Doflamingo looked at Chiba with cold, narrowed eyes and sneered, "Hahahahaha, Monkey D. Chiba, do you have anything to say for yourself?"
Chiba smiled calmly, glancing at Rebecca and Leo before turning back to Doflamingo. "Didn't you see it all? What else needs to be said?"
Doflamingo's gaze darkened, and an intense aura began radiating from him. Sensing the tension, Koby and Helmeppo immediately moved in front of Chiba.
"Stand back," Chiba said calmly. The two stepped aside, but remained alert.
With a smirk, Chiba addressed Doflamingo, "Mr. Dover, even if we can't be partners, I don't think there's any need for us to draw our swords against each other."
Doflamingo laughed coldly, his voice filled with malice. "Chachachacha, Monkey D. Chiba, you destroyed my Smile Factory, stole my Fish-Fish Fruit, Mythical Zoan model—Yellow Dragon data, and now you think you can tell me not to fight you? Don't you think that's a little presumptuous?"
Chiba chuckled. "Oh? And what do you plan to do about it, Mr. Dover? Are you confident in your strength?" Chiba gestured to the people standing behind him—Ace, Marco, Vista, and the others.
Ace took a step forward, smirking. "Doflamingo, I suggest you reconsider. It wouldn't be wise to pick a fight with us."
Doflamingo's face darkened. He could sense the power surrounding Chiba's allies—Hina, Hancock, and the others all had formidable abilities. Especially Hancock, who exuded an intimidating aura. Ace himself was a formidable opponent, and Marco, Jozu, Vista, Koby, and Helmeppo couldn't be underestimated either.
If they all attacked together, Doflamingo and Vergo would be overwhelmed in an instant. Yet, he couldn't just let this insult slide.
With a twisted grin, Doflamingo said, "Hey, Chiba-kun, it seems you've become quite the pirate."
"Then let's settle this the pirate way. If you can defeat me, I'll let it go." As Doflamingo finished speaking, Ace burst out laughing.
"Doflamingo, you think you're worthy of fighting our captain? You should get through me first." Ace stepped forward, clearly unfazed. Back in Marineford, Ace had kicked Doflamingo across the battlefield, so he had little regard for him now.
But Doflamingo ignored Ace, keeping his eyes fixed on Chiba. "What's the matter? Are you scared?"
Chiba's lips curled into a slight smile. He stretched his arms, loosening up. "Since you're so eager to be humiliated, I'll oblige."
"Ace, step back. Let me handle him." Chiba walked past Ace with an easy confidence.
Ace laughed, "This Doflamingo actually thinks he stands a chance against Chiba. He's in for a rude awakening."
Not long ago, Chiba had demonstrated his overwhelming power to Ace, who knew all too well just how strong his captain was.
Chiba faced Doflamingo and said, "Doflamingo, despite your attempts to deceive me about the Devil Fruit technology, I'll give you a chance. I'll let you make three moves. Go ahead."
Doflamingo glared coldly. "Spare me the false kindness. You're here for my Yellow Dragon data, aren't you? Now that you've stolen it, don't act high and mighty. Let's finish this."
With that, Doflamingo's fingers twitched, and ten razor-sharp threads shot down from above, aimed at Chiba's joints.
In a flash, Chiba's hand moved, grabbing all ten threads mid-air. No matter how Doflamingo tried to manipulate them, the threads remained firmly gripped in Chiba's hand.
Chiba smirked. "Dover, that's one move."
Doflamingo's face twisted with frustration. His hands suddenly surged with Armament Haki, releasing a powerful black aura that radiated outwards like dark ribbons.
Everyone present felt the strength of Doflamingo's aura, and they grew tense. His Haki was formidable—stronger than most of those gathered. It would be a challenging battle for anyone.
"This… he's mastered the release of Armament Haki," Hina muttered, her expression serious. She recognized that Doflamingo's Haki was exceptionally powerful.
Ace's face darkened. "I didn't expect Doflamingo's strength to have grown this much in such a short time."
Even Ace had yet to master the release of Armament Haki. If he were to fight Doflamingo now, the power of Doflamingo's Haki would definitely be a problem.
Rebecca, too, watched Doflamingo intently. His strength was beyond her current abilities, and she realized she'd need to train even harder to stand a chance against him.
Marco observed carefully, thinking to himself, Since when did he refine his Armament Haki to this degree? Looks like I'll need to focus on my own Haki training.
In this world, Haki was the true measure of strength.
"Hey hey hey, Monkey D. Chiba, prepare to die!" With a crazed grin, Doflamingo vanished, reappearing in front of Chiba with his fist coated in dark Haki, aiming a powerful punch at Chiba's head.
Chiba's gaze sharpened, and he met Doflamingo's punch head-on, coating his own fist in Armament Haki. Unlike Doflamingo, Chiba didn't release his Haki outward, instead concentrating it all in his fist for maximum impact.
Boom!
With a thunderous sound, Doflamingo's powerful Haki clashed with Chiba's fist. The force of Chiba's concentrated Haki melted through Doflamingo's Haki like ice meeting fire, dissolving it and revealing Doflamingo's bare hand beneath.
Doflamingo's eyes widened in shock as he quickly stepped back, his expression one of horror. "You… you dispersed my Haki! How is that possible?"
Chiba remained calm. "That was two moves. You have one left, Doflamingo. But I suggest you give up—you're no match for me."
Doflamingo's face grew even darker. He knew that Chiba was trying to demoralize him, but if he backed down now, he'd lose all his resolve to face Chiba in the future.
Enraged, he clenched his fists, preparing to unleash his ultimate technique.