"Are you Amphitrite Cross-san?" Law's tear-stained face looked at Cross in surprise. He remembered the name "Amphitrite Cross." His father had told him that the truth about the Amber Lead Syndrome was exposed by former Marine Admiral Black Arm Zephyr and a young Marine named Amphitrite Cross. They even went as far as to kill the King of the Kingdom of Flevance for the sake of its people, arresting the members of the royal family and handing them over to the citizens.
Because of this, the people of the Kingdom of Flevance held Zephyr and Cross in high regard, and the prestige of the Marines rose among ordinary citizens.
Cross smiled but didn't say anything. He ruffled Law's hair and then stood up, turning his back to Law and facing Doflamingo. He said in a deep, powerful voice, "There's no such thing as perfection in this world. Even as Marines, all we can do is our best."
"Law, even if you're in the darkness, don't forget to pursue the light. A man never gives in to fate, especially one who has already defeated it. Now that you've crawled out of the darkness, don't fall back in!"
"Commander Rosinante, I'll leave Law in your care. Take him and get somewhere far away. The rest is up to me!" With that, Cross gripped his sword tightly and began walking forward.
Law bit his lower lip, his gaze fixed on Cross's back as his vision blurred with tears once again.
Rosinante said nothing and picked up Law, running in the opposite direction. A battle between monsters was about to begin, and staying there would only get in the way.
Doflamingo watched Rosinante and Law leave but made no move to stop them. Minion Island was sealed by the Birdcage; no matter where Rosinante and Law went, they would still be birds in a cage. Therefore, to Doflamingo, the real enemy was the man in front of him.
"Go on, beat me. You can do whatever you want!" Cross said loudly.
"I know you don't like the World Government. As it happens, I don't like them either. So, on that point, I think we have room for cooperation!" Doflamingo tried to calm his anger and said seriously.
"Don't waste your breath. Talk to me again after you get out of this alive!" Cross said with a solemn and heavy tone.
"Hey, hey~ You're in my cage now, so don't get too cocky!" Doflamingo's face darkened, and the veins on his forehead bulged. "But I won't hide it from you. Since Law has eaten the Ope Ope no Mi, I must bring him back and train him to work for me!"
"I know. You value the Ope Ope no Mi's power because you want to sacrifice Law for immortality. You can't hide your true intentions from me!" Cross snorted, saying directly, "But don't even think about it. I won't let you succeed!"
"You know about the secret of the Ope Ope no Mi?!" Doflamingo was shocked that Cross knew such a secret. The secret of "immortality" wasn't even written in the Devil Fruit Encyclopedia. It was something only a select few, like the World Government, knew.
Suddenly, Doflamingo seemed to realize something and laughed meaningfully. "Fuffuffuffu~ I understand now. It seems you have the same idea as me!"
"But have you ever considered if you can even protect Law once he's a Marine? The World Government won't just stand by and watch you keep Law for yourself, unless... you've already decided to betray the Marines!"
"Don't project your thoughts onto me. It just makes me sick!" Cross said with a contemptuous sneer.
"Fine. It seems we really can't reach a consensus!" Doflamingo sighed in feigned helplessness, his tone full of regret. "And since you already know Vergo's true identity, I have no choice but to kill you here and now. Otherwise, it'll ruin my plans!"
In truth, Doflamingo didn't believe Cross. In his eyes, no one could resist the temptation of "immortality."
"I told you to stop talking nonsense a while ago! You're the one who keeps rambling!" Cross sneered and roared. "Surtur, Flame of Ruin!"
"Yes, Master!" Surtur replied with a serious expression, opening its mouth and spewing a torrent of scorching flames. The flames, as if doused with gasoline, grew with the wind and instantly expanded dozens of times, turning into a surging sea of fire that swept forward.
The frigid, sub-zero temperature of the surrounding area rapidly rose, as if entering a hot summer day. The snowflakes melted before they could even land, and the thick snow on the ground turned into streams of warm water, revealing the dark brown soil underneath.
"Incredible!" Doflamingo cackled menacingly and waved his hand forward.
Sss—
A crystalline light reflected in the air as the tsunami-like sea of fire was instantly split in two. Even the charred ground was cut by a thin, deep crack.
Doflamingo immediately shot forward, and Vergo also rushed through the newly-split path in the middle of the sea of fire, clearly intending to launch a pincer attack.
"Such trivial tricks!" Cross sneered, reaching out and grabbing Surtur's body, and then throwing it at Vergo.
Doflamingo and Vergo saw a large fireball with a ferocious expression and five features flying toward them, radiating a terrifying heat.
"It's no use!" Doflamingo roared, raising his hand to try the same trick and slice Surtur in half with his sharp strings.
"One Sword Style: Flying Edge!" Just then, Cross swung his sword through the air, creating a sharp, crescent-shaped slash. Doflamingo quickly retracted his hand and dodged the attack.
Rumble!
Surtur then smashed into the ground, causing a violent explosion and a towering pillar of fire. A wave of high-temperature heat swept out in all directions, sending Vergo flying. It could be said that if Vergo hadn't kept his Armament Haki activated over his entire body, the heat alone would have half-cooked him.
"I am the fire giant, Surtur!!!" The next moment, a fire giant with a crown on its head appeared in the surging sea of fire. It was holding a giant fire sword, radiating scorching heat. Each step it took left a charred footprint, and the surrounding air was so hot it warped.
Vergo had just gotten to his feet when he saw the fire giant in front of him. It swung a several-meter-long fire sword in a magnificent arc. Before the blade even reached him, the rolling heatwave was already upon him. At that moment, even the oxygen Vergo breathed in felt so hot that it felt like his insides were burning.
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