Far away, aboard the Little Dark Bird, right after Doflamingo said those words to Kaya.
He suddenly raised his head and looked towards the distant sky.
Noticing Doflamingo's gaze, Kaya hesitated and followed it. When she saw the Kuma hurtling towards her at breakneck speed, she froze in shock!
Beside her, Doflamingo grinned, maintaining his arrogant, laughing posture as he spoke.
He has already seen me; he has already greeted me!
But wasn't it Rayleigh or himself?
"Bang! Bang! Bang! This is disrespectful to me!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Doflamingo raised his right hand, his five fingers slowly clenching, and in the blink of an eye, countless indistinct lines gathered around him.
Those lines immediately rushed towards Kaya was closest to him!
The Kuma and Gion, who were running in the distance, both noticed this scene, but their speed was no match for the silk threads that were so close at hand!
In that very instant, a bolt of lightning suddenly descended from the thunder-filled clouds!
The lightning flashed and disappeared in an instant, striking first despite being delayed, and then striking the line that Doflamingo was controlling as he rushed towards Kaya!
In the next instant, Gawain descended using the lightning, and strands of lightning gradually formed Gawain's figure, while his right hand gripped Doflamingo's wrist!
Seeing Gawain gripping his wrist, Doflamingo finally revealed a satisfied smile.
"Fuck, fuck, fuck, that's how it should be. Only by coming to me in person can you show me the respect you deserve, junior!"
"Hehe..."
Hearing Doflamingo's words, Gawain chuckled and shook his head. Then he let go of Doflamingo and instead grabbed Kaya's hand.
Then, he squinted and said to Doflamingo.
"You don't seem to have the right to call me junior, Doflamingo."
After all, apart from the Five Elders who have given me a lot of support, I am not anyone's junior in my race.
Besides, you've already been banished from Mary Geoise, Doflamingo!
At this point, Gawain turned and nodded slightly to Kaya, then threw Kaya directly at the Kuma.
In the distance, seeing Kaya flying towards him, the Kuma gracefully removed his gloves and then gently patted Kaya's waist with the Paw-Paw in the center of his palm!
Whoosh!
Kaya immediately accelerated, rushing towards the Dark Bird Ship like a rocket.
Seeing Kaya rushing towards him at top speed, Usopp, who was training, could no longer hold back. He leaped into the air, using all the results of his recent training, and finally managed to catch Kaya with great difficulty.
After rolling around with Kaya for over ten times before finally stopping, Usopp said to Kaya with a mixture of fear and worry.
"Hey, Kaya, are you alright?"
How could you possibly come into contact with such a dangerous enemy?
Although I don't know who the enemy is, that person is a match for Professor Zephyr!
Zephyr is incredibly strong, okay? His opponents are also very strong. How could you possibly mess with someone like that?!
As soon as he finished speaking, Usopp checked Kaya's body with concern. Fortunately, Usopp's protection was very thorough, Kaya had no other injuries.
As for Kaya at this moment...
She excitedly pushed Usopp away as she spoke in a low voice.
"Don't be so fussy like a girl, Usopp! Your tone is almost like my mother's!"
Moreover, what I just experienced...
That feeling of flying...
"That's so exciting!!!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Kaya was so excited she could hardly contain herself. Who would have thought that this gentle and refined girl harbored countless thoughts of challenging the limits of the human body?
Or perhaps it's precisely because Kaya's health has always been poor that she now enjoys challenging herself so much!
Thanks to Kureha, Crocus, and the adorable Dr. Chopper, Kaya's illness has completely healed!!!
Leaving aside Kaya's excitement here, on the Little Dark Bird...
After throwing Kaya, Gawain turned around and lazily looked at Doflamingo, whose eyes were full of amusement.
Facing Doflamingo's eyes, which were filled with indifference, Gawain smiled and shook his head.
"You really have exceeded my expectations, Doflamingo."
Because you surely know what price you'll have to pay after you appear before me, right?
"Of course I know, I know it all too well, bububububu!"
Doflamingo responded immediately.
"People like you and me don't keep pointless hatred in our hearts. Our eyes are full of goals, all of which are more interesting than the last!"
But they are different from us. Foolish ordinary people always have so-called hatred on their lips, and even take it as motivation. Tsk tsk.
That old bastard Zephyr is on your ship. I know what he's planning, and I know what you're going to do.
But, Fufufufu, the moment I saw you, I was already so happy!
Because I understand all too well, it was he who wanted to kill me, not you, Gawain!
At this point, Doflamingo laughed out loud with unrestrained disdain, raising his hand to grab Gawain's shoulder as he laughed.
Faced with Doflamingo's outstretched hand, Gawain flicked his scabbard noncommittally, and the scabbard of Rokumei Kotetsu directly blocked Doflamingo's hand.
At the same time, Gawain took a deep breath and then said softly.
"That's not necessarily true, Doflamingo. Your understanding is, after all, just your understanding."
I do have a little admiration for you. After all, not everyone can be like you, falling from the highest point and losing everything, and then regaining everything in another way.
But you should understand that no matter how much you get back, you have no special value to me!
After speaking, Gawain gently shook his head, then waved to the three people who were rapidly approaching from afar.
After waving, Gawain turned around and gave Doflamingo a mysterious smile.
After laughing, Gawain said finally.
"I've handed everything over to your creditor because your strength and resources may represent the present, but your creditor's teaching ability represents a certain future."
If we could only choose between the present and the future, we would all choose the future.
Therefore, I will not interfere in any part of your debt repayment process. You... good luck.
However, considering my good relationship with your uncle Saint Mjosgard, I can give you a little encouragement."
At this point, Gawain raised his hand and placed it on Doflamingo's face, which still held an arrogant smile.
Meeting Doflamingo's ever-present smile, Gawain gently rotated his wrist.
Snap...
Snap!
After giving him two gentle pats, Gawain finally spoke to Doflamingo, who still had a smile on his face.
"My encouragement to you is that you might actually know a certain aspect of me quite well."
So, do your best to survive.
Because of the present, or the future.
If it were possible, who wouldn't want it all?
As soon as he finished speaking, Gawain clenched his right fist, and the magnetic field on the Little Dark Bird underwent a violent change!
In a mere instant, all the villagers on the ship were lifted into the air by lightning and magnetic fields!
The next moment, Kuma rushed into the crowd in the air. In just about two seconds, he clapped his hands more than forty times, sending all the villagers onto the Dark Bird Ship!
As Rayleigh and the others caught the villagers one by one, Issho drew his Cane Sword in mid-air.
After a simple downward slash with his sword, he smiled and murmured softly.
"Gravity Blade - Barrier!"
The invisible force of gravity instantly isolated the area where the Little Dark Bird was located!
Even the gravity caused the waves within the domain to be at a different height than the ocean outside the domain!
At the same time, Gion rushed into the area, and then, in her high heels, stood at the very top of the mast of the Little Dark Bird with a cold face.
As she stood up straight, she looked at Zephyr, whose eyes were red and who was rushing towards her at high speed in the distance.
Meeting Gion's gaze, Zephyr clenched his fists, and as he sprinted, he roared at Gion and Kazuha with all his might.
That's enough, your business ends here!
Leave the rest to me. This is between him and me, leave it all to me!!!
With that roar, Zephyr raised his Seastone mechanical right hand and smashed away an area of the gravity barrier.
After charging into the barrier like a tiger or wolf, Zephyr crossed the sea in just three large steps and appeared beside Gawain and Doflamingo!
Looking at Zephyr so close to him, Gawain nodded slightly, then turned and left.
However, after leaving, he waved goodbye to Doflamingo one last time.
After waving his hand, accompanied by a deafening thunderclap, Gawain reappeared on the Dark Bird Ship.
As soon as he landed, Lucci immediately brought him a sofa, and Gawain sat down with a sullen face.
At the same time, Rayleigh also came to Gawain's side at the opportune moment and whispered something to Gawain.
"How did Doflamingo end up here?"
Haha, I really can't figure out his plans!
An old guy like me, having seen too much, finds it hard not to see through young people.
But Doflamingo, haha, that was really sudden!
As soon as he finished speaking, Rayleigh picked up the two wine glasses and handed one to Gawain.
After taking the wine glass, Gawain clinked it against Rayleigh's.
After drinking the wine, Rayleigh for a moment, then continued speaking to Gawain.
"Gawain, you should be able to see that Doflamingo's appearance in this way is clearly a form of surrender to us, or rather, to you!"
Of course, no one can guarantee whether he is sincere, but in any case, his appearance alone speaks volumes about his attitude.
Unless he's crazy enough to want to take us all on by himself, his arrival is destined to become your strength!
After saying that, Rayleigh frowned and stared intently into Gawain's eyes.
At the same time, a large group of elderly people on the ship, including Shakky, all looked towards Gawain at that moment.
Gawain knew that this was another question the older generation had set for themselves. Compared to young people who were more easily influenced by their ideals and words, the older generation preferred to examine and weigh every decision they made.
So, in response to Rayleigh's question, Gawain gently shook his head.
"So what?"
"Haha, you little rascal!"
Rayleigh immediately laughed, and as he laughed, he took another swig of wine.
After downing the drink, Rayleigh glanced mischievously at Gawain and continued.
"Are you really going to hand Doflamingo over to Zephyr? That's Doflamingo, a former Celestial Dragon who also possesses the qualities of a tyrant and control over the underworld!"
If he truly joins us, I believe our strength will be greatly enhanced. This Joker has been in charge of arms smuggling in the Underworld, so his presence would directly eliminate any worries we might have about our arms supplies.
We might not need those now, but when our numbers reach hundreds of thousands or even millions, you can't expect Franky and Dan, leading just two research teams, to be responsible for everyone's equipment, can you?"
"So what?"
In response to Rayleigh's question, Gawain chuckled and shook his head, then continued.
"So, given the potential benefits Doflamingo might offer, can I simply not keep my promise?"
No, no, no, that shouldn't have been what I did. Although I can think that way, I shouldn't have done it, sir!
At this point, Gawain looked from afar at the scene of Zephyr confronting Doflamingo.
As he watched, Gawain sighed regretfully.
