As these words were spoken, Doflamingo's smile gradually faded, but soon, he grinned again, "Fufufufufu, what a fearless freak."
He could clearly tell that Sage was very strong; that intense Haki couldn't possibly be fake.
But what did that matter...
After all, he was the Celestial Yaksha!
"Spider Web Bouncing Line!"
The web that had just blocked Sage's kick shot out, embedding itself into the building where Sage was standing.
The lines formed by the web were extremely sharp, like blades. The building, already missing a small portion, crumbled at that moment, transforming into small, smoothly cut fragments that fell, stacking beneath, leaving Sage with no footing.
"Void Dao!"
At this moment, Doflamingo suddenly soared, rushing toward Sage rapidly, his five fingers spread open, clawing down like a beast's pounce.
"Five-Colored Line!"
Five gleaming, sharp lines emerged from his five fingertips, stretched taut like strings, attacking the falling Sage.
But the five lines were blocked by an arm, covered in Armament like armor. The contact even created sparks.
Doflamingo sneered viciously, seemingly unsurprised. His body lifted in midair, flying over Sage, executing a side kick, his toe trailing several sharp threads.
"Sole Shaving Line!"
The speed of the kick was lightning quick, with threads stretching backward from his foot, carrying both an odd forward momentum and a mysterious sharpness. As soon as the kick was executed, the air whistled in a tearing sound, as if ripped apart.
Especially since Sage had no footing, about to fall as that kick brushed under his raised arm, coming straight for his ribs.
"Fufufufufu, Haki, not just yours to wield!"
The toe that kicked out turned pitch-black at that moment, kicking over fiercely.
The toe struck something, emitting a muffled sound. Though Doflamingo's eyes behind his sunglasses were unclear, his expression noticeably changed.
This move, ordinary Armament couldn't fend off. No matter how well one could defend, it couldn't counter the impact, more than enough to send flying with one kick.
But this kick was firmly held by an elbow.
Sage's extended arm transformed into an elbow strike, while his knee rose, sandwiching Doflamingo's kick, allowing those subsequent threads to scrape against the Haki, igniting clusters of sparks.
"The strength's not bad."
Sage raised his other hand high, forming a fist, Haki enveloping it, aiming directly at Doflamingo's leg and knee that executed the kick.
Though the Haki on his fist wasn't much, a faint cold sweat emerged on Doflamingo's forehead for some reason. He opened one hand, releasing a cluster of thread lines explosively.
"Super Strike Whip!"
Bang!
The thread lines collided with his arm, causing Sage's movement to pause slightly, seizing the chance Doflamingo moved his palm. The rebounded lines twisted like snakes, heading straight for his head.
"Oh? Sensed danger?"
Without even glancing at those attacking lines, Sage tilted Doflamingo's elbow aside, grabbing his leg. With immense strength, he astonishingly swung the Flamingo in the air like a circle, smashing it downwards.
The pink silhouette turned into an afterimage, shooting straight toward the ground. At that moment, Sage was about to act, but a slender wound appeared on his cheek, halting him in midair.
In the dark night, only almost invisible lines existed; closer inspection revealed a faint reflection by the moonlight.
All around him, densely interwoven sharp lines hung him in midair. A mere movement would cut wounds.
Boom!
Only then did Doflamingo crash into the ground, creating a large hole in the wooden floor, wood chips flying. He leapt back up, grinning, "Fufufufufu, didn't follow up on the attack? What a pity, or else, you'd have been sliced into several parts..."
Though he spoke this way, beneath that expression, a heavy look was visible as well.
This guy...
Can't let him land a hit, or else it won't be pleasant.
"Strangulation Line!"
Doflamingo spread his hands wide, the multitude of threads covering the air rapidly contracted. Sage squinted, his entire being exuding a dark red aura, his Haki enveloping his whole body.
Those threads, like a web, bound him completely. The sharpness of the lines even pressed against his Haki-covered skin, outlining visible marks.
Sage wanted to move, but the binding lines showed extraordinary toughness. Just using his arms, he couldn't budge them at all.
In the past, Sage's strength might have been lacking. Before becoming a pirate, he mostly used the North Star Divine Fist, relying on 'technique' rather than 'strength.' In a place like the East Sea, he didn't need to exert much force, let alone utilizing the Dragon Transformation Breathing Technique. If strength wasn't enough, he could always increase it.
However, after mastering Life Return, he absorbed nutrition constantly, every meal a feast. Quality ingredients, combined with Life Return's meticulous control, though short in time, proved his strength in Life Return was robust...
As for now, lifting an entire building posed no problem for him.