beat a good brawl when you were in a foul mood.
With a satisfied sigh, Doflamingo turned on his heel and strode over to where Baccarat and Trebol were waiting.
"Let's go. I want to see how IQ interacts with your power."
"Understood, BOSS!"Baccarat responded immediately, falling into step beside him as they headed for the lab.
Trebol gave Bullet one last glance, then scuttled after them.
"Hey, Doffy," he said, catching up, "what about him? Shouldn't we do something?"
"No fatal injuries. Leave him."
Doflamingo knew Bullet's body better than anyone—he'd felt it firsthand.
"When he wakes up, tell him this:"
"Because of his loss today, he's gotta earn his meals through labor."
Trebol nodded, committing it to memory.
Then, turning his head toward another area of the compound, he asked:
"What about him, Doffy? The new blind mummy?"
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