While Lynch handled the two Kinight Gods, the others were not idle.
"Leave Doflamingo to me. You handle the rest," Kuina said, stepping forward to face him alone. This was the kind of challenge she had been waiting for.
Tashigi took on Pica.
Gladius faced King Riku and Violet.
Diamanti clashed with Rebecca and the Broken Leg Soldier.
"Hey! Someone let me out first!"
St. Monroe, trapped in a cage, banged on the bars in frustration, feeling like a caged animal.
"Fuh, fu, fufu~ Silly girl, you picked the wrong opponent."
Doflamingo flexed his fingers, using thin white threads to stitch together a broken leg.
"If you want to die, I'll grant your wish—Five Color Strings!"
Five razor-sharp silk threads shot from his fingertips.
After being struck by Lynch, Doflamingo had suffered severe injuries. While fighting Kuina, he used his Devil Fruit ability to repair his damaged organs with hair-thin threads.
However, because he had to divide his focus on healing, he couldn't fully utilize his awakened abilities.
But... killing a little girl doesn't require a complex ability.
Zheng!
Kuina drew Wado Ichimonji, gripping the hilt with both hands as she sliced through the incoming threads.
"Ittōryū—Tiger Hunter!"
Using a Marine-style sword technique, she closed the distance in an instant.
"Fufufu... Super Whip."
Ten nearly invisible threads shot from Doflamingo's fingers, twisting together into a thick whip-like strand that coiled around Wado Ichimonji.
"Parasite String."
Seizing the brief opening, Doflamingo flicked out a nearly imperceptible thread, aiming to take control of Kuina.
Anyone below the level of an Emperor's right hand would be helpless against it.
But Kuina was blind, not defenseless. Though her eyes were covered by a black blindfold, she sensed the thread falling from above and caught it precisely.
Brother Lynch was right to make me focus on training. If I hadn't, I'd be under his control right now, she thought.
Seeing his Parasite String stopped so effortlessly, Doflamingo's expression darkened. He finally took the girl in front of him seriously.
He had dismissed her as just Lynch's servant—but a nobody with this level of skill?
Just how deep does the West Blue's strength run!?
"It's so annoying... I'm about to get caught."
Silken whips coiled around Kuina's slender wrist, trying to restrain her through Wado Ichimonji.
Desperate, she swung her sword.
"Ittōryū—Misa Sound Blade!"
Her blade vibrated at high speed, creating rapid tremors that split the silk whip apart. Breaking free, she slashed toward Doflamingo's head.
"Sky's Path."
A nearly invisible thread latched onto the clouds above. Using it, Doflamingo propelled himself through the air at high speed, putting distance between them.
He smirked. Binding clouds with my strings... That alone proves I'm a genius.
Turning a so-called "useless fruit" into something this powerful—he had every right to be proud.
But the downside? No clouds, no flight.
"Super Hot Whip!"
A massive white whip lashed toward Kuina from over ten kilometers away.
She swiftly dodged, narrowly avoiding the attack.
The whip struck the ground—instantly splitting a hundred-meter-high hill in two.
"Bullet String."
Doflamingo formed a gun gesture with his fingers and fired at Kuina from afar.
Countless thread-like bullets filled the air, covering the entire area.
Two bullets struck Kuina. Even with Armament Haki, she let out a muffled groan.
Her Haki-covered skin was punctured, and blood trickled from the wounds.
For most people, a single Bullet String shot would be enough to shatter bones.
But instead of fear, Kuina's eyes lit up with excitement.
She stretched out her delicate hand toward Doflamingo.
"That stance... That's the same ability she used to challenge the gods."
Doflamingo narrowed his eyes, recognizing it immediately.
"Universal Pull!"
A powerful force yanked him forward—his body flying uncontrollably toward Kuina.
"Gravity Blade—Butterflies!"
Pink butterflies filled the air, fluttering like scattered petals caught in a raging storm.
Beneath the breathtaking scene lurked a lethal intent, hidden in the dim gleam of Wado Ichimonji.
Doflamingo felt a chill—if he didn't escape immediately, being pulled in would spell disaster.
His instincts were right. Kuina had infused gravity into Wado Ichimonji.
From an outsider's perspective, it was as if Doflamingo had willingly thrown himself onto her blade.
"Fufufu! If that's the case, let's die together!"
His expression turned manic. Ignoring his own injuries, he raised both arms and swung them downward.
As he moved, five nearly invisible threads extended from each fingertip.
"Five Bullet String!"
The forked threads shot down toward Kuina's head at blinding speed.
Based on her reaction to Bullet String earlier, Doflamingo had already assessed her abilities—she had exceptional Observation Haki but only average Armament Haki.
It made sense. She was still young, with limited stamina. She couldn't master everything at once.
As long as his head remained intact, he could stitch up any number of wounds.
But if Kuina fell for this trap—she would be dead for sure!
"Come on, let's die together!"
Kuina hesitated for just a second before abandoning her attack. She threw herself into an undignified roll to dodge the deadly silk threads, ignoring how she looked.
"A Shichibukai… He's even stronger than I thought."
Her expression darkened.
Long-range, close combat, healing, control he was nearly unstoppable.
Thump~
Dolfamingo, who was flying in the air, lost the traction of gravity and fell to the ground in a very embarrassed state.
His opponent, Devil Fruit, is really weird!
Dolfamingo got up and checked his injuries.
Very good, the injuries caused by the battle with Lynch are almost healed, and by then this little girl will die!
Dolfamingo knows that Kuina is nothing and Lynch is his real enemy, so he must find a way to win Tashigi at the minimum cost.
"He's so powerful... so versatile... Normal attacks are useless against him."
Kuina gripped Wado Ichimonji tightly, lowering her gaze in deep thought. Her eyes burned with determination.
"None of my usual attacks seem to work on Doflamingo."
"I'm still too weak!"
She clenched her fists. She couldn't even defeat a Shichibukai—someone Lynch had taken down with a single strike.
How long would it take for her to become a true great swordswoman?
"Does this mean... I have to use those moves?"
She hesitated, remembering the techniques she had never successfully executed before.
Then, her hesitation vanished.
"This time, I won't fail!"
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TO BE CONTINUED
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