Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
----------
"I won't let you succeed! Flame Breathing, First Form: Unknowing Fire!"
A powerful figure suddenly appeared in front of the soldiers. With his blade wrapped in blazing flames, he narrowly intercepted the attack.
Boom!
A violent shockwave exploded outward, kicking up a powerful gust of wind.
"Hm?" Doflamingo frowned. "You actually blocked it?"
His gaze landed on the captain of Dressrosa's royal guards, a man who had once been imprisoned by him.
Logically speaking, someone of that level shouldn't have been able to stop his attack.
Even if he had only been testing the waters.
"Captain, we're here!"
"Wind Breathing!"
"Don't worry, Captain! Thunder Breathing!"
"And me! Water Breathing!"
Several more figures leaped into the air from different directions, each wielding a sword as they joined forces to intercept the attack.
Even after blocking it, their bodies were forced downward by the overwhelming pressure. The swords in their hands creaked ominously as if they might shatter at any moment.
Still, they had succeeded.
The ordinary soldiers behind them were safe.
"Water Breathing, Second Form: Water Wheel!"
Just then, a beautiful figure flashed forward.
Her blade swept upward in a flowing arc, resembling a spinning current as it crashed into Doflamingo's attack.
Boom!
The attack shattered instantly, scattering into countless fragments.
"Oh?" Doflamingo raised an eyebrow. "You actually destroyed it."
His eyes settled on Rebecca.
"If I remember correctly, you're King Riku's granddaughter. You learned that power from Ikki, didn't you?"
Rebecca landed lightly on the ground after completing her strike.
Although she and the others were breathing heavily from the effort, barely able to remain standing, their performance was enough to make Doflamingo reevaluate them.
"Huff..."
Rebecca exhaled sharply and pointed her sword directly at him.
"Doflamingo, you won't do whatever you want in this country."
Her gaze was unwavering.
"We swear in the name of the Breathing Style Swordsmanship Corps—we won't allow you to harm anyone."
The soldiers beside her struggled to their feet one after another, raising their swords toward Doflamingo.
Not only that, but more warriors who had received training under Ikki quickly rushed over and stood alongside Rebecca and the others.
Seeing the growing crowd, Doflamingo laughed.
"Fufufufu... a Breathing Style Swordsmanship Corps?"
His grin widened.
"So all of you were trained by Ikki?"
"Interesting."
"Very interesting."
If Ikki had personally trained them, that meant he valued them to some extent.
A cruel light appeared in Doflamingo's eyes.
"If all of you die here today, I wonder what kind of expression he'll make when he returns."
His smile became increasingly twisted.
"He destroyed my family."
"So it's only fair that I let him experience the same pain."
"Fufufufufu!"
Doflamingo spread his arms.
A powerful aura erupted from his body like a hurricane.
The air itself seemed to grow heavy.
Crackling black lightning flickered around him.
"Conqueror's Haki..."
Several people immediately recognized it.
"So what if it's Conqueror's Haki?"
A soldier gritted his teeth.
"It's nothing compared to Captain Ikki's."
"That's right!"
"Hold your ground!"
Rebecca's grip tightened around her sword.
"Father will be here soon."
Her eyes never left Doflamingo.
"As long as we hold out, we'll be fine."
"Something's happening near the castle!"
"It can't be another training session, can it?"
"Impossible! Look!"
A citizen holding binoculars suddenly turned pale.
"That's Doflamingo!"
"What?!"
"The soldiers are fighting Doflamingo!"
"Damn it!"
"Lord Ikki only just left for Marine Headquarters, and that bastard chooses now to come back?"
"That coward!"
"We can't let him destroy our country again!"
"Everyone, come with me!"
The news spread rapidly through Dressrosa.
Some grabbed kitchen knives.
Others picked up farming tools.
Many came completely unarmed.
But none of them hesitated.
This time, they intended to protect their country with their own hands.
Within minutes, hundreds of civilians had gathered and rushed toward the castle.
"Interesting."
Doflamingo glanced at the approaching crowd before turning his attention back to Rebecca.
"I didn't expect so many people to find the courage to stand against me."
His grin widened.
"Very interesting."
"Let's see how far that courage takes you."
Whoosh!
Invisible strings suddenly pulled his body forward.
The explosive force launched him past the speed of sound as he shot directly toward Rebecca.
To Doflamingo, the soldiers and civilians weren't important.
Rebecca was.
As King Riku's granddaughter, she represented everything he wanted to destroy.
If he killed her first, the rest would be easy.
Unfortunately for him, things didn't go according to plan.
Just as his attack was about to reach Rebecca—
Crash!
A wall exploded apart.
A towering figure burst through the debris and arrived between Rebecca and Doflamingo at incredible speed.
His sword flashed.
"Doflamingo!"
The man's eyes burned with fury.
"Don't even think about touching my daughter!"
His blade crackled with lightning.
"Thunder Breathing, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash!"
A bolt of lightning seemed to split the battlefield apart.
The slash collided directly with Doflamingo's attack.
Boom!
"Damn you..."
Doflamingo's eyes narrowed.
"Kyros."
Unlike the earlier attacks, this strike made him feel genuine danger.
"Father!"
Rebecca's eyes widened with joy.
Kyros stood firmly in front of her.
Without turning around, he spoke calmly.
"Rebecca, take everyone and leave."
"I'll handle him."
"But Father—"
"Don't worry."
A fierce smile appeared on Kyros's face.
"Have you forgotten?"
"Lord Ikki trained me personally."
As he spoke, a golden lightning-shaped mark rapidly spread across his face.
His Innate Demon Slayer Mark activated.
An overwhelming surge of power erupted from his body.
The next instant, Kyros's strength nearly doubled.
Before Doflamingo could react, Kyros's sword struck again.
Boom!
The Heavenly Demon was blasted backward.