"You don't see them as enemies?"
When they heard this statement from Issho, Lafitte and the others found it absurd to the point they didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
The previous waves of attacks directed at them weren't designed to kill outright, but the power behind them was no joke.
Despite his declaration, Issho didn't withdraw the relentless pressure of the Infernal Voyage. Instead, he calmly "looked" at Doflamingo, who had abruptly inserted himself into the situation.
Standing at the edge of the Infernal Voyage's range, veins pulsed visibly on Doflamingo's forehead above his sunglasses.
Although he was consumed by fury, he still maintained a degree of composure.
He refrained from dealing a killing blow to Maude, instead casting a cold and scrutinizing gaze at Issho.
After Issho intercepted the attack just now—a strike that would have killed Maude instantly—Doflamingo immediately realized that no matter what kind of assault he unleashed on Maude, Issho would likely block it with his full strength.
With that in mind, Doflamingo was forced to stay his hand.
After all, he hadn't traveled all this way to confront this powerful, enigmatic man; his targets were Maude and Law.
Under normal circumstances, Doflamingo wouldn't have stopped after just one strike.
"Fuffuffu..."
Doflamingo let out a cold laugh, spreading his arms to either side as his gaze—sharp as a blade—focused on Issho. His tone was laced with indifference.
"Not enemies? Then what exactly is your relationship with them?"
"That's none of your concern."
Issho gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, maintaining a stance that suggested he could strike at any moment.
His disdain for the Seven Warlords of the Sea, a system established by the World Government, was evident, and his tone carried that same unkindness.
Doflamingo's eyes narrowed as he glanced at Maude and his crew, who were still under the oppressive force of the Infernal Voyage. He couldn't make sense of Issho's stance.
If they weren't enemies, then what was this behavior supposed to mean?
Issho's expression remained stern, and the piercing aura emanating from him served as a constant warning for Doflamingo not to overstep his bounds.
This was the confidence that came with unparalleled strength.
A typical lone wolf might hesitate in the face of Doflamingo's power and the forces behind him, but Issho was far beyond that level—there was nothing to fear.
"Fuffuffu, if that's the case..."
Seeing that Issho was impenetrable to both words and threats, and noting his unyielding demeanor, a flash of killing intent flickered in Doflamingo's eyes.
Crossing paths with a formidable yet mysterious adversary was not something he had anticipated, but today, he was determined to kill Maude.
He could tell that Issho didn't view Maude and his crew as allies, but their relationship couldn't be particularly close either.
Under such circumstances, even if it came to a fight to the death, Doflamingo didn't believe that this man would make a foolish choice.
Killing intent surged!
Doflamingo made his move without hesitation.
"Five-Color Strings!"
Flexing his fingers like a predator's claws, he reached toward Maude, who was still under the Infernal Voyage's gravity field.
In an instant, five razor-sharp threads shot from his fingertips, carving an elegant yet deadly arc through the air, hurtling toward Maude.
Issho leaned forward slightly, unsheathing his sword just a few inches before quickly returning it to its scabbard.
With a crisp sound resonating through the air, the five threads, which had been hurtling toward Maude, were abruptly slammed to the ground as if by an invisible hand.
Once again, Doflamingo's attack was effortlessly thwarted by Issho.
"Fuffuffu..."
Seeing this, the chill in Doflamingo's gaze deepened.
"This guy... is definitely not someone to be trifled with."
After two brief exchanges, Doflamingo had a clearer sense of Issho's strength.
"Doflamingo...!"
Behind him, Law clenched his fists, hatred burning in his chest.
The sole purpose of his continued existence was to drag Doflamingo into hell with his own hands.
Now, the object of his deepest loathing stood mere steps away.
But in his current state—both his circumstances and his strength—he was powerless to act on the hatred that surged endlessly within him.
So he endured. And endured again...
In stark contrast to Law's slightly contorted expression, Maude appeared much calmer.
Initially, the oppressive force of Infernal Voyage had left him feeling utterly helpless, teetering on the brink of despair. With the sudden arrival of Doflamingo, their doom seemed certain.
It would be a lie to say he wasn't scared.
But after Issho had blocked Doflamingo's attacks twice, Maude began to piece together the man's intentions and gradually regained his composure.
What a close call...
He sighed inwardly, the rapid shifts in his situation once again hammering home the harsh truth: in this world, strength was everything.
Without sufficient power, one could only become a soft target, crushed under the whims of others.
"For now, we're safe..."
Under the weight of the gravity, Maude slowly turned to face Doflamingo, who radiated a savage aura just a short distance away.
"Lucky or unlucky, huh?"
Noting the suppressed rage in Doflamingo's demeanor, Maude's lips curled into a smirk.
Against Issho, their crew didn't stand a chance.
But against Doflamingo?
If they worked together, they might not win, but they wouldn't be defeated so easily either. There was even a decent chance of escape.
The risks, however, were still significant.
"Hey, old man, we're not going to run. So, how about lifting the gravity?"
Maude shifted his gaze from Doflamingo to Issho, his tone sincere and harmless.
And indeed, he wasn't lying.
Issho's keen observational Haki told him as much.
Without hesitation, he lifted the Infernal Voyage.
The moment the gravity disappeared, Maude and his crew staggered briefly before regaining their balance.
Maude chuckled and stretched his neck, immediately feeling the icy killing intent emanating from Doflamingo.
"Personally intervening, huh... Heh."
His smile held a certain confidence as he glanced at Issho instead of Doflamingo.
"Old man, Doflamingo is no saint. His weapons dealings alone have plunged countless nations into chaos and misery. How about we join forces to rid the world of this scourge?"
Maude knew Issho's character well and wouldn't miss the chance to leverage him.
"..."
Hearing this, Law couldn't help but stare at Maude in disbelief, barely restraining his killing intent.
Can this actually work?
Doflamingo's murderous intent faltered momentarily.
He was confident in his ability to annihilate the Maude Pirates, but if Issho joined the fray...
"Heh."
Issho chuckled, tilting his head slightly toward Maude. His tone was amused but firm.
"Boy, don't push your luck."
"Alright..."
Maude sighed, feigning disappointment.
Then, without warning, he drew his rifle, Dark Crow, and fired at Doflamingo.
The bullet, imbued with Armament Haki, closed the distance in an instant.
Caught off guard by Maude's decisiveness, Doflamingo couldn't dodge in time and was forced to take the shot head-on.
But in that moment, he inexplicably felt a sense of relief.
If Issho had agreed to Maude's suggestion, things would have gotten far more complicated.
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