In One Piece, I Am the Ultimate Doflamingo

The first light of dawn pierced through the darkness. It shone upon Wano, as if heralding the arrival of hope. But no amount of sunlight could warm the heart of Kurozumi Orochi, which was growing colder by the second.

"Orochi-sama, I..." Kurozumi Semimaru's frail body trembled—his strength was nearly depleted. At ninety years old, his withered frame no longer possessed the lingering power that some formidable warriors retained in their old age.

Outside the barrier, warriors who had eaten and rested were now ready to tear them to pieces. Orochi shuddered, clutching Semimaru's swaying form in a panic.

"Semimaru, Kanjuro will be here soon! Just hold on a little longer..."

"I'm sorry, Orochi-sama..."

Thud! Kurozumi Semimaru collapsed into Orochi's arms, unconscious. His hands, which had been maintaining the barrier, fell limply to his sides. In that instant, it felt as if Orochi's heart had stopped beating. Because—the impenetrable barrier was gone.

"Huh?!" The guards noticed immediately. The samurai, who had been dozing off, snapped to attention, their voices filled with excitement.

"Hyogoro! That strange barrier disappeared!!!"

Hyogoro, along with the four Yakuza bosses of the capital, opened their eyes from their feigned sleep and closed in on Orochi and the terrified Kurozumi Higurashi.

"I am the Shogun of Wano!!!" Orochi blurted out desperately, clinging to his title despite its now meaningless weight.

"No, no... Stay away!"

Hyogoro closed his eyes briefly. His mind was filled with the faces of those slain by Orochi's hand—hostages he had personally executed. The sword in his grip shimmered with power.

With a single charge, he rushed toward the trembling Kurozumi Orochi. Against Hyogoro's skill, Orochi's pathetic swordsmanship stood no chance.

Slash! Slash! Slash!

In an instant, three of Orochi's serpent heads were severed, toxic blood spraying across the ground.

"AAAAHHHH!"

"Protect Orochi-sama!!!"

Both sides turned toward the source of the shout, their expressions shifting dramatically.

Kozuki Toki was being held in the jaws of a blue-striped tiger. Kozuki Momonosuke and Kozuki Hiyori were locked in Kanjuro's firm grasp.

Hyogoro's hair stood on end like flames rising in fury as he roared,

"Kanjuro!!! What are you doing?! You are Oden-sama's vassal!!!"

Orochi, now with only a few heads left, was overwhelmed with relief. Snot and tears mixed on his face, making him look even more pathetic.

"Kanjuro! Thank goodness..."

"Orochi-sama, forgive my delay!!!"

Ignoring Orochi's blubbering gratitude, Kanjuro smirked as he faced Hyogoro and the others.

"I have always been loyal to the Kurozumi clan!"

Clack!

He tilted his blade slightly, and a thin line of blood trickled down Momonosuke and Hiyori's necks.

"Kyaaahhhh!"

Their terrified screams echoed across the battlefield.

"No! Don't hurt them!!!"

Toki struggled desperately, but her waist was pierced by the tiger's fangs, blood seeping out.

The Yakuza bosses broke out in cold sweat, looking to Hyogoro for direction.

"Boss Hyogoro, what do we do?!"

Unnoticed, near-invisible silk threads descended from above, creeping toward Kanjuro.

"A trade! Or you die here too!!!"

Hyogoro gritted his teeth, knowing they couldn't abandon Oden's family.

"Fine! Release Orochi, and we'll trade for Hiyori!"

Kanjuro's face twisted into a sly grin.

"No deal!" Hyogoro refused immediately.

Hiyori's eyes, which had lit up with brief hope, darkened once more.

Hyogoro's mind raced. Trading Momonosuke would never be accepted by Kanjuro. But trading Toki... Oden loved her. She was only in her thirties—still in her prime. She could bear more children. If Oden returned in rage, Hyogoro would bear the consequences alone.

Behind his back, he discreetly signaled to his men before speaking.

"We'll trade Toki."

"But—"

Kanjuro's words suddenly froze in his throat.

His half-open mouth stiffened as if glued shut.

What?! What's happening?!

Just as Hyogoro was puzzling over Kanjuro's silence, a mocking voice rang out.

"Fufufufu... Quite the lively scene. Why don't I take over the negotiations?"

Doflamingo.

With a flick of his fingers, Kozuki Toki, Momonosuke, and Hiyori floated into the air.

"Now!"

Hyogoro's eyes flashed as he lunged toward them.

"When I'm talking, I expect silence."

Doflamingo's face twisted into a cruel smile. His right hand, coated in Haki, clenched violently.

"Overheat!"

Five thick, blackened threads shot down from the sky.

Splat!

"AAAAHHHH!"

Hyogoro's body, wrapped in Ryuo-infused Haki, was pierced through by the enhanced threads, his internal organs shredded instantly.

The legendary samurai of the Flower Capital fell.

"Boss Hyogoro!!!"

The Yakuza rushed forward, only to be frozen mid-charge by Doflamingo's Parasite Threads.

Toki and her children, who had momentarily felt relief, were now paralyzed with terror.

Doflamingo separated the three, preventing Toki from using her powers to escape with them.

He caressed her cheek, smirking playfully.

"Relax. I've long admired Oden's reputation."

Sensing movement behind him, he swung his arm.

A razor-sharp string whip slashed through the air.

Boom!

The solid building behind Orochi was sliced cleanly in half.

"Eek!!!"

Orochi, who had been thinking of running, reached up and touched his now bald scalp. Trembling, he obediently stood still.

This man was no ally of the Kozuki, nor of the Kurozumi.

Seeing that the Kurozumi remnants had been cowed, Doflamingo turned his attention back to the captives.

Like handling a precious gem, he carefully wrapped his fingers around Momonosuke's head.

For the trembling boy, only his throat and eyes could still move.

Toki, desperate, pleaded through her tears.

"Please... No... Don't!!!"

Doflamingo grinned.

"No? That means yes."

His grip tightened.

Crack! Crack!

"AAAAHHHH!" Momonosuke shrieked as the sound of breaking skull echoed.

"PLEASE STOP!!!" Toki and Hiyori wailed in unison. Their family—

BANG!!!

Under immense pressure, Momonosuke's head burst like an overripe fruit.

Chunks of fresh brain matter splattered everywhere.

"Mmph!"

Toki's mouth, open in horror, was suddenly filled with something warm and sickeningly soft.

"Mmmph! Mmmph!"

Tears of blood streamed from her eyes as she dared not close her mouth.

It was her son's brain.

"Fufufufu!"

Doflamingo laughed maniacally.

For over ten years, he had dreamed of this moment.

Leaning in close, he whispered into Toki's ear.

"You seem to be suffering... Let me put you out of your misery."

Shnk!

A single Parasite Thread pierced her skull.

With a small twist, the infamous Time-Time user was reduced to a mindless husk.

-----------

+220 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg