Clash

"Alright, I understand."

In the stands of the grand arena, Yota put down the Den Den Mushi in his hand and could not help sighing.

"I was already planning not to go looking for trouble, yet Doflamingo thinks I’m an easy target?"

Given what Doflamingo had done, if Yota were still with the Spade Pirates and Ace and Yamato learned the truth, they would definitely have beaten Doflamingo and liberated Dressrosa.

But Yota did not really care. There were plenty of trash kings on the seas, and Doflamingo was far from the worst of them. Dressrosa might have been glamorous on the surface and dark underneath, but compared to countries like Drum Kingdom, Wano Country, and White Town, which were rotten to the core inside and out, it was already fairly decent.

Unfortunately, he had no intention of harming the tiger, but the tiger wished to harm him. Even though Yota had mercifully decided to let Doflamingo off the hook, Doflamingo refused to leave things be and was coming after him.

What else was there to say? Yota happened to be interested in some of the Doflamingo Pirates’ Devil Fruits as well!

As for why Yota had come to the arena, the two masked figures in the center were Ulti and Page One.

Although neither of them had used any particularly conspicuous Devil Fruit abilities, they had still beaten a group of gladiators black and blue. The siblings would soon meet in the finals.

Yota had wanted to see what kind of joke Ulti and Page One would make of the final! He also wondered how things would end for those awkward siblings. Sadly, he would not get to see the final match now.

After leaving the arena, Yota looked around, preparing to find somewhere with few people so he would not have to hold back once the battle began.

Though he did not think this fight would truly be all that intense, he still needed to reduce potential collateral casualties.

On the outskirts of Dressrosa was a Flower Field. In this bustling city, it could already be considered sparsely populated, so Yota headed in that direction.

At the same time, he faintly sensed several people with powerful life forces moving along with him.

Some unusually lively-looking toys also occasionally turned their gazes toward him, giggling as they followed behind him.

Though Dressrosa was prosperous, it was not a particularly large country. Or rather, it was the typical island nation where one city was the entire country.

Just over ten minutes later, Yota had reached the vicinity of the Flower Field. Aside from the occasional lovers and tourists, there was no one else in sight.

As a result, even though those following him were still quite far away, they could no longer escape Yota’s notice.

"Doflamingo, the king of Dressrosa, why are you playing at stalking people when you have nothing better to do?"

Yota raised his head and looked at a pink figure in the sky.

The figure swiftly descended from the air and landed before Yota. It was Doflamingo, the Heavenly Yaksha.

"Fufufufufufu!" Doflamingo laughed as he looked at Yota. "You’re the Whitebeard Pirates’ rising super rookie. Of course I had to come and get acquainted with you."

Though Doflamingo said that, a faint chill had already flashed through his eyes behind his sunglasses.

Either do not act, or see it through to the end—this had always been Doflamingo’s creed. Since he had decided to help the Beasts Pirates capture Yota, he would not hesitate in the slightest.

While they spoke, Doflamingo had secretly cast out transparent threads that wrapped around Yota’s body.

Yota seemed completely unaware. "Now that you know me, what do you think?"

Doflamingo gave a sinister grin. "Of course I have thoughts! You’re not living up to your reputation!"

"Did you think no one would dare touch you just because you joined the Whitebeard Pirates? With so little vigilance, it’s hard to imagine that you’re even a pirate who made it to the New World!"

"In your next life, be more careful!"

The moment he finished speaking, Doflamingo fiercely pulled the threads in his hands, intending to take control of Yota.

He pulled once, then again, then used all his strength until veins bulged on his forehead. Doflamingo then discovered, to his great embarrassment—he could not move him at all!

Yota sneered. "Pull harder. Haven’t you eaten?"

"Damn it…" Doflamingo gritted his teeth and immediately coated the threads with Armament Haki. The previously transparent threads instantly showed black traces in the air.

The greatly strengthened threads finally made Yota feel a slight pain. He stopped holding back and casually gave them a tug. Doflamingo immediately felt an irresistible force and was flung straight toward Yota.

"Not good!" Doflamingo’s expression changed drastically. He immediately activated the String-String Fruit’s ability and severed the thin threads in his hands. At the same time, he extended tough threads from his feet and stabbed them into the ground, barely avoiding being dragged over by Yota.

"Pretty quick reaction." Yota praised him, though he did not care much.

Seeing Yota’s relaxed expression, as though he were looking at a clown, Doflamingo ground his teeth and was secretly shocked.

That terrifying physique actually gave Doflamingo the feeling of facing Kaido, making him sense that things were going terribly wrong.

That dead fatass Queen said we alone would be enough… Was that bastard trying to set us up?

But things had already reached this point, and Doflamingo had no room to retreat. Fortunately, he had not underestimated Yota and had called over nearly all the strong fighters of the Doflamingo Pirates.

The ground suddenly split open with a massive crack. Looking carefully, it was actually the face of a gigantic Thing. Yota happened to be standing above its mouth and was swallowed in an instant.

"Pica! Crush him down to the deepest part of the island." Doflamingo shouted with a grim expression. According to the original plan, even if Pica used the Stone-Stone Fruit to suppress Yota, he was not supposed to use overly dangerous techniques.

But after exchanging blows with Yota, Doflamingo understood that this was absolutely not an enemy they could handle while holding back. Thus, while cursing Queen inwardly, he attacked with full force without hesitation.

What if they hit too hard and killed Yota? That was still far better than holding back and being killed by Yota.

Unfortunately, Doflamingo did not know that even if they went all out, they still could not possibly be Yota’s match!

After hearing Doflamingo’s order, Pica used the Stone-Stone Fruit’s ability to press Yota down as far as his power could reach, into the deepest part of the earth.

Yota did not resist at first. Only after he sensed that Pica had exhausted all his strength did he begin to exert himself at an unhurried pace.

Even buried at an unknown depth underground, Yota still looked relaxed. "This is as deep as you can go? Then it’s my turn!"