"Fuffuffuffuffuffu!"
"Are you determined to stand in my way?"
A gleam flashed across Doflamingo's sunglasses, his face icy cold.
Traces of anger showed in his expression. He was clearly furious.
"All I wanted was to crush his skull."
The sinister words left Doflamingo's mouth, making the oppressive atmosphere around them even heavier.
"I have something to discuss with you."
River spoke calmly, his right foot barring Doflamingo's way like solid rock, preventing him from advancing an inch or bringing his foot down.
"Is that so?"
Doflamingo withdrew his right foot, his gaze sharpening slightly.
Seeing him back down, River withdrew his own foot as well.
"Phew!"
Bellamy let out a long breath, tiny beads of sweat covering his bruised, purplish face.
The danger seemed to have passed. He had survived.
Yet in the very next second, Bellamy's pupils contracted again.
Vrrm!
The air shuddered, and Doflamingo's chilling laughter rang out once more.
"Fuffuffuffuffuffu!"
"Do you think this is still twenty years ago?"
"That I have to do whatever you say?"
A terrifying, domineering presence surged forth. At that moment, his Conqueror's Haki swept forward, charging straight at River.
"Do you want to fight me, Doffy?"
River's expression turned cold as well. His eyes widened, and his Conqueror's Haki slammed fiercely into Doflamingo's.
Boom!
Crackle, crackle, crackle!
Invisible currents seemed to crackle through the air.
The nearby spectators felt a chilling presence wash over them, making their entire bodies tremble.
"Quick, get out of here!"
"Their fight will catch us in it!"
"Damn it, who the hell are these two?"
"I only recognize one of them. He's one of the Shichibukai-the Heavenly Yaksha, Doflamingo!"
"What? It's him?!"
Frightened cries immediately rose from the crowd. Then, one figure after another spun around and fled.
"We'll die if we don't leave now!"
Someone shouted in terror.
They could clearly feel the terrifying, domineering, soul-shaking presence in the air intensifying at a visibly rapid pace.
"Fuffuffuffuffuffu!"
Doflamingo grinned.
"It's been twenty years, River."
"My father's death, the lessons you taught me back then-I remember every detail."
"As though it were yesterday!"
He wore a smile, but his words were ice cold.
"Do you resent me?"
River asked calmly.
Behind him, Crocodile watched the scene and stepped forward, raising his right hand. Dust and sand began swirling across the ground as a breeze picked up.
But the next second, River raised a hand, and Crocodile stopped.
"Oh?"
Doflamingo tilted his head and glanced at Crocodile, puzzlement in his eyes.
The man shrouded in a cloak and wearing a Ghostface Mask felt somewhat familiar to him.
His eyes flashed, his mouth spread into a grin, and his right hand suddenly slashed to the side.
"Five Color Strings!"
Invisible strings sliced through the air, and five thin cracks appeared across Crocodile's body as he stood nearby.
But sand quickly spilled out, and the five cracks closed.
Doflamingo's pupils contracted. After staring at Crocodile for a while, he suddenly burst out laughing.
"Fuffuffuffuffuffu!"
"Interesting. How very interesting!"
He abruptly turned his head, fixing his gaze on River again.
"Are you making a comeback?"
"Then..."
"Have the trials for a new generation of Numbered Ones already begun?"
No one answered either of his questions.
River simply watched him calmly, his expression unreadable.
"It seems you still need to be taught a lesson, Doflamingo!"
His fist suddenly clenched, and boundless cold light blazed in his eyes.
"Then let me show you."
"When you face me, you're no better off than you were twenty years ago!"
Doflamingo held his breath as well, the presence rising from his body growing stronger and stronger.
Strong winds swept through the now-deserted street. Bellamy lay unconscious at their feet, his eyes rolled back.
He had long since passed out under the impact of their Conqueror's Haki.
"Fuffuffuffuffuffu!"
"I'd also love to know whether your strength has declined after twenty years!"
Doflamingo sneered.
As he spoke, he thrust both hands behind him. Dozens of fine strings rapidly emerged and twisted together before he lashed them toward River.
"Overheat!"
Like a long whip, the attack lashed out, reaching River in the blink of an eye.
River darted aside, evading it.
Rumble!
The buildings ahead were sliced clean through by the attack, sending wood chips flying and dust billowing.
"Is that any way to treat your elder?"
River's voice came from behind him. Doflamingo briefly froze, then burst out laughing again.
"Fuffuffuffuffuffu!"
He spun sharply and lashed out with his right foot.
"Athlete!"
River raised his leg, kicking Doflamingo's right foot upward toward the sky.
Countless fine strings could clearly be seen on Doflamingo's right foot, stretched taut like steel wires.
"You can't even imagine how much I've grown over these twenty years!"
"Uncle River."
Doflamingo grinned.
He swiftly pulled back, then leaped high into the air. His pink coat fluttered in the wind, spreading like the wings of a great bird.
"Fuffuffuffuffuffu!"
"Since we've run into each other..."
"Why don't you teach me a thing or two and show me where I'm lacking?"
As he spoke, Doflamingo spread his hands and swooped down toward River.
"Five Color Strings!"
Sharp strings immediately streaked through the air, slicing toward River from both sides.
River slowly looked up. Facing the attack from above, he remained calm and extended his right hand.
"Die!"
As the distance closed, Doflamingo's gaze turned vicious, and he roared.
Slice, slice, slice!
The sound of strings cutting through solid matter rang out. At the same time, however, Doflamingo's body halted in midair, a powerful arm reaching up to his neck.
His pupils contracted as he stared at the man before him, who had clamped one hand around his neck.
There wasn't a single wound where the Five Color Strings had cut. Even his clothes remained intact.
But how was that possible?
His attack had definitely hit him.
"You think you can challenge me with these amateur tricks?"
"Doffy!"
"Aren't you underestimating me a little too much?"
River spoke calmly as he slowly lifted Doflamingo by the neck, raising him toward the sun overhead.
The midday sunlight was somewhat blinding.
"Show me what you can really do!"
The next second, his right hand suddenly tightened.
Crack!
A distinct sound rang out as Donquixote Doflamingo's neck snapped, and his movements abruptly ceased.
Not far away, Crocodile looked stunned.
Hidden in an alley, secretly watching the fight, Marshall D. Teach grinned and chuckled.
"Zehahahaha."
"What a spectacular fight!"
Before you continue