Not far from where Doflamingo and Red Hair were fighting, the members of both pirate crews watched the lightning in the sky with shock. It fell like a torrential downpour, densely packed, towards the ground below. Even the sea near the battle zone was affected. Lightning struck the seawater, and the astonishing amount of electricity instantly spread through the ocean. Sea creatures were electrocuted, floating to the surface with their bellies turned skyward. Besides the incredible electrical charge, the inherent high temperature of the lightning also caused a significant amount of seawater to evaporate. Steam rose from the ocean surface, and the already floating creatures were thoroughly cooked. It was quite the fish feast.
Aboard the Ark, everyone noticed this massive commotion.
"Get clear! This is Doffy's ability!" Enel said with a grave expression.
"Understood!" Hearing Enel's words, the crewmen quickly mobilized people to row the Ark's oars, rapidly moving further away. This was the benefit of having many subordinates. Law had initially wanted to help, but Enel overruled him, telling him that observing Doflamingo's battle more would be beneficial for his future growth.
Indeed, without a certain level of strength, one didn't even qualify to watch.
"How dangerous!" The members of the Red Hair Pirates, having just escaped the thunderstorm zone, also wore solemn expressions, their faces etched with worry. Someone sighed with emotion.
"Captain, he's met his match this time," Benn Beckman said worriedly, frowning, a cigarette clenched between his teeth as he exhaled a plume of smoke.
"The opponent is indeed very strong! If only the Captain's arm wasn't..." Lucky Roux mumbled through a mouthful of chicken.
"Yeah! But this is all fate, isn't it!" Yasopp fiddled with the sniper rifle in his hands, aiming it towards the Donquixote Pirates, and said with some regret.
Fate? Who truly knows! Perhaps! However, Doflamingo didn't believe in his own fate. Whether Red Hair was a future Yonko or had some connection to Imu, Doflamingo was determined to shatter it all – to break the shackles that bound him and forge a future that belonged to him.
In the battle zone, Red-Haired Shanks looked seriously at the lightning descending upon him. He hadn't expected Doflamingo to be a Devil Fruit user, let alone one who had fought him to a standstill without even using his abilities. The enemy before him was truly somewhat terrifying. Although he wasn't afraid, the abilities of these Devil Fruit users were a huge hassle. Thus, Shanks had to be cautious. Facing this dense barrage of lightning, his scalp tingled; getting hit by this would definitely not be pleasant.
"Red Hair, take this!" Doflamingo said, his face cold, transforming into a beam of light and shooting towards Shanks.
"No choice then. Let's fight!" Shanks gripped Gryphon, Armament Haki quickly coating it, his Observation Haki fully activated, doing his utmost to dodge the lightning. If a bolt was truly unavoidable, he would unleash sword slashes to forcibly dissipate it. Amidst this thunderstorm, Shanks moved like a dancer strolling through a courtyard, gracefully weaving with the lightning.
But Doflamingo wouldn't let Shanks have his way. He instantly teleported in front of Shanks and delivered a swift kick straight to his face. So fast! Shanks was inwardly shocked, but his reaction was not slow. He blocked with Gryphon in his single arm, preparing to parry Doflamingo's thunderously fast and lightning-charged kick.
Bang! Doflamingo's attack was parried. He quickly flew back, then reappeared at different positions around Shanks, his movements like the Wind God's Legs – dazzling and swift. To those watching from afar, it looked as if dozens of Doflamingos were attacking Shanks simultaneously, leaving Shanks only able to defend. After all, this thunderstorm zone was Doflamingo's deliberate creation, benefiting him more than hindering him. Shanks was having a rough time, not only having to block Doflamingo's elusive leg attacks but also defending against the lightning falling from the sky. In their recent exchanges, although Shanks hadn't suffered major injuries, his body had been jolted by electricity, leaving a numbing sensation. Later, even his sword swings became somewhat labored, not to mention the high temperature accompanying the lightning, which had reddened his injured skin, though thankfully his Armament Haki had blocked most of the damage.
"Red Hair, your sword has slowed." For experts, even the slightest difference would be infinitely magnified by them; this was a fatal flaw.
"No need for more words! If you want my life, then come and take it! Let me see if you're qualified enough!" Red Hair, as expected, was as domineering as ever, facing death with equanimity. Doflamingo couldn't detect a trace of fear on his face. As expected of someone who sailed with Roger. Such spirit! Doflamingo inwardly praised.
"Fuffuffuffuffu! Truly domineering, Red Hair!" Doflamingo said with a laugh.
