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"Boom!!"
The sharp, thread-like pillar clashed violently with the fierce kick.
The resulting shockwave knocked Law—who was already struggling to stay upright—off his feet and sent him crashing into the ship's bow.
"Splash... Splash..."
"Crackle... Crack..."
The sea churned violently as the ship rocked back and forth. Dark crimson lightning streaked across the sky in a chaotic web of energy, casting an ominous glow over the battlefield. The ocean surface bristled with lifeless fish floating belly-up—a chilling sight that left everyone awestruck.
"These two terrifying monsters..."
Law stared wide-eyed at the ferocious clash unfolding in midair, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead. He anxiously grabbed Bepo and began shaking him, trying to wake the unconscious polar bear. "Hey, hey, Bepo, wake up..."
"Bang!!" "Bang!!" ...
"Five-Colored Strings!"
With every exchange, Doflamingo's expression grew colder. His right hand, claw-like, shot out five razor-thin threads imbued with Armament Haki. They gleamed ominously, slicing through the air toward Ichiji with deadly precision.
"Paper Drawing·Invisible Form!"
Ichiji's movements were fluid and deceptive, effortlessly dodging the lethal attack.
Although Spandine, the former head of CP9, had hinted to Rob Lucci and others not to teach Ichiji the deeper secrets of the Rokushiki martial arts during his training, Ichiji had long surpassed their teachings. Over the years, he had mastered the six techniques to an extraordinary degree, refining them and even creating his own variations.
He had gone beyond mere mastery—he had forged entirely new combat techniques from the foundation of the Rokushiki!
"Boom..."
One by one, the razor-sharp threads sliced through the air, striking the second mast of the merchant ship and reducing it to splinters.
"Storm Leg·Chaos!"
Almost simultaneously, Ichiji unleashed a flurry of devastating crescent-shaped kicks. His legs moved so fast they became nothing more than blurs, each kick releasing massive arcs of cutting force.
"Spider Web Wall!"
Doflamingo raised an eyebrow, letting out a low snort.
Yanking his clawed hand back, countless threads erupted from his palm, weaving together into another massive spider-web barrier. This intercepted and nullified the barrage of slashing energy.
"Finger Gun Barrage!!"
A series of high-speed "impacts" streaked toward Doflamingo like bullets.
"String Shot!!"
Doflamingo responded immediately, flicking his index finger rapidly. A storm of thread-like projectiles lashed out, meeting Ichiji's assault head-on.
"Bang! Bang! Bang..."
Visible shockwaves rippled through the air, causing the entire ship to groan under the strain. The wooden hull creaked ominously, raising fears that it might disintegrate at any moment.
"Blade Threads Kick!!"
Doflamingo launched himself forward, his boot-covered foot glowing with Armament Haki. Razor-thin silver threads, invisible to the naked eye and imbued with Haki, spiraled around his leg like a vortex, threatening to slice Ichiji in half.
"Shadow Razor!!"
Undeterred, Ichiji countered with ghostly agility, his movements evasive and precise as he closed the distance between them.
"Boom!!"
...
High above the deck, their figures collided repeatedly, neither showing any concern for Law or the chaos surrounding them. It seemed neither believed Law could escape under their watchful eyes.
Despite the ferocity of their exchanges, both combatants carefully controlled their attacks to avoid completely destroying the ship.
"Vinsmoke Ichiji, Trafalgar Law is my subordinate. You're being quite rude, aren't you?"
Unable to gain the upper hand after such a prolonged struggle, Doflamingo's patience began to fray. Veins bulged on his forehead as he glared at the red-clad figure before him, his voice dripping with irritation. For the first time, he addressed Ichiji by name instead of dismissing him as a "brat," signaling that he now regarded him as a serious opponent.
Of course, Doflamingo refused to believe that someone who had survived on the seas for so long couldn't subdue this arrogant young punk. After all, he hadn't yet unleashed the full potential of his Devil Fruit's "awakening." But fighting here while ensuring no collateral damage reached Law felt stifling.
Yet, wasn't Ichiji facing similar constraints?
Techniques like Shadow Razor, Paper Drawing·Invisible Form, Storm Leg·Chaos, and Finger Gun Barrage were merely extensions of the Rokushiki. He hadn't even begun using the true pinnacle of the six techniques, let alone his deadliest moves.
"Rules? Do pirates need rules?"
Ichiji laughed mockingly. "Heavenly Yaksha, are you trying to make me laugh?"
"Fufufufu... Truly fearless ignorance..."
Landing on the deck, Doflamingo's expression darkened further. Laughing bitterly, he sneered, "Let's see if you'll still be laughing in a moment."
"Swish swish..."
At that instant, the wooden planks beneath Doflamingo's feet transformed into countless silvery threads at an alarming speed.
Meanwhile, far away in the first half of the Grand Line...
On an island known as Marineford...
This island was essentially a massive military fortress. Its crescent-shaped harbor faced outward, while its rear housed a sprawling town. Surrounding the island were rows upon rows of heavy cannons and docked warships. The towering fortress bore the giant insignia of the Marines, complete with a seagull emblem prominently displayed—both commanding respect and instilling fear.
This was Marineford, the headquarters of one of the three great powers of the Grand Line!
"Marshal Sengoku, we've received reports from the North Blue. Donquixote Doflamingo, the Heavenly Yaksha of the Shichibukai, has clashed with Germa 66 near Almeria Island in the Bastilia Sea. Both sides are engaged in intense combat..."
Commander Sengoku set aside the documents he'd been reviewing and turned to face the naval officer delivering the report. His brow furrowed slightly. "That 'sea thug' Doflamingo is fighting Germa? What's he doing in the North Blue instead of ruling Dressrosa in the New World? Have we determined the cause of this conflict?"
Though surprised, Sengoku wasn't shocked. While the Kingdom of Germa in the North Blue was technically an ally of the World Government, the Marines held no love for the organization due to its reputation as an evil mercenary group. As for Doflamingo—the self-proclaimed king of Dressrosa—Sengoku despised him utterly. The nickname "Heavenly Yaksha" alone spoke volumes about his vile deeds.
"Yes, Marshal! This information comes directly from Colonel Brandon stationed at the 162nd Branch Base on Almeria Island. The report appears accurate, though the reason for the conflict remains unclear."
"The crew sent to mediate was mysteriously knocked unconscious. According to Colonel Brandon, strange black-red lightning appeared during the battle. Whether this is some kind of special ability remains uncertain..."
"Black-red lightning? Could it be... the collision of Haoshoku Haki!?"
Hearing this, Sengoku abruptly stood up, his demeanor turning grave.