The Seven Warlords of the Sea had officially taken shape.
Its first confirmed member had arrived.
The young master of the Donquixote Family—
Heavenly Yaksha, Donquixote Doflamingo.
He was the first pirate invited to join the Seven Warlords.
"You made a wise choice."
Kai smiled at Doflamingo.
Since Doflamingo had agreed, Kai's mission in Demon Town was complete.
The fight with Doflamingo had been satisfying.
He had gained a great deal from it.
Now, it was time to leave.
There was no reason to stay any longer.
Just as Kai was about to turn around, the system's notification suddenly rang in his mind.
[This battle has granted: Strength +0.003, Speed +0.002, Stamina +0.003, Spirit +0.005, Armament Haki Technique +0.04, Observation Haki Technique +0.05, Rokushiki Technique +0.06, Life Return Technique +0.05!]
[After the 100x training effect enhancement…]
[Host receives: Strength +0.3, Speed +0.2, Stamina +0.3, Spirit +0.5, Armament Haki Technique +4, Observation Haki Technique +5, Rokushiki Technique +6, Life Return Technique +5!]
The moment the system's voice faded—
Boom!
A roar sounded inside Kai's body.
A warm current appeared out of nowhere and surged through his organs, meridians, bones, and blood.
His body was being refined.
His strength rose once again.
At the same time, a flood of unfamiliar memories poured into his mind.
Armament Haki.
Observation Haki.
Rokushiki.
Life Return.
Countless experiences and insights rushed into his head like a tide.
His mind absorbed everything like a sponge.
His body also drew in the power granted by the system.
A short while later, the enhancement ended.
Kai's transformation was complete.
"Hah…"
He exhaled softly.
A sharp gleam flashed through his eyes, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
This battle had truly been worthwhile.
Not only had he completed the Marine mission, but his strength had also increased considerably.
It was a full improvement across the board.
His physical attributes had risen.
His mastery of Haki and Rokushiki had also grown more refined.
"I've gotten stronger again."
Kai thought.
Without hesitation, he called up his current status panel.
"System, show my attributes."
[Host: Kai]
[Strength: 153.3 (+2.1)]
[Speed: 145.8 (+2.3)]
[Stamina: 145.5 (+1.9)]
[Spirit: 69.7 (+2.4)]
[Demon Back Completion: 19.39%]
[Current Overall Training Effect: 100x]
After checking the panel, Kai withdrew his gaze.
Then he prepared to leave Demon Town.
Since Doflamingo had agreed to join the Seven Warlords, his mission here was finished.
There was no need to waste more time.
Besides…
Kai believed the Donquixote Family would not exactly welcome him staying any longer.
"Wait."
"I have a question."
Just as Kai turned around, Doflamingo's voice came from behind him.
"What question?"
Kai looked back.
"If I had refused to join the Seven Warlords just now…"
"What would you have done?"
"I'm curious."
Doflamingo put away the invitation. His pale, dust-covered face carried a strange expression.
He looked battered and exhausted, his body covered in wounds.
Even so, he still had enough strength left to fight.
Although his current power was far below one-tenth of his peak, dealing with ordinary pirates worth over a hundred million berries would still be more than easy.
"What would I have done?"
Kai smiled.
After a moment, he waved his hand and continued walking away, leaving only one sentence behind.
"I would have turned around and left."
"Then…"
"I would have quietly watched you get dragged into Impel Down."
Doflamingo frowned as he watched Kai's back.
Kai's words confused him, but he did not ask further.
"That brat…"
"Does he think he still has enough strength left to defeat and capture me?"
"Don't joke with me."
"After fighting me, he should already be near his limit."
"So he couldn't possibly defeat me now."
Doflamingo was certain of that.
If so, Kai's words had a deeper meaning.
Unfortunately, no matter how much Doflamingo thought about it, he could not figure it out.
Eventually, he stopped wasting his energy.
In any case, he had now joined the Seven Warlords.
From this day forward, he was a pirate officially recognized by the Marines.
He no longer needed to worry about the Marines attacking him.
Nor did he need to worry about the Marines targeting the Donquixote Family's businesses.
That meant the plan he had prepared for years could finally begin.
"The Seven Warlords…"
"For now, I'll play along."
"When I no longer feel like it…"
"I'll throw away the title myself."
Doflamingo sneered.
He had agreed to become a Warlord not because he wanted to serve the Marines.
He only wanted to use the title to complete his own plan.
Nothing more.
Once that plan was finished, the title would no longer matter.
When the time came, he could discard it whenever he wished.
Before long, Trebol, Pica, and Diamante hurried to Doflamingo's side.
Their faces were filled with concern.
"Young Master, are you all right?"
Trebol asked.
"I won't die for now."
Doflamingo stretched his arms slightly.
Pain immediately shot through his body, making him grit his teeth. Cold sweat beaded across his forehead.
"Take a group and clear out the casino ruins."
"Rescue whoever is still alive."
Doflamingo ordered Diamante.
"Yes, Young Master."
Diamante nodded and quickly moved to carry out the order.
"Fist Demon Kai…"
"That brat really is a terrifying monster."
Doflamingo looked at the casino that had become a pile of ruins.
His voice carried both dread and admiration.
Kai's strength had earned Doflamingo's recognition.
There were not many people on the sea who could make Doflamingo feel this cautious.
Kai was one of them.
"Young Master, are you confident you can defeat him?"
Trebol asked weakly.
"Not at all."
Doflamingo answered without hesitation.
"Don't be fooled by his age."
"His strength is already at the top of the sea."
"Even if I go all out, I can't suppress him."
"If we keep fighting, it's impossible to say who would win."
"I might even lose."
Doflamingo's voice was low.
He admitted it himself.
Even he did not have much confidence.
"As expected…"
Trebol and Pica exchanged a helpless look.
Their earlier judgment had been correct.
Even after going all out, Doflamingo was not confident he could defeat Fist Demon Kai.
Kai was far too dangerous.
"Young Master, that Marine invitation he gave you earlier…"
"What exactly was it?"
Pica asked.
"That…"
Doflamingo's lips curved into a mysterious smile.
"Is an important token capable of leading an era."
"You'll understand in time."
"With this Marine invitation in hand, we no longer need to hide in the first half of the Grand Line."
"It's time to prepare."
"We are going to the New World."
"We are going to take back Dressrosa."
"With this invitation, our plan is almost guaranteed to succeed."
"As long as we prepare properly, nothing will go wrong."
Trebol and Pica's pupils shrank.
Their expressions changed drastically.
The plan…
was going to begin ahead of schedule?
What exactly had the Marines given their young master?
How could it make him so confident?
Doflamingo did not pay attention to their shock.
His eyes remained fixed on Kai's disappearing back.
A five-year-old child…
Yet he was strong enough to fight him to a draw.
The greatest genius in Marine history?
Fist Demon Kai truly was terrifying.
After a pause, Doflamingo spoke again.
"At only five years old, Fist Demon Kai already has this level of power."
"In a few more years, his growth will become even more frightening."
"By then…"
"He may very well break the record for the youngest Admiral in Marine history."
"He may become the youngest Marine Admiral ever."
"It isn't hard to imagine."
"This era…"
"may be ruled by a terrifying monster."
Trebol and Pica inhaled sharply.
Their hearts shook.
One person ruling an era?
Their young master had given Kai such a high evaluation?
That was astonishing.
"I have to admit…"
"To be born in the same era as a monster like him is the sorrow of every so-called genius."
"Because no matter how hard they struggle…"
"They may spend their entire lives standing in his shadow, looking up at the light he casts."
"Fist Demon Kai is a monster capable of suppressing an entire era."
"A monster who can make every genius of his generation despair."
Doflamingo's expression was heavy.
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