The lightning from the sky had ceased, but the ground beneath was charred black. The two remaining men looked at each other seriously, both waiting for the other's next move. Those watching from afar also saw their keenly anticipated figures. The two stood in opposition, momentarily still. No one knew when the next thunderous attack would unfold. They were all silently cheering for the one they supported.
"Here it comes!" Enel and Benn Beckman, their attention fully focused, unknowingly voiced out.
In everyone's eyes, Doflamingo was like an ancient Thunder God, his fists enveloped in boundless lightning, vowing to strike down Red-Haired Shanks. Shanks, on the other hand, was like a dormant lion. Facing Doflamingo's onslaught, he showed no signs of panic, merely swinging his sword rapidly towards Doflamingo's fist. Several green arcs of sword aura, tens of meters wide, shot towards Doflamingo, attempting to block his punch. No matter how many sword auras you unleash, I will break them with a single punch! Doflamingo, carrying an irresistible momentum, shattered Shanks's sword auras one by one and once again slammed his fist against Shanks's Gryphon. The violent impact made Gryphon emit a soft hum.
It all happened in a flash. Doflamingo's free hand did not remain idle, quickly striking towards Shanks's body. Shanks realized this was bad. The hand holding Gryphon exerted force, trying to push away Doflamingo's clashing fist, hoping to use this opportunity to dodge Doflamingo's other punch. Doflamingo wouldn't let Shanks escape so easily. He swiftly changed his punch into a claw, his hand coated with Armament Haki, firmly gripping Gryphon, preventing Shanks from getting away. Simultaneously, his left fist rapidly struck Shanks's body. Looks like I have to take this head-on! Shanks knew the situation was dire. He quickly concentrated Armament Haki at the point where Doflamingo's fist would land. He took Doflamingo's heavy punch, and the immense force sent him flying, kicking up a cloud of dust as he landed.
Aboard the Ark, the Donquixote Pirates who witnessed this were ecstatic, cheering for Doflamingo's attack.
"As expected of the Young Master!" Monet, Doflamingo's number one fangirl, offered her praise generously.
"The Young Master is the strongest!" When will I ever be as strong as Young Master Doflamingo? Law watched the devastating power of their battle, his heart stirring with a longing for their strength.
The Red Hair Pirates, though they saw their captain sent flying, still firmly believed Shanks wouldn't be defeated so easily.
"Old man, the one you favor isn't all that great after all! Doffy is still more amazing!" Diamante, as Doflamingo's primary hype-man, naturally wouldn't miss such a morale-boosting moment to boast.
Crocus didn't reply, looking somewhat worriedly towards where Red-Haired Shanks had fallen. After all, he had brought this trouble upon them. If it really came down to it, he would fight to the death to secure a path of escape for Shanks and his crew.
Just as everyone was lost in their own thoughts, Shanks emerged from the dust. The black cloak he wore was somewhat tattered, and the white shirt underneath was mostly destroyed. A charred fist mark was visible on his abdomen, still emitting wisps of heat, as if it had been cooked. "Cannot let Doflamingo's fists connect," Shanks thought instinctively as he stood up, glaring at Doflamingo in the distance. The pain from his body didn't cause him to panic in the slightest, nor did he even frown. Truly a real man!
Strike while the iron is hot! Doflamingo wouldn't miss such an opportunity. He once again brandished his fists and teleported directly in front of Shanks, about to smash his fist into Shanks's face. Shanks, unperturbed, quickly parried, and the two were locked in a stalemate in mid-air.
"Conqueror's Haki coating?" Doflamingo said, looking at Shanks.
"You actually know?" Shanks's current shock was even greater than his surprise at Doflamingo's strength. Although the Donquixote Family were Celestial Dragons, they couldn't possibly know everything. Those good-for-nothing parasites… it wasn't that he, Red Hair, looked down on them, but that was simply the reality. And Doflamingo didn't seem like someone from the World Government. Otherwise, why would a Celestial Dragon abandon his comfortable noble life to become a pirate? Was he seriously ill?
Doflamingo didn't answer, but in Shanks's eyes, it was a silent affirmation. He was now somewhat curious about Doflamingo; the mystery surrounding this man made him want to investigate further.
"There are many things you don't know. Don't assume everyone in the world is too ignorant!" Doflamingo retorted sarcastically, his hands not stopping, delivering another heavy blow.
Bang! Shanks fell silent. Indeed, the world was too vast. He wasn't the only one who knew these things. Why should he get so hung up on it? It was better to focus on dealing with the man before him.
The determination in both their eyes grew stronger. The next blow would be an all-out attack from both sides.
"Red Hair, prepare to die! Thunder Fist Annihilation!" Doflamingo roared at Shanks. Conqueror's Haki, Armament Haki, and the power of lightning all coated his unyielding iron fists as he aimed for Shanks's head, intending to crush it.
