A fierce chase was unfolding on the main street of Masuka Island.
"ROOM!"
Law yelled, creating an operation space with a twenty-meter diameter. While running, he kicked a stone flying. The moment the stone was about to fly out of the ROOM space, his body vanished, and the stone took his place, completing a spatial transfer.
Behind him, Doflamingo was using the power of the String-String Fruit to glide between the buildings. Although Law initially gained a significant lead, the distance between them was quickly closing as Law's stamina was increasingly depleted.
"Fuffuffuffu... Law, you're using the power of the Op-Op Fruit that I gave you quite well," Doflamingo laughed as he drew closer.
Their chase caused pandemonium in the town. Countless people were flashed past before they could react, and the unlucky ones were even directly knocked aside.
"Shut up, Doflamingo!"
Law was still too young. Riled up by Doflamingo's taunts, he immediately lost his composure, created a ROOM space, and sent a slash toward his pursuer.
Doflamingo concentrated his power, turning his body completely black, and used Armament Haki to block Law's attack. He then accelerated his charge, instantly closing a large portion of the remaining distance.
"Fuffuffuffu, still just a brat, Law."
The distance between Doflamingo and Law was now virtually negligible. With Law's stamina fading, he could be captured at any moment.
"Damn it!"
Law grit his teeth. Being provoked by Doflamingo's words had led to a serious mistake, which made him recall what Zephyr once said to him: "Your weakness is how easily you are influenced."
If a weakness were that easy to overcome, it wouldn't be a weakness, Law thought to himself. Without using his Op-Op Fruit ability, he simply couldn't outrun Doflamingo's airborne pursuit.
What should I do? What should I do right now?
Should I stop and fight Doflamingo? No! I'd be taken down in two or three moves!
Law ran at full speed. He could no longer use his ability indiscriminately. Even at the risk of the distance closing, he had to wait for the best possible moment to use his power again.
He saw a dense crowd ahead and realized it was the location of the pub. That's why so many pirates and thugs gathered there.
Law hardened his resolve. He suddenly drew Kikoku and slashed the ground, sending countless small gravel pieces flying toward Doflamingo.
"Law, are you crazy? Using child's play to stop me."
Doflamingo sneered, preparing to simply dismiss the stones with his mere presence.
"ROOM!!"
But just a fraction of a second before Doflamingo could act, Law expanded an unprecedentedly massive ROOM space, reaching a diameter of a hundred meters.
It was arguably the largest area he had ever cast. And after this move, he would definitely be exhausted and unable to use the Op-Op Fruit's power again.
"Shambles!"
With another shout from Law, the countless small stones flying toward Doflamingo were instantly replaced by the rugged-looking pirate thugs. Dozens of them, packed together, flew toward Doflamingo. The human wall completely obstructed his view.
Law, meanwhile, had used the ability to instantaneously move further ahead. The crowded area in front of the pub was now deserted.
"You've certainly inherited my ruthlessness, haven't you, Law."
Seeing this, Doflamingo wasn't angry; instead, he laughed triumphantly. But his methods remained cruel. His right hand formed the Leopard's Claw stance and he swiped down, instantly dismembering the corpses of the dozens of people, leaving only chunks of flesh scattered on the ground.
Many bystanders who witnessed the scene along the street bent over and vomited on the spot.
Law was now extremely close to the coast. The ready-to-go Bepo and the others, seeing him running in such a pathetic state, waved and shouted, "Hey! Captain!"
"Open the hatch! Retreat immediately!"
Law yelled, his body close to passing out from exhaustion. Bepo and the others squinted for a closer look and saw another person following right behind Law. They froze for two seconds...
"Kyaa! Doflamingo!!"
"Retreat! Retreat now!"
All the Heart Pirates quickly scrambled back into the submarine and prepared to start the engines. They opened the hatch for Law, and Bepo frantically waved from the entrance. "Captain, hurry! Hurry!"
Doflamingo, chasing Law, saw the scene on the coast and his lips curled. "Oh, you specifically used a rare submarine to counter my power? Very thoughtful, Law."
"Damn it!"
Although Bepo was a close-combat fighter, seeing Law in danger caused him to panic. He grabbed a rocket launcher in desperation and fired it at Doflamingo.
"Hmph. Looks like I'll have to be a little rough to drag you back, Law."
A line of thick, orange string suddenly appeared in Doflamingo's hand. Instead of aiming for Law's vitals, he targeted his legs, swinging the line in a horizontal slash.
"Overheat!"
Glancing back and seeing the large string capable of effortlessly slicing through steel approaching, Law leapt up, barely avoiding the tragic fate of having his legs severed.
Meanwhile, Bepo's rocket launcher struck the two masts of the ship, causing them to snap and fall. Because the ropes holding them were severed, the pirate flags immediately unfurled.
The flag on the shorter mast in front displayed the emblem of the Heart Pirates: a large, grinning face.
Just as Doflamingo prepared to grab Law, who had fallen to the ground, the flag on the longer mast behind unfurled, revealing its symbol to Doflamingo.
Instantly, Doflamingo's hand, poised to grab Law, froze. He stared intensely at the flag's emblem, saying nothing, only a faint cold sweat appearing on his forehead.
"Now's my chance!"
Law seized the opportunity, drawing his sword and stabbing toward Doflamingo's face.
Though caught off guard, Doflamingo quickly dodged, but a bloody scratch still appeared on his cheekbone.
"Retreat!"
Law never intended for that move to kill him; it was merely meant to distract Doflamingo.
Since he succeeded, it was time to get out of there!