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Chapter 432: Kicking Doflamingo Away, The Pan Reaps Souls
The smile on Doflamingo's lips didn't recede; instead, it grew even more manic. The veins on his forehead bulged one by one.
"I have no choice, Boss Kaido. This hellhole offers absolutely no sense of security." Doflamingo's voice carried an unconcealed layer of anxiety, his knuckles turning white from gripping the crowbar so tightly. "My String-String Fruit is gone. My Conqueror's Haki is gone. I feel like a plucked chicken; any farmer with a kitchen knife could slaughter me."
The eyes hidden behind his sunglasses flashed with madness.
"That fragile feeling... it's enough to drive a man insane. I need a layer of skin. A skin thick enough to let me survive until the end." His gaze locked onto the ballistic plates on Kaido's chest once more. "Normal mortal flesh is too weak. A single bullet could send me to God. I've claimed that vest."
Doflamingo hopped down from the windowsill, his pointed leather shoes clacking sharply against the wooden floorboards.
"Take it off and hand it over. I can pretend this never happened. You are a major client, after all; I don't want to cut our connection completely."
Kaido looked as if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world. He stared down at the suicidal Warlord, an incredibly hideous and savage grin spreading across his rugged face.
"Don't want to burn our connection? Fuffuffu, aren't you misunderstanding something?" Kaido slowly raised the pan in his right hand, the cast-iron bottom still bearing traces of Akainu's blood. "Without those flimsy strings, what do you think you are? Daring to snatch food from my mouth?"
Kaido didn't bother wasting any more breath. Given his explosive temper, saying this much was already giving the brat face. Without warning, he moved.
Even dragging an injured leg, his explosive speed was staggering. His massive frame surged forward like a heavy tank, carrying an unstoppable momentum. The pan in his hand whistled through the air, aimed directly at Doflamingo's punchable face.
"COURTING DEATH!" Doflamingo shouted, clearly prepared.
Though he had lost his Devil Fruit powers, as a top-tier martial artist among pirates, his reflexes were still elite. He ducked sharply, the blackened bottom of the pan grazing his scalp and scraping off a few strands of blonde hair.
A ruthless glint flashed in Doflamingo's eyes. Since they had torn off all pretenses, there was no need to hold back. On this damned island, even an Emperor of the Sea was nothing more than a slightly stronger slab of meat. If he killed Kaido and took that Level 3 gear, Doflamingo would have the capital to survive this slaughterhouse.
"DIE! KAIDO!" he roared, thrusting the crowbar forward like a striking viper.
His target was incredibly precise: straight for Kaido's heart. Even with the bulletproof vest protecting the area, enough blunt force could still shatter his ribs. Doflamingo poured every ounce of strength into this strike, pushing his mortal body to its absolute limit.
Clang! A muffled collision detonated in the room, sounding like a sledgehammer striking an anvil. Sparks flew. Doflamingo felt the webbing between his fingers go completely numb as the rusty crowbar viciously jabbed into Kaido's chest.
However, the agonizing collapse he expected from Kaido never happened. That unassuming black tactical vest was as hard as a solid steel plate. The tip of the crowbar left a small white indentation on the ceramic plate before halting completely. The massive recoil traveled back up the iron bar, nearly dislocating Doflamingo's wrist.
Kaido looked down at the iron bar pressed against his chest. There wasn't a shred of pain on his ferocious face—only pure mockery.
"Is that it? That's not even enough to scratch an itch," Kaido sneered. Completely ignoring the weapon pressed against his heart, his left hand shot out with lightning speed, grabbing the collar of Doflamingo's flashy pink feather coat. "Since you love this skin so much, I'll send you on your way!"
Kaido raised his right leg. Though devoid of Haki or his draconic strength, this single kick still carried the full, unadulterated power of the man known as the "Strongest Creature." It was a simple, brutal, and barbaric tackle, devoid of any flashy techniques. His heavy black combat boot planted squarely into Doflamingo's abdomen.
Thud! A sickening, muffled impact echoed through the room. Doflamingo's eyes practically bugged out of his skull. The severe blow to his stomach sent stomach acid surging straight up his throat. He was launched backward, his feet leaving the floor, flying through the air like a torn sandbag.
Crash! The already damaged bedroom door splintered into pieces as Doflamingo's body smashed through the frame, tumbling out into the hallway. He skidded across the floorboards for several meters before finally slamming back-first into the corridor wall.
"Cough... cough..." Doflamingo curled into a tight ball, clutching his stomach. The agonizing pain of his displaced internal organs robbed him of his ability to even scream. Cold sweat instantly soaked through his back.
Too strong, Doflamingo realized in horror. Even reduced to a mortal, this monster's strength is far above a normal martial artist. Coupled with that damn Level 3 Vest, fighting him head-on is suicide. He struggled to rise, but the cramping in his gut kept him hunched over.
Right then, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed from the bedroom.
Thump, thump, thump. Each step felt like it was stomping directly on Doflamingo's racing heart.
Kaido slowly emerged from the shadows, his appearance now utterly terrifying. He had donned the black alloy welder's helmet, leaving only his murderous eyes visible. Wearing the thick Level 3 Vest and resting the slightly deformed pan on his broad shoulder, he looked like a heavy infantryman clawing his way out of hell. The suffocating pressure he exuded was somehow even more oppressive than his Azure Dragon form.
Kaido loomed over the pathetic Doflamingo. A muffled, gravelly voice rasped from behind the cold metal faceplate.
"Wanted to peel my skin?" Kaido slowly raised the pan, aiming it at Doflamingo's head. "Pay for it with your life."
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