"You're overthinking, Doflamingo."
Ethan crossed his arms calmly. "However, it is true that we will become partners in the future."
"Oh…"
Doflamingo grinned curiously. "Little ghost, you say you want to cooperate with me? Then let's hear it. As a man, I enjoy cooperation the most, Fufufufu~~"
Ethan's expression remained blank, his voice indifferent. "I will become a Shichibukai soon, and then we will form an organization. The Shichibukai Alliance."
Hearing this, Doflamingo covered his face and laughed like a madman. "Fufufufu…"
"Little brat, what you said is a fine joke. It made me laugh a lot."
His laughter ended abruptly as his eyes turned cold, veins bulging across his face. "Just because you say so, brat, you think you'll be a Shichibukai? Don't make me laugh. Cooperation? You think you deserve to cooperate with me? What nonsense."
Burgess bristled at his arrogance, shouting angrily. "Captain, this bastard is too arrogant! Let's fight! If he's dissatisfied, then subdue him. Wiihahaha!"
Lafitte twirled his cane with a slight smile. "After all, he is a powerful Shichibukai. If you want to speak of cooperation, you must first show strength."
Perona fluttered back and forth in the air, her little face wrinkled in irritation. "What's the name of that man dressed so ridiculously? He seems terribly annoying."
Hana smiled and answered sweetly, "His name is Doflamingo."
Baccarat looked around, her gentle smile masking caution. "This battle is inevitable. Let's all step back, so we aren't caught in it. Both are powerful monsters, and it's dangerous to be too close."
Betty exhaled smoke and walked directly to the rear, away from the battlefield. "She's right."
Bepo turned anxiously to Law. "Captain, what should we do?"
"Move back," Law said firmly. He had thought it through—Ethan was strong, so he wouldn't risk sneaking away now.
Soon, everyone retreated to the sides, leaving space for Ethan and Doflamingo to face each other.
"It's pointless to keep talking," Ethan said calmly. "Let's fight first, and speak with strength."
Doflamingo grinned insolently. "It's been a long time since I met such an arrogant brat. Truly, the era of great pirates has arrived, Fufufufu… Dance to your heart's content, little ghost, but don't die too quickly."
"Goshikito!"
Without hesitation, Doflamingo flicked his right hand, launching a violent attack. Ethan stood quietly, unflinching, his face calm. As the five threads closed in, he slowly raised his hand.
"Kagami Hankyaku!"
In an instant, a transparent mirror appeared at an angle above him, shielding his body.
Boom…
Before the Goshikito touched the mirror, they were bounced away, flying through the air.
Rumble~~
Doflamingo hurled the threads into the ground, triggering an explosion. Smoke and dust scattered, leaving deep scars carved into the earth.
The sight of the ground torn apart moved everyone watching. "As expected of a Shichibukai," someone murmured. "A single blow is so powerful."
Betty drew on her cigarette, a rare seriousness crossing her face. Baccarat brushed her crimson hair back, smiling. "The title of Shichibukai isn't for nothing. But no matter how strong he is, he's still no match for Ethan. I believe that firmly."
Hana nodded in agreement. "That's right. Our captain is the strongest man."
Burgess laughed loudly. "Wiihahaha!"
"As the captain said, this guy's attacks all use silk threads."
Lafitte nodded with a slight smile. "After all, it is the Paramecia String‑String Fruit, so the 'line' must be used to attack."
At that moment, Doflamingo's five fingers bent slightly, several strings moving around as if they were dancing.
"Repulsion??"
"It appears you ate the Paramecia Repelling Fruit."
Doflamingo grinned tauntingly. "Little brat, you are destined never to be strong after eating such a rubbish Devil Fruit. If I remember correctly, the previous user of the Repulsion Fruit was killed by a bandit. I didn't expect that garbage fruit, gone for hundreds of years, to reappear—and be eaten by you, brat. I feel sorry for you, Fufufufu~~"
Ethan wasn't surprised that Doflamingo could name his Devil Fruit. After all, he was a Celestial Dragon and a major figure in the underworld. He must have studied the Devil Fruit encyclopedia.
"Doflamingo, let me tell you a fact." Ethan crossed his arms calmly. "Villains often die because they talk too much."
"Little brat, you're good at preaching."
Doflamingo covered his face, looking crazed. "I'm so angry I can't stop laughing, Fufufufufu…"
"Tamaito!"
Suddenly, Doflamingo flicked his right index finger. A thin transparent line shot from his fingertip, swift as lightning, flying toward Ethan.
