The violent clash of Conqueror's Haki continued, and more and more people in the underground port rolled their eyes back and collapsed.
"Fufufufu, only the three of you came to attack us? That wasn't very wise!"
The ground beneath Doflamingo's feet began transforming into waves of white thread. Thick, sharp thread spikes emerged, wrapped in dense, pitch-black Armament Haki.
But he still did not attack immediately, because he was searching for Tyrant Kuma's whereabouts.
The strength of that Paw-Paw Fruit user could not be underestimated!
Dongye Huanglong, Tyrant Kuma, and the Rumble-Rumble Fruit user—those three had already become threats to the Donquixote Family's safety.
If possible, he did not want to make an enemy of a ruthless man like Dongye Huanglong, someone with whom he had neither grudges nor conflicting interests.
He could even cooperate with Tesoro, who had stolen his Gold-Gold Fruit. Dongye Huanglong, that madman seeking revenge against the World Government, was another matter entirely.
Moreover, fighting Dongye Huanglong and the others in the underground port would cause the Donquixote Family enormous losses.
"String-String Fruit Ability Awakening. Come, let me test the strength of a Shichibukai like you."
Dongye Huanglong sent the lovestruck Baby 5 over to Capone Bege, then looked at Doflamingo with a face full of fighting spirit.
Lunarian flames blazed around him, lightning flickered around his savage dragon horns, and the purple patterns across his Dragon Scale writhed as a primal aura swept forth.
Doflamingo stared gravely at Dongye Huanglong, recalling the experience of being brutally beaten by Kaido of the Beasts.
This strongest experiment subject actually carried the shadow of Kaido of the Beasts!
Artificial Azure Dragon form, Oni bloodline, all kinds of lineage factors... come to think of it, Experiment Subject 88 really was a replica somewhat similar to Kaido of the Beasts.
"Fufufufu, I acknowledge your Conqueror's Haki and your strength. Consider everything you seized here today a gift from me.
Perhaps we can become business partners. Whatever you want in the future, we can help you find it."
At that moment, Doflamingo completely placed Dongye Huanglong on equal footing with himself, just like Golden Emperor Tesoro.
The strength of Experiment Subject 88 truly deserved a bounty of one billion. It had not been exaggerated by much.
The title of strongest experiment subject truly lived up to its name!!
"Wahahaha! Let's fight first and test each other's strength!"
Seeing Doflamingo back down, Dongye Huanglong sneered inwardly. This was why Doflamingo was better suited to being a businessman and could never become one of the Four Emperors.
He lacked Straw Hat Luffy's single-minded, fearless will and conviction.
Perhaps Doflamingo's Conqueror's Haki had completely stagnated after being "educated" by Kaido of the Beasts, with no possibility of growing any further.
"Then let me see just how strong you are, murderer of Celestial Dragons."
"Wild Wave White Line!"
Doflamingo was also a proud man. Seeing Dongye Huanglong refuse to give him any face, he decided to teach this newcomer a lesson.
Besides, only through battle could they learn the depth of the other's strength, and that would affect whether they cooperated or fought to the death afterward.
Waves of white thread surged rapidly toward Dongye Huanglong like a tsunami, while enormous Armament Haki-coated thread spikes stabbed densely at the arrogant Half-Dragon Man.
"Night Guy: Dragon Emperor of Fire!"
Dongye Huanglong charged at Doflamingo at extreme speed. The Lunarian flames around him surged wildly as fire erupted from his body, rapidly forming a purplish-red dragon head. Sparks and lightning trailed behind it as it crashed straight into the thread waves and spikes.
"Boom!"
Doflamingo's gigantic Armament Haki thread spikes were shattered outright by Dongye Huanglong's flaming dragon head.
The sight turned Doflamingo's face ashen. Experiment Subject 88 was actually this strong?
"Thread White Shield!"
Doflamingo violently swung both hands, and several huge pillars of thread burst from the ground, forcibly blocking Dongye Huanglong's savage attack. He himself quickly stepped along threads and flew into the sky.
When he saw his awakened thread shield destroyed once again by Dongye Huanglong's flaming Dragon Emperor, Doflamingo's brows furrowed deeply and veins bulged on his forehead.
How could a newcomer be this strong!
"Thousand Arrows Pierce the Heart: Feather Strike: Thread!"
Doflamingo spread his ten fingers wide and swung both arms with all his strength. Thousands of Armament Haki-coated thread spikes shot up from the ground, forming flamingo wings that completely surrounded Dongye Huanglong, intending to pierce him through with countless arrows.
Forcing him to this extent, Dongye Huanglong, this experiment subject and newcomer, had every right to be proud.
"Thunderfire Dragon Breakthrough!"
Lightning and fire wrapped around Dongye Huanglong's Half-Dragon Man form. His purplish-red dragon scales gleamed as he charged fearlessly into Doflamingo's dense Armament Haki thread spikes.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!..."
A relentless series of metallic impacts exploded in rapid succession, and only then did shockwaves spread violently outward.
Under the terrifying impact of those shockwaves, huge amounts of cargo and countless underlings were blasted away.
Even Capone Bege found cover and hid.
Was this the terrifying battle of Shichibukai-level fighters?!
Then what kind of horrifying sight would it be when the legendary Four Emperors fought?
As the shockwaves from that exchange gradually subsided.
Doflamingo's chest heaved rapidly, and he panted slightly. He had continuously unleashed his awakened ability in an attempt to crush Dongye Huanglong.
If he could take down this guy, he might gain another bargaining chip in negotiations with the World Government.
"Whew! The Armament Haki of an old-school Shichibukai really is powerful!"
Dongye Huanglong emerged from the smoke. The wounds on his body writhed rapidly amid Lunarian flames. His Dragon Scale had successfully been breached by Doflamingo's high-intensity Armament Haki.
But it still was not enough to defeat him.
"Fufufufu! Your defense truly surprises me. It is as if I am seeing the shadow of the strongest creature on land, sea, and air—Kaido of the Beasts."
Doflamingo used Observation Haki to sense Dongye Huanglong's aura and discovered that this fellow's presence and strength were still just as immense.
What kind of monstrous physique was this?!
"I know you still have a trump card. Use it too!"
Dongye Huanglong grinned broadly. After fighting Tyrant Kuma so many times, he already had a rough idea of how strong the top Shichibukai were.
"Fufufufu, why bother? We are not enemies. We should be excellent partners!"
Doflamingo laughed as well. He did not want to reveal his ultimate trump card, and he also felt that he would not be able to kill the monster Dongye Huanglong today.
There was also the fact that none of his officers could take down that Lightning Person.
The thought that Tyrant Kuma, that monster, might also appear made him realize that he had to stop this battle now.
Otherwise, if things truly escalated, the Donquixote Family and the Desolate Dragon Group would only end up mutually destroyed.
He did not want things to develop that way. He still wanted to use Dongye Huanglong against the Celestial Dragons, while he watched the show from behind the scenes.
"Oh, right. The Marines are on their way."
Seeing that Dongye Huanglong still wanted to fight, Doflamingo immediately brought up the threat of the Marines as well.
If Dongye Huanglong still refused to show him any respect, then he would have to try leaving this fellow here for good.
Before you continue