Chapter 302: The Crusade Against the Don Quixote Family (8)
"Art cannot be stopped by anyone," Giolla swung her arm, releasing a thick smoke mixed with various colors from her palm. "Destructive Art!"
"Ah—!"
Miku 's heavenly voice was like an impenetrable sound barrier, blocking the path of the thick smoke. The smoke, unable to pass through, was reflected back and enveloped the nearby Don Quixote family thugs.
As the smoke dissipated, the thugs transformed into figures from various abstract paintings.
"Ugh, what is this?" Miku , being a singer, could not stand it. "It's so ugly."
Giolla shook her large belly back and forth. "How rude! Do you know anything about art, little girl?"
"Although I don't understand art, I understand music," Miku clasped her hands together. "I will defeat you with my music!"
"Broken Princess—Rondo!" A huge angel appeared behind Miku , releasing loud music. The intangible sound waves gathered and intertwined with cyan lightning, blasting towards Giolla.
"Eh? Wait—" Giolla, slower than the speed of sound, was directly hit by the sound waves. Her fragile defense was overwhelmed, and she was blasted away.
"Eh?" Miku looked at the empty space, puzzled. "Did I win?"
"Damn, even Giolla was defeated..." Lao G, who was playing cards, spun around while attacking all of Genos ' joints.
Genos didn't back down, using his machine gun punches to trade blows with Lao G. The punches exchanged between them created dazzling shadows, and the air explosions from their collisions were relentless.
"Since that's the case, I'll finish you off in one go..." Lao G stepped back, forming the letter 'G' with his hands, and charged at Genos .
"Burning Cannon—Maximum Power!" Genos unleashed his strongest attack so far. The smell of scorched circuitry filled the air as his temperature sensors went off, warning that his mechanical body was overheating. A blazing fire shot out from his clenched fists!
The intense heat wave hit everyone, the air hotter than a sauna, as it felt like it could burn their airways.
In the midst of the crimson flames, a massive figure suddenly appeared.
Genos was shocked. "What?!"
"'G' Stamp!" With lightning speed, Lao G struck with a powerful palm in the shape of the letter 'G', sending the cyborg flying and crashing into a nearby stone mountain, leaving a large 'G' shaped hole in the stone.
Kurome rushed over to his side, asking, "Hey, are you okay?"
"I'm fine..." Genos , sparks flying from his body, struggled as mechanical fragments fell off, exposing the circuits inside.
Genos tried to act tough, saying, "I can still fight..."
"Stop fooling around, your body is releasing electricity like crazy!" Kurome, worried about her comrade, controlled Weevil and took on Lao G in full power.
"Don't think that defeating Machvise with one blow means you can defeat me!" Lao G sneered. "He was simply restrained by your Sea-Prism Stone."
Weevil remained silent, staring at Lao G with one normal eye and one red eye.
"Not talking?" Lao G said, a bit annoyed. "Let me deal with you..."
Before he could finish, Weevil's large glaive, embedded with Sea-Prism Stone, struck at Lao G. The tremendous force behind the blow was unstoppable, and Lao G's right hand couldn't block it. The long blade pushed forward, slicing through his chest and arm, leaving a wound deep enough to see the bone.
"Ugh...!" Blood splattered, and the sharp pain surged. Lao G's deep brows furrowed as he blocked his gaze from everyone else.
"Mm? This guy's bounty was only 61 million? The pirates with bounties over 100 million were all cut down by Weevil with one blow," Kurome remarked as she pulled out her lollipop. "His strength doesn't match his bounty."
Lao G, angry, shouted, "Who the hell are you? Such strength couldn't possibly belong to a nameless person!"
Weevil said nothing, his large glaive ready to strike again, his massive body attacking with incredible speed, creating slashing lights that resembled an ocean of blades.
"G~~~!" Lao G, overwhelmed by Weevil's relentless attacks, couldn't hold back and shouted the iconic "G" sound.
◇
Inside the villa, Kyros took the lead, hopping on one leg, a burning rage inside him—he would kill Doflamingo and take back Dressrosa!
He charged into the King's Hall, leaping high—
"You bastard—" Doflamingo, sitting on the throne, was shocked. "Kyros !"
"Ha—!"
It was a strike fueled with all his might, a strike that shook the heavens and earth! The prepared Kyros delivered a soul-shattering blow, and the sword light flashed, sending Doflamingo's head flying into the air!
The round object fell to the ground and rolled past Kyros 's feet.
"..." Artoria squinted. She had heard from Eric about Doflamingo's abilities: "With his parasitic strings and shadow knight lines, the body of the decapitated person didn't bleed. This is clearly a fake puppet."
"Hehehe..." An eerie laugh made Kyros turn back in shock. The head of Doflamingo, lying on the ground, spoke, "The liberation of the toys, the whole country is in chaos..."
"It seems urgent measures are needed," Doflamingo continued.
"Disgusting!" Kyros rushed at him again, intending to deal a fatal blow. "Why aren't you dead yet, Doflamingo!"
"Whoosh—!"
A pink figure zipped behind Kyros . Doflamingo's voice came from behind, "Let me teach you how to decapitate."
Viola screamed, "Brother Kyros !"
With her right leg raised, the sharp tip of her shoe aimed at the defenseless Kyros . "This is how it's done."
She swung her foot, intending to kick him, but was interrupted by a black-red beam that struck her attack.
The magical force burned through the wall, the beam pierced through space, and the spot where Doflamingo had been standing was suddenly missing, a huge circular hole formed. Artoria's Noble Phantasm attack created a massive splash of water in the sea.
"Who are you—!" Doflamingo ground his teeth. "Are you also from the Dawn Pirates?!"
"Attacking from behind is not the way of a warrior," Artoria's cold voice rang out as her dark holy sword slammed into the ground. "I am Artoria Pendragon, the helmswoman of the Dawn Pirates."
"A newcomer," Doflamingo chuckled and began digging at the walls. "Why don't you leave the Dawn Pirates and join me? I'm one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, you won't have to worry about being pursued by the World Government anymore."
"I refuse. As a king, if you cannot bring happiness to your people, I cannot support your methods."
Artoria would never agree. She found Doflamingo's actions repugnant. Even if tyranny was necessary, it should maintain order, but Doflamingo was nothing but pure evil.
"Is that so—then die!" The headless body sitting on the throne suddenly sprang into action, along with Doflamingo's real body, taking a beast-like stance as it swung at Artoria and Kyros . "Five-Color Line!"
Five near-transparent threads appeared from his fingers, ripping through the air and slashing at the two.
"Humph!" Artoria's dark holy sword devoured the light. Dense magic surged from the sword, and she swung it to release a torrent of darkness, creating a massive river that devoured the upper half of the building, crushing everything in its path. A dark rainbow appeared in the skies above Dressrosa.
With one strike, she repelled two of Doflamingo's forms, her body now surrounded by a deathly aura. Artoria walked toward him, her once-beautiful cloak now decaying, the plants in the hall withering as she approached. She resembled a harbinger of death.
"Hehehe..." Doflamingo laughed. "You're the one who can destroy everything, huh? Such an evil dark ability, it's unheard of. What Devil Fruit did you eat? Hmm?"
Artoria pointed her dark holy sword at him. "You, the hair on your calves disgusts me. Can you shave it off?"
"...!" Doflamingo's veins bulged, his palm reaching back as orange ropes shot from his hand. "Super Whip!"
Dozens of transparent threads intertwined into a whip as thick as a baby's arm, striking out fiercely.
"Clang!" The whip, which could easily cut through buildings kilometers away, was blocked by Artoria, who casually deflected it. The burning whip split a nearby building in two.
Black Knight King advanced, and the holy sword began to surge with magic. "Low King's Hammer!"
A surge of magic formed a massive light sword, raised high, and aimed at Doflamingo, who had failed to retract his whip.
Doflamingo's puppet form blocked in front of his real body. The surge of magic instantly struck it, releasing a blinding light.
The unarmed puppet was split in two, the fine threads burned by the magic, releasing a faint protein smell. The black light dissipated, and purple flames danced on the shattered threads.
"Boom boom boom!"
Suddenly, from afar, a tremor shook the earth, followed by an earth-shattering explosion. The sky tore apart, the ground shook, and the entire atmosphere was disturbed as a violent storm swept across the island, causing huge waves around the island.
"What's that?" The group was drawn to the commotion.
"The Bullfighting Arena?!" Doflamingo immediately recognized the source of the shock, but knowing Diamante's strength, he realized it couldn't have been caused by him.
"Is that... a battle between Four Emperor Eric and Magic Gun Scáthach ?!" Viola , with the Stare-Stare Fruit, stared in shock at the two fighting. "Aren't you all on the same side? Why are you..."
"It's nothing, just a normal training session," Artoria said indifferently. "They didn't think Doflamingo was strong enough to warrant their attention, so they started fighting each other. Don't worry, they won't destroy Dressrosa... probably."
"I... am not worthy of facing them?" Doflamingo's veins bulged, and his face darkened, dripping with anger.
"Really bold, newcomer. Once I'm done with you, I'll go take Eric 's head!"
"Fire Line!" Doflamingo withdrew his other fingers and raised his index finger, aiming at Artoria, creating a fine line that shot out like a machine gun.
"Clang clang clang!"
The skilled swordswoman Artoria deflected all the attacks, and the rainbow-colored beams of light once again flashed, passing through the spot where Doflamingo had been standing.
Doflamingo, now high in the air, used the clouds to move and dodge, narrowly avoiding the beams of light.
Artoria suddenly spoke: "Kyros , go protect Viola and save the princess of the Tontatta tribe."
"Can you handle this alone? He's one of the Seven Warlords..." Viola , aware of Doflamingo's power, was a bit worried about the small Artoria.
Artoria's cold voice replied, "It's fine. You'll only distract me, and I don't want to accidentally hurt you."
"Also, Eric said: The princess of the Tontatta tribe, Mansherry, is in the depths of the castle. Hurry!"
Doflamingo, now frowning in the air, stretched his hand toward them. "Overkill Whip!"
A thicker thread shot from his palm, aiming toward Viola .
"Ha—!" Artoria's magical torrent destroyed the thread in an instant.
As Doflamingo landed back on the ground, he growled in fury, "Why do you keep interfering with me?! Why do you keep disrupting my business? Why?!"
"..." Artoria pulled out a piece of paper from her clothing under the armor and said, "It seems Eric anticipated that you'd ask this, so I'll read it aloud—"
"There's no reason, you're just weak."
"Clang!" The sound of Doflamingo's clenched veins echoed loudly.
"Hehehe... Hahahahaha..." Doflamingo laughed hysterically. "I'm laughing because I'm so furious. This bastard—!"
"You don't think—" Doflamingo's veins popped, causing his smooth face to become distorted with anger.
"Although your strength is decent, though—" Doflamingo squatted, placing his hand on the floor. The floor beneath him turned white as threads spread out in every direction like a snowfield. "My strings are endless."
Artoria, her holy sword dragging behind her, focused her magic back onto the blade, which burned with fire, and with a swipe, a torrent of magic shot toward Doflamingo.
"White Shield Line!"
Several massive lines erupted from the ground to form a shield, as magic burned the white threads, which were cleaved by the attack.
The tiny sword of victory couldn't break Doflamingo's awakened defense.
"Is that it?" Doflamingo mocked. "Wasted wave of white threads!"
Several thick white lines shot from the ground, their sharp tips aimed at Artoria.
Artoria, wielding her holy sword, destroyed the lines one by one. The white threads hit her like waves but could not stop her, as more threads wrapped around the Black Knight King.
◇
"The battle ends here. The main characters of Dressrosa are not us," Eric dodged a shot from Scáthach and grabbed the unconscious Diamante, teleporting away from the arena.
"Such an inconsiderate man," Scáthach retracted her gun and disappeared from the arena.
In the chaos of their battle, the audience had long since fled, leaving only the commentator Gazz and two female staff members still at their posts.
"Ha... what happened? Where is everyone?!"
A pale blue ice block froze Pica, the ice layer blocking Pica from sinking into the ground. His eyes locked onto the woman in front of him, but his limbs had long since lost control.
"Damn..."
Under Weevil's attack, Lao G was covered in wounds, his body stained with blood. The Qi he had stored for so long was almost depleted.
At that moment, a small black figure circled behind Lao G, and with a flickering gleam, the Eight House struck with no hesitation, stabbing into his back!
"What...?"
The thugs from the Don Quixote family screamed, "Lao G!"
His heart pierced, Lao G couldn't finish a sentence before he died on the spot.
However, Lao G, who should have died, didn't collapse. He stood tall, maintaining his wrestling stance, and the Qi he had stored still kept him in his powerful "Battle Guard Punch" form.
"Great job, Lao G!" The thugs cheered. "Even with a pierced heart, he didn't die! What a true officer!"
But Lao G stiffly turned his head toward them.
"Lao G?! Ah—!"
Lao G raised his slaughter hand toward them, and the screams filled the air.
Eric appeared next to Kurome, urging her to collect heads.
Weevil, the tall, thin figure, stood up, his cloak fluttering behind him, transforming into a full suit of steel. A small box on his body burst open, dropping a wolf's fang club.
"The power of the Devil Fruit is gone," Eric sighed. "With a fruit, they're decent; without one, they're just a small swordmaster."
Kurome smiled, hands clasped. "I really like this puppet."
"Really? Glad you like it," Eric pointed toward Esdeath. "There's one more over there."
The rare Logia Monet had already been knocked down by Akame with the hilt of her sword and shackled with Sea-Prism Stone handcuffs.
Baby-5, armed to the teeth, fell before Reiju, poisoned and sprawled on the ground, her skin turning a faint purple.
Reiju reminded her, "Be careful, don't touch the poison."
After shackling Baby-5, they helped her detoxify with Reiju's assistance.
"Ha... Ha..." Kuina leaned on her Shusui, panting heavily. Before her lay Dellinger , defeated after a fierce battle. Kuina finally managed to land a blow on the half-fishman.
Just then, the group returned from the underground factory, finding Mont Blanc Cricket and Señor unconscious on the street, bringing them along.
Now, only the battle between...
"Boom boom boom!" A series of explosions rang out, with torn blue fabric falling from the sky.
Now, only the battle between Baharo and Wendy remained.
"Whirlwind—Again!" Baharo, whose head had transformed into a propeller, spun at high speed, unleashing a high-pressure storm that tore through hundreds of meters and rushed towards Wendy.
Wendy, small and delicate, seemed like a fragile flower in front of the storm, as if she could be torn apart at any moment.
'I've trained hard for this, I must do my best!' Wendy waved her arms, gathering the strength of the hurricane in her palms. "Dragon's Wave!"
A giant tornado shot up into the sky, colliding with the downward storm with a thunderous crash!
In just a few seconds, the tornado ripped through Baharo's storm, rushing toward him.
"What... Ahhh—!"
Before the giant tornado, all flying abilities were useless. Baharo screamed as the tornado spun him rapidly, throwing him into a flat-topped mountain behind him.
The Dawn Pirates cheered for Wendy's victory, causing her face to blush with embarrassment.
"Now, only that one guy is left..." The group looked towards the white wasteland of the battlefield.
Law gripped his sword, Oni Kuri, knowing that his wish was about to come true!
(END CHAPTER)
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