Chapter 16: Running Away? That's Not an Option.

The calm sea occasionally vented its displeasure, tossing ships about like toys, much like a maiden in love: fickle, capricious, sometimes leaving you battered and bruised, other times showering you with affection.

The Donquixote Pirates, having left Whiskey Peak, experienced a relatively uneventful voyage. They encountered a few shortsighted pirate crews, but Diamante and Pica dealt with them without Doflamingo needing to lift a finger. Vergo remained focused on Doflamingo's orders, while Trebol handled personnel management. Doflamingo, meanwhile, stuck to his training regimen. Except for essential activities, he was practically confined to the training room.

While Doflamingo steadily progressed towards his destination, elsewhere, at the G-8 Naval Base on the Grand Line, Commodore Diez Barrels, having received news of the Donquixote Pirates' course, promptly set out with his subordinates, heading directly for Doflamingo's position.

Diez Barrels was a former Marine officer, a student of "Black Arm" Zephyr, who later fell from grace and became a pirate. He was the father of X Drake, and the man who would later accept the Navy's exorbitant offer to sell the Ope Ope no Mi to the "Government and Navy."

Doflamingo was unaware of the Navy's movements, and even if he knew, he wouldn't have cared. He'd simply fight.

Such boring days. Sea voyages are so tedious, the bored Marines thought. Barrels, however, took this voyage very seriously. It held great significance, as he wasn't just any Marine. Having graduated from the elite Marine training camp, he was privy to certain inside information. The more he knew, the more confused Barrels became. Was the justice he upheld truly worth it? He'd rather be out on a mission than cooped up in the base, where the internal politicking and corruption were just as rampant. Out of sight, out of mind. Especially since the target this time was a Celestial Dragon, and the orders were to capture him alive. The mission was of utmost importance, and no carelessness could be tolerated.

As Barrels advanced towards Doflamingo, the Donquixote Pirates were simultaneously heading towards Barrels. Their paths were destined to cross, and a battle was imminent.

"Navy ship ahead! It's approaching us rapidly! Go inform the Young Master!" the lookout on the pirate ship shouted, having spotted the fast-approaching Navy vessel, dutifully reporting his observation.

"Young Master, there's a Navy ship ahead. It appears to be a squadron. Should we change course and evade them?" the lookout's assistant quickly relayed the information, awaiting the Young Master's orders.

Receiving the report, Doflamingo laughed. "Fuffuffuffu! Running away? That's not an option. Who says pirates have to run from the Marines like mice from a cat? Listen up! We're heading straight for that warship! I'm going to meet them, get a good look at those self-proclaimed righteous Marines."

Hearing this, the crew immediately sprang into action, steering the ship directly towards the warship.

On the warship, a Marine reported to Barrels, "Commodore Barrels, the Donquixote Pirates are ahead. Should we open fire to capture them?"

"Open fire! Use all the cannons! Blast them to smithereens!" Barrels ordered excitedly.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Fierce cannon fire rained down on Doflamingo's pirate ship. If those cannonballs hit, the ship would be finished. The helmsman, however, remained calm, dodging left and right. The ship moved as nimbly as a fish, though the sheer number of cannonballs made the dodging act a bit frantic.

"Trebol, lend a hand. There are too many cannonballs. At this rate, the ship will be overwhelmed," Doflamingo said to Trebol, who was watching the spectacle from the sidelines.

"Behehehe! Then let me show you what I can do!" Trebol laughed. "Sticky-Sticky Launch!"

Countless globs of mucus shot out from Trebol's body towards the incoming cannonballs. The sticky blobs clung to the projectiles, immobilizing them and causing them to fall from the sky.

The Marines, seeing their cannon fire rendered ineffective, didn't retreat. They continued their rapid approach towards Doflamingo. It seemed both sides were confident, neither willing to back down. The two ships closed in quickly, the leaders of each side locking eyes, both burning with fighting spirit.

