The violent clash of Conqueror's Haki raged on, filling the underground harbor with a suffocating pressure. More and more people rolled their eyes back and collapsed, unable to withstand the sheer force of will colliding in the air.
"Fufufufu… Only the three of you came to attack us? That was not a wise choice."
Doflamingo's voice carried arrogance, but his eyes never left his opponent. The ground beneath his feet rippled and transformed into waves of white strings, rising in thick, razor-sharp spikes laced with jet-black Armament Haki. The atmosphere itself grew sharp and suffocating.
And yet, he didn't strike immediately. His Kenbunshoku Haki stretched outward, searching.
Where was the Tyrant?
Bartholomew Kuma, the wielder of the Paw-Paw Fruit—his strength could not be underestimated. If Kuma was lurking somewhere nearby, then this was far more than a mere raid.
Souta Kiryuu, Kuma, and the man of lightning—three monsters capable of threatening the very foundation of the Donquixote Family. Doflamingo's jaw tightened.
If possible, he didn't want to cross blades with Souta Kiryuu. They had no personal grudges, no conflicting interests. He had been willing to work with Tezoro, even after Tezoro stole away the Gold-Gold Fruit. And Souta Kiryuu—this "freak experiment" who had slaughtered a Celestial Dragon—was not an enemy he wanted to casually provoke.
A battle here, in the underground harbor, would only bring losses his family couldn't afford.
"String-String Fruit, awakened form… Let's see how you fare against the power of a Warlord."
Souta Kiryuu gently set the lovestruck Baby 5 down near Capone Bege, then turned toward Doflamingo. His eyes burned with bloodlust. The Lunarian flames on his back blazed higher, lightning danced across his jagged dragon horns, and the violet markings etched into his dragon scales writhed with primal ferocity. A savage aura rolled across the harbor like a living storm.
Doflamingo's smirk faltered. Memories flashed—memories of being crushed beneath Kaido's might.
This monster… this "strongest experiment" looked frighteningly like Kaido.
Artificial Azure Dragon traits, Oni bloodline, spliced gene factors—yes, the 88th experimental subject was practically a clone of the Beast Emperor.
"Fufufufu… Very well. Your Conqueror's Haki and strength—I acknowledge them. Consider what you've stolen tonight my gift to you. Perhaps, Souta Kiryuu, we could even become partners. Whatever you desire, the Donquixote Family can find it for you."
For the first time, Doflamingo spoke to him as an equal, the way he once treated Tezoro, the Golden Emperor. This was no ordinary enemy—this was a man worthy of his 1-billion-beli bounty.
The title "Strongest Experiment" was no empty boast.
Souta Kiryuu let out a cold laugh. "A fight first—then we'll see if you're even worth my time."
Inwardly, he sneered. This was the difference between Doflamingo and the true emperors of the sea. The Flamingo was a businessman at heart, not a conqueror. He lacked the unyielding will, the insane, unbreakable resolve of someone like Straw Hat Luffy.
Kaido had crushed his Conqueror's Haki once before, and since then… Doflamingo's spirit had stagnated.
"Then I'll test for myself just how strong the man who killed a Celestial Dragon really is!"
"White Line Tsunami!"
Doflamingo spread his arms, and the harbor floor surged. Waves of white string crashed forward like a tsunami, spikes hardened with Armament Haki lancing up in a dense, merciless storm.
"Night-Kai Style: Dragon Emperor of Flame!"
Souta Kiryuu shot forward, his Lunarian flames exploding outward. Fire raced across his body, shaping itself into a colossal dragon head of violet-red flame. Lightning crackled through its jaws as he roared into the oncoming storm.
"BOOM!"
The dragon head slammed forward, shattering Doflamingo's waves of string and obliterating his hardened spikes.
The Warlord's face darkened. Too strong. This so-called experiment wasn't bluffing.
"String Shield!"
He slammed his hands downward, conjuring massive pillars of thread to shield himself. At the same time, his body shot skyward, perching on threads to stay aloft.
But Souta Kiryuu's blazing dragon head tore through even that. The awakened shield crumbled, shredded into nothing.
Doflamingo's veins bulged. His teeth clenched.
How could a "newcomer" wield such monstrous strength?!
"Overheat Barrage—Feather Bullets of a Thousand Arrows!"
His fingers spread wide, ten digits blurring. From the ground, thousands of blackened strings erupted, shaped like flamingo wings. They surrounded Souta Kiryuu in a deadly dome, every strand sharpened with Armament Haki. He meant to pierce him from every direction.
"To force me this far… you can be proud of yourself, experiment!"
"Thunderfire Dragon Break!"
Souta Kiryuu's half-dragon form blazed brighter, Lunarian fire fusing with storming lightning. His violet-red scales glimmered like molten steel as he crashed headlong into the forest of spikes.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
Metallic clashes rang out like endless thunder, sparks spraying in every direction.
The shockwaves were monstrous. Cargo, crates, and hapless underlings were hurled through the air like ragdolls. Even Capone Bege ducked into cover, gritting his teeth.
So this was the power of a Warlord-class battle?
What, then, would it look like when two Emperors fought for real?
The storm finally subsided.
Doflamingo stood above, chest heaving, breath ragged. His Conqueror's Haki flared and flickered, but his body trembled. He had unleashed wave after wave of awakened strings—yet still, Souta Kiryuu stood.
"If I could break you here," Doflamingo thought grimly, "you'd be a bargaining chip against the World Government itself."
"Fufufu… Impressive. Old Warlords like you really do wield terrifying Armament Haki."
From the smoke, Souta Kiryuu emerged. His scales were cracked, blood seeping from fresh wounds—but already, the Lunarian flames licked across them, regenerating. Doflamingo's strongest strikes had broken through his defenses, yes. But not enough to defeat him.
The monster still stood.
Doflamingo's pupils shrank. He felt it clearly through his Kenbunshoku Haki—the man's aura remained vast, unyielding, endless.
"This resilience… it's like looking at Kaido himself."
Souta Kiryuu grinned savagely. "I know you've still got one last trick hidden. Go on. Show me."
"Fufufu… Why bother? We aren't enemies, Souta Kiryuu. We should be partners." Doflamingo's grin returned, though sweat dripped down his temple. He didn't want to reveal his true trump card, nor did he believe he could finish the monster before him.
Besides—none of his officers had managed to pin down the lightning god at Souta's side.
And somewhere, perhaps lurking even now, was Kuma.
If this fight dragged on, the Donquixote Family and the Araryu Pirates would both bleed. That, he could not allow.
"Besides…" Doflamingo's smirk sharpened, "the Marines are already on their way."
The words hung heavy in the air, a warning and a threat both.
If Souta Kiryuu refused to back down, then this battle could only end in total war.