Doflamingo's trademark grin had vanished, replaced by a twitch of irritation as he watched Diamante crumble.
"Damn it! A Devil Fruit user? There was no mention of this in the reports! We stripped him of every weapon, and yet..."
It was a natural misunderstanding. In the eyes of the underworld, Don Krieg was a man defined by his arsenal—a walking fortress of steel and gunpowder.
Vergo, acting as a mole within the "Seagull Marine Unit," had meticulously documented Krieg's reliance on gadgets. From those reports, Doflamingo had categorized him as a "Mid-to-Close Range All-Rounder" whose threat level would plummet once his gear was gone.
Even the reports of Krieg tanking cannonballs had been dismissed as advanced Rokushiki techniques. But to walk through Diamante's "Death Stardust" without a scratch? No amount of training could explain that—it had to be a fruit.
In reality, Krieg was simply a fanatic. His "Vajra Body" was the result of a madness-driven training regimen, using Life Return to condense his muscle fibers until they possessed a hardness several times that of a standard Tekkai.
"Now then," Krieg said, turning his gaze toward the blonde man in the feathered coat. "It's just you and me, Doflamingo."
For the first time in years, the "Heavenly Yaksha" felt the cold prickle of true unease. He ran the numbers at lightning speed.
Can I kill him here? No, if he's a hidden ability user, it's too risky. Retreat? He won't let me walk away. Hostages? Corazon is behind him, and the rest of the 'Red Seagulls' are nowhere to be found...
Wait. Nowhere to be found?
Doflamingo's eyes widened behind his shades. Despite the chaos and explosions, no other Marines had arrived. The Birdcage... there are no other enemies inside the perimeter but him!
The realization changed everything. The Birdcage was meant to ensure the total annihilation of the Red Seagulls and prevent Law's escape.
But if Law was already under Marine protection (as Baby 5's wiretapping suggested) and the Marines weren't even here, the cage was just a drain on his stamina.
Doflamingo raised his hand, and the shimmering, lethal wires of the Birdcage dissolved into thin air.
"To think you hid a Devil Fruit ability all this time," Doflamingo spat, settling into a combat stance. "Your information masking is... impressive."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Krieg replied, leaning forward into a predatory crouch. "But are you sure you wanted to drop your barrier?"
"It's useless against you anyway," Doflamingo countered.
The air grew heavy as the two monsters prepared to clash. But just as Krieg coiled his muscles to spring—
"Now, Doffy! Go! I'll buy you the time you need!!"
A silhouette blurred from the shadows of a nearby building. It was a man clad in a Marine uniform, his skin turning a deep, metallic purple-black as he coated his entire body in Armament Haki. Vergo lunged, wrapping his arms around Creek in a desperate, full-body tackle.
Doflamingo didn't hesitate. Seizing the opening, he turned on his heel and used his strings to propel himself away from the battlefield, vanishing into the snowy mist.
Krieg didn't struggle against the grip. He simply looked down at the man pinning his arms. "I have to ask... what is the meaning of this, Ensign Vergo?"
"Don't play dumb, Rear Admiral," Vergo replied, his voice cold and devoid of his usual Marine persona. "I think you've known who I am for a long time."
"I've kept a very close eye on your 'extra-curricular' activities, yes," Krieg said calmly. "But you're a talented Marine, Vergo.
Cooperate with me now to capture Doflamingo, and I might still overlook this. If you don't... well, it doesn't change the outcome. Doflamingo is finished either way."
Krieg began to exert pressure, his own Haki flaring to life.
"You're a cruel man to let me stay under your command while knowing the truth," Vergo grunted. "And I never expected you to be an ability user. I was certain you were just a man with too many guns."
"Always keep a trump card, Ensign. For instance: the fact that I'm at my most dangerous when I have nothing left to lose but my fists."
"I couldn't agree more," Vergo whispered. "Which is why... I brought my own trump card."
BANG!
A gunshot rang out. The bullet ricocheted harmlessly off Krieg's hardened neck, but it signaled the arrival of the final players.
High above, Buffalo hovered in the air, his body spinning like a rotor. Perched on his back was Baby 5, her arms transformed into long-barreled rifles.
"I didn't forget about them," Krieg muttered, his eyes tracking the fliers. "I just didn't think they'd be enough to make a difference."
"Nyu-un! Leave the distractions to us, Vergo-san!" Buffalo shouted, circling for another pass.
"I won't show mercy to an enemy of the Family!" Baby 5 cried, her eyes cold as she took aim.
Krieg let out a short, sharp laugh. "Did you really think I came here alone? GIN!! Take care of the flies in the sky!!"
Before the words had even faded, a blur of motion descended from the clouds. Now that the Birdcage was gone, Krieg's right hand had finally arrived.
Gin the Man-Demon plummeted toward Buffalo, his twin tonfas raised and eyes burning with a silent, lethal intensity.
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