172. Fear

Hey guys, so tomorrow is my birthday so I won't upload any chapter for tomorrow, but I will do a mass release of 10 chapters on 7th.

If you guys want to buy me a gift, so can do so through https://paypal.me/SSDhanush?country.x=IN&locale.x=en_GB

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Doflamingo's finger, the one that was about to pull the trigger, paused for a moment. Without realizing it, he turned his head to see the man who had silently appeared behind him.

He stood tall and upright with a serious expression, his muscular frame resembling a massive mountain, putting a heavy weight on Doflamingo's heart.

Suddenly, the entire Donquixote Family, including Doflamingo and even the backup members like Buffalo, went completely silent.

Even Rosinante, lying on the ground and prepared for the end, saw his pupils contract suddenly. However, what happened next was nothing short of astonishing.

"No, I shouldn't be amazed..."

"This Marine..."

"Could this man be..."

The fear in the hearts of all the present Donquixote Family members couldn't be contained upon clearly seeing the face of the man standing behind Doflamingo.

Candidate for Admiral at the Naval Headquarters! Codename: Hakuryu!!!

As pirates, how can they not understand the significance of the candidate for Admiral at the Naval Headquarters, let alone the youngest alternate Admiral in Marine history?!

Since his debut, this guy's ways of dealing with pirates have been just as ruthless as another Candidate Admiral Akainu. Few pirates can survive unscathed under his command.

Yet, how could such a man suddenly show up in the North Blue?!

How could he coincidentally appear in front of the Donquixote Family like this?!

"Fufufufu... That's quite impolite. Who do you think you're calling a kid!?"

Doflamingo was momentarily surprised, but he quickly reminded himself that he was a man destined to become a king. How could he be frightened by just a name?

Clearly, at this moment, Doflamingo lacked the humility he showed after being defeated by Kaido. He radiated an air of "I am the boss, second to none" from head to toe.

"Moreover, I'm imparting a lesson to my dear brother. Why should a mere Marine like you intervene?"

Silently, Doflamingo proceeded to discharge the flintlock gun in his hand without uttering a word.

Boom!×2

A sound of flesh colliding echoed, and Doflamingo's initially confident expression crumbled instantly. His towering figure suddenly hunched over like a cooked prawn, and he was sent flying backward.

Atlas, who appeared seemingly out of nowhere, now stood in front of Rosinante. His body maintained the same posture as when he removed his legs, and he slowly crushed the metal bullet in his hand into powder.

"Truly, I advised you to surrender..."

Atlas shook his head slightly and observed the members of the Donquixote Family, who were now confronted by a formidable enemy.

"Young Master!! Are you alright!?"

"This guy, darn it..."

As Doflamingo soared upside down, the pirates who had initially encircled Rosinante scattered like startled birds and beasts. They regrouped, surrounding Doflamingo once again as he flew through the air.

"Fufufufu... I'm fine."

Doflamingo gradually dissipated the dark armament haki from his waist and abdomen, wearing a pained expression. He compelled himself to suppress the sweet taste rising in his throat while discreetly utilizing the abilities of his Devil Fruit to mend the slightly damaged internal organs.

What an incredible force! ! !

Doflamingo felt a hidden fear creeping in; a bead of sweat, as sizable as a soybean, trickled down his forehead. He experienced an overwhelming sense of helplessness surging in his heart.

If he interpreted it correctly, the guy from just now didn't even employ his armament haki...

"How about it, can you still endure, Rosinante?"

Atlas paid no heed to the wariness of Doflamingo and the others. While speaking, he crouched down, and the power of the Horse Talisman emanated from his hands.

"Ahem... Thankfully, I won't be dying for the time being."

Rosinante's voice had a slight hoarseness, but he couldn't conceal the joy on his face.

Even though he had been shadowing Doflamingo for these years, Rosinante had consistently kept tabs on news about Atlas. Naturally, he knew how formidable Atlas' current strength was, undoubtedly more than sufficient to handle Doflamingo.

"Enough chatter for now; it'll be over soon..."

Atlas intervened to halt Rosinante's resistance. When the radiant green light on his hand made contact with Rosinante's incapacitated body, it miraculously eradicated all the injuries instantly.

"This is..."

Rosinante shifted his body in surprise. He didn't anticipate the effect being so rapid. Could this be the power of the Devil Fruit?

"Save the discussion for later. First, let's handle these guys."

Atlas had no intention of explaining. Instead, he rose to his feet and gazed at Doflamingo and his group, who were confronting a formidable enemy.

"Show yourself, quit lurking, Vergo!!"

Rather than confronting Doflamingo immediately, he yelled at Vergo, who was concealed behind a heap of debris.

"Did you trail me all the way here...?"

Realizing he was exposed, Vergo emerged from his hiding spot with a pale face, as if he already grasped how Atlas located this place.

"When did you begin suspecting me?"

"This..." Atlas shook his head slightly and swiftly vanished from everyone's sight.

Boom!

The next moment, nobody could discern the process clearly. In the blink of an eye, Vergo's head, cloaked in armament colors, was promptly pressed into the ground by Atlas. A hole, perfectly matching the shape of Vergo's head, was formed! ! !

Atlas planted one foot on Vergo's unconscious head and said with a solemn smile, "No need for explanations, huh? Mr. Vergo."

"You believe that, Doflamingo!!?"

"Fufufufu...."

Doflamingo didn't respond, but he was urgently contemplating how to extricate himself from the grasp of this Marine.

'Must escape! ! !'

This man was simply beyond his league. In just that brief encounter, he could feel the unsurpassable gap between them!

"Doffy... what's our move now?"

The head of the Donquixote Family, Trebol, couldn't resist moving closer to Doflamingo, asking with a hint of concern.

In order to ensure the success of snatching the Op-Op Fruit, most of the family members were brought here. If they're killed by the Marine right in front of us, the whole family will be obliterated!

"Hey, don't approach me like that!"

Doflamingo expressed with a hint of disgust, veins popping up on his forehead.

Boom!

As soon as he finished speaking, a beam of explosive flames precisely enveloped Trebol. The copious mucus that had originally coated his skin evaporated instantly under the formidable blasting force and scorching high temperature.

Trebol himself was instantly impaled through the chest, and he toppled backward.

"Since you despise him so much, I'll gladly assist you in resolving it..."

Atlas remarked, gazing at Donquixote, whose expression grew increasingly somber.

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