"Doflamingo, we're future partners. That's enough."
Chris stood calmly with his arms crossed. "Law is very important to me. I won't let you take him—there's no debate."
"Partners??"
Doflamingo's fingers twitched. He smirked sinisterly.
"Kid, don't get too full of yourself."
"With your level of potential, unless I kill you, I won't be able to sleep easy."
"It's been so many years... I haven't gone all-out in a long time. You should feel honored. Fufufufufu..."
Doflamingo spread his arms and laughed wildly.
"Let me show you the true power of a Devil Fruit, kid."
"Prepare to be shocked!"
Chris stayed unfazed, replying flatly:
"It's just an Awakening. No need to get so hyped."
...Huh?!
Doflamingo's laugh cut off abruptly, like someone had grabbed his throat.
Shocked.
Completely dumbfounded.
"You... you know about Awakening?" Doflamingo's expression finally changed. He was stunned.
"A rookie like you… how do you know this much?"
"Impossible. Something's not right!"
"Who are you really? There's no way you're just an ordinary pirate."
He was clearly rattled—far from his usual composed self.
Chris simply shrugged.
"I don't like repeating myself. Don't make me say it a third time."
"Fufufufufu..."
Doflamingo laughed angrily.
"Let's see if you can keep that calm after this. Don't die too quickly, now."
Swoosh—
White threads burst outward from Doflamingo's body, spreading rapidly in every direction.
The ground turned white.
Rocks, trees, flowers—everything transformed.
A strange, eerie sight.
Everyone around was stunned.
"This… This is Awakening, right?"
Burgess's eyes widened.
"A Devil Fruit user can affect their surroundings. It's really happening!"
Doc Q gave a mysterious smile.
"I wonder how our captain will handle this next. I'm quite looking forward to it."
Lafitte planted his cane into the ground, his voice gentle.
"This trip was worth it. We've witnessed the true top-tier power of a Warlord. Now we understand the gap."
Law frowned coldly.
"Doflamingo is going all-out. You better pray your captain makes it through."
Sweetheart Queen glared toward the others.
"I really don't like that guy. He's awful."
Betty shrugged, uninterested.
"Whatever. Chris will show him who's boss."
Meanwhile, Chris still stood there calmly, arms folded, unfazed by Doflamingo's Awakening.
He let him reshape the terrain freely.
"Good… stay that calm. Just don't disappoint me, kid!"
Doflamingo smirked and waved his hand.
From the transformed tree, a massive white thread shot out like a serpent, lunging toward Chris with violent force.
The air trembled—it was clearly much more powerful than before.
Still calm, Chris opened his arms and whispered:
"Shinra Tensei!"
A soft white glow rose around him, forming an energy field over two meters tall, with Chris floating at its center.
Boom—
Before the giant thread could hit, it was forcibly repelled midair, violently flung away.
Shock!
Even Doflamingo was dumbfounded.
Even an Awakened strike was bounced back?!
That was insane!
"What... what kind of ability is this?"
Doflamingo stared, then laughed again.
"Looks like you're concentrating repulsion into a powerful field."
"Amazing. It seems like you can reflect all attacks. Is this your ultimate defense?"
"You're full of surprises, kid. Fufufufu..."
Chris still floated calmly, arms folded, unmoved.
"You talk too much, Doflamingo."
"Out of respect for our 'partnership,' let me give you a tip."
"When you fight, do it fast, clean, and hard."
"All that rambling will only get you killed."
Doflamingo covered his face and let out a low, dark laugh.
"Getting lectured by a brat… I'm so angry it's hilarious. Fufufufufu..."
"Kid, you really think I can't handle you?
Die—"
"Everwhite Surge!"
Countless massive white threads surged forward like crashing waves, swarming Chris from all directions.
Dense, chaotic, like an endless sea of writhing serpents.
It was truly terrifying to behold.
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T/N:
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