Zhou Tian Yi Shu.
It wasn't truly a martial art, Oboro had learned this ancient technique long ago, though its applications had remained theoretical until now. The Feng Shui formula deduced by his system based on fragmentary memories bore resemblance to formation arrays, yet remained frustratingly incomplete due to the limitations of his knowledge.
Zhou Yi represented complexity beyond even his enhanced system's capacity to fully evolve. His understanding extended only to the Zhou Tian Bagua that had remained popular on Earth, everything else existed as tantalizing fragments of deeper wisdom that he couldn't quite grasp.
Strictly speaking, Zhou Yi was more like comprehensive knowledge than simple technique. Before this moment, opportunities to display its principles had been rare, with no practical applications in actual combat.
But now, he could use atmospheric manipulation to construct a Qimen Dunjia formation.
His current capabilities allowed him to evolve only the Eight Trigrams. The sixty-four hexagrams and three hundred eighty-four lines remained beyond his reach, he couldn't make the "formation" operate while simultaneously observing and changing Feng Shui patterns in real-time.
Such methods bordered on the mystical, touching upon the fundamental principles that governed heaven and earth themselves.
This was technique elevated to the level of art.
In Oboro's enhanced perception, the space and time surrounding himself and Doflamingo had been covered by invisible air currents arranged in precise Eight Trigram patterns. These atmospheric flows moved according to ancient laws, invisibly creating conditions of "the right time, the right place, and the right people."
Within this formation, whether attacking or defending, Oboro found himself blessed by the surrounding currents, aided by forces that operated beyond normal perception. The air streams could subtly alter wind direction, reinforce the ground beneath his feet for better leverage, or provide microscopic adjustments that accumulated into significant advantages.
These changes appeared individually insignificant, but their cumulative effect created qualitative transformation.
Simply put, the longer Oboro remained within the formation, the better his condition became. Conversely, Doflamingo would experience increasing discomfort and mounting obstacles, though he might never consciously identify what was going wrong.
"God Thread!"
The sixteen terrifying constructs were wrapped in high-density Armament Haki, completely transformed into energy resembling rainbow light. Their speed and power nearly collapsed the Eight Trigram formation surrounding Oboro.
Fierce wind struck his face with physical force, whipping his hair upward as the massive string projectiles closed distance with supernatural velocity.
Black Haki condensed like liquid water around Oboro's fingers.
This represented the same advanced technique as Ryusakura, flowing Armament Haki that could penetrate external defenses to inflict internal damage. But Oboro had incorporated his own modifications, adding elements of "qi" to the traditional flow.
He named this technique "Death Qi", the breath of mortality itself.
Haki remained invisible to ordinary perception, detectable only through the environmental changes and physical manifestations it created. When using Armament Haki, body parts gained metallic black luster. When deploying Conqueror's Haki, magnetic field alterations might trigger natural lightning or other elemental phenomena.
For the strong, the ability to sense and "see" Haki relied on comprehensive perception rather than visual input alone, including the physiological intuition of supernatural awareness.
Therefore, when this "different form" of Haki appeared around Oboro's fingers, Doflamingo immediately recognized the danger.
That power transcended anything he could currently deploy.
He understood instinctively that this represented high-level Haki application.
While not the most advanced technique he'd ever witnessed, it carried more terrifying implications than ordinary high-level moves. After all, his business dealings in the New World had brought him into contact with Kaido and Charlotte Linlin, two of the Four Emperors whose mastery served as benchmarks for ultimate capability.
High-level Haki techniques weren't secrets in the New World.
But perhaps he had relied too heavily on his Devil Fruit powers, neglecting the deeper aspects of spiritual enhancement.
Sixteen Sacred Bullets gathered momentum and flew toward Oboro with devastating intent.
Oboro shifted his feet with subtle grace.
The next second, black lightning erupted between their positions.
The white constructs wrapped in concentrated Haki seemed to part like water the moment they encountered his technique. The sixteen assembled projectiles scattered as if they'd lost all cohesion, while black light swept across the void.
Doflamingo's red sunglasses trembled as he lowered his head, expression shifting from shock to something approaching madness.
Blood spurted from his mouth in a crimson stream.
Directly before him, Oboro's finger had penetrated his throat!
Despite coating his neck with Armament Haki in advance to resist the attack, his defenses had proven as fragile as paper.
Finger Gun from the Six Styles?
No!
Doflamingo's analytical mind continued working even as agony flooded his nervous system.
Soon, Oboro's bloodied finger withdrew from his throat.
Immediately afterward, Doflamingo discovered that blood vessels throughout his body were turning black...
"Ah..." he began to speak.
Another massive gush of blood erupted from his mouth, flowing uncontrollably like an opened faucet. Even forming words became nearly impossible.
"Fufufufu..."
Even so, he continued laughing.
He showed no sign of accepting serious injury or defeat.
Suddenly, Doflamingo's soul shuddered as excruciating pain began tearing through his consciousness.
Violent "black energy" burst from his body, cutting and destroying his flesh from internal organs to surface skin. His body convulsed as the pink feathered cloak exploded into tatters.
For a full minute, the agony continued before he finally collapsed powerlessly, covered with wounds.
Qi, penetrating through every opening.
