257 One Piece: My Name is Jack

"Fufufufufu!"

Doflamingo stood up, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, his expression arrogant as he looked at Garp.

"The Hero of the Marines, Garp?"

"Did you just strike me to save your grandson?"

"You do realize I'm still a member of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, right?"

"Seven Warlords?"

Garp casually picked his nose and scoffed, "Not for long. Once your crimes in Dressrosa come to light, your title will be revoked."

"You think you can fool me with that?" Doflamingo sneered.

"No matter what kind of leverage you have over the World Government, this kind of scandal is too big for them to cover up."

"If anything," Garp continued, "they probably want you dead even more than I do. Who knows? You might end up begging the Marines for protection."

"Fufufufu!"

Doflamingo laughed, but his voice carried a barely restrained fury. In an instant, he lunged at Garp.

"Let's see just how strong the so-called 'Hero of the Marines' really is!"

Doflamingo, stronger than ever, was full of confidence. In his mind, even during the war at Marineford, Garp hadn't been able to harm Jack. He figured that even if he couldn't defeat Garp, he could at least hold his own.

But he couldn't have been more wrong.

Within three exchanges, Garp's fist drove into Doflamingo's gut with enough force to nearly make him vomit up his breakfast.

"Cough… cough…"

"I have to admit, you're worthy of your title," Doflamingo gritted out. "But I won't go down that easily!"

As he spoke, the surrounding buildings slowly transformed into white threads. Garp raised an eyebrow.

"Awakening?" he muttered. "Didn't expect you to have that kind of talent. But even so, it won't be enough to stop me."

Garp cracked his knuckles and shouted, "Doflamingo! You killed the Marines at G-5, didn't you? Smoker and the others?"

"No need to deny it!"

"You were the only one nearby with the ability to wipe them out so quickly. The injuries on their bodies, Smoker's remains… They all point to you. You used your Devil Fruit, didn't you? Doflamingo!"

"Fufufufu! Fufufufu!"

Doflamingo laughed maniacally, looking at Garp with an expression of wild amusement.

"Vice Admiral Garp, you shouldn't go around making baseless accusations. As a Warlord of the Sea, why would I kill my own allies?"

"Cut the crap! Take this!"

...

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Dressrosa—

Yamato was carrying Sugar on her back, while Sanji dragged Caesar along. After running for what felt like half the day, Sanji finally noticed Robin's group up ahead and rushed toward them.

Sugar groaned, "Put me down! I'm going to be sick!"

"Oh? You're awake?" Yamato grinned. "That's great! You really need to train more, though. My Conqueror's Haki knocked you out in an instant. Your constitution is way too weak!"

Unable to meet Sugar's furious glare, Yamato averted her eyes.

Then, her gaze sharpened as she spotted a familiar long-nosed figure in the distance.

"There! That long-nosed guy! And that woman! I'll capture them both!"

Without hesitation, Yamato dropped Sugar and sprinted toward Usopp and Robin's group.

Sugar quickly glanced around, then, without a second thought, turned and bolted toward the palace, her tiny legs carrying her as fast as they could.

"Waaah! Robin-chan! Help!"

Boom!

Sanji kicked Lao G aside just as the old fighter tried to ambush him, then, with hearts practically floating around his head, he dashed toward Robin while dragging Caesar behind him.

"Oi! Sanji! Stay away!"

"We can't fight him!"

Chopper, perched on Usopp's head, was on the verge of tears. Robin, seeing Yamato charging toward them, turned pale.

Back in the underground factory, Yamato had found them and knocked her out with a single strike. If not for her Conqueror's Haki knocking out Sugar as well, they would have been doomed.

Just then, a voice rang out.

"Leave her to me! You guys, run!"

"Rooster-head!"

Usopp and Chopper looked at Bartolomeo in shock, their eyes filled with gratitude.

As Sanji passed by, he patted Bartolomeo's shoulder and murmured, "Nice one."

Yamato, now face-to-face with Bartolomeo, swung his kanabo with a mighty roar.

"Thunder Bagua!"

Clang!

Boom!

"What?!"

A powerful force rebounded, sending Yamato flying backward. Getting up, he walked toward Bartolomeo, tapping the invisible barrier in frustration.

"This stupid thing… You think it can stop me?"

Raising his weapon once more, he bellowed,

"I'll smash you to pieces!"

Boom!

...

Meanwhile, Sugar, still sprinting toward the palace, suddenly felt a shadow loom over her. Looking up, her face went pale.

"No! Stay away!"

Boom!

Yamato landed hard, rubbing her head before realizing something felt off. Jumping to her feet, she turned around.

"Sugar! Sugar!"

Sugar, lying flat on the ground, weakly pointed at Yamato before croaking out, "Screw… you…" and promptly passed out.

"Huh? You're insulting me now?"

Yamato glared at Bartolomeo. "You made me knock Sugar out again! I'll kill you for that!"

Doflamingo lay sprawled on the ground, staring at the sky with unmasked bitterness.

He had endured hellish training under Jack—being submerged in seawater for three days, beaten within an inch of his life with a kanabo, suffering constant torment just to grow stronger.

And yet, even after all that, he was no match for Garp.

At that moment, Doflamingo finally understood—compared to these monsters, his talent was far from enough.

"Doflamingo! Accept your defeat!" Garp declared, striding toward him. "Surrender now and dispel the Birdcage. Maybe then, I'll make sure you get a decent prison cell."

From afar, Law, supported by Luffy, gazed at Doflamingo with a complex expression.

"Fufufufu! Fufufufu!"

Doflamingo's laughter suddenly rang out again.

"Garp… did you really think this was over?"

"Did you really believe I wouldn't prepare for this, knowing you were here in Dressrosa?"

Garp frowned, following Doflamingo's gaze.

A sudden feeling of unease crept up his spine as Doflamingo bolted toward something in the distance.

"Fufufufu! Fufufufu!"

Garp clenched his fist and swung forward.

"Galaxy Impact!"

BOOM!