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"W–Wait! Hold on a second!"
For the first time ever, Doflamingo's voice trembled. "Dan… I agree to your terms! All of them!"
"The SMILE price — I'll cut it by twenty percent!"
"Delivery? Immediately! I'll rush it myself, not a single one missing, I swear!"
He spoke at a breakneck pace, terrified that even a second's hesitation might make the little demon in front of him lose patience. After witnessing Dan's terrifying power firsthand, all of Doflamingo's former arrogance had completely vanished. Especially when he remembered the monster standing behind this kid — Kaido of the Beasts.
He'd once thought he'd grown strong enough to stand tall before Kaido. But Dan's appearance made him realize the harsh truth: in front of the Beasts Pirates, he would never be able to straighten his back again.
Even the Donquixote Family executives, who normally would've objected — after all, cutting the price by twenty percent meant selling at a loss — dared not say a word. They knew this wasn't the time to argue about profits. Right now, survival came first. Money could wait.
"Too late."
Dan floated in midair, blue steam swirling softly around him. His dark eyes stared calmly at Doflamingo — unreadable, cold.
He'd given him a chance before. Doflamingo didn't take it. Now there would be no second one.
Still…
[Mission complete: Withstand the full-force attack of a Shichibukai-level or higher opponent for one minute without fighting back.]
That objective was done. The other two —
[Defeat two Shichibukai-level or higher opponents.]
[Consume two different Devil Fruits.]
Doflamingo counted as one. That meant… he needed one more.
Dan's small head tilted slightly as his gaze swept across the dock.
Members of the Beasts Pirates puffed their chests out with pride. Young Master Dan is unstoppable!
The underworld bosses, on the other hand, looked pale as corpses, heads lowered. Right now, every single one of them regretted showing up.
Dan's eyes finally landed on a man radiating golden light — the one who'd earlier tried teaming up with Doflamingo to resist his Conqueror's Haki: the Golden Emperor, Gild Tesoro.
"Eeya."
Dan raised a chubby little finger and pointed straight at Tesoro. Then, his gaze slid over the trembling underworld brokers.
"You guys…"
His childish voice carried a chilling finality.
"…don't get to leave either."
The dock erupted in shock.
Doflamingo, who'd just begun to relax, felt his nerves tighten again like a snapped wire. What the hell is this monster planning now?!
Even Jack was stunned, unsure what Dan meant.
Tesoro's face darkened at first — then twisted into a mocking smirk.
"Heh… heheheh…"
Low laughter rumbled from his chest, laced with scorn and an icy edge.
"Kid, you've really got some nerve."
He stepped forward, and the ground beneath his feet gleamed gold.
"I thought you were just after Doflamingo. But looks like you plan to take down me, the Golden Emperor, and everyone else here too?"
He raised a hand covered in gold rings, pointing straight at Dan. His golden eyes glinted dangerously.
"I'll admit — you're strong. But strength alone doesn't mean a damn thing."
"Do you even know who you're talking to?"
"Do you know who I am?"
BOOM!
A blinding pillar of golden energy erupted from Tesoro, soaring into the sky! His clothes melted away into molten gold that spread across his skin, hardening into armor that glimmered like a god's statue.
In a blink, Gild Tesoro became a towering golden giant, etched with intricate, dazzling patterns that exuded crushing power.
Devil Fruit Awakening.
"Golden God — Gild Tesoro!"
His thunderous roar shook the entire dock.
"Brat! Take back what you said, and I'll pretend I didn't hear it. Then get the hell out of here! That's me showing respect to Kaido — don't make me regret it!"
The underworld bosses, seeing Tesoro's awakened form, finally regained some courage. Fear turned to fierce hope.
Jack, however, looked grim. His massive ivory tusks rose as he prepared to charge.
"Young Master Dan! Let me handle this golden clown!"
He couldn't just stand by — especially not against someone like Tesoro.
"Eeya."
Dan shook his head slowly. "No."
He didn't even look back. His voice was calm, steady.
"You… watch."
Jack froze, staring at Dan's small but unwavering back. After a moment, he clenched his jaw and lowered his tusks.
"Yes, Young Master Dan."
He chose to trust him.
Then —
"Now!"
Tesoro's golden eyes flashed murderously. He struck in the instant Dan turned to speak with Jack — the one moment his guard might drop.
"Doffy! Together!"
With a thunderous roar, the Golden Emperor's massive frame bent low, launching forward like a fired cannonball!
"Golden Judgment: Thousand Spear Rain!"
His arms flung wide. Countless golden spears burst from his body, shooting through the air like a storm of light, sealing off every escape route. Each one carried terrifying weight and piercing power.
Doflamingo grit his teeth. "I already agreed to your terms, brat… but you still wouldn't let me go."
"In that case— don't blame me! You asked for this!"
He snapped his hands together.
"Awakening: Divine Thread Web — Thousand Arrows Piercing Heart!"
In an instant, countless white threads erupted from the ground, walls, and air — weaving into a gigantic web that spanned the entire sky. Then the threads morphed into razor-sharp arrows, whistling as they joined Tesoro's golden barrage from the opposite direction.
Two Awakened powers. Two Shichibukai-class monsters — striking together without restraint!
Their combined assault tore through the air, the dock swallowed in a cataclysmic storm of gold and white. Space itself seemed to bend under the force.
The air screamed.
The ground split open under the shockwave.
A flood of destruction swept across the port — unstoppable and absolute.
"..."
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