Chapter 77: King vs. King, Flare vs. String

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"Remarkable. Someone in the first half of the Grand Line who can use both Armament and Observation Haki. Add Conqueror's Haki to the mix, and we're both wielders of all three," Doflamingo said with a wide, crazed grin, completely unfazed by the wave of Ace's Conqueror's Haki. After all, Ace's Conqueror's Haki was still relatively weak at this stage. "Though, considering your lineage, I suppose it's not that surprising."

Even though they'd both awakened their Conqueror's Haki in similar circumstances as children – under the threat of death to someone they cared for – Ace was ultimately too kind, lacking Doflamingo's ruthlessness.

He'd heard Garp mention Doflamingo briefly. Though the man might have been a victim of circumstance, his actions were ultimately not right, and therefore undeserving of pity.

By now, almost everyone's attention was riveted on them. Ace, a newcomer to Sabaody with a bounty exceeding 200 million berries.

Though Doflamingo was a well-established figure, the Flame-Flame Fruit was a formidable power. The outcome of this battle was far from certain.

On the battlefield…

Ace, with a confident grin, tipped his orange hat in acknowledgment of his crew's cheers. He tightened his fist, flames igniting around it, and threw a powerful punch.

"Fire Fist!"

A massive fist of fire erupted, hurtling towards Doflamingo, engulfing him and shattering the buildings behind him.

"That's… Fire Fist Ace!"

"Incredible power!"

The onlookers, a mix of thugs and pirates, watched in awe and trepidation, the golden flames reflecting in their widened eyes.

The sheer scale of the attack filled them with primal fear.

"Impressive…"

Doflamingo, engulfed in flames, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of interest and wariness, launched a swift kick at Ace.

"Foot String!" Nearly invisible strings shot out from the tip of his shoe, sharp and swift, aimed at bisecting the incoming inferno.

A strange force rippled through the air. The massive fire fist stalled momentarily before splitting in two, dissipating harmlessly.

Ace felt a surge of adrenaline, not fear, as Doflamingo countered his attack. This was the thrill of battling a top-tier opponent.

BOOM!

Ace reacted instantly to Doflamingo's counterattack, flames erupting beneath his feet as he used the Soru technique Garp had taught him, creating a crater in the ground reminiscent of Mr. 5's exploding kicks.

Ace coated his fist in Busoshoku Haki as Doflamingo charged, both their feet clad in the invisible armor. They clashed, fists colliding with a resounding boom.

Two waves of potent Conqueror's Haki erupted, radiating outward from the point of impact.

The clash of kings, a testament to their innate, domineering auras, reverberated through the air, shaking the very foundations of the island. The sky above darkened ominously.

This was no longer a simple clash of Armament and Observation Haki; this was a rare and awe-inspiring spectacle – a collision of Conqueror's Haki.

CRACK!

The clash of their Conqueror's Haki unleashed a terrifying phenomenon. Black lightning crackled through the sky, and the once clear blue sky was now shrouded in dark, swirling clouds, the wind howling fiercely.

Doflamingo's expression turned manic, his red-tinted glasses obscuring his eyes, as he stuck out his tongue, observing Ace with a predatory grin.

The clash of their wills, their domineering auras, threatened to tear the very fabric of reality. The black lightning intensified, as if all the energy in the world was converging on this single point.

The onlookers, those still standing, watched in stunned silence, their hearts pounding in their chests. It was as if they were mortals witnessing the apocalypse unfold before their eyes.

RUMBLE!

Amidst the chaos, something unexpected occurred. To Doflamingo's shock and disbelief, while his Conqueror's Haki was stronger, Ace's, though weaker, possessed a greater intensity, a more focused and refined aura. Ace's Conqueror's Haki was on a higher level.

"Such potent Conqueror's Haki… How intriguing."

Doflamingo retracted his leg, unharmed but visibly shaken. He stared at Ace, his face a mask of disbelief.

Ace's Conqueror's Haki was far stronger than he had anticipated.

Though its raw power was far less potent.

Doflamingo took a deep breath, composing himself, a look of seriousness replacing his usual manic grin.

Conqueror's Haki wasn't simply a measure of strength but rather an aura, a presence, a testament to one's potential as a king. But while many possessed the qualities of a king, only one could claim the throne.

In any given era, those who wielded Conqueror's Haki were destined to clash, regardless of their affiliations or current standing.

"If you continue to grow at this rate, you'll undoubtedly surpass me…" Doflamingo's manic grin faded, replaced by a calm, almost respectful expression.

"Your crew is called the Spade Pirates, correct? How about joining my ranks?"

Ace laughed, a deep, resonant chuckle. His eyes narrowed, and he looked at Doflamingo with a knowing glint. "Do you really think I would agree? Someone who aspires to be king wouldn't submit to another."

He echoed the words he'd spoken to Kid. "You admire me because I have the potential to be king. But this world can only have one king."

