"Hey, you're really confident, Silver Eagle Admiral!"
Doflamingo licked his lips, his signature twisted smile creeping up as he stared at Luo Ye. His sunglasses glinted under the palace lights, and his aura oozed chaos.
"Over the years, I've crushed more than a few confident hotshots. Silver Eagle Admiral—are you going to be the next one who dies by my hands?"
His voice dripped with bloodlust as his eyes narrowed dangerously. Doflamingo—formerly a Celestial Dragon and now a Warlord of the Sea—didn't take kindly to people barging into his kingdom, especially not with such ease.
And Luo Ye had done just that—marching into the heart of Dressrosa's palace with nothing but two teenage boys at his side. Was it confidence? Arrogance? Or something else?
"Tch. I'll keep this Silver Eagle Admiral busy," Doflamingo sneered. "You lot, take care of those two brats. Then we'll take him down together!"
It was clear now—even the Five Elders couldn't make Luo Ye return to Marineford. Doflamingo could no longer rely on outside help. It had to be resolved here, in Dressrosa.
But the Donquixote Family wasn't just him. From Pica with his monolithic strength, to Trebol's stickiness, and Diamante's deadly finesse, his elite officers were all New World-caliber threats. If his men could take out the two rookies, then the rest of them might be able to overwhelm Luo Ye with sheer force.
And if he could kill an active Marine Admiral—the first pirate in history to do so—Doflamingo's name would go down in infamy forever.
The thought made his spine tingle.
Luo Ye turned slightly and glanced at Ace and Sabo, both standing alert behind him. His lips curved into a smile as he spoke to Sabo.
"You two just got underestimated again. I'd say this is your best chance to prove your strength. Handle it yourselves."
"Hmph!"
Both Ace and Sabo snorted in unison, their gazes hardening as they glared at Doflamingo.
They had been underestimated earlier by Vice Admiral Momousagi. But now? A Shichibukai was looking down on them?
That was an insult they refused to let slide.
Their eyes burned with fury and purpose. Someday, they aimed to challenge the Four Emperors themselves. Being belittled by a Warlord's officers was nothing short of disgraceful.
Luo Ye was right—if they were going to live up to their ambitions, they needed to crush anyone who dared to stand in their way.
Ace and Sabo exchanged a glance, and in that moment, they understood each other perfectly.
Without needing further instruction, the two dashed toward the Donquixote officers, while instinctively steering the battlefield away from Luo Ye's fight. They weren't foolish enough to get caught in an Admiral's clash.
Doflamingo gritted his teeth and glared at Luo Ye.
"Come on then, Silver Eagle Admiral—show me if you're worthy of that title!"
Luo Ye didn't waste words. His sharp gaze locked onto Doflamingo as he gripped the hilt of his saber, feet digging into the marble floor. Then—he charged.
Bang!
Despite his cocky words, Doflamingo didn't dare take Luo Ye lightly. He immediately activated his Ito Ito no Mi—(shooting razor-thin strings) from his fingers to intercept the blade.
The moment their powers clashed, a massive shockwave burst through the palace.
Watching from the distance, Ace grinned with a fire in his eyes.
"Sabo… one day, we've got to be that strong."
Sabo nodded.
"Of course. But today—our road to glory starts with them!"
They turned toward the Donquixote officers, who each had twisted body proportions and monstrous abilities.
Back at the main battle, Luo Ye's saber swung with deadly precision. After years of battlefield experience, his attacks were impossible to predict. He slashed forward—faster than Doflamingo could track.
Even though Doflamingo coated himself in Busoshoku Haki, he couldn't escape unscathed.
Blood sprayed from a deep gash across his chest.
Wiping the blood with the back of his hand, Doflamingo's manic grin returned—but there was a slight tremor in it now.
He'd expected a challenge, but this?
The only other person who'd ever made him feel this close to death… was Kaido.
And Kaido was a Yonko.
There was no way this rookie Admiral—barely on the scene—could measure up to that monster.
"Goshikito—Five Color Strings!"
With a snarl, Doflamingo unleashed one of his signature moves. Thin, colorless threads laced with Haki shot from his fingers—so sharp they could slice stone like paper.
But Luo Ye had no intention of letting it connect.
With a flick of his arm, his saber was instantly coated in solid black—a masterful use of advanced Busoshoku Haki.
He swung cleanly.
Snap!
The Five Color Strings were severed in mid-air, cut down before they could land a blow.
Doflamingo's eyes widened in disbelief.
"No way… How can your swordsmanship be that strong?!"
Luo Ye didn't respond. His cold gaze spoke louder than words.
When it came to swordplay, Luo Ye wasn't inferior even to Dracule Mihawk, the man known as the world's strongest swordsman.
Doflamingo should've expected this.
"Sword Flash."
With a single word, Luo Ye vanished.
Doflamingo's Observation Haki couldn't locate him. Panic crept in as he instinctively stepped backward—but it was too late.
Luo Ye reappeared directly behind him.
Slash!
A single cut—and Doflamingo's right arm fell to the floor.
He howled in pain, stumbling forward and clutching the stump.
Luo Ye exhaled slowly, lowering his blade.
Even though both Crocodile and Doflamingo had been Warlords, there was a massive difference in strength. Had it been Crocodile just now, he would've already been decapitated.
That Doflamingo only lost an arm was a testament to his durability.
…
NOTE:
In Chapter 1, it was established that Luo Ye was on leave, much like Aokiji during his off-duty days. As such, he did not wear his Admiral cape and was dressed in civilian clothes. Even now, he doesn't wear the cape regularly—though someone like Doflamingo, with his underworld network, easily recognized him. Just like how Doflamingo identified Aokiji in Punk Hazard despite the latter no longer being part of the Marines, he identified Luo Ye with ease. The cape is not always necessary for recognition, especially among the powerful.