Rhett remained sprawled on his blood-mist throne, chin propped on one hand, not even bothering to lift his eyelids.
Gekko Moriah, Enel, and Gild Tesoro stood shielding Rhett's front.
"Tch tch, thinking of challenging our captain?" Gild Tesoro was the first to step forward, his lips curled in a contemptuous smirk. "Get past us first, little birds."
Golden waves instantly surged beneath his feet as stored gold began flowing like seawater, rising in massive swells that crashed directly toward the Donquixote Pirates' ship!
Diamante's expression changed as he desperately swung his sword, only to be sent flying by the golden tsunami.
"Gold Emperor... truly living up to the title!" he shouted while charging at Gild Tesoro.
Gotta admit, Doflamingo's family members are quite loyal—still defending their captain's honor even when outmatched.
Standing atop a colossal golden statue amidst churning waves, Gild Tesoro looked down imperiously at his opponent.
"In my domain—"
He slowly raised his hand, causing the sea of gold to churn into countless sharpened spears aimed at the charging Diamante.
"You're not even qualified to struggle."
Before the words faded, the golden spears shot forth like lightning! Diamante frantically parried with his sword, but his metal armor began assimilating upon contact with the gold. As his blade shattered, his pupils contracted violently—
"Golden Judgment: Dominion."
Like captain, like crew, as they say. This was a shonen manga, after all.
With a clench of Gild Tesoro's fist, Diamante's armor completely solidified, encasing him as a golden statue. Waves crashed against the sculpture with dull thuds.
"Pathetic insect."
Turning away, the gold dissolved back into liquid currents that returned to the ship's deck. Gild Tesoro strode toward Rhett on a path paved with glittering gold,
Yet even from his position, Rhett still looked down upon him.
"Captain, dealt with."
Rhett's blood-mist smile deepened as he rested his chin on his hand.
"Well done, Boss Tesoro."
Gild Tesoro placed a hand over his chest and gave a slight bow.
"Opponents of this level... hardly count as warm-up, Captain."
He then took position at Rhett's right side, calmly surveying the battlefield.
Moriah's massive frame slowly emerged from the shadows, jagged teeth glinting as he stretched lazily. Yet the shadows at his feet twisted into countless tendrils that greedily licked the deck.
"Kishishishi..."
"Your slime means nothing before darkness."
Ever since Moriah became a salted fish, his shadow aesthetics turned downright ugly.
Trebol's viscous body suddenly expanded, spewing toxic rain! Yet Moriah didn't even shift his stance—just snapped his fingers.
"Shadow Box: Strangle."
In an instant, countless shadows erupted from the deck, forming spiked cages that trapped Trebol. Dark spikes pierced through slime with sizzling corrosion sounds. To his horror, Trebol realized his Devil Fruit powers were being consumed by the shadows!
"Impossible! How can my mucus—"
Moriah's eyes gleamed with amusement as his burly body dispersed into bats and reformed behind Trebol. Leaning close, he whispered:
"Kishishi... Your nightmare's only beginning."
With a clench of his fist, the shadow cage constricted violently! Amid Trebol's screams, Moriah casually pulled out a soda and took a swig.
"Captain, keep him alive?"
Rhett gave a slight nod. Crushing them was expected—that flamingo barely scraped Shichibukai tier, while every combatant in Rhett's crew surpassed top Shichibukai level.
Next up: resident chuunibyou Enel's fight.
Golden lightning split the clouds as Enel sat cross-legged midair, his drums floating behind him. Propping his cheek on one hand, he glared impatiently at the stone colossus below.
Just as he prepared to show off for his captain, Doflamingo abruptly intervened.
With a flick of his wrist, countless strings yanked Pica away from Enel's lightning. His laugh remained arrogant, but his tone carried newfound restraint:
"Fufufufu... Enough."
Enel's drums still hummed with electricity as he narrowed his eyes. "Oi, pink chicken. What's the meaning of this?"
Doflamingo's sunglasses reflected the crackling lightning as he slowly raised his hands in surrender. "I admit..."
His smirk twisted painfully, as if the words physically pained him. "Crimson Dawn's strength... far exceeds my expectations."
Silence blanketed the deck. Gild Tesoro's trio ignored Doflamingo, instead turning toward Rhett's throne.
Finally stirring, Rhett lowered his blood-mist seat with a lazy finger. Tilted his head with an amused grin. "Oh? Surrendering already?"
Rhett studied this scheming flamingo—had they not beaten him into submission today, he'd definitely pull some stunt. But the lesson seemed thoroughly delivered.
Sweat beaded on Doflamingo's forehead, yet his smile held. "Captain Rhett's crew is... remarkably powerful."
Removing his sunglasses, he revealed野心-filled eyes. "I hope Captain Rhett will fully support my faction's development."
"Fully?" Gild Tesoro's golden rings glinted as he sneered. "You worthy? Before fighting, we might've negotiated. Now? That's a different price."
Doflamingo's fingers twitched before steadying. "Fufufu... Perhaps I'm currently unworthy."
He met Rhett's gaze squarely. "But given time... I'll prove my value. Don't you wish to reign over this world? Topple those Celestial Dragons?"
Why did this sound familiar? Hadn't Gild Tesoro said similar? Whatever.
Salty wind swept the deck as Rhett remained silent—then suddenly burst into laughter.
"Entertaining!" Rising, his blood-mist swirled like a cape. "Flamingo, I'm growing fonder of you."
Doflamingo internally sighed in relief but maintained his bravado. "Then... our collaboration continues?"
Rhett snapped his fingers, dispersing the mist. "I won't lift a finger to help—nor hinder you. Want to prove yourself? Show me."
Provoking him naturally demanded a steeper cost than the original offer.
Baring sharp teeth in a grin, Rhett trailed off meaningfully.
"Next time you test us," Gild Tesoro finished, shaping gold into a jagged spear, "it won't end gently."
Doflamingo replaced his sunglasses, pink feathers fluttering dramatically. "Fufufufu... I'll anticipate our next meeting."
"Do well, and I won't mind helping slaughter those Celestial Dragons who rejected your return."
Doflamingo suddenly whirled to stare at Rhett. "Fufufu, how thrilling, Captain Rhett."
As the Donquixote ship retreated, Enel grumbled, "Tch, I never got to deliver divine punishment..."
Rhett's reasons for humoring the flamingo were simple.
While partly about gauging strength, fundamentally, the bird still resisted working under him. This beating served to enforce submission. And let's be real—that flamingo's hatred for Celestial Dragons burned bright.
Rhett didn't dislike ambitious, competent people.
With his foreknowledge, handling this little red bird was child's play. Ehe.