Faced with Maude's bullet, cloaked in Armament Haki, Doflamingo curled his finger, activating the awakened power of his String-String Fruit. The ground before him transformed into a tightly woven wall of strings.
In an instant, the mass of strings rose like syrup pulled taut, forming a towering barrier that stood firmly in front of Doflamingo.
The string wall was further reinforced with the dark sheen of Armament Haki.
The speeding lead bullet struck the Haki-coated barrier.
Boom!
A powerful shockwave rippled outward from the point of impact, scattering debris in all directions.
When the dust settled, the string wall that Doflamingo had summoned in an instant remained entirely unscathed.
"Fuffuffu…"
Lowering the wall, Doflamingo coldly eyed Maude, who still held his gun poised for action.
Even in the New World, marksmen capable of imbuing bullets with Armament Haki were exceedingly rare.
For someone as young as Maude to wield such a skill was enough to make even Doflamingo acknowledge his potential.
But to him, that was all it was—potential.
Killing intent swirled around Doflamingo as he turned to Issho, his voice ice-cold.
"I don't know why you've chosen to interfere, but this brat killed my family. No matter the cost, I'll see him… dead right here!"
His venomous words served more as a test of Issho's limits.
Before he finished speaking, the ground beneath his feet began to writhe like ocean waves.
The solid stone terrain transformed into undulating waves of white strings—a staggering display of power.
"So, this is your awakened ability…"
Issho tilted his head upward as if seeing the rising tide of strings, a serious expression forming on his face.
"A reputation well-earned," he murmured.
Doflamingo's prowess as a Warlord of the Sea was undeniable, especially with such overwhelming abilities at his command.
"However, everything has an order of priority."
Issho bent slightly, his hand gripping his sword's hilt as an immense aura radiated from him.
By conventional logic, few would risk opposing Doflamingo over strangers they'd barely met. Even someone with immense power would hesitate to make an enemy of the Heavenly Yaksha over something so trivial.
But men like Issho, with unyielding principles, often defied conventional reasoning.
Originally called in to deal with the Maude Pirates, Issho had now become their staunchest protector.
If the man who had summoned Issho, Servis, had seen this moment, it was impossible to predict his reaction.
Such was the unpredictability of life—and the complexity of human nature.
If Doflamingo understood the true reasons behind Issho's actions, he'd likely dismiss him as a lunatic.
"Fuffu… Stop me if you can!"
Veins bulged on Doflamingo's temples as black lightning arcs of Conqueror's Haki crackled around him.
With a sweeping motion of his arm, he sent the towering waves of strings crashing down toward Maude and his crew like a tsunami.
The overwhelming attack cast a massive shadow over Maude, Lafitte, Gaya, and the others.
Faced with such an all-encompassing assault, escape was no longer an option.
"Holy crap!"
Bailey and Bepo, having already retreated, pulled Philo to safety. They looked on at the monstrous waves of strings with a mix of horror and concern for Maude's fate.
In the heat of the moment, Maude and his crew wore grim expressions.
Before they could act, Issho stepped forward to shoulder the brunt of the attack.
Shing!
Issho unsheathed his blade, swinging it toward the incoming string tsunami.
Ripples of purple energy surged from his strike, colliding with the white waves.
The energy seamlessly merged into the wave of strings.
Boom!
Suddenly, the surging tide of strings was flattened by an invisible force, collapsing with a thunderous crash.
"What?"
Doflamingo's expression shifted.
He attempted to counteract the oppressive force from above but found his efforts futile. The strings were forcibly pressed to the ground by the overwhelming gravitational pressure.
"Fuffu…"
Despite being subdued, Doflamingo's laugh carried a hint of madness.
With a thought, he summoned a new surge of string waves.
The ground within his field of vision transformed into writhing masses of white strings.
"So, he still has energy left…"
Issho's surprise was evident, his frown deepening as he observed Doflamingo's relentless attacks.
This battle would only end with one of them dead.
Without hesitation, Issho charged forward, abandoning long-range attacks.
Doflamingo responded by manipulating the waves of strings to engulf everyone in the vicinity, including Issho.
Would gravity's crushing force prevail, or would the sheer number of strings overwhelm it?
The answer lay in the confrontation at hand.
Issho was no longer focused on suppression alone. He slashed through the white tide with precise strikes, carving a path toward Doflamingo.
Shink!
The gravitational force created a gaping hole in the string waves, allowing Issho to pass through unimpeded.
Within moments, he stood before Doflamingo.
"Fuffu, you're really charging in. Aren't you afraid those brats will get caught in the crossfire?"
"They're stronger than they look…"
Issho swung his blade at Doflamingo, the sword encased in both Armament Haki and rippling gravitational energy.
Doflamingo's gaze hardened as he coated his arms in layers of Haki-enforced strings, crossing them to block the attack.
Clang!
Sparks flew as the blade collided with Doflamingo's makeshift shield.
The sheer weight of the strike forced Doflamingo to his knees, cracks spreading across the ground beneath him.
Both fighters gave their all.
Despite the chaos of the battlefield, Issho's relentless assault occupied most of Doflamingo's focus, rendering his waves of strings ineffective against Maude's crew.
Realizing this, Doflamingo begrudgingly dispersed his string tsunami, directing all his strength to fend off Issho.
"To you, are those brats really worth risking your life for?"
Issho remained silent, his resolve unshaken.
"Fuffu… Fine then…"
Doflamingo sensed Issho's unyielding determination.
To continue pursuing Maude's head at this moment would mean dragging himself into a battle to the death with Issho.
A futile endeavor.
Doflamingo wasn't foolish enough to pay that price.
With a final, frustrated laugh, Doflamingo abandoned his plan to annihilate the Maude Pirates—or to capture Trafalgar Law.
Issho, sensing the shift, held his ground, his silence heavy.
Neither man had anything to gain from pushing this fight further.
Bang!
Just as they were about to step back, a gunshot rang out.
In the blink of an eye, blood blossomed from Doflamingo's body.
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