His ten-meter-tall half-dragon form looked wild, but he preferred looking human. That was why, as he gradually mastered his power, he had reduced his height to eight meters.
How did the saying go? The best things came in concentrated form.
That afternoon, a panicked Marine came to report that someone was flying toward them through the sky.
Rubick returned to human form, though dragon horns still rose from his head. He opened his eyes. His Observation Haki had already sensed Doflamingo approaching.
The reason he had waited here all this time was to fight him.
He had lost to Kaido before. Although he did not dwell on it, he still wanted to know where his current strength stood.
Doflamingo would make an excellent yardstick. If Rubick could beat him, he would not be far from the Four Emperors and the Admirals.
Doflamingo was dressed like a street punk as always, his pink feather coat as flashy as ever.
The moment he landed, he unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, and a crowd of Marines collapsed unconscious. He had come ready to make a show of force.
Doflamingo shot Rubick a wary glance, then demanded of Smoker, "Smoker, where are Luo and Straw Hat?"
Smoker did not give him the time of day. "Don't know."
Doflamingo flew into a rage. "You just let them go? They're pirates! What happened to your duty as Marines?"
Smoker answered without a trace of concern. "Yeah, I tried to stop them. Couldn't beat them, though."
"Damn it!"
Doflamingo raised a hand. Five Haki-coated threads extended from his fingertips and sliced toward Smoker.
Smoker did not even lift an eyelid. Sure enough, Rubick used Soru to dash over the next instant and caught all five threads in one hand.
Rubick grinned. "Turkey, you're a Shichibukai, aren't you? Are