The Starry Sky Pirates who had just stepped outside the tavern instantly activated their Observation Haki!
Brook, whose Haki was slightly sharper, was the first to notice something unusual. He stretched out his thin skeletal hand, pointing toward the sky, and shouted:
"Look over there!!!"
Following Brook's gesture, everyone's eyes and focus simultaneously turned toward the distant figure suspended high above.
At that moment!
A sudden teal-green flash appeared in the sky, slashing straight at the flamingo-like figure!
SWISH!!!
The seemingly ordinary blades, carrying a simple yet deadly slash, tore through the void, breaking the boundaries of space itself, asserting dominance over the world with unrivaled authority.
The unstoppable, terrifying slash had yet to reach its target, but already, the sky behind Doflamingo split in two!
A black chasm tore through the heavens.
It echoed the black blades in Zoro's hands, coated in vast amounts of Armament Haki.
A large and small shadow flanked the arrogant Doflamingo from both sides.
Perched on the fine white lines in midair, Doflamingo faced the relentless assault.
Yet, against Zoro's ultimate slash, he pushed forward with both hands, as if propelling the air itself.
A cold, sharp gleam suddenly ignited in Doflamingo's eyes.
Beneath him, the buildings and ground began to warp in an eerie fashion.
The brick-and-stone structures, along with the earth itself, transformed into countless white lines, rippling like ocean waves.
Wave after wave of white lines stacked upon each other, instantly forming a massive white wall.
The ultimate slash, carrying a trace of teal light, collided fiercely with this thick wall of white lines!
Swoosh!
The vast white line ocean shattered as if it were delicate cloth, each strand snapping apart.
Doflamingo, however, remained calm, moving his hands elegantly as though conducting an orchestra.
The white line waves below responded, surging outward in all directions, undulating powerfully.
As Zoro's sharp strike approached, the line waves, covering the ground, twisted and reformed like living entities, bizarre and menacing.
Using the full power of his Devil Fruit, Doflamingo continuously reshaped the white lines into circular shields, one after another, protecting himself while letting out his characteristic wild laughter.
But this time, Doflamingo miscalculated!
SWISH!
Zoro's strike, piercing through the initial wall, continued relentlessly toward the high-altitude Doflamingo!
Doflamingo's brows are knitted tightly.
Realizing he had underestimated his opponent, he finally took the fight seriously.
The white circular shields before him began to change.
Like a drop of black ink on white cloth, Armament Haki instantly coated each shield.
At this moment!
Doflamingo unleashed the full awakening of his String-String Fruit powers!
The strike's momentum, met with billions of reinforced black lines, began to slow gradually.
Finally, Zoro's strike halted in front of Doflamingo, carving a thin cut across his nose, but unable to penetrate further.
The ultimate sword intent dissipated, the keen cold light vanishing into the air.
"Hey!"
Zoro, landing on the ground, allowed a small, restrained smile.
Even though his full-power strike had been blocked, with the Beast powers…
Every strike was truly all him!
High in the sky, Doflamingo began to breathe heavily.
His bare chest rose and fell with effort.
Awakening a Devil Fruit ability wasn't something one could casually do.
And Doflamingo had just reinforced it with massive Armament Haki.
A bead of cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
Behind his sinister pink glasses, rare fear shone in Doflamingo's eyes.
Feeling the familiar sword intent on him, he looked at Zoro standing confidently and stammered:
"You… you…
This… this is Mihawk's sword style!?
Are… are you Mihawk's student!?"
The air froze. After a long pause, Zoro, feeling awkward, let out a dry spit.
"Tch!"
Once confident that his strength alone had impressed Doflamingo, Zoro now found it all dull.
Mihawk's student?!
I am…
Vice-Captain of the Starry Sky Pirates!!!
If Zoro fought Mihawk now, his sword intent might still be weaker, but he had some "cheating" powers from his Zanpakutō!
He was confident this time he could defeat Mihawk… without too much embarrassment!
The true terror of the Starry Sky Pirates wasn't their gimmicks—it was their ever-evolving strength.
The pirate world had ceilings of power. Once you reached a certain level, advancing further was rare and lucky.
The system, however, was different. Effort guaranteed results.
So when Doflamingo mistook Zoro for Mihawk's apprentice, an intense irritation flared in Zoro's eyes.
Flames burned in his gaze, turning the blood-red into a cruel scarlet glare, scattering briefly into the air.
He bent slightly, and a vast, oppressive force blanketed the sky.
