"Doflamingo, don't underestimate me! I'm a hero of the West Blue!!!"
At the critical moment—
From the white ground beneath Doflamingo, two massive fists armed with knuckle spikes burst forth.
They were enormous, easily rivaling the size of the incoming sword strike.
Rising from below, they crashed against the blade.
"Fuffuffuffu! Yes, that's it, Moria! My thrill is reaching its peak!!!"
With both warriors roaring, the long blade and iron fists collided fiercely.
"BOOM!!!"
The earth shattered!
Centered around the two fighters, debris and dust shot out like bullets.
A massive shockwave, almost tangible, spread like a tidal wave, seeking to engulf everything in its path.
Moria's subordinates were the first to face the brunt of it.
"Hit the ground!!!"
Those quick-witted enough to react grabbed their companions and dove down, holding onto anything that could anchor them.
In the past, whenever their captain used this technique, the enemy would fall.
But this time… something was different.
Meanwhile, Enel—
Had already merged with the lightning in the sky, his silent, electrified visage watching the battle unfold.
Enjoying the best possible spectator's view.
...
In the distance—
Seeing the reappearance of the giant lightning face in the sky and feeling the tremors from afar, Jenomie's face lit up. He rushed forward.
Earlier, Lord Thunder God had made a round and left.
The foolish villagers had stayed put, waiting.
Clearly, Lord Thunder God was in combat now.
It was their time to show loyalty!
They alone were worthy to be his loyal lackeys!
Just as they climbed a hill, the three barely had time to glimpse the battlefield ahead when—
"Boom!!!"
A boulder the size of a millstone came hurtling toward them.
Caught completely off guard, the three were sent flying again, their voices trailing with reluctant cries:
"This feels familiar!"
"I hate this scene so much!"
"Lord Thunder God, we'll be back!!! Please wait for us!"
...
At the heart of the battlefield—
Fists and blades clashed repeatedly, their speed so intense that afterimages trailed behind them.
Suddenly—
The descending long blade was caught firmly between two massive iron fists.
The two combatants locked in a deadlock.
'As expected of a brute who can wrestle Kaido with sheer strength!'
Doflamingo flashed a bright, confident grin.
Just one exchange was enough to confirm it—this Moria, who didn't even possess Haki, had still managed to challenge Kaido a year and a half later.
Based on sheer strength alone, he did qualify.
But strength alone wasn't enough.
...
The white ground beneath them surged like a stormy sea.
Moria instantly felt his footing slip.
With a snarl, his massive claws stomped down hard, anchoring himself against the shifting ground.
But in that fleeting moment—the battle dynamic had already shifted.
More iron fists emerged from the white ground, striking the massive sword in Moria's hands, knocking it off balance.
His body staggered back two steps.
Simultaneously—
The white ground—
Began churning like the turbulent Calm Belt.
Endless threads poured forth like liquid, weaving together into a massive, humanoid form.
Even larger than Moria himself, the towering white titan stood unmoving.
Its name—
Thread-Thread War Titan!
"Pleh—!"
Moria's crew, who had just cleared the dust from their eyes, gazed upon the faceless white giant.
A deep, instinctual dread surged within them.
"What… is that?!"
"Boss Moria!!!"
"..."
"Kyahahaha! Now this is interesting! Doflamingo, let's go!!!"
Moria's expression twisted in a feral grin. He was on the verge of breaking down, reaching his mental limit—
And he was about to lose control!
From beneath him, his massive shadow detached.
His Colossal Shadow returned to the battlefield.
This time, his two-on-one was different!
"Die! Shadow Horn Greatsword!!!"
The already enormous sword, now enhanced by his shadow's power, shot forward like a divine spear.
His Shadow leapt into the air, its massive clawed hands hammering down onto the white titan's head.
The raw strength was equal to Moria himself.
The giant's mountain-sized head jerked sideways from the impact.
Its movements faltered.
The Shadow Horn Greatsword seized the moment, piercing straight through its faceless head.
Then—
Moria and his Shadow closed in from both sides, unleashing a relentless assault on the immobilized giant.
"Kyahahaha! Doflamingo, become my subordinate and I'll let you go!"
"Oh? Have you vented enough?"
Darkness loomed over Moria.
Sensing danger, he tried to dash forward and widen the distance.
However—
Six massive arms locked him in place.
Forcibly wrenching him around.
What greeted his eyes was the white titan—now sporting even more arms than before.
Emerging from its forehead, Doflamingo stared down at him, eyes filled with disappointment.
Moria—
Had no Observation Haki.
Was close to losing control.
He couldn't even pinpoint Doflamingo's real body.
How utterly—
Weak!
"Moria, without Haki, you're far too fragile."
Doflamingo's eyes gleamed dangerously, his tone both fervent and composed. The six arms darkened, crackling with energy as they gathered power.
"Let me help you understand this incredible force."
"Your fists aren't hard enough. Your sword isn't sharp enough. Your killing intent and willpower are not pure enough!!!"
"Ora ora ora ora ora!!!"
Like an unrelenting machine, the iron fists rained down, hammering Moria's head mercilessly.
Shark-like teeth shattered and scattered across the ground.
From head to toe—
Every inch of his body was "massaged" with precision.
"Moria-sama!!!"
Seeing their beloved captain losing his ability to fight, trapped in a life-or-death struggle—
Moria's crew could no longer sit still.
Weapons in hand, they prepared to charge in and rescue him.
Before Doflamingo could unleash his Conqueror's Haki—
"AAAAHHHHH!!!"
Thick bolts of lightning struck down from the sky.
One by one, pirates collapsed under the electric assault, losing consciousness instantly.
"Passage restricted!"
A thunderous voice boomed from above.
"No!!!"
Restrained by the giant's powerful arms, on the verge of blacking out, Moria snapped back to his senses.
Strength surged back into his exhausted body as he began to struggle anew.
"Don't be in such a rush, Moria. Accept my final lesson in Haki—
Moria's attempted counterattack was effortlessly neutralized by the Thread-Thread War Titan.
The giant grinned radiantly.
Doflamingo, in full mastery of his Devil's Awakening and Seimei Kikan, condensed his Armament and Observation Haki inward—
Through specialized copper-thread channels—
The titan's mouth began to glow.
"BOOM!"
A concentrated energy blast struck Moria head-on.
His shadow began to dissipate.
His body returned to its normal state.
His once-formidable muscles and tough skin charred and blackened under the intense heat.
Watching Moria, now on the brink of total defeat—
Doflamingo halted the attack.
After all, a new subordinate still had his uses.
And if Moria refused to submit—
Well, a seven-meter-tall demon still made an excellent test subject.
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+255 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg