Battle with Donquixote Doflamingo

"This... this was a clash of Conqueror's Haki... Was that one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Donquixote Doflamingo? Why was he here?" Onigumo watched Ian and Donquixote Doflamingo in the center of the scene, his expression grave to the extreme.

Of course, he knew Donquixote Doflamingo. Why was that guy in the first half of the Grand Line instead of the New World?

The Marines had information on Donquixote Doflamingo, so Onigumo was not surprised that he possessed Conqueror's Haki.

Though Conqueror's Haki was not uncommon in the world, most of its users were concentrated in the New World.

It was extremely rare in the first half of the Grand Line!

But that young-looking guy possessed Conqueror's Haki too?

And judging by its intensity, his Conqueror's Haki was not inferior to Donquixote Doflamingo's in the slightest!

Who exactly was this guy? Onigumo frowned as he watched Ian.

There were not many Marines still standing. Only Onigumo and another rear admiral remained upright.

That rear admiral was also staring at the two men ahead with a stunned expression!

"This is..." Ace's pupils contracted slightly as he looked toward the two men.

What exactly was that power?

It had actually caused his companions to lose consciousness?

Beside him, Deuce was the only member of the Spade Pirates aside from Ace who had not fainted. He stared blankly ahead and could not help murmuring, "What happened? Why has everyone here passed out? Was it a Devil Fruit?"

Ace shook his head slightly. "No, this probably isn't a Devil Fruit ability. It should be... presence."

"Presence? Just their presence made countless people lose consciousness? How was that possible?!" Deuce looked at Ace with utter disbelief on his face!

It was the first time he had heard of such a thing—countless people being knocked unconscious by presence alone!

"Conqueror's Haki? You brat actually..." Donquixote Doflamingo narrowed his eyes and stared intently at Ian. He had not expected this brat to possess Conqueror's Haki as well!

And its intensity could actually contend with his!

Haki varied in strength. Otherwise, Red-Haired would not have been hailed as the man with the strongest Haki in the world!

It could be said that, when it came to Conqueror's Haki, no one in the entire world was Red-Haired's match!

Although Donquixote Doflamingo knew that Lao G had been defeated by Ian, he had not taken it seriously. Lao G might have been an officer, but he was old and frail, and his strength had declined severely.

It was no big deal for him to have been defeated by a rookie pirate.

What Donquixote Doflamingo had not expected was that this brat, like himself, possessed the Conqueror's Haki of one fit to stand above others!

"Surprised? It's only Conqueror's Haki..." Ian chuckled as even more powerful Conqueror's Haki bore down on Donquixote Doflamingo!

"You've got some skill, but your opponent is me, Donquixote Doflamingo!" Donquixote Doflamingo narrowed his eyes and refused to yield. The two waves of Conqueror's Haki clashed violently!

Purple-black Lightning flickered through the air as shockwaves shot outward!

After the two sides remained locked in a stalemate for a while, Donquixote Doflamingo suddenly frowned. He could feel that his Conqueror's Haki was actually falling into a disadvantage in the collision...

"That's impossible!" Surprise appeared on Donquixote Doflamingo's face. This meant that Ian's Conqueror's Haki was stronger than his own!

Donquixote Doflamingo found that outcome difficult to accept.

"Nothing is impossible!" Ian laughed softly, his eyes widening as Advanced Conqueror's Haki erupted completely. Like Mount Tai crashing down, it directly crushed Donquixote Doflamingo's Conqueror's Haki and formed a storm that swept through the surroundings...

"Who exactly are you? With Conqueror's Haki like that, you couldn't possibly be unknown..." Donquixote Doflamingo narrowed his eyes at Ian, trying to see through him.

It was his first time being directly overwhelmed in a clash of Conqueror's Haki. Though it had caused no tangible injury, the impact on his mind was immense!

"Unfortunately, this is my first time setting sail. I really was unknown before, but that might not be the case from now on." Ian looked at Donquixote Doflamingo and spoke teasingly.