Zoro wasn't truly angry; he simply took the opportunity to display his full power!
To show the arrogant Shichibukai what…
Starry Sky strength really meant!
Doflamingo felt no fear, his pride matched any adversary.
Streaks of black light erupted from him, clashing with Zoro's pressure!
BOOM!
A thunderous roar filled the sky, like lightning and thunder, echoing across Jaya Island.
Boundless darkness covered the town.
The residents, sensing danger, had fled immediately.
Those left to witness it from afar saw the awe-inspiring clash between Zoro and Doflamingo's Conqueror's Haki.
Ordinary people trembling under godlike power, praying the destruction wouldn't reach them.
…
The clash intensified, returning to a true battlefield.
One above, one below, two godlike figures leapt violently with a roar!
From Doflamingo's position, countless white waves erupted.
Armament Haki coated each slender, nearly indestructible line.
A colossal black fist descended, threatening Zoro like an unstoppable force.
Darkness blocked the sky above Zoro, winds howled, and oppressive pressure rained down.
Yet Zoro showed no fear.
Three blades cut through the air with red light!
From his blade, a darkness three times deeper than Doflamingo's Haki radiated.
Mysterious dark energy surged through his spiritual force.
Triggered by Doflamingo's question, Zoro's eyes blazed with feral red flames, mocking the incoming white line assault.
"Ao~!!!!"
The three Zanpakutō emitted a massive resonance, merging into the roar of a dragon, shaking the heavens.
A colossal, blood-red Oriental dragon appeared in the sky!
BOOM!!!
In the next instant!
The dragon's strike collided with Doflamingo's massive fist.
A deafening explosion occurred, leaving Doflamingo stunned…
SWISH!
The black lines forming the fist snapped like noodles!
The terrifying fist became soft as foam, pierced by the dragon without resistance!
Zoro, now dragon-headed, wielded his three Zanpakutō, unleashing unmatched sword intent, slashing all black lines in his path!
In an instant, Zoro stood before Doflamingo!
"Tch!"
Doflamingo grit his teeth.
Though unprepared for this turn of events, he did not panic.
He abandoned control over the giant fist below, redirecting power back into himself.
His ten fingers sliced through the air, like tearing the space itself.
Sixteen hard lines rose from the ground, forming a barrier against Zoro.
Dense Armament-coated white lines shot rapidly toward Zoro's face.
Zoro, however, smirked arrogantly.
Beast-like eyes glared down at the flustered Doflamingo:
Mihawk' student!?
"I only used my full sword intent…
Because you couldn't handle it!!!"
SWISH!!!
The blades cut through the newly rising lines, snapping them like cooked noodles.
High above, a flash of blood fell slowly back to the recovering ground.
…
Step!
The crimson dragon suddenly vanished.
The black lines fell as snow-like white strands from the sky.
CLANG~
Zoro sheathed Shura and Beast slowly.
Holding the phantom spirit in one hand, standing alone, his terrifying aura dissipated.
Sunlight glinted along his blades, reflecting his battle intent.
Zoro smiled, baring his teeth, looking at Doflamingo who had also landed, and said:
"I am…
Starry Sky Pirates'
Roronoa Zoro!!!
Remember it."
Scrape…
Doflamingo stumbled forward slightly, his skinny legs trembling.
With a deep, fresh cut across his chest, he planted his stance, muttering Zoro's name in shock and fury:
"Roronoa Zoro…"
He never expected the Starry Sky Pirates' vice-captain to be this strong!
Even before this, he hadn't realized Luffy's full power.
…
Breathing heavily, Doflamingo turned slowly.
Awakened Devil Fruit powers gave him Four Emperors-level strength, but…
Zoro now had the combat power of a lower Admiral.
While a lower Admiral might lose to true Admirals, Zoro's Zanpakutō gave him a unique edge.
He was a tier above Doflamingo.
The outcome was clear.
Blood trickled from Doflamingo's abdomen…
Zoro raised phantom spirit once more, facing the man twice his height.
…
By evening, Luffy and Robin, having gathered precise data on the upward currents, crossed Jaya Island and returned to the western town.
The Starry Sky crew waiting in the town's center immediately rose.
Zoro stood, laughing as usual, greeting them:
"Yo, Luffy!
Everything went smoothly?"
Luffy, dumbfounded by the half-destroyed town and Doflamingo chained in Sea-Prism Stone, replied instinctively:
"Smooth… smooth…"