Chapter 156: A Fierce Battle with Doffy, and the Death of a Celestial Dragon
"Shane…"
Doflamingo's cold sweat was now pouring, his voice hoarse. "You… you… you're not dead?"
How can this be?!
His death was officially announced by the World Government! And how could anyone possibly survive a pincer attack from a Marine Admiral and the Emperor, Kaido?!
"That's right. I've been pretty lucky," Shane said with a nod.
In the midst of the raging waves, he was somehow levitating on the crest of a wave, walking toward them.
With every step, a circle of black and red lightning exploded from under his feet, and the tangible pressure of his Conqueror's Haki spread out, making the entire island tremble.
And it made Doflamingo freeze in place, unable to move.
He watched as Shane came to a stop in front of him, looking down at him, his gaze as cold and indifferent as if he were looking at an ant. "You're… the Warlord of the Sea, Doflamingo?"
"This should be our first time meeting, but you look like you're terrified of me, as if you're wishing I were dead. Why is that?"
The black-haired young man looked around and then noticed the shattered ground and the young woman with the sword, who had clearly been in a fight.
He raised an eyebrow, and a look of understanding came over him. "I see. You attacked my crew…"
Doflamingo's cold sweat was now pouring even faster.
He swallowed hard and forced a smile. "Fuffuffuffuffu… a misunderstanding! It's a complete misunderstanding, Shane! I didn't know who they were! Otherwise, how could I…"
"You're lying!"
Nami's indignant voice came from below. "Big Bro, don't listen to his nonsense! He recognized us the moment he saw us, and he even tried to recruit us! But he's not that strong. Kuina was able to hold him off!"
"Oh?"
Shane looked at Kuina with a little surprise and a warm smile. "A stalemate with a Warlord? You've gotten a lot stronger."
Back when he had faced Akainu, Kuina had only been at the level of an average Headquarters Vice Admiral.
It seemed that in the month he had been at the bottom of the sea, she had completely mastered her Wind Wall technique.
"..."
Being praised in front of an outsider, Kuina's cheeks flushed red, but she quickly composed herself and turned to look at Doflamingo, her eyes burning with fighting spirit. "My lord, just give me a little more time. I can beat him."
"You haven't had enough yet?"
"Mmm," Kuina nodded and sighed. "You came out a little too early."
"I couldn't help it. I just finished my secluded training and ran right into him,"
Shane shrugged. He noticed the disappointment in Kuina's eyes and then glanced at Doflamingo, saying casually, "You, go and fight her. No holding back. Fight until a winner is decided."
His tone was one of absolute command, as if he were giving an order to one of his own subordinates.
How long has it been since I've been ordered around like this? Doflamingo's gaze grew cold, and he narrowed his eyes. "And if I refuse?"
Shane's answer was concise: "You die."
A vein throbbed on Doflamingo's temple.
So what if you're strong, so strong that I don't dare to provoke you?! A descendant of a Celestial Dragon, how can I be humiliated like this…
"Fuffuffuffuffu… fine. Since you want to watch so badly, then I'll play with your vice-captain a little longer,"
he said, forcing down his anger and grinning. "But in that case, after this fight is over, the grudge between us should be settled, right?"
"As long as you don't pull any tricks and do your job as a sparring partner, I can let you go,"
Shane said calmly. "Of course, if you die at Kuina's sword, that's not my fault."
"That's not going to happen, so you don't have to worry about it,"
Doflamingo grinned, a cold smile on his lips. "Fuffuffuffuffu… then let's not waste any more time. Let's begin!"
He moved, and he was back on the previous battlefield. When Kuina was also in position, he suddenly flickered and appeared above the young swordswoman, eight sharp strings shooting from the tips of his toes, aiming for her shoulders!
"Athlete's Foot!"
CLANG!
Kuina was prepared. The Wado Ichimonji was in front of her, and she blocked the blow, sending Doflamingo flying. But a look of confusion appeared on her face.
