Barn suddenly appeared beside Little Oars and blocked Doflamingo's attack with the coldly gleaming First-Generation Onikiri in his hand. An inscrutable smile rested on his face, but anger showed in his eyes as he spoke in a low voice.
At Barn's sudden appearance, Doflamingo's expression grew a little more serious, though that detestable, eerie grin remained on his face. He looked at Barn and spoke darkly.
"Fufufufu... so you really did step in... Mr. Barn..."
Barn's expression darkened at Doflamingo's words, and he replied.
"You're openly trying to kill my friend's subordinate. I have no reason to stand by and watch."
Barn's hand was already on his sword. The shaky agreement between him and Doflamingo seemed liable to collapse the moment Doflamingo attacked, and Barn was ready to abandon all pretense...
But Doflamingo did something even Barn hadn't expected. He put both hands behind his Crimson Feather Cloak, showing no intention of fighting, and slowly turned around to return to the foot of the Execution Platform. As he walked, he spoke.
"Fufufu... it's rare for me to find someone who interests me... but since you put it that way, I'll go back. I don't want to fight you."
Just as Doflamingo headed back, however, a voice rang out. It was frighteningly grim, its suppressed anger threatening to erupt at any moment.
"Doflamingo... why aren't you attacking?!"
Who else could it have been but Akainu? One of his hands had already turned into magma, dripping onto the ground of the Square with the sizzling sound of melting stone.
Hearing Akainu's words, Doflamingo raised his head slightly and looked at him.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm no match for him."
Despite his words, Doflamingo's smile grew even stranger, his eyes beneath those ridiculous glasses fixed on Akainu.
"If you flee in the face