A Hyūga's Gate Between Worlds

Doflamingo, like an eagle soaring high above the heavens, perched on the edge of the cage.

He scanned his surroundings. The vast expanse of white snow held nothing but footprints—no other signs of life.

Neither Tanaka nor Rosinante were anywhere to be found.

As for Law, he simply ignored him.

"Gone?"

"Wait!"

"Why do these footprints look exactly the same?"

Doflamingo's gaze swept across the snowy ground beyond the birdcage, noticing a peculiar pattern in the footprints.

He compared the tracks outside the Birdcage with those inside.

One large, one small. One deep, one shallow. Clearly, they belonged to two different people.

"The larger and deeper one must belong to Rosinante. And the other… That brat."

He deduced that his brother had been carrying Law, making his footprints larger and deeper, while the smaller ones belonged to Tanaka.

That wasn't the issue.

What truly darkened his expression was the fact that these footprints appeared outside the birdcage.

"Could they have already escaped?"

Descending from the sky, Doflamingo landed on the snowy ground. His sharp eyes examined the shrinking gaps between the silk threads of the birdcage—so small that even a child couldn't possibly squeeze through.

He refused to believe that anyone could escape from his birdcage. Yet, the footprints outside mocked him like a slap in the face, forcing him to accept reality.

"Doffy! Have you found them?"

At that moment, Vergo finally arrived.

Although the traces of Tanaka and the others were nowhere to be seen, he remained composed.

Clearly, he didn't believe that anyone could escape the Birdcage.

In his mind, Tanaka and the others could only scurry around like rats within the cage, hiding and dodging—until the cage fully contracted, leaving them with nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, ultimately slicing them into pieces.

"They escaped."

Doflamingo's voice was chilling, colder than the icy winds of Minion Island.

"Impossible! The birdcage is intact. There's no way they could have escaped!"

---

Diamante and the other officers who arrived later were equally incredulous.

Slash!

Doflamingo said nothing. He simply dispelled the Birdcage and took to the skies, flying toward a warship docked at the coast ahead.

Truth or illusion, that warship would give him the answer.

But just as he neared within a hundred meters of the vessel, a sudden, sharp force erupted from its deck—transforming into a crescent-shaped flying slash, slicing through the air straight toward him.

Clang!

In an instant, he raised his hand, releasing five silk threads to shield himself.

Though they appeared fragile, capable of snapping with a mere pull, these threads exhibited a strength surpassing steel. They stopped the flying slash midair, preventing it from advancing even an inch further.

"What's the rush? Are you planning to come with me to Impel Down?"

On the deck of the warship, a tall figure in a coat stood, sword in hand, blocking Doflamingo's advance—exuding an imposing presence.

Vice Admiral Tsuru.

"Fufufufufu!"

"Why so serious? I was merely worried about my brother's safety and wanted to check on how well your Marine has been taking care of him."

Doflamingo remained in place, but behind his sunglasses, his eyes gleamed with coldness.

His gaze pierced straight past Tsuru, locking onto the two figures standing behind her.

Rosinante and Law.

"He's fine now, and he'll be even better in the future. Just like Dressrosa."

Tsuru's expression remained unreadable as she stared at Doflamingo.

Just moments ago, Rosinante and Law had boarded the ship and recounted everything that had transpired on Minion Island.

This also included Doflamingo's scheme for Dressrosa.

"Rosi."

"That brat, where is he?"

The moment Tsuru mentioned Dressrosa, veins bulged on Doflamingo's forehead, and a chilling, murderous intent surged within him toward Tanaka. 

He had snatched away the Op-Op Fruit. 

He had rescued Rosinante, the one who betrayed him. 

He had caused his meticulously planned takeover of Dressrosa to collapse before it even began. 

It was as if a sharp dagger had been repeatedly stabbed into his heart. 

He could hardly remember the last time he had felt this humiliated, frustrated, and enraged. 

Ever since he set foot on the path to becoming a king, this was the first time he had suffered such a crushing defeat at someone else's hands. 

And worse—it was at the hands of a child. 

"You mean Tanaka?" 

"He must have told you already. You'll have the chance to see him again." 

Sensing the bloodthirsty aura emanating from Doflamingo, Rosinante showed no fear. 

"Oh? If you do see him again, deliver a message for me." 

"I'll be waiting for him." 

Doflamingo's gaze flicked past Tsuru, who stood before Rosinante like an unyielding gatekeeper. 

No matter how furious he was, he had no choice but to accept the bitter truth. 

Today, he and the entire Donquixote Family were the biggest losers in the battle for the Op-Op Fruit. 

He hadn't secured the fruit. 

He hadn't eliminated the traitor. 

Even his grand plan for Dressrosa had been exposed. 

And worst of all—he could do nothing about it. 

He couldn't even vent his rage. 

"Fine." Rosinante stood firm. "But you'd better remember one thing." 

"That kid—he's already made a complete fool of the Donquixote Pirates." 

"Next time you see him, you might not even have the courage to make a move." 

Having witnessed Tanaka's resourcefulness, adaptability, and unshakable composure, he couldn't help but think, Next time they meet, Doflamingo may just be the one running for his life. 

"Hmph." Doflamingo snorted coldly. 

He didn't spit out any harsh words. Instead, he turned and flew away. 

His pride—and the pride of the Donquixote Family—had already been trampled underfoot by a kid. 

Unless he could utterly crush that brat beneath his heel, any threats or bluster would be nothing more than self-inflicted humiliation. 

Though not yet a Warlord of the Sea, he was already the most powerful pirate in the North Blue, its undisputed ruler. 

And yet, even with his personal leadership and half of the Donquixote Family's top officers, he had been completely outplayed by a child. 

A disgrace.

"Rosi, tell me more about him." Tsuru sheathed her sword and turned to Rosinante. When she spoke of Tanaka, showed a rare flicker of curiosity. 

She had spent years hunting Doflamingo, only for him to slip through her fingers time and time again. 

Even she had never made him suffer a loss of this magnitude. 

And now? 

A mere kid had forced the Donquixote Family to retreat. 

Throughout the entire battle for the Op-Op Fruit, Tanaka had displayed not just strength, but also strategic brilliance, foresight, and an astonishing grasp of tactics. 

These were not qualities found in an inexperienced child. 

They belonged to a true mastermind. 

How could she not be intrigued?