Doflamingo paused, then looked at Ace with a newfound understanding. He chuckled darkly. "Fufufu… I see…"

The mark of a king was an unwillingness to bow to anyone or anything. To submit to another was to forfeit one's claim to the throne.

This was the reason why so few Marines possessed Conqueror's Haki. But who said that being a Marine meant submitting to rules and authority? During Garp's prime, he had defied orders and challenged superiors, even Fleet Admirals.

Ace was Garp's grandson, even if not by blood, and they both carried the Will of D. Their connection was undeniable.

Unfortunately, Doflamingo had miscalculated. Ace's lineage stemmed from the true king of the previous era, Gol D. Roger.

BOOM! The clash of kings, a brief but intense struggle, ended abruptly.

A shockwave rippled outward, buffeting Doflamingo's pink feather coat and Ace's flames.

"Fool. Rejecting both the Warlord offer and my invitation... Don't forget, you're a pirate, opposed to both the Warlords and the Marines."

"To reveal your potential without the strength to protect it… In the New World, that's a death sentence. Even if I kill you, Garp can't fault me."

Doflamingo extended his hand, his manic grin returning, but his eyes now held a chilling intent. He hadn't come here for idle chatter.

There was no need for further words. His purpose was clear. Ace had mentioned Black Winged Devil. It seemed Ian's Warlord nomination was his doing, with Garp merely acting as the messenger.

His intention, like Ian's, had been to offer a favor to Garp. But now that Ace had refused, and with a valid reason, there was no point in keeping him alive.

A future rival on his path to kingship, like Crocodile, even if slightly weaker, would be a constant thorn in his side.

Ace had only himself to blame for his foolishness.

SWISH!

Doflamingo's killing intent surged, his fingers splaying out like claws as he swiped at Ace.

"Five Color String!" Five nearly invisible strings, sharp enough to slice through steel, shot towards Ace.

Ace, despite his relatively weak Observation Haki, sensed the incoming attack. Undeterred, he swung his arm forward.

"Flame Commandment: Fire Pillar!"

A massive pillar of fire erupted from Ace's body, radiating intense heat.

He held nothing back, unleashing his full power from the start. Against an opponent like Doflamingo, there was no room for hesitation.

To hold back was to invite death.

But Doflamingo didn't flinch, allowing the flames to wash over him, seemingly unaffected.

"You've eaten the Flame-Flame Fruit, and your body is made of fire. But your control is… underwhelming. This heat is nothing compared to Akainu's Magma-Magma Fruit."

As Doflamingo spoke, the flames surrounding him flickered and dispersed, sliced into five sections by his strings, dissipating harmlessly into the air.

Ace's eyes widened in surprise. He had underestimated the power of a Warlord.

"Hmph!"

Doflamingo pressed his attack, his five strings continuing their trajectory towards Ace.

His strings possessed incredible strength, sharpness, and flexibility, making them incredibly difficult to defend against.

CLING!

The strings struck Ace's Haki-coated arms, creating sparks and cutting halfway through his forearms.

His hastily erected defense was no match for Doflamingo's attack. But instead of blood, flames erupted from the wounds.

Devil Fruits were common in the Grand Line, but Logia-type Devil Fruits were exceptionally rare. Nearly every Logia user was a prominent figure. Most of the onlookers had never witnessed a Logia ability in action.

"Ineffective?" Doflamingo said, his voice laced with frustration. Ace's wounds had already healed, and he turned to face Doflamingo, his eyes burning with determination.

"Against a Logia user, without Haki or Seastone, it's indeed a challenge." Doflamingo muttered, shaking his head.

Haki was prevalent in the New World, but in the first half of the Grand Line, it was a rare skill. Still, some were aware of its existence.

Seastone, however, was more widely known.

Doflamingo, his first attack thwarted, launched another with his other hand.

"Overheat String!"

This time, instead of manipulating existing strings, he created five new ones, shaped like a rake, aimed at piercing Ace's head. "Cross Fire!"

Ace crossed his index fingers, unleashing a cross-shaped blast of fire. However, Doflamingo's strings sliced through the flames like a hot knife through butter, extinguishing them and continuing their trajectory towards Ace. "Damn it! Holy Flame, Ignis!"

Ace, shocked by Doflamingo's power, crossed his arms and unleashed a golden spear of fire, which collided with Doflamingo's string rake.

BOOM! The two attacks clashed, creating a shockwave that sent both weapons shattering. It had taken two powerful attacks to counter Doflamingo's technique. Were all Warlords this monstrous?

"Die! Mirror Flame!"

Ace roared, unleashing his full power, his reckless nature refusing to acknowledge the gap in their strength. He was determined to defeat Doflamingo.

A massive wall of golden flames surged towards Doflamingo, mirroring the attack he had used in the Marineford War to block Aokiji's Ice Age, an attack comparable to Akainu's Inugami Guren. However, his current attack lacked the same destructive power.

"String Web!"

Doflamingo conjured a massive net of strings, which intercepted Ace's Mirror Flame…

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Word Count [1765]

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To Be Continued..

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