"Hmph!"
Shanks snorted and drew his saber halfway, raising blade and scabbard together to meet the incoming leg.
Two powerful types of Haki coated the blade as well.
Boom!!!
Leg and blade collided violently in midair.
The two powerful types of Haki clashed in the air, erupting in a dazzling blaze of light.
Terrifying shock waves spread wildly outward from the two men.
The sea in the harbor churned violently, sending towering waves surging up.
Howling winds swept past, leaving everyone struggling to keep their footing.
The ships docked in the harbor rocked violently under the shock waves, groaning and creaking.
The two men had been evenly matched in that exchange.
Neither had gained the slightest advantage.
"Fufufufu! So that's all you've got!"
Doflamingo laughed as he withdrew his leg.
He casually slipped both hands into his pockets, then slowly turned his back on the crowd.
"I'll be waiting for you at the Gladiator Tournament."
His voice carried a brazen note of provocation.
"If you want to get past me..."
"Then you'd better be ready to do it with overwhelming force."
"Fufufufu!"
With that, he swaggered away as though he owned the place.
That attack had already given him a rough measure of Shanks's strength.
S+ rank, some distance below Whitebeard at his peak, and slightly weaker than himself.
Of course, without the blessings of Ross and the World Government, he could never have become this strong.
But he had been quick to kneel.
After twenty years of serving Ross hand and foot, even a pig could have reached S-class.
Shanks neither stopped him nor attacked again.
He simply sheathed his blade and silently watched Doflamingo's retreating back.
"Shanks! That bastard!" Luffy flared up at the sight and made to charge after him.
"Don't."
Shanks caught Luffy and held him