Although this was the first time they had fought, she had already sensed that this guy clearly didn't like to be in close quarters with a swordsman and had been trying to keep his distance. Why had he suddenly closed the gap?
The answer was revealed in an instant.
In the next moment, Doflamingo's figure, using the force of the rebound from her blade, shot backward!
"Fuffuffuffuffu! Thanks for your cooperation, little girl!"
He laughed wildly, his fingertips already shooting out strings and attaching them to the distant clouds. His entire body shot toward the horizon like a cannonball!
At the same time, his other hand, which had long been ready, flipped over, and countless strings shot out, falling in all directions and instantly weaving a massive, sky-blotting net that enveloped the entire island!
Birdcage!
"That bastard!"
Kuina's face changed, and she looked up.
She then realized that this guy had never intended to fight her seriously. He had just been trying to distract her, to buy time to trap them and create an opportunity to escape!
What a despicable man!
High in the sky, Doflamingo pushed his fruit's ability to its limit, his speed soaring!
Faster!
Faster!
He roared in his mind, occasionally glancing back at the ground. Though he still had that arrogant smile on his face, his forehead was beaded with nervous sweat.
Shane isn't dead!
Not only is the monster not dead, but he's even stronger than the rumors say!
Just that Conqueror's Haki from before had made him tremble, as if he were facing not a young man, but an ancient, ferocious beast that had just crawled out of the abyss!
If he stayed here any longer, he would be the one to die!
Let his vice-captain have her fun, and he would let him go… what kind of crap is that?! Only a fool would believe it!
That guy… he has another title, doesn't he? 'Warlord Killer'!
Crocodile had brought his own death upon himself, but that guy Hanafuda had done nothing to provoke him, and yet he had been casually dealt with like a chicken just for being in the way.
And what about him?
Not only had he come looking for trouble, but he had even committed the taboo of trying to recruit his opponent's officers right in front of him…
It would be a miracle if that madman didn't want him dead!
"Stop!"
A roar came from behind. Kuina had activated her Sweeping Blade and was chasing after him like a bolt of lightning!
Her speed was incredible. In the blink of an eye, she was at the edge of the birdcage. She unleashed several slashes, and though the birdcage trembled violently, she couldn't break it.
"Fuffuffuffuffu…"
Doflamingo had expected this and let out a triumphant laugh.
The Birdcage was one of his strongest moves. Now that he had successfully deployed it, how could it be broken so easily?!
Forget this female swordsman, who was about on his level. Even that monster, Shane…
No!
If he had been given a little more time to prepare, the ultimate Birdcage, activated in his Black Knight mode, would have been able to trap even a Marine Admiral for a short time!
"Fuffuffuffuffu… just struggle in there as much as you want!"
Doflamingo flew higher and higher, passing over the endless deadwood forest, and he was about to completely leave the island.
However—
"Trying to run?"
A calm voice echoed in the air.
At the very top of the Birdcage, Shane had, at some point, appeared.
His right hand was already raised, and in his palm, a black and red Haki was madly converging, rotating and compressing at high speed, quickly forming a disc about half a meter in diameter.
Unlike before, this time, the edge of the disc was wrapped in thick, black and red lightning. Before it had even been released, the terrifying pressure had already made the entire sky grow dark, the clouds gathering, thunder rolling!
Godsplitter!
SWISH—!
Shane flicked his wrist, and the disc shot out, cutting through the sky at an incredible speed. In an instant, it had sliced through the Birdcage and, its speed unchecked, it continued on toward Doflamingo!
"Hmm?"
Doflamingo was several thousand meters away, but his Observation Haki was suddenly screaming a warning. He instinctively turned his head, and his pupils suddenly constricted to the size of a pinprick—
The black and red disc, filled with a destructive aura, was already right in front of him.
"N-No—!!!"
He tried with all his might to dodge, but the disc was too fast. In an instant, it had sliced through his waist!