"It's my turn."
Ethan didn't take the hit. With a sharp whoosh, he vanished, flashing suddenly above Doflamingo. His right fist armed instantly, descending from top to bottom with shocking speed and momentum.
"Amazing speed."
Doflamingo had no time to dodge. He quickly raised his hands, folding them together, coating them in Armament Haki for defense.
Boom…
A loud crash echoed from the sky. The ground sank, dust rising high to cover them both. The scene inside was hidden.
"It's not the same class of fighter—so strong." Burgess shook his head, awe on his face.
Doc Q spoke enviously. "This is an armed clash. The Armament Haki is powerful."
Lafitte straightened his top hat gently. "It's only the beginning. Neither has shown their full strength yet. The real excitement is still to come."
"Captain, he's so strong!" Bepo looked at Law, surprise on his face.
Law frowned coldly. "His Armament Haki is indeed strong. But if this is all, he is not Doflamingo's opponent."
When Ethan was questioned, Hana grew unhappy and immediately refuted. "Ethan is not as weak as you think. That Doflamingo will lose."
Betty nodded, exhaling smoke. "If he can't even defeat Doflamingo, how could he hope to change the world?"
Baccarat stroked her crimson hair, smiling softly. "Don't worry. Ethan never fights uncertain battles. He never disappoints."
Call~~
A light wind blew, dispersing the smoke and dust, revealing the scene. A large round pit scarred the ground, cracks spreading in all directions. A single blow had been terrifying.
Doflamingo stood in the pit, while Ethan floated above, looking down coldly.
"Fufufufu…"
Doflamingo looked up, laughing. "That's right, you're good, kid. Your speed is extreme, and your Armament Haki is strong. No wonder you dare to challenge me. But why are you floating in the air? This isn't Moonwalk. Could it be Devil Fruit ability?"
He shook his head in disbelief. "Impossible. Such a rubbish Devil Fruit couldn't do this. Little brat, how did you do it?"
Ethan folded his hands before him, staring down calm
Then Anger surged.
Doflamingo was furious. The veins on his face bulged one by one, his fingers twitching as he laughed. "Little brat, you are very good—you managed to piss me off. At first, I wanted you to join the family, but now I've decided it's better to kill you, Fufufufu…"
With a heavy step, the ground cracked again, and with a bang his figure flashed into the air.
"Itonoko!"
Arming his right foot, Doflamingo kicked hard toward Ethan's head, eight transparent threads protruding from his toe. The speed was astonishing, the air vibrating faintly as if even space itself had been cut. The terror of this kicking technique was undeniable.
"Hankai Kobushi!"
Ethan opened his right hand, white light blooming in his palm as the repelling force surged sharply. Finally, he clenched his fist violently. A large white aura appeared instantly around his fist. Facing Doflamingo's kick, he struck hard.
Boom…
An explosion froze the scene. Doflamingo's kick halted in midair, about a meter from Ethan. Veins bulged across his forehead as he poured all his strength into the attack. No matter what, this technique could not fail. Yet no matter how hard he tried, his pitch‑black right foot refused to move forward.
With an extremely calm expression, Ethan spoke two words lightly. "Fly."
Boom~~
The massive white fist, like a rocket thruster, suddenly unleashed its force before Doflamingo could react. With a whoosh, his body was hurled backward continuously.
He tried desperately to stabilize himself, attempting to dodge and escape the repulsive force. But the compressed energy of Ethan's fist was overwhelming, impossible to break free from.
Rumbling…
As he flew backward, Doflamingo smashed through tree after tree, each impact echoing with explosive noise. Yet even with obstacles in his path, he couldn't regain control. His body continued flying upside down, helpless against Ethan's repulsion.
"Damn brat, you've developed the Repulsion Fruit to such an extent that you can't be allowed to live!"
Doflamingo finally slammed into a massive tree, his body embedding into the trunk before he barely managed to stop.
At that moment, the distance between Ethan and Doflamingo stretched to nearly two hundred meters. More than a dozen great trees had been shattered in the process. The sheer destructive force of Ethan's repulsive blow was undeniable.
The sight left everyone stunned. The ground bore scars of devastation, the forest torn apart by the clash.
It was clear to all how overwhelming Ethan's power had become.
The onlookers could no longer remain calm. Their eyes widened, their voices hushed, admiration rising to the extreme.
Everyone present felt it—Ethan's strength was something beyond ordinary measure.