If he comes here demanding answers… then all of us… we will die!
"Run, Law!"
Even though his body was completely frozen, Rocinante shouted at the top of his lungs. During the short time they had spent together, Law had already become the most important family he had ever had.
Hearing his cry, Law ran forward without looking back.
Doflamingo did not give chase immediately. Instead, he walked slowly toward Rocinante, his face dark and twisted with rage.
"Do you know, Corazon… I have always treated you as my dearest brother, my most precious family. But recently… I received some very interesting news."
"It seems that even before now, you have been in contact with those dogs at Marine Headquarters!"
Now that Doflamingo was one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Navy no longer hunted him. But years ago, he had been running from them every single day, never knowing peace.
"So what if I was? Scum like you should have died years ago!" Rocinante growled back.
The image of Doflamingo shooting their father was etched forever into his mind. That was the reason he had hated his brother for all these years.
"You know full well what happens to those who betray this family!"
Veins bulged on Doflamingo's forehead as he spoke in a voice trembling with fury.
"From the day I decided to stand against you, I knew this was how it would end."
Rocinante watched as Law disappeared safely from sight. Now, he could die with no regrets.
BANG!!!
Doflamingo drew his pistol from his waist and aimed it directly at him. Without the slightest hesitation, he pulled the trigger, executing the brother he had once loved so deeply.
"After him!"
After killing Rocinante, Doflamingo waved his hand slightly, ordering his subordinates to chase after Law immediately.
But the very next second, an overwhelming, terrifying pressure descended upon the entire area, crushing down on his body.
That terrifying aura… he knew it all too well. It was Haoshoku Haki!
Cold sweat broke out across Doflamingo's forehead. He turned around and saw that all his men had already collapsed to the ground, their eyes rolled back into their heads, completely knocked out.
"Ha… Haoshoku Haki?! In this world, there is only one man capable of wielding Haki of this caliber… So it's true. You came here personally just to get this fruit?!"
Doflamingo's voice shook as he stared toward the distant coastline.
El had not even set foot on the island yet, but his Conqueror's Haki had spread out and enveloped the entire landmass.
The sheer weight of it was enough to render all of Doflamingo's crew unconscious instantly.
At this moment, Doflamingo couldn't help but feel a wave of relief.
He was glad he had arrived in time to stop his brother. If Rocinante had managed to get the fruit and feed it to Law… then El would surely have come and destroyed their entire family!
....
Meanwhile, on the other side of the island.
A Marine battleship was anchored there. Standing at the bow were none other than the four strongest combatants of the Marine Headquarters: Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, and Tsuru.
"Damn it… what incredible Haoshoku Haki! Is that that monster El?!"
Even though they were separated by the entire width of the island, they could still feel that incomparable pressure washing over them.
In the entire world, very few men possessed Conqueror's Haki of this terrifying level. And for someone to appear here at this exact time and place… there was only one possibility. The one releasing this aura was El!!!
"That bastard's intelligence network is just as good as ours! The moment we found out about the Op-Op Fruit, he got the news too!" Garp said in a heavy voice, staring into the distance.
They had brought all four of their strongest fighters this time to ensure they secured the fruit safely.
Yet, even with all four of them working together, they felt they had very little chance of winning against someone like El.
Ever since the incident where Rocks was resurrected, they had received reports that El was now capable of power far greater than what he had displayed during the Battle of Mary Geoise.
That absolute, overwhelming strength that stood above everyone else… none of the four believed they could actually defeat him.
"What do we do? El is definitely nearby. If we go ashore, we might run right into him." Zephyr asked the others.
Out of everyone in the world, Zephyr hated facing El the most. Even though his own power had reached astonishing levels, the trauma and fear from that battle at Mary Geoise still weighed heavily on his heart.
Worse still, intelligence reports suggested El was now even stronger than he was back then. Zephyr dared not even imagine just how powerful El had become. If possible, he wanted to avoid fighting him at all costs.
Sengoku was silent for a few moments, then his eyes hardened with resolve.
"No matter what happens… we cannot allow that monster to get his hands on the Op-Op Fruit."
El was already incredibly strong, and his power seemed to have no limits, growing stronger with every passing day. Right now, he could already be called the strongest man in the world.
Sengoku dared not imagine what would happen if El obtained the fruit and gained eternal life. How terrifying would his power become then?
Today, they had to stop him, even if it cost them their lives!!!
"Sengoku is right. If El gets that fruit, we will never have another chance to defeat him. He might even overthrow the World Government itself!" Tsuru agreed.
"Then let's go together!" Zephyr took a deep breath, his gaze firm.
As much as he hated facing a monster like El… this was no time to retreat or hesitate!!!
"Tsuru, listen. Once we get on the island and secure the fruit, you take it and leave immediately. The three of us will stay behind to hold El off."
Garp looked at Tsuru seriously.
They knew they probably wouldn't win. But just as Sengoku said, they had to stop him from gaining immortality no matter what.
"Understood." Tsuru nodded.
She knew full well that leaving El to Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr meant sending them to their deaths.
But right now, personal feelings had to be set aside. They had to be prepared for the worst, and ensure the fruit was delivered safely.
The four exchanged glances, then dropped anchor and stepped onto the island together.
....
Meanwhile, elsewhere.
Doflamingo was busy carrying his men, who had been knocked out by El's Haki, into a small hut nearby.
As soon as he stepped back outside, he saw a figure walking toward him.
It was El.
"So it's true… only you could possess Haki of that level."
Doflamingo swallowed hard, staring at the man standing before him.
"The Warlord Doflamingo, is it?" El looked at him calmly.
"No, no, no! I resigned from that position quite some time ago! Right now, I'm just like you… a simple pirate!"
Doflamingo replied quickly, feeling a cold chill run down his spine.
Technically, even Warlords were still pirates, but they were bound by treaty to serve the Navy.
And El… El was the strongest pirate in the New World, the Navy's greatest headache and most hated enemy.
__________________
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