When two peerless masters clash, ordinary people have no way of intervening. The aftershocks of such a battle alone possess a power that most could never withstand.
Akainu studied Doflamingo carefully, his heart heavy with caution. The man he faced today was not only fully recovered from his injuries, but his severed arm had also been reattached. While this wouldn't have significantly impacted the strength of a Logia user like Doflamingo, no one wanted to be missing a limb.
In Akainu's estimation, Doflamingo's previous injuries should have taken at least ten to fifteen days to heal. This was the basis for his confidence in facing Doflamingo alone. But judging from their initial exchange, Doflamingo didn't look like an injured man at all.
Doflamingo didn't share Akainu's complex thoughts. He just wanted Akainu to get the hell out. This was his territory, and he wouldn't let Akainu run wild here.
In other words: Dressrosa is mine now. You can get the hell out, Akainu.
When the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer.
With Doflamingo keeping Akainu busy, the other Marines were naturally targeted by the Donquixote Pirates. Though the two leaders were momentarily locked in a standoff, their subordinates couldn't hold back.
The first to act was Enel. He was still feeling frustrated after his fight with Whitebeard and was eager to take it out on the Marines.
At that moment, Vergo also stepped forward. He had no choice. Although he didn't want to fight his own comrades, taking the lead at a time like this was a surefire way to win the hearts of the Marines.
And so, Vergo resolutely entered the fray.
This put Enel in an awkward position. Seeing that it was Vergo who stepped up, he was in a bind. To fight or not to fight, that was the question. As a result, their exchange became rather strange.
"Super String Whip!"
"Cloud Flow Whip!"
They tested each other, but neither could gain the upper hand.
"Pirate! Die!"
"Marine! You're the one who's going to die!"
Their movements were flashy, their battle fluid and decisive, a captivating sight for all who watched. As their fight grew more intense, the inevitable boasting began.
"Not bad, Marine! You've got about one or two-tenths of my skill," Enel praised condescendingly.
"Heh, damn pirate, you're not bad yourself. But you can save your chatter for Impel Down," Vergo retorted coldly.
With that, the two clashed once more.
Akainu, who was keeping a close eye on Vergo, was quite satisfied with his performance. Vergo had not disgraced the Marines' name.
However, where there was one, there were more. With Enel making his move, the other members of the Donquixote Family couldn't resist attacking the Marines. The power gap was immense; the Marines were no match for the Donquixote officers and could only struggle to defend themselves.
Akainu was helpless. With Doflamingo blocking his path, he wasn't even sure if he could escape himself, let alone worry about others.
Doflamingo looked at Akainu's grim face and didn't hold back his taunts. "Akainu, I think you should get out of Dressrosa while you still can. Otherwise, the Three Admirals of the Marines are about to become the Two Admirals."
The moment the words left his mouth, before Akainu could reply, Doflamingo seized the opportunity. He instantly teleported in front of Akainu, a lightning-fast kick aimed directly at the Admiral's face.
Akainu watched the thunder-clad leg approach with a cold gaze. Just as the kick was about to connect, Akainu had already transformed his body into a searing mass of magma, allowing the attack to pass harmlessly through him.
He reformed, completely unscathed.
As expected of an Admiral. Although Akainu wasn't yet at the peak of his power, his perception and experience were truly formidable. He had dodged Doflamingo's kick with such composure.
"As expected of a Marine Admiral. 100 Million Volt: Thunder Dragon, go!"
Doflamingo's praise was immediately followed by another attack.
"Dark Hound!"
Akainu responded to the compliment with an even more ferocious assault.
BOOM!
They were evenly matched. Neither gained an advantage.
Doflamingo was strong, but Akainu was no pushover. At his current level, for Doflamingo to win a decisive victory against Akainu would take at least three days and three nights. But if they did that, Dressrosa would be annihilated, likely becoming a second Punk Hazard, and that was not what Doflamingo wanted. So, he had been holding back, not engaging in a fight to the death.
Akainu wasn't a stubborn fool, either. As much as he despised pirates, when a situation was untenable, he would consider a retreat.
"Doflamingo, are you going to stand up for Dressrosa?" Akainu asked after launching another attack, not pressing further. He could tell from Doflamingo's attacks that he was holding back.