Before the Marines could make a move, Doflamingo, standing at the bow of his ship, powerfully launched himself into the air, landing on the deck of the Navy warship.

Seeing this, the Marines immediately surrounded Doflamingo, ready to capture the suicidal pirate.

"You're in quite a hurry, aren't you? Can't wait to meet your end?" Barrels said softly, looking at the surrounded Doflamingo.

"Fuffuffuffu! That's right. I want you to beat me to death, or for me to beat you to death," Doflamingo laughed arrogantly.

"Don't get too cocky, brat. The world is a big place. Don't be like a frog in a well, ignorant of the vastness beyond. Surrender now, and I won't make you suffer too much," Barrels said condescendingly.

"Oh? The Marines are so kind now? Have they all become do-gooders, preaching repentance?" Doflamingo maintained his usual arrogant demeanor, looking truly deserving of a beating.

"Alright, enough talk. I hope you'll still be so leisurely when you're captured. Try not to cry, brat," Barrels said with a disdainful look.

"Fuffuffuffu! Commodore, I'm right here. Just waiting for you to make me cry," Doflamingo laughed.

"Soru!" With a whoosh, Barrels attacked swiftly, a powerful punch aimed at Doflamingo's stomach, seemingly intending to punch a hole through him.

"So fast," Doflamingo thought to himself, but his reflexes were just as quick. He swiftly dodged the punch and followed up with a flying kick aimed at Barrels' face.

Barrels, unfazed by the missed attack, raised his left arm to block the kick and simultaneously launched a kick of his own. The two exchanged blows, each strike landing with a meaty thud, the fight intense and brutal.

"Fuffuffuffu! Commodore, you're not so tough, are you?" Doflamingo's attacks continued relentlessly, accompanied by verbal taunts.

"Hahaha! Brat, you've got some skills! Take this! Rankyaku: Severing Wave!" Barrels laughed heartily.

A massive, several-meter-long cutting wave surged towards Doflamingo with incredible speed, a palpable sense of danger emanating from it. Doflamingo had few options; his current skillset was too limited. Facing this Rankyaku: Severing Wave, he had to focus all his attention.

Activating his Observation Haki, he swiftly dodged the powerful air pressure from the kick.

However, Barrels, seeing this, showed no restraint. He continued to unleash dozens of Rankyaku attacks, gradually restricting Doflamingo's movement.

"Hey, hey, hey! Is this the same brat who was talking big just now? What's wrong? Are you only good at dodging?"

Seeing this momentum, the Marines engaged in fierce combat with the pirates, their fighting spirit soaring.

"Doffy will not fail! I believe in him! Kill them! Slaughter those self-righteous Marines!" Diamante shouted to his subordinates, seeing the situation.

Having dodged the Rankyaku attacks, Doflamingo realized that this Commodore was indeed quite skilled, not ordinary at all. Excellent. If he were too weak, the fight would be boring.

Without further ado, he quickly attacked Barrels, throwing punch after punch. The two continued to exchange blows.

"Tekkai!"

Doflamingo threw a powerful punch, striking Barrels' abdomen, but it was blocked by Tekkai.

In the anime, other Marines' Tekkai is all show and no substance. Why is it so hard when I hit it? Doflamingo was speechless.

"Shigan: Bee Sting!" Like a bee's sting, a flurry of Shigan attacks rained down on Doflamingo.

Despite the seemingly overwhelming barrage of Shigan, not a single one landed on Doflamingo.

This surprised Barrels. For the brat to dodge such a dense barrage of Shigan at such close range...

Something was off. This brat wasn't ordinary.

Stopping his attack, Barrels said to Doflamingo with a serious expression, "Brat, you've awakened Observation Haki at such a young age? You've got some talent. It seems I can't hold back anymore."

Before Doflamingo could reply, a heavier knee kick slammed towards him.

The atmosphere was extremely tense.