Hearing Doflamingo's words, the members of the Donquixote Pirates stared in disbelief. They roared in protest, an inexplicable sorrow welling up in their hearts, unwilling to accept this outcome.
"Doffy, dammit!" Enel's face contorted with rage upon hearing Doflamingo's command, and he struck out at Kuma with even greater force.
If only... if only I were a little stronger, thought the gravely wounded Diamante. He hadn't yet regained consciousness, but his mind had heard Doflamingo's words, and he was filled with bitter unwillingness.
"Young Master!" Monet cried out in anguish. She didn't want to leave Doflamingo's side, but she was powerless. In the Donquixote Pirates, Doflamingo was their sky; his orders were absolute.
This time, however, a different thought entered Monet's mind. She didn't want Doflamingo to be left here alone. Under the pressure of three peerless powerhouses, there was no chance of survival. Their strength was despair-inducing.
"Doffy, damn it! Get out of my way!" Pica's face was a mask of fury, his expression so fierce it looked as if he wanted to eat Onigumo alive.
"Hahaha! You damn pirates, your end has come! You want to retreat? Have you asked my swords for permission?" Onigumo laughed, his face filled with smug satisfaction.
"All Marines, pursue them with all your might! Don't let a single pirate escape!" Seeing the Donquixote Pirates on the verge of collapse, Sengoku was ecstatic and issued his final command.
High in the sky, Doflamingo raised his voice and repeated his order to his crew.
"Retreat!"
"Yes, Young Master!" the Donquixote Pirates finally responded.
"Finished with your last words, have you, Doflamingo?" Kizaru appeared before him, his tone mocking.
"How could these be my last words? I haven't reached the pinnacle yet," Doflamingo retorted sarcastically.
"Ara, ara... I don't see how you're going to run. You'd better just come with me to Impel Down, Doflamingo. You'll be spending the rest of your life there," Aokiji said bluntly.
"My fate is not for you to decide. I haven't given up yet. Did you really think I would just surrender and die?" Doflamingo's face wore a dangerous smile, appearing remarkably composed.
"Anyone can talk big," Kizaru scoffed.
Mihawk had no time for their idle chatter. Seeing that Doflamingo had said his piece, he showed no courtesy and immediately struck.
A sword slash that seemed to span the heavens shot toward Doflamingo in the sky.
"Not even giving me a moment to breathe, are you, Mihawk?"
The slash grew larger and larger in the reflection of Doflamingo's sunglasses. Kizaru and Aokiji also made their move. This time, they were determined to capture him.
"God's Punishment!"
Countless bolts of lightning scattered, striking out at Mihawk and the two admirals.
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
"Ice Time Capsule!"
Mihawk, however, had no such flashy moves. His techniques were simple and unadorned. There was only the sword, and the cut.
BOOM!
Explosions erupted everywhere.
Having received their orders, the members of the Donquixote family began to retreat rapidly. But the Marines, fighting with their lives on the line, would not let them leave so easily.
"Kuma, you bastard!" Enel was extremely frustrated. In his attempt to support his teammates, he found himself constantly restricted.
Kuma acted as if he hadn't heard, his attacks relentless. He wasn't planning on exerting himself too much; just holding Enel back was enough to fulfill his duty.
I have to break free from this guy! Diamante and the others are waiting for me! Pica, fighting Onigumo, had a grim expression, the killing intent in his eyes unconcealed. But his heart was with his comrades.
Young Master, hold on! I will always be with you! Monet's face was frosted over, but the warmth in her heart bloomed for only one person.
Bepo, protected by a group of crew members, was frantically escaping with the unconscious Diamante and Gladius. He was just a bear; he had never been in a situation like this. Though he was reluctant to leave, he had no choice.
"Crocodile! Pirate Empress! Are you still not going to act?"
A Marine, carrying Sengoku's orders, delivered the message to the two Warlords.
"Damn it, you people are everywhere! Didn't I tell you not to give me orders?!" Crocodile was extremely impatient and dispatched the Marine with another casual attack.
Though annoyed, the two of them finally acted, kicking the dog while it was down. At this point, they had no choice.
This was the fate of a pirate. It was either you die or I die. Perhaps the fate of the Donquixote Pirates today would be their own tomorrow.
People's joys and sorrows are not connected. But their final end is the same.
The Donquixote Pirates scattered and fled like beaten dogs. But not a single one of their main officers had managed to break free.
Doflamingo, surrounded by the three, was trapped in a quagmire. For the moment, however, he wasn't in immediate mortal danger. Firstly, Kizaru wasn't using his full strength and was still slacking off. Secondly, Doflamingo was in the air, which put his two earthbound opponents at a disadvantage.
Finally, Aokiji and the others wanted to capture him alive. This was what had created the current stalemate.
Doflamingo, of course, understood their intentions. And it was precisely because of this that he had an opportunity to execute his own plan.
"Two Hundred Million Volt... Discharge!"
A brilliant light erupted from Doflamingo's body. A full-power blast of lightning forced the three of them back, making them temporarily avoid the brunt of the attack.
"Thunder Domain... open!" Doflamingo roared.