"Donquixote Doflamingo, come! You are a worthy opponent! Godslayer!" Shanks also declared, his fighting spirit blazing, as he unleashed a move similar to Captain Roger's Divine Departure. His famed sword Gryphon, wrapped in Shanks's Armament and Conqueror's Haki, slashed horizontally towards Doflamingo's fists.
BOOM! Their attacks didn't make physical contact, clashing entirely at a distance. Yet, even so, the commotion they caused was terrifyingly immense. The ground beneath their feet cracked and splintered, the surrounding environment was thrown into utter chaos, and dark red lightning flickered ceaselessly. Even the wind howled fiercely, whipping the calm sea into a raging turmoil. The two pirate ships in the distance were forced back by their aura, pushed by the surging waves. If the ships had been any closer, it felt as if they would have been subjected to terrifying pressure, even to the point of disintegration.
"So terrifying!" Baby 5 gulped, a subconscious exclamation.
Buffalo too was stunned, echoing Baby 5. "Yeah!"
Monet, Robin, Ibes, and the others had eyes that burned with pride.
"Young Master Doflamingo and the other man… they didn't even hit each other! Why did it cause such a violent reaction?" Law, a calm and analytical person, though the scene before him was indeed overwhelming, had developed some immunity. He had already accepted his own weakness. Now, wanting to become stronger, he naturally wouldn't give up such an opportunity to ask. He looked towards Enel, seeking an answer.
"That's an advanced application of Conqueror's Haki," Enel, recovering from his own awe, replied to Law. He then added, "However, not everyone possesses Conqueror's Haki."
"Is that so?" Law sounded somewhat dejected, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"Kid, don't underestimate the powerhouses of the world! Even without Conqueror's Haki, those strong individuals are not to be trifled with. Haki, Devil Fruit abilities, these are ultimately just tools. It is the person wielding them who is truly powerful," Enel, seeing Law's disappointment, lectured him earnestly.
"I'll remember that, Lord Enel," Law said respectfully, thanking him.
"Grow strong," Enel said, then turned his attention back to Doflamingo's battle. This fight had also been greatly beneficial for Enel, allowing him to recognize what true strength was.
"Mhm."
The whale Laboon was also terrified by their earth-shattering aura, whimpering continuously as it retreated. Crocus patted Laboon's large head, signaling it to be calm.
"What a truly massive commotion!" The scene before him reminded him of Captain Roger's final battle with Whitebeard. Their clash back then had been similarly immense. Crocus's eyes, watching Shanks in the midst of the confrontation, filled with gratification, as if he were seeing the deceased Captain Roger once more. His eyes grew somewhat misty.
The Red Hair Pirates were also oppressed by the aura of the two combatants and had retreated several meters. After all, they were a crew of battle-hardened old pirates; they wouldn't be as easily flustered as the members of the Donquixote Pirates. However, their faces still showed some shock; such a grand scene was indeed rare.
"Be defeated, Red Hair!" Doflamingo's aura was like a rainbow. The clash between the two was finally reaching its conclusion.
Red Hair said nothing, but Gryphon in his hand was struggling to hold on. After such a prolonged stalemate, he was ultimately somewhat lacking. After all, Doflamingo had numerous enhancements, while Red Hair was somewhat incomplete. The exchange between Doflamingo and Red Hair ended with Doflamingo's victory. Red Hair was sent flying by Doflamingo once more. This time, Red Hair coughed up large mouthfuls of blood, kneeling on the ground, gasping for breath.
"Red Hair, I admire you. How about joining forces with me to make this world a little more lively?" Doflamingo intended to recruit Red Hair. After all, more people meant more power. Although he knew it was unlikely, people are strange; sometimes, even when you know the outcome, you still want to try.
"Lively?" Red Hair mused, then looked up at Doflamingo and laughed. "Hahaha! Unfortunately, we are not on the same path. Didn't you say it yourself? We are enemies, aren't we?"
Red Hair had seen through Doflamingo's ambition. He held no expectation that Doflamingo could save the world. He had his own ideas, and the world he hoped for was not something Doflamingo could give him. In his heart, he had his own chosen Child of Destiny; only he could save the world. Apart from Luffy, no one else was qualified! Therefore, they were destined to never walk the same path.
"Is that so, indeed!" Doflamingo wasn't disappointed. It was an already predetermined outcome, so why bother expending more effort? Your ideals are not my ideals. The world I want is not the world you want! Everyone has their own convictions, for which they would not hesitate to pay with their lives!
"Then you can go die!"