Sensing the sheer magnitude of Vale D. Drake's power, Doflamingo dared not hold back any longer and immediately played his ultimate trump card.
He spread his arms wide, and the surrounding buildings instantly transformed into a tidal wave of white strings. Armament Haki surged, coating the massive mass of threads and weaving them into a colossal defensive net.
Devil Fruit Awakening!
Drake didn't hesitate for a second. He brought his fist down with crushing force.
Boom!
Unsurprisingly, Drake's punch shattered the defensive web Doflamingo had manifested. The strike bypassed the strings and slammed squarely into Doflamingo's face.
Boom!
Drake's angle was precise; the force of the blow sent Doflamingo hurtling toward the surface of the sea. The onlookers erupted in cheers. Doflamingo was an ability user; the consequences of falling into the ocean were self-evident.
Just as Doflamingo was about to hit the water, his body jerked to a halt in mid-air. The members of the Dark Clan looked on as if they had seen a ghost.
Swish!
Drake used teleportation to give chase, the Canhong Sword appearing in his hand. While a normal fighter might find a mid-air battle against the Warlord difficult, Drake was different. Even in aerial combat, he held every advantage. With his spatial abilities, he was a master of the sky.
"Mingo!"
Doflamingo, having just regained his bearings, looked up. His expression soured at the sound of Drake's voice.
Frustration! He felt utterly humiliated. He had intended to teach these upstarts a lesson, yet he had been sent flying in every single exchange. It was a disgrace! Hearing Drake call his name again, Doflamingo couldn't swallow his pride.
"Fuffuffuffu..."
Doflamingo righted himself in the air, watching the incoming Drake with a chilling smile.
Boom! After blocking Drake's initial strike, Doflamingo's grin turned predatory. "You're using Whitebeard's power, aren't you? What happened to him?"
Drake's eyes narrowed. Before he could speak, a sudden sense of crisis washed over him. A sharp whistling sound came from his right. Several thin strings, as sharp as blades, were cutting through the air toward his waist. Drake tilted his body slightly, evading the strings, and swung his sword.
Clang!
Doflamingo blocked the blade with his hands, which were reinforced with Armament Haki.
"I heard that Whitebeard and Fire Fist Ace have vanished. Since you have his power, I assume the old man is dead?"
"Who told you Whitebeard and Ace vanished?" Drake's brow furrowed. Why hadn't he heard about this?
Doflamingo didn't answer; instead, he launched a kick.
Clang! Blocking the strike, Drake said, "Pops isn't the type to die so easily. You say they vanished? Stop lying."
Drake spun his sword a few times, imbuing the blade with vibration energy before slashing at the Warlord again.
Rumble!
The moment the attack connected, Doflamingo's face shifted. The energy generated by the spatial vibration slammed into his body, blasting him backward.
"Young Master!" The executives watched in stunned silence as Doflamingo was sent further and further away.
"Support the Young Master!" Dellinger and the others managed to break away from Kenshin and the others, retreating to their ship and sailing out to sea.
"This..." Kenshin and the others exchanged glances, seeing the same helplessness in each other's eyes.
"They took Pica with them." It was then that everyone noticed that Pica, who had been lying defeated on the ground, had disappeared.
"Not good, they're escaping!" Kenshin realized. No one expected the arrogant Donquixote Family to actually tuck tail and run.
But the reality was that Doflamingo, realizing a direct victory was impossible, had ordered a retreat. He would lure Drake away. It wasn't just a diversion, though; Doflamingo had never been one to admit defeat in a fight. He wanted to test the limits of Drake's strength. However, the Tremor-Tremor power was too devastating—especially for their ship. Drake could destroy their vessel effortlessly, so Doflamingo had to keep him occupied.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
High above the sea, Drake and Doflamingo traded blows, a frantic dance of fists and sword strikes.
"Suppress!" Drake appeared five meters from Doflamingo and slammed his palm down.
Doflamingo felt as if a mountain had been dropped on his shoulders, and he plummeted toward the sea. At the critical moment, he used a thread-based maneuver to dodge Drake's spatial wall. Before he could catch his breath, Drake was in front of him again, throwing a punch.
Vrumm—BOOM!
Donquixote Doflamingo turned into a human cannonball, blasted away by Drake's fist. He fought for control, skimming the surface of the water at high speed but barely managing to stay airborne.
"It's over," Drake muttered. He used a series of teleports to close the distance, weaving slashes into his movement. In a matter of heartbeats, he left countless wounds on Doflamingo's body. The battle had turned into a one-sided slaughter. Blood sprayed into the air, yet not a single drop belonged to Drake.
Just as Drake prepared to deliver the final blow, Doflamingo's eyes snapped open. He instantly put distance between them and began flying away at top speed.
"I'll let you have this one. We'll finish this next time!"
"He's leaving?" Drake paused. He considered giving chase, but then he hesitated. He didn't know if Doflamingo had a trap waiting, and he worried about Bell and the others.
Drake shook his head. "Forget it. Killing him now won't bring much benefit, and it might mess with the timeline too much. I'll leave him for Luffy."
When he returned to Moka City, the scene he feared hadn't materialized. The battle was over, and the cleanup had already begun.
"Greetings, Captain!" As Drake descended from the sky, the members of the Dark Clan stood at attention, saluting him. This battle had left them in awe. They looked at Drake as if he were a god; this time, their respect and fear were genuine.
Drake didn't say much; he was too excited as he approached Kenshin and the others. "I have some incredible news to tell you. Let's head back first."
"Captain, what about Doflamingo...?" Bernice asked.
"He fled," Drake replied with a nod.
"Fled...?" Bernice's eyes widened in shock.
"He really did run." Drake thought she was worried about a reprisal, so he added, "I don't think they'll be bothering us again anytime soon."
"Ah! No, no, that's not what I meant. I'm just... shocked. That a Warlord would actually run away..." Bernice stammered.
"Mmm. Let's head back. I'll leave the rest to you." Drake, brimming with excitement, led Kenshin and the others toward the city center.
Drake wasn't happy for no reason—the System had just granted him some amazing rewards. Seeing his expression, Kenshin and the others were incredibly curious about what could possibly make him this thrilled.
As Bernice watched Drake's departing figure, her respect for him deepened. The sight of him chasing down Doflamingo had been like watching a War God in the flesh, every move radiating terrifying power.