SQUELCH!
Blood sprayed!
Doflamingo's body suddenly froze. He slowly looked down and saw his lower body gradually separating from his upper body, his eyes full of disbelief.
"H-How is that possible…"
BOOM!
The lower half of his body fell from the sky and crashed into the fountain in the castle square, the blood dyeing the entire fountain red.
And high in the sky, Doflamingo's vision was blurry. He nearly lost consciousness, but his strong survival instinct made him grit his teeth against the searing pain.
He continued to flee into the distance, desperately trying to use his String-String Fruit ability to stitch his wounds back together and stop the bleeding.
But…
Although the bizarre disc was gone, a very powerful black and red energy remained, covering the entire cross-section.
He couldn't get rid of it. He could only watch as his strings were repelled, and a large amount of blood continued to pour from his wound…
————
On the ground.
The crew looked at the remains on the ground and then at the half-figure that was disappearing over the horizon.
"That guy… is he dead or not?"
Nami couldn't help but ask. "Don't tell me he's still alive?"
She subconsciously rubbed her arms. The bizarre scene had given her goosebumps.
To be cut in half and still be able to move, she had only ever seen that when she had cut up earthworms for bait as a child.
"He's as good as dead. We don't have to worry about him," Shane said, floating down from the sky. "With my Conqueror's Haki on the wound, he won't be able to close it. Even the best doctor in the world wouldn't be able to help him."
Nami was finally relieved.
If her brother said so, then it must be true.
"That last attack was so crazy! It even changed the weather!"
She looked up at the lingering black and red trails in the sky and was in awe. "Huh, it's still there. I'm telling you, Big Bro, how much stronger have you gotten since you came out of seclusion? Even a Wa—"
She had been about to say "even a Warlord can be taken out in one hit," but then she remembered that when they had faced the Sand-Warlord, if her brother had gone all out from the start, he could have taken him down in a few blows.
So… it wasn't that different?
So she swallowed her words.
"There are differences between the Warlords,"
Robin said, as if she could read her mind, with a smile. "That Flamingo has been a Warlord for many years and has been active in the New World. He's proficient in all three types of Haki. Even among the great pirates of the New World, he's one of the strongest. But in the captain's hands, he couldn't even take one hit. That says a lot."
"Oh~"
Nami didn't really understand, but she still put on a look of enlightenment and slapped her fist into her palm. "So, the fact that my brother could do that means he's gotten a lot stronger, right?"
"I suppose so,"
Shane grinned. "After all, you've all gotten so much stronger. As the captain, how could I fall behind?"
"Yeah!"
Nami hugged him tightly and cheered. "Now we can finally leave this island and head for the New World with all our might!"
This island was so gray and boring, with nothing but noisy monkeys. She had been sick of it for a long time!
Shane didn't say anything more. He just affectionately ruffled his sister's short orange hair.
But in the depths of his eyes, a deep light flickered.
After this seclusion, he had completely mastered the "Flesh-Melting Furnace Art," he had completely mastered Conqueror's Haki Infusion, and he had spent so much time in the deep sea, with the Poneglyph as a training tool, in a hellish, masochistic training regimen, and his physical strength had reached a level far beyond what it had been before…
His progress had even exceeded his own expectations.
Thinking back to all the things he had been through before his seclusion…
Akainu had beaten him to a pulp in half an hour, pushing him to the brink of death. If not for the Senzu Bean, he would have been a goner.
Kizaru, with a single, all-out attack, had pierced his heart.
Kaido hadn't even had to use his fruit's ability. In his human form, he had easily dealt with all of his attacks.
All of that…
…would never happen again!
"Oh, right. I'm sorry, Kuina,"
Shane said, looking at his vice-captain. "Doffy was originally your opponent. You should have been the one to finish him. But I…"
"It's not your fault, my lord," Kuina said, shaking her head. "That guy was a coward and chose to break his promise. And I couldn't break through his Birdcage in a short time. You had no choice but to act."