The three, having been forced back, grew serious. It seemed Doflamingo was about to unleash a major attack.
"Within this vast Thunder Domain, under this absolute electromagnetic field, you are all just turtles in a jar," Doflamingo declared. His body blazed with lightning, dangerous electricity crackling around him. His golden hair turned white, but his body didn't grow larger. He looked like a miniature thunder god.
In the sky, thunder rolled and dark clouds blotted out the sun, as if the apocalypse had arrived.
"Hmph. Just putting on a show," Kizaru scoffed, though his expression was serious.
Everyone saw this change, and an inexplicable terror grew in their hearts. After all, the awesome might of the heavens was not to be trifled with.
"Press!"
Doflamingo ignored their words, simply speaking a single, quiet word as he pressed his palm downward.
With that one word, an immense pressure fell upon everyone on the battlefield.
The weak were forced to their knees, unable to move.
Kizaru, Aokiji, and Mihawk, being closest to Doflamingo, felt an extraordinary pressure, far greater than what the others experienced.
"Go!"
Realizing this was the perfect opportunity, Enel quickly forced Kuma back and escaped, shouting to the members of the Donquixote family.
For them, this pressure was not a problem. Not only had they trained in this kind of environment before, but Doflamingo also wasn't using much of his power against them.
A sliver of hope in a desperate situation, opened by Doflamingo himself. It was up to them to seize it.
"As if I'd let you leave so easily!" Onigumo said with great effort. He watched Pica disappear into the earth, his eyes filled with unwillingness. He used all his strength to give chase.
"Stone Rain!"
Having merged with the ground, Pica was like a fish in water. He quickly cleared out the pursuing Marines, opening a path for Bepo and the others.
"Bepo, you go first!"
Pica appeared in front of Bepo, glanced at Diamante and Gladius, and said no more.
"Uh, okay!" Bepo nodded quickly and headed for the coast, where the Greatsword Pirates' ship was waiting.
As for the Ark Maxim, it remained hovering in the sky. Even without Doflamingo's command, it could maintain its flight with the electrical energy he had left it.
On Monet's side, the pressure on her also vanished. She prepared to rush towards Doflamingo, but Enel appeared before her, blocking her path.
"Monet, stand down!" Enel had naturally seen what Monet was thinking. But it was a suicidal and foolish act. He would not allow it.
"I... I have to help the Young Master!" Monet said stubbornly.
"With your strength? Are you trying to get Doffy killed faster? We have to believe in him. He will definitely find a way to escape. We just need to follow his orders," Enel said ruthlessly.
"But—" Monet started to say more, but was cut off by a merciless slap from Enel.
SLAP!
A bright red handprint appeared on Monet's face, shocking her back to her senses.
"I... I understand," Monet's heart was bleeding. She didn't blame Enel for his actions, but her own heart was filled with unwillingness and pain. They were all leaving, leaving Doflamingo alone. How could anything be more tragic?
"Good. You're not completely foolish," Enel said without expression, his words a mix of praise and mockery.
Monet fell silent and prepared to retreat.
"I'll go get the Ark. You hold the line here."
With that, Enel shot into the sky, heading for the Ark Maxim.
Monet took one last look at Doflamingo's demonic figure, searing it deep into her memory. She prayed silently in her heart, Young Master, please, you must come back safely!
Then, she reluctantly tore her gaze away and headed towards the main force of the Donquixote Pirates.
"Dammit! How did it come to this!"
Vice Admiral Doberman watched the Donquixote Pirates retreat, his face contorted with rage.
Doflamingo struggled to maintain the situation, extending his electromagnetic field to cover the entire battlefield while also fending off the attacks of three opponents. He was exhausted, his stamina severely depleted.
"It's over, Doflamingo," Aokiji said, looking at him. They could all see he was at the end of his rope.
Although the force Doflamingo exerted on them was strong, they were not to be trifled with and had managed to withstand the pressure.
Doflamingo didn't reply. He was struggling so much that even speaking took a great deal of effort. He didn't want to waste his strength on words.
"Ice Age!"
Ice rapidly shot into the sky, freezing Doflamingo's figure solid. A beautiful ice sculpture now stood high in the air.
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
Kizaru, seeing this, showed no mercy. He knew Doflamingo wouldn't go down so easily. He ruthlessly used his attack to shatter the ice.
"Slash!"
A green sword slash followed the jeweled projectiles, heading for the frozen Doflamingo, intending to break the stalemate.
Trapped within the ice, Doflamingo didn't panic. The ice rapidly melted under his lightning, turning into steam.
"Inazuma!"
An explosion roared, and the ice shattered. Doflamingo's figure reappeared before the three of them.
"Thunder Strike!"
With Doflamingo's command, the dark clouds in the sky responded, unleashing all their accumulated lightning in a massive bolt.
CRACK!
The awesome might of the heavens was terrifying to behold.
And amidst the lightning, a flying pirate ship descended towards the members of the Donquixote family on the ground.
It was their hope for survival.
The thunder would destroy everything, but it would also give them hope.
The Ark Maxim had arrived.
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