Doflamingo's mastery of Haki was undoubtedly profound. He was unquestionably a gifted, talented man.
Neither awakening a Devil Fruit nor mastering Haki was something an ordinary powerful fighter could achieve.
At that moment, the great waves of white threads, infused with densely concentrated Armament Haki, tore through the air and hurtled toward him with overwhelming force.
At a glance, they carried the crushing pressure of thousands of cannons firing at once.
River released the sword hilt at his waist and slowly raised his right hand, aiming it forward. His eyes were now filled with severity and wariness.
Combining Armament Haki with an awakened ability made for an attack of undeniably immense destructive power.
It could threaten even him.
Though Devil Fruit abilities were powerful, this world's Haki could counter or negate them.
An immense aura surged from River's body. His black hair whipped wildly, and a ring of invisible force rippled around him.
"Gate of Opening, open!"
"Gate of Healing, open!"
"Gate of Life, open!"
"Gate of Pain, open!"
"Gate of Limit, open!"
"Gate of View, open!"
With each word he uttered, his aura grew stronger. The instant the Gate of View opened, green light erupted around his entire body.
Violent waves of energy swept outward in every direction, his expression turning savage and frenzied.
Eight Gates Formation!
This was the skill River had obtained by enhancing and developing the Six Powers. Thanks to the Recovery Fruit's ability, he could open all Eight Gates, unleashing terrifying physical strength and bringing his combat power to its peak.
It was also his trump card.
Twenty years ago, during his battles with Roger, Whitebeard, and the others, the strongest state his opponents and friends had witnessed was the opening of the Seventh Gate-the Gate of Wonder!
The Daytime Tiger attack he used with the Gate of Wonder open had also earned him the title of Daytime Tiger.
Screee!!
The powerful green energy vibrated against the air, producing piercing cries like birds screeching around River.
"Come on!"
"Doffy!!!"
With a roar, River glared at the sixteen great waves of white threads, coated in highly concentrated Armament Haki, now less than a hundred meters away.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
A shrill rush split the air as the sixteen Purple-Red waves of white threads crossed those hundred meters in an instant and reached him.
"Fufufufufufu!"
Doflamingo's crazed laughter echoed through the air.
Green energy churned around River as he suddenly unleashed both fists.
"Morning Peacock!!!"
In an instant, hundreds upon thousands of flaming fist projections appeared in the air.
River punched furiously, his fists moving so fast they generated friction against the air. Under the Eight Gates Formation, his body's capabilities had reached unprecedented heights.
Small injuries kept appearing across his body, his skin burning, only to return to normal almost immediately.
The Recovery Fruit's power counteracted the negative effects of the Eight Gates Formation.
Vrrrr, vrrrr, vrrrr, vrrrr!
Thousands upon thousands of fist projections appeared in the air in an instant, wrapped in flames as they hurtled forward like meteors.
Green energy boiled around River. His immense aura even affected the surrounding space, making it appear to warp and ripple.
Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!
In a flash, the flaming fist projections slammed into the sixteen Purple-Red deadly bullets.
The entire sky shook. Fist projections and deadly bullets collided and shattered, sending out one flashing ripple after another.
"Haaaah!!!!"
River roared, his swinging fists blurring into phantoms.
The sixteen Purple-Red deadly bullets trailed long streaks across the sky, their offensive power astonishing. This final attack, on which Doflamingo had staked everything, was naturally no weak blow.
Bang, bang, bang, bang, bang!
An unbroken rumble like muffled thunder filled the sky over Mock Town, making everyone's eardrums tremble.
The pirates could barely breathe. They could not begin to imagine how those two men high above them had created such a sight.
To think such powerful people existed in this world!
"Is this what the powerful fighters of the New World are like?"
"It's absolutely staggering."
"With a battle this intense, we'd be torn to pieces by the shock waves if we got even a little closer!"
Trembling voices rose one after another. The pirates felt heartfelt awe and fear toward the two men fighting above them.
The deafening collisions continued for a full two or three minutes.
High in the sky, ripples spread outward as flames burst like fireworks and fell to the ground.
Everything seemed to settle into silence once more.
"Huff, huff, huff, huff!"
Doflamingo bent over, panting, his expression grim.
As he stared at the figure wrapped in green energy not far away, a shadow fell over his heart.
His strongest attack had been effortlessly neutralized.
The man before him was like an insurmountable mountain blocking his path. That unfathomable aura pressed down on him until his whole body trembled.
"Is that all, Doffy?"
"Is this the full extent of your strength?"
Green energy surrounded River, his aura vast and ferocious. Even his voice had grown deeper.
"Fufufufufufu!"
"So I'm still this helpless in front of you."
"For twenty years, I've worked myself to the bone, training, building my power, trying to surpass my father."
"Trying to surpass Rosinante!"
Doflamingo suddenly burst into laughter.
But as he laughed, two trails of tears slowly slipped from beneath his sunglasses.
Yes, for twenty years, he had kept striving, kept struggling, kept making himself stronger and raising his standing.
For what?
The sole reason behind it all was the man who had left such a profound impression on him twenty years ago.
He wanted that man's recognition. He wanted to catch his eye, to receive his praise and acknowledgment!
Twenty years had passed in the blink of an eye. Only today had he finally met the man again and challenged him.
Yet that bottomless strength had still dealt him a cruel blow.
Before this man, he was nothing.
"In the end, it's still just like twenty years ago."
"In your eyes, I can't measure up to anyone!"
"My ambition, my revenge, none of it means anything."
Doflamingo trembled all over, his heart filled with utter despair.
Twenty years of effort had been for this moment alone-the instant when he would catch the man's eye and earn his recognition.
But now that the battle had reached this point, it was undoubtedly all over.
His defeat was crushing. He had not even been able to fight back.
High in the sky, Doflamingo's voice echoed.
River stood there in silence. Only after a long while did he raise his head and look at the man before him.
"As I remember it..."
"You weren't someone who sank into despair like this after a defeat!"
"Doffy!"
Doflamingo shuddered and abruptly raised his head.
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