Doflamingo's blood vessels had turned black because Oboro had injected his own "qi" into the Warlord's body through the attack. This finger strike combined the Six Styles' Finger Gun with the Powerful Vajra Finger technique, enhanced by advanced Haki applications and driven by internal Qi Refining methods.
The power was naturally extraordinary.
However...
Oboro narrowed his eyes, studying Doflamingo's apparently lifeless form.
This guy was genuinely formidable.
Almost simultaneously with the death qi's destructive spread, countless threads within Joker's body had begun mending the damage. Although Doflamingo appeared torn and mangled, his most vital organs had been "saved." He'd sacrificed skin and flesh to concentrate his remaining strength on preserving more critical internal systems.
"Hehe... You can't kill me... Hehe..."
Doflamingo's completely disfigured features distorted his voice as he spoke through his destroyed throat.
"Did you notice?"
Oboro smiled slightly.
The sixteen Sacred Bullets had appeared to be easily neutralized, but in reality, the moment of collision had required Oboro to deploy multiple techniques, flashes of light around his position representing martial arts enhanced by Qi Refining methods. Seven or eight primarily defensive moves including Iron Shirt and Golden Bell Cover had been necessary to prevent catastrophic damage.
Moreover, he'd been restraining his Haki throughout their extended battle. The consumption of his physical strength was unimaginable, not to mention deploying the advanced "death qi" technique.
The reason Doflamingo remained alive was because Oboro had judged that the "substance" injected into his body wasn't sufficient for complete elimination.
This demonstrated that although the God Slayer still appeared relaxed, he had nearly exhausted his strength and was approaching his limits.
"You're genuinely perceptive, not just ordinarily intelligent."
Oboro didn't deny his fatigue, every muscle ached with the feeling of complete overdraft.
The biggest limitation remained his physical vessel's current development.
He turned his head, sensing something approaching from a specific direction.
The Donquixote Family's fleet was coming!
Quite a substantial force, apparently intending to surround this deserted island. Not only the family's executives, but also various organizations that sought Doflamingo's favor.
If he truly intended to fight to the death, a powerhouse like Doflamingo, who possessed Conqueror's Haki and exceptional willpower, would prove extremely difficult to kill. More importantly, Oboro didn't want others witnessing his Sea King manipulation abilities. Now wasn't the time for such exposure.
Besides, he hadn't actually intended to kill Joker during this encounter.
This had been about mutual evaluation of combat capabilities.
"Don't be so confident. My consumption and physical fatigue can be recovered..." Seeing Doflamingo's smug smile, as if certain Oboro would retreat empty-handed, tremendous heat began radiating from Oboro's body. As his temperature rose and his cultivation method activated, his spiritual energy gradually increased.
Some wounds stopped bleeding entirely.
"..."
Doflamingo sensed this wasn't bluffing and immediately fell silent.
He'd never encountered anyone capable of self-recovery after such an intense battle.
What kind of flesh and blood regeneration ability is this?
"So if I truly wanted to kill you, I could still accomplish it," Oboro said calmly.
The terrifying aspect of his Qi Refining Method was the mutual reinforcement between qi and flesh, physical essence bred qi, while qi nourished blood and bone. Even with his 'qi' currently exhausted, he could absorb external 'Heaven and Earth Qi' and refine it within his system. It simply required time.
This self-healing speed exceeded even his previous breathing techniques, though the higher-level nature of the pirate world created energy base inconsistencies that made the effects less obvious.
"Fufufu... Hahahaha..."
Doflamingo's laughter grew more manic. "Is another monster about to emerge? Hehehe..."
"So? What are you afraid of?"
"Why aren't you finishing this?"
"It's really difficult to fool you..."
Oboro sighed upon seeing his reaction.
Then he suddenly crouched down to study the devastated Joker.
"Hey, would you be interested in cooperation?"
"We've fought, and my anger has subsided... I know you hate me, but unfortunately, you can't kill me. Since you can't do anything to me, why not join forces instead?"
"Let's set aside our grudges. You're an intelligent man, and a businessman... As long as it's profitable, you have no reason to refuse, right?"
"One more ally is better than one more enemy, wouldn't you agree?"
Oboro proposed.
"Hehe... cooperate with me? Do you understand what you're suggesting? The Celestial Dragons are eager to dismember you... Who would dare cooperate with you? You killed my subordinates and nearly dragged me into disaster. Cooperate with you?"
Oboro's words seemed to inflame Joker, making his tone turn ice-cold.
"Do you really want to fight me to the death? You're not so foolish, are you? Give someone like me time to grow. Do you think your family can survive? Don't assume Kaido will protect you... unless you retreat to Onigashima permanently. As long as you show yourself, I'll target you. Forget conducting business, I dared to kill Celestial Dragons. Do you think I'll take a Four Emperor seriously?"
"..."
Joker fell silent again.
This was undeniable truth.
"Besides, what you've done in Dressrosa, and your cooperation with Kaido... if that became public knowledge, even your Shichibukai status wouldn't protect you. The World Government would have to respond under public pressure." Oboro calmly revealed Doflamingo's deepest secrets.
"How did you know?"
Doflamingo's words caught in his throat.
His originally defiant attitude shifted completely.
"Can we talk?"
"..."