Ian's meaning was simple. After today, he would use Donquixote Doflamingo, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, as a stepping stone to make his name known far and wide!

"Fufufu, how arrogant!" Donquixote Doflamingo quickly steadied himself. He had spent who knew how long in the New World and encountered plenty of powerful people, so naturally he would not be shaken by this.

Besides, Conqueror's Haki did not represent strength. It merely represented a kind of potential—the potential to one day rule the seas!

In battle, what mattered was still actual strength, performance, and all sorts of other factors!

"Conqueror's Haki is only potential. It isn't the standard by which strength is measured! Five Color Strings!" An evil smile returned to Donquixote Doflamingo's lips. He lunged forward, his right hand forming a claw as he pulled five sharp threads from the air.

The threads were incredibly sharp, as though they could cut through anything, and swept toward Ian.

"People like you are always so arrogant. Do you like finding excuses for your weakness?" Ian drew Hyorinmaru and held it horizontally to block the attack. At the same time, his left fist, coated in Armament Haki, grabbed at Donquixote Doflamingo.

"Fufu, you've got quite the sharp tongue! Leg String!" A red glint flashed in Donquixote Doflamingo's eyes as he used Observation Haki to track Ian's movements. He withdrew his right hand, lowered his center of gravity, spun his right leg halfway around, hardened it with Armament Haki, and covered the sole with thin threads before chopping down at Ian!

Ian changed his clawing hand into a fist and slammed it against Donquixote Doflamingo's right leg.

Boom!

Their fist and leg collided with a thunderous blast. The air trembled, and large sections of the ground beneath them cracked apart!

The exchange ended at the first clash. Ian was forced one step back, crushing the ground beneath his foot as he easily dispersed the force.

Donquixote Doflamingo, meanwhile, was blasted backward and smashed through a building, sending dust and debris billowing everywhere!

Ian pressed his advantage without mercy. He tapped the ground with his toes and used Flash Step to catch up. His Observation Haki locked onto Donquixote Doflamingo's position as he raised Hyorinmaru and slashed down.

Though Ian was not a swordsman, his physical prowess was simply too formidable. Even the pressure from his swing formed a flying slash!

With a boom, Donquixote Doflamingo blasted away the rubble. Pulled by his threads, he flew into the air and evaded Ian's slash.

With a sharp shhk, the sword energy carved a trench through the ground that stretched dozens of meters!

"Your physique isn't bad... Then try this! Off White!" In the air, Donquixote Doflamingo drew his right arm back and spread his fingers. Countless threads twisted together into a thick cord that he gripped in his hand. Then his waist jerked sharply, his muscles driving his right arm as he fiercely swung it at Ian!

With a whoosh, the cord lashed toward Ian like a whip. The powerful strike seemed capable of shattering the very air!

Ian narrowed his eyes. Using Observation Haki to track Donquixote Doflamingo's attack, he looked up and spread the fingers of his right hand. His aura surged, and a faint glow danced in his palm!

"Hadō #63: Raikōhō!" Ian murmured. Lightning gathered in his palm, then a terrifying bolt erupted without warning. A pillar of lightning burst forth, electric serpents writhing wildly as it blasted toward Donquixote Doflamingo!

It was Ian's first time using this ability, yet he felt no sluggishness at all. It was as though it had been innate—at a single thought, the attack had already been unleashed!

"Lightning? Is this guy a Devil Fruit user too? An attack of this intensity... Damn it!" The Thunder Roar Cannon was unbelievably fast. Though Donquixote Doflamingo's Observation Haki had sensed the danger, his body still could not evade it.

"Spider Web!" In the critical moment, threads wound around Donquixote Doflamingo's hand, forming a spider web tougher than steel in front of him!

But Donquixote Doflamingo had still underestimated the power of Ian's attack.

The sturdy Spider Web only held out for a moment before being torn apart!

The lightning pillar continued unabated and swallowed Donquixote Doflamingo whole beneath his astonished gaze...