She said that, but when she sheathed her sword, there was still a hint of regret and disappointment in her eyes as she looked at the half-corpse in the fountain.
"Don't worry,"
Shane said, patting her on the shoulder. "We're about to leave Paradise. In the New World, there's no shortage of opponents of that level. It won't be long before you have another chance to show off your swordsmanship."
"Yes,"
Kuina said, nodding. At the mention of the "New World," a look of anticipation appeared in her eyes.
"Hey! Look over here! Look over here!" a panicked voice suddenly came from the distance. "Do you have a doctor?! Please, help Mr. Kuma!"
"I almost forgot about that,"
Nami said, slapping her forehead. She quickly grabbed Shane's arm and pulled him toward the castle gate. "Quick! Come with me, Big Bro!"
"Kuma?"
Shane then noticed the Tontatta princess at the gate. His gaze passed over the small figure and landed on the man on the ground.
"What happened here?" he asked, frowning.
...
In a sea area many kilometers away,
Doflamingo's consciousness was fading. He had lost too much blood, and his vision was going black. But he gritted his teeth and, with the help of his strings, he managed to stay in the air.
He didn't know how long it had been, or how far he had flown, but a ship's silhouette finally appeared in his vision.
That… was the Marines' flag!
"H-Help… help me…"
Doflamingo used the last of his strength to propel himself toward the warship's deck.
THUMP!
The upper half of his body crashed onto the bow, the loud noise echoing across the entire deck.
"Who is it?!"
The Marine soldiers all gathered around. One of the more experienced ones, when he saw Doflamingo's face, his expression changed drastically.
"The Warlord… Doflamingo?!"
"What happened?! How did he end up like this?!"
"Never mind that! Quick! Get the doctor and the nurses over here!"
In the chaos, a middle-aged man with a brown hat and a cigar pushed through the crowd and strode over. He was stunned when he saw the pathetic figure on the ground.
"Isn't that the Heavenly Yaksha? How did he end up like this?"
"It's you…" Doflamingo struggled to look up and recognized the newcomer. "Gion…"
"Ah, it's me,"
Vice Admiral Chaton narrowed his eyes. As a veteran Vice Admiral at Headquarters, he had had several dealings with him at the Warlord meetings.
This absolute bastard, even at Marineford, was arrogant and domineering. He had even, out of boredom while waiting for a meeting, used his strings to make the Marine officers fight each other to the death for his own amusement.
He had disliked him for a long time, but to see him like this… it was a bit too pathetic.
And besides, he was a Warlord who could hold his own in the New World.
In the first half of the Grand Line, who could possibly do this to him?
"Can you save him?" he asked the old military doctor who was crouching down and performing first aid.
"I can't…" the old doctor said, shaking his head. "He's lost too much blood, and some of his vital organs, as well as his intestines, are gone… he's just running on fumes right now."
"Is that so… what a shame."
Chaton frowned and blew a smoke ring. "It seems Marine Headquarters is about to lose another ally. Do you have any last words?"
Doflamingo had also heard the old doctor's words.
But he didn't need to be told. He knew that his own condition was at its end…
I'm going to die.
Unlike the time he had been tied to the cross, this time, he was really going to die…
A sudden, strange hatred for the Marines welled up in him. He spat a large mouthful of saliva onto Chaton's face.
Chaton's face darkened, but he said nothing and didn't wipe the spittle from his face.
"You Marines are a bunch of idiots. You get all your intelligence wrong…"
Although his face was completely drained of color, Doflamingo still forced a laugh, his face a mask of mockery.
"Sh…ane… that Shane, he's not dead! He's not dead at all! From now on, you Marines will have an endless amount of trouble on your hands! Fuffuffuffuffu…"
As he laughed, his pupils suddenly dilated, and his body went limp on the stretcher, lifeless.
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