"Among the Shichibukai, there is not one who is unworthy of that title."
In some ways, Doflamingo is truly astonishingly excellent.
As for whether he's good or bad, sir, we all know.
Good and bad are always relative, not absolute, aren't they?
To outsiders, Doflamingo is truly a villain to the core; his twisted sense of humor and madness instill fear in countless people.
But if he truly wishes to become my cat, then I will only admire his retrospective gaze and glossy fur, just as I admire Shiryu.
Only..."
At this point, Gawain hesitated for a moment. Taking advantage of his hesitation, Shakky shook her head and smiled, then put the cigarette in Gawain's mouth.
Just as Gawain was about to take a puff of his cigarette, Hancock rushed over and snatched it from his hand.
As Hancock handed the cigarette back to Shakky, she growled at Shakky like a kitten guarding its food.
"Big Mom, don't offer Gawain a cigarette like that!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Hancock quickly lit a cigarette and immediately tried to hand it to Gawain.
Hancock hesitated for a brief moment before handing it over to Gawain.
The next moment, Hancock lowered her head slightly, then blushed and opened her cherry lips.
Smack
After gently tapping the cigarette butt with her perfectly proportioned lips, Hancock, her cheeks flushed, brought the cigarette to Gawain's lips.
"Here... for you~~."
After that single word, Hancock had no more strength to speak, letting Gawain lean over and nibble the cigarette, which had a few lip-shaped bits stuck between her fingers, into his mouth.
Gawain took a deep drag of his cigarette and continued speaking to Rayleigh.
"But as I said, no matter how tempting the benefits are, they are not worth breaking my promise."
The moment I embarked on this path, I knew one thing better than anyone else.
If there is anything most precious in the world, it must be my promise!
Perhaps this is arrogance, or perhaps it's just my pride, but I firmly believe that my promise is the most precious treasure that everyone should cherish!
As for the rest, hehe.
Whether it's the allure of power, status, immortality, or mountains of wealth...
They don't deserve it!
At this point, Gawain took a deep drag on his cigarette, then flicked off the ash.
Just as the ash fell and was then blown away by the sea breeze, Gawain pointed his burning cigarette at the Little Dark Bird in the distance and said finally.
"Only promises that I deeply uphold can be considered true promises. If I don't even have this awareness, wouldn't I be changing my mind for personal gain?"
Therefore, although in some ways I sincerely hope that Doflamingo Ming can become my power and tool.
But today, his life belongs to Zephyr!
Meanwhile, aboard the Little Dark Bird, Zephyr's beard had completely swelled up as he looked at Doflamingo so close at hand!
As for his thick hair, it was now all standing up in a sharp, imposing style!
Faced with Zephyr's bristling Zephyr, Doflamingo first curled his lip in disdain, then shook his head with a light laugh.
"Tsk tsk tsk, look who this is! Isn't this the legendary hero, Z!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Doflamingo arrogantly opened his arms wide, revealing his chest to Zephyr, and continued provocatively.
"Whoosh, who was that foolish, incapable hero who couldn't even protect his students back then... is he finally willing to raise his sword against life now?"
"Doflamingo!!!"
Zephyr suddenly roared, his shout slamming Doflamingo's words into his throat. Meeting Doflamingo's nonchalant, mocking gaze, Zephyr could no longer control himself.
Suddenly, he exerted all his strength, and like a rocket launched from its barrel, he rushed towards Doflamingo's wide-open chest!
Boom!!!
With a roar of mechanical power, his Seastone arm slammed straight toward Doflamingo's heart!
As Zephyr's fist drew ever closer, Doflamingo laughed loudly and suddenly crossed his arms.
The deck around him instantly transformed into swirling threads, firmly blocking Zephyr's path!
While blocking Zephyr's attacks, Doflamingo let out an extremely happy laugh.
Amidst the laughter, Doflamingo continued speaking to Zephyr.
"Hey Zephyr, you hero and old dog abandoned by the Navy and the World Government, it seems you've met a master worthy of you!"
You actually handed me over to you to deal with? Of course you'll kill me! You're so eager to kill me!
He is a master worthy of you. He entrusted me to you. He has done so well for you. He has given you so much, Zephyr!
But what about you? Do you know what kind of influence I can have on him? Do you know what kind of help I can offer him?
Aside from the foolish hatred between us, do you know what resources I possess and how much assistance I can provide him?
You know, you know all that too well. You're old, and old people may be crazy, but you're all wise!
So, Fufu, are you sure you want to repay the person who gave you everything you have now with the consequences and losses of killing me?
As he said this, Doflamingo's smile grew even more cruel. He spoke to Zephyr, whose breathing was becoming increasingly rapid.
"Or are you just an irresponsible person who can't take responsibility?"
Just as you were unable to protect your students back then, you are now unable to repay the kindness and affirmation that Gawain gave you!
Perhaps the fault of our feud lies with me, the attacker, but if you were strong enough, if you weren't sick, what right would I have to defeat you? Wasn't that your own fault?
As for now, brush brush brush brush.
You are using Gawain's loss to atone for the original sin you committed in the past... known as weakness!
Are you sure this is what you've been looking for, Zephyr?!