"If that Haki were any stronger, this would be dangerous! Kuwah!"
Borsalino shot out from the rubble, rubbing his temple as he eyed the massive string construct aiming once again at Kuzan. This was becoming a real headache.
With an awakened Paramecia user, a Rumble-Rumble Fruit wielder, and a member of the Oni race all standing against them, Kuzan had truly provoked the worst possible opponents.
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
A barrage of light bullets rained down from Borsalino's hands.
"Don't disrupt the Young Master's fun, God's Wrath!"
Enel intercepted, his eyes gleaming with excitement—this was the first time he'd encountered an opponent with abilities so similar to his own.
"Judgment!"
BOOM!
Lightning clashed with light, creating an earsplitting hum.
At the same time, the glacier in front of Kuzan began to melt, steam rising from the extreme heat.
His already fading consciousness wavered further.
From beneath the battlefield, Sakazuki erupted in a surge of molten rock, intercepting the incoming light projectiles. His right arm, now fully transformed into magma, exploded forward like an erupting volcano.
"Hellhound!"
BOOM!
Light and fire detonated upon impact. The shockwaves sent pirates and Marines alike staggering, clutching their ears in pain.
Moria raised his massive blade, bringing it down toward Sakazuki just as the admiral was sent reeling from the blast.
The sky battle above was just as fierce.
"Gehahahaha! These young ones are full of energy!"
Golden Lion Shiki laughed heartily, his twin swords, Oto and Kogarashi, slicing through the shockwaves Sengoku had unleashed, sending them hurtling toward Garp.
"What a troublesome old man!"
Sengoku scowled, scanning the chaotic battlefield below. His enormous golden Buddha palm crackled with black lightning.
A chilling sensation ran down Doflamingo's spine—one he hadn't even felt when fighting Big Mom months ago. His Observation Haki screamed in warning.
A massive sense of crisis surged from above.
Just as Akainu was staggered by Moria's attack—
Doflamingo's Thread was cloaked in jet-black armor as he raised it skyward in defense.
BOOM!
The impact never landed cleanly.
Instead, the Thread was driven into the ground like a nail. A colossal imprint of Sengoku's palm was left on the battlefield, with Doflamingo buried at its center.
...
"Gehahahaha! Sengoku, are you really resorting to sneak attacks on a rookie?!"
Several massive air slashes erupted from Shiki's blades, slicing toward the distracted Sengoku.
...
"Young Master!"
Enel faltered, his golden staff slackening in his grip. Borsalino seized the moment, slamming his Ama-no-Murakumo sword against Enel, sending him crashing toward the shoreline.
"Boss!"
From the distance, Tesoro clenched his teeth and sprinted toward where Doflamingo had disappeared.
Whether out of loyalty or survival instinct, one thing was certain—if the Boss was dead, there was no way he'd survive this battlefield either.
"West Blue's rising star? Your bounty is still too low!"
Akainu shoved against Moria's oversized blade, his eyes gleaming with hostility.
His right arm transformed into a demonic canine head of molten rock, snapping its jaws shut toward Moria's skull.
"Damn Marines! That hurt!"
Moria caught the attack with a Haki-infused punch, but the searing heat nearly cooked his fist. His Haki still wasn't strong enough!
BOOM!
From beneath the rubble, a figure coated in blood shot upward.
Tesoro and his men's eyes lit up with relief.
In contrast, Akainu and Borsalino's expressions turned grim.
If Doflamingo could still fight, this battle would take a turn for the worse.
"Tch!"
Doflamingo spat out blood, his mouth curling into a grin.
"Fuffuffuffu! So this is what true Advanced Armament Haki feels like? That hurt like hell!"
His body was in shambles—only his bones were still intact—but excitement burned in his eyes.
This was a glimpse of true power.
A form of Haki so strong it could bypass defenses and crush opponents from within…
No wonder Sengoku was called Whitebeard's rival!
"Boss!"
Tesoro rushed closer, concern etched on his face.
"I'm fine."
Doflamingo waved him off, his gaze flickering to the three Admirals still standing. He let out a low chuckle.
"Fuffuffuffu! So, do you still want to continue, Marines? It's three against one—I'd say I have the advantage."
Behind him, Moria stepped forward silently. Enel, crackling with electricity, began to gather power at the coastline.
"Enough talk! Today, your fate is Impel Down!"
Sakazuki took a step forward, his teeth grinding as he spoke.
They just had to stall him a little longer. Soon, Sengoku, the Admirals, and the Vice Admirals would all converge on this spot.
"Is that so?"
Doflamingo smirked, flicking his gaze toward the distance.
"At this rate, Kuzan's going to die. Tell me, can Marine Headquarters afford such a loss? Enel!"
Borsalino and Sakazuki's eyes widened.
They turned just in time to see the unconscious Kuzan lying far behind them.
The Rumble-Rumble Fruit user's true target was never them!
A golden lightning spear shot forth.
"Damn it!"
As Borsalino moved to intercept—
Doflamingo and Moria vanished.
Sakazuki's face twisted in realization.
Even handling Moria alone had been a hassle.
Now, with Doflamingo at his side, he was about to suffer the same fate as Kuzan.
Molten fists erupted forward, launching magma projectiles in every direction, trying to block their movements.
But that was exactly what Doflamingo had counted on.
Darkened silk threads wove together into an armored Spider's Web, blocking the fiery assault. The webs burned away under the extreme heat, but they had done their job.
Wrapping himself and Moria in threads, Doflamingo launched them both toward Enel.
Forget the ship—he could fly!
Sakazuki's face darkened.
...
Unnamed Island
A massive sword impaled a sea beast over a roaring fire.
Moria, his bandaged hand, occasionally turned the roasting meat.
Nearby, the unconscious Enel lay wrapped in layers of bandages, still recovering from his beating at Borsalino's hands.
Tesoro, sitting off to the side, was busy contacting his family's trade fleet.
Doflamingo, gazing up at the moon, exhaled slowly.
"Damn it… Joy Boy really was a lucky bastard. Anyone else would've died at the Summit War."
He frowned.
"And Jack… How the hell did that elephant brat survive an assault from Sengoku, Fujitora, and Tsuru?"
-----------
+220 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg