As soon as Doflamingo appeared, Hailan felt an oppressive aura from him, akin to a towering mountain. He had only thought it from Fleet Admiral Kong and Vice Admiral Akainu.
Kong exuded the authority of a fleet admiral. Akainu was always strictly serious, but Doflamingo’s presence was pure malice.
“So, you are Doflamingo?” Hailan adjusted his emotions, looking at Doflamingo, who was slowly landing in front of him.
Since they were accompanying Vice Admiral Tsuru, Hailan had some understanding of her mission. With his powerful presence and gangster-like attire, the man in front of him could only be Doflamingo.
Doflamingo smiled faintly, his tone dripping with exaggerated surprise. “Oh my, you’re not just an ordinary gladiator. To know my identity, are you a bounty hunter or a Marine?”
Doflamingo was smart. From Hailan’s pursuit of Vergo and their brief exchange, he had already gauged that Hailan was here for him.
Doflamingo, from the North Blue, had a bounty of 190 million Berries, making him one of the Supernova pirates.
Originally, Doflamingo was a Celestial Dragon from the Donquixote family of Mary Geoise. Unfortunately, his father renounced their status to live as commoners.
Bad luck followed them to the tumultuous North Blue. After enduring countless tortures from North Blue citizens who hated the Celestial Dragons, Doflamingo’s mother died of illness. In his rage, he killed his father, hoping to reclaim his status by presenting his father’s head to the Celestial Dragons.
But the aristocrats in Mary Geoise rejected him, driving him back to the North Blue like a dog. His younger brother, Donquixote Rosinante, horrified by the patricide, also left him.
At his lowest, four delinquent youths who had witnessed his Conqueror’s Haki recognised his potential and pledged their loyalty to him, bringing him the String-String Fruit.
Doflamingo, already a troubled noble, was further corrupted by their blind reverence, transforming into a dark and ambitious king.
The Donquixote Pirates became invincible in the North Blue. They arrived in the New World to reclaim the kingdom that belonged to their family 800 years ago and challenge the legendary pirates, aiming to become the Pirate King.
Hailan didn’t answer Doflamingo’s question. He focused on observing his surroundings. The String-String Fruit could produce extremely tough and almost invisible strings, with numerous intricate techniques and lethal angles.
A bounty isn’t a direct measure of a pirate’s strength. Hailan knew Doflamingo was far more formidable than the Barrier-Barrier Fruit user Anderson, who had a bounty of 130 million Berries.
“Not going to answer?” Doflamingo’s smile turned sinister, his eyes filled with killing intent. “It doesn’t matter. You’re going to die anyway. It makes no difference whether you talk or not.”
“Five Color String!”
Doflamingo formed his hand into a claw, and five nearly invisible strings appeared, slashing towards Hailan like the sharpest blades.
Such speed! Hailan tensed up, abandoning his plan to counterattack with Rankyaku. He used Soru to dodge, creating a nearly a hundred meters distance.
Between Hailan and Doflamingo, rocks and trees were sliced cleanly by the “Five Color String,” their surfaces smooth like tofu cut with water.
“Is this really the power of the String-String Fruit?” Hailan was increasingly astonished. The Marine HQ’s Devil Fruit Encyclopedia never mentioned the String-String Fruit being used as a sword technique.
Devil Fruits have varying levels of inherent power. For example, the Magma-Magma Fruit starts with the ability to transform into magma, with temperatures over a thousand degrees.
Generally, only vice admiral-level Marines can temporarily use Armament Haki to withstand magma’s heat.
But like weapons classified as Supreme Grade, Great Grade, and Skillful Grade swords, the user ultimately determines the power of a Devil Fruit.
“No wonder it requires Vice Admiral Tsuru’s personal investigation. This Doflamingo is no ordinary pirate.”
Hailan’s assessment of Doflamingo rose again.
A lion uses full strength even against a rabbit. Fortunately, Hailan had the habit of treating every opponent seriously, regardless of their perceived strength.
Otherwise, Doflamingo’s initial attack would have severely injured him, reducing his combat capability significantly.
“Didn’t expect this agile little mouse. Seems this trip wasn’t in vain!” Doflamingo’s excitement grew. Despite his intelligence and cunning, he shared the common noble flaw of arrogance.
He enjoyed playing the hunter in battles, gradually trapping and wearing down his opponents, indulging in the thrill of cat-and-mouse games.
Growing up under the influence of the four delinquent youths, even without his traumatic past, Doflamingo might still have become who he was.
“Bullet String!”
Doflamingo flicked his fingers, shooting countless strings like bullets, each with the destructive power of a Gatling gun. The flexible strings in his hands were as hard as steel.
Hailan maximised his use of Soru, leaving a trail of craters from the “Bullet String.”
Doflamingo switched targets, aiming ahead of Hailan’s path.
Whoosh!
The “Bullet String” struck the ground before Hailan, who stopped just in time.
“If I’m just an agile little mouse, then what about you? Aren’t you just a sick cat that can only catch dead rats?”
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