Isn't there a saying that the world isn't just about fighting and killing, but also about politics and navigating relationships?
Applying that to Doflamingo and Akainu, there was a glimmer of understanding. Akainu was already considering a retreat. Though his recent attacks had been fierce, they were mostly for show. And with his own men being slaughtered, he was growing anxious.
"That's right. I'm protecting Dressrosa. Go back and report to your masters. You don't call the shots here," Doflamingo said, giving Akainu no face at all.
"Doflamingo, who do you think you are? You repeatedly challenge the authority of the World Government and the Marines. Do you really think we can't do anything to you?" Akainu said in a low, dangerous voice.
"Then bring it on. I'll be waiting for you in the New World," Doflamingo replied with a dismissive wave.
"Doflamingo!" Akainu gritted his teeth in anger, the magma dripping from his hands with increasing frequency.
At the same time, he made his decision. Even if he had to leave, he would do so with his head held high, not by fleeing in disgrace.
"All Marines, retreat! I'll cover you!"
After giving the order, Akainu quickly launched several punches toward the Donquixote Pirates. But Doflamingo had been watching him closely and would not let him succeed.
The Marines who received the order felt as if they had been granted amnesty. They had been afraid Akainu would stubbornly fight to the death. Now that the order to retreat was given, they were greatly relieved.
"Retreat! Brothers, we can fight another day!"
"Don't waste Admiral Akainu's sacrifice! Let's retreat quickly and ease his burden!"
Whether their words were sincere or not, all the Marines felt a sense of gratitude toward Akainu for covering their retreat.
The Donquixote Pirates didn't press them too hard, allowing them to leave. Before the battle, Doflamingo had given them their orders: killing Marines was not the primary objective. Taking Dressrosa was.
But the formalities still had to be observed.
Doflamingo coated his fists in Armament Haki, preparing for a hand-to-hand exchange with Akainu to gauge the gap between his own CQC skills and those of a Marine elite.
Before eating his Devil Fruit, Doflamingo's fighting style relied mainly on his immense strength and speed. After eating the fruit, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's speed boost, combined with his ever-strengthening Armament Haki and terrifyingly advanced Observation Haki, allowed him to overwhelm most opponents. He rarely encountered anyone who could take one of his punches, let alone stand against him.
Seeing Doflamingo's stance, Akainu was not intimidated. He, too, wrapped his fists in Armament Haki.
"Soru."
To match Doflamingo's speed, Akainu immediately used the high-speed movement technique.
Seeing Akainu charge, Doflamingo didn't evade. He met him head-on, a powerful straight punch aimed directly at Akainu's incoming fist.
One punch was not enough, so they threw another.
The two men began a brutal brawl, sweat flying. This time, Doflamingo didn't use his fruit's power to create distance and fight from afar. The last time he faced two Admirals, he had no choice. This time, against only one, he wanted to see just how far his hand-to-hand combat skills had come.
Both Akainu's and Doflamingo's punches were heavy and powerful. Their Devil Fruits granted them unparalleled destructive force, which in turn enhanced their physical strength.
Akainu's fists were searingly hot and destructive. Doflamingo's were no less formidable; the lightning from his fruit brought with it paralysis and heat, and its destructive power was terrifying.
After a fierce exchange, their fists found their marks on each other's bodies, each man getting a taste of the other's power.
Though Doflamingo had never received systematic training, his CQC skills were not much weaker than Akainu's. Of course, the most notable difference was that Doflamingo's reaction time was slightly faster, not only due to the properties of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit but also because of the superior strength of his own spirit.
They traded one final, powerful blow and retreated, each gathering their energy for an even stronger attack.
All eyes were fixed on them.
"Great Eruption!"
"Thunder Thrust!"
A colossal fist of magma and a colossal fist of lightning materialized before everyone's eyes, then clashed like thunder from the heavens meeting fire from the earth, creating a massive explosion.
The Marines, who had already retreated a considerable distance, saw the commotion and felt an even deeper sense of gratitude toward Akainu.
Just as they were about to turn their gaze and continue their retreat, they saw Akainu rapidly approaching.
"Go," Akainu said quietly, then continued on his way.
Back at the battlefield, Doflamingo calmly watched Akainu leave, making no move to stop him. Now, it was time to take over Dressrosa.
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