The calm sea, from time to time, vented its dissatisfaction, shaking ships and turning them upside down, like a young girl in love, with her changeable and inconstant temper; sometimes, she would leave you completely embarrassed; other times, she would cover you with affection.
After leaving Whiskey Peak, the Donquixote Pirates' journey had no major turbulences. They occasionally encountered some unsuspecting pirate groups who, without the need for Doflamingo's direct intervention, were promptly dispatched by Diamante and Pica. Vergo, in turn, did not get involved in these confrontations, always remaining attentive to Doflamingo's instructions.
Trebol was solely responsible for crew management. Doflamingo maintained his training routine, and, except for essential activities, it was rare to see him outside the exercise room.
While Doflamingo advanced calmly towards his destination, on the other side, at Marine Base G-8 of the Grand Line, Colonel Dies Barrels, who had already received news that the Donquixote Pirates were sailing on his route, immediately set out with his subordinates, in an imposing formation, towards Doflamingo's position.
Doflamingo did not know of the Marine's movements and, even if he did, he would not care. There would only be a battle.
"What boring days," the Marines thought, bored. "Sailing on the high seas is really monotonous." Barrels, on the other hand, took that mission very seriously, as it was of great importance. After all, he was no ordinary Marine; having come from the Marine's elite training camp, he had always known some internal secrets. The more he knew, the more Barrels felt confused about the value of the justice he upheld.
Therefore, Barrels preferred to go on missions than to stay stuck in the base. The intrigues and corruption within the Marine were not few, and it was better not to see so as not to get contaminated. Especially since the target this time was a World Noble, and he could only be captured alive. The mission was of extreme importance, and there could not be the slightest sign of relaxation.
While Barrels advanced towards Doflamingo, the Donquixote Pirates also headed in Barrels' direction.
Thus, the two sides would unexpectedly meet, and a great battle was about to erupt.
"There are Marine ships ahead, coming towards us quickly! Quick, notify the Young Master!" the pirate ship's lookout, upon sighting the rapid approach of the Marine ships, did his duty, reporting what he saw and heard.
"Young Master, there are Marines ahead! It seems to be an officer team. Should we change course early to escape the Marine's pursuit?" the lookout's assistant quickly informed and awaited the Young Master's instructions.
Doflamingo, upon receiving the information, laughed: "Fufufufu, run? That doesn't exist! Who said that pirates, upon seeing the Marine, are like rats before cats, who can only run? Listen to me well! Turn around immediately and face that warship! I want to meet them and see up close these Marines who call themselves just!"
Upon hearing this, the crew immediately prepared, directing the large ship towards the warship.
On the warship, a Marine reported to Barrels: "Colonel Barrels, ahead is the ship of the Donquixote Pirates. Should we open fire to capture them?"
"Open fire! Use all cannonballs! Bombard them with everything!" Barrels gave the order enthusiastically.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" A volley of cannon shots flew fiercely towards Doflamingo's pirate ship. If those cannonballs hit, the ship would be finished. The helmsman, however, remained calm, dodging left and right. The ship seemed like an agile fish, but, with so many projectiles, dodging was a challenge.
"Alright, Trebol, you can go. There are too many projectiles, and the ship won't hold up like this," Doflamingo said to Trebol, who was watching the scene from the side.
"Behehehe, then I'll show what I'm capable of!" Trebol laughed sideways. "Sticky Launch!"
Countless amounts of mucus were launched from Trebol's body towards the cannonballs. Many blocks of mucus caught the flying projectiles, immobilizing them and making them fall from the sky.
The Marine, seeing that the cannon attacks had no effect, did not retreat, but quickly advanced towards Doflamingo. It seemed that both sides were confident, and neither wanted to yield. The two ships quickly approached, and the leaders of each side looked at each other, with pure battle intent in their eyes.
Before the Marine could make any move, Doflamingo, who was at the bow of the ship, pushed off his legs forcefully and jumped onto the deck of the Marine warship.
Upon seeing the scene, the Marines immediately surrounded Doflamingo, who dared to seek death.
"You seem quite rushed, can't wait to come surrender?" Barrels said slowly, watching Doflamingo surrounded.
"Fufufufu, yes, I want to be killed by you, or for you to be killed by me," Doflamingo laughed uncontrollably.
"Kid, don't be so arrogant. This world is very big. Don't be like a frog in a well, ignorant of yourself. Surrender now, I won't make you suffer much," Barrels said with seriousness.
"Oh, is the Marine so kind? Do Marines nowadays like to be so nice, to preach good to people?" Doflamingo maintained his arrogant posture, seeming truly deserving of a good lesson.
"Enough nonsense! I hope that when you're arrested, you still have that composure. Don't cry, kid!" Barrels said with disdain.
"Fufufufu, Colonel, I'm right here, waiting for you to make me cry!" Doflamingo laughed loudly.
"Soru!" With a resounding sound, Barrels rapidly advanced, delivering a powerful punch towards Doflamingo's stomach, as if he wanted to punch a hole there.
"Fast!" Doflamingo thought. His agility was also not small; he quickly dodged the punch and then delivered a flying kick towards Barrels' face.
Barrels, not alarmed by missing the attack, raised his left arm to block the flying kick and quickly counter-attacked with a kick. The two exchanged blows, fist against fist, in an intense fight.
"Fufufufu, Colonel, it seems you're not that good after all," Doflamingo maintained the attack while provoking with his "cannon mouth."
"Hahaha, kid, you've got some skills! Take this! Rankyaku: Danpa!" Barrels laughed loudly.
A cut several meters long, extremely powerful, flew rapidly towards Doflamingo. A dangerous aura approached. Without many options, Doflamingo's means were very limited at the moment. Facing this Rankyaku: Danpa, he needed to be doubly alert.
Activating his Observation Haki, he quickly dodged the powerful "air kick."
However, Barrels, upon seeing this, spared no effort and delivered several Rankyaku in succession, dozens of them, gradually closing Doflamingo's maneuvering space.
"Hey, hey, hey, is this the same arrogant kid from just now? What, you only know how to dodge?"
To the side, the Marines, who were in fierce combat with the pirates, seeing the intensity of the fight, had their fighting spirit boosted and attacked the pirates with more vigor.
"Doffy won't fail! I believe in him! Attack! Kill these Marines who call themselves just!" Diamante shouted to his subordinates upon seeing the scene.
Dodging the Rankyaku attacks, Doflamingo realized that this Colonel had some strength, he was not common. "Very good," he thought, "it would be boring if he were too weak."
Without further ado, he rapidly advanced towards Barrels, attacking. One punch, two punches. The two continued exchanging blows.
"Tekkai!"
Doflamingo delivered a powerful punch, hitting Barrels' abdomen, but the blow was blocked by Tekkai.
"In anime, other Marines' Tekkai was ineffective. Why is mine so hard when I use it?" Doflamingo felt somewhat speechless.
"Shigan: Hachi Sasashi!" Like a bee's kiss, countless Shigan attacks were delivered against Doflamingo.
The chain attacks of Shigan, which seemed imposing, did not hit Doflamingo a single time.
This, in turn, surprised Barrels. How had that kid avoided so many Shigan attacks at such close range?
"No, this kid isn't simple," he thought.
Barrels stopped his movements and said seriously to Doflamingo: "Kid, you awakened Observation Haki so young? You do have some skills. It seems I can't hold back anymore."
Before Doflamingo could respond, an even heavier knee kick came towards him.
At that moment, the atmosphere was extremely tense.