No preparations were needed. Doflamingo, with the air of a master, stood still, awaiting Enel's attack.
To ensure Enel gave his all, Doflamingo even put his hands behind his back, in an "I'm invincible, do what you want" stance.
This pose utterly infuriated Enel. "Oh, oh! We're the same age, why are you acting so high and mighty? It's a young man's thing, isn't it! Surely, the passion and impetuosity of youth are there, especially when you can't stand seeing someone showing off in front of you. Only I can show off, not you!"
"Underestimating others comes at a price, you arrogant fool," Enel fumed.
"You? You've got a long way to go!" Doflamingo remained unyielding, with a superior posture.
No sooner said than done. In an instant, Enel gathered all his strength into a fist and rushed towards Doflamingo's face. Enel swore he would make the one who showed off more than him pay right then and there.
"Fall, you scoundrel!"
However, the outcome was far different from what Enel imagined. He didn't even catch a glimpse of fear on Doflamingo's face. The powerful fist neared Doflamingo's face, but just barely! For a fraction of a second, Doflamingo was just one step away from taking Enel's hit. The moment Enel's fist was about to connect, Doflamingo swiftly retreated his feet, dodging Enel's potent attack.
"Damn it, take another punch!"
This left Enel even more furious. He couldn't believe it. Although Doflamingo had easily handled those four "bird-men" in front of him, Enel didn't consider himself inferior. Those four were just "chickens," and he himself could have dispatched them in a matter of seconds. His previous lack of resistance didn't mean he lacked the strength to fight back. Therefore, he didn't think Doflamingo's strength could be vastly superior to his. After all, all those years of training and beatings weren't in vain.
Left hook, right hook, whip kick, low kick—a relentless barrage of attacks headed for Doflamingo. However, Doflamingo showed not the slightest hint of panic, emerging unscathed with an expression of utter nonchalance.
Enel also realized something was wrong. No matter how hard he tried, his attacks never landed. So, he gave up his blows, stepped back a few paces, took a deep breath, and exhaled, trying to calm his anger and impulsiveness.
"Is that Mantra?" Enel verbalized his doubt.
"Mantra? Ah, you mean Observation Haki?" Doflamingo replied.
"Observation Haki?" Enel's doubt grew.
"Observation Haki is what we call it there. It's like your Mantra; it can predict the opponent's next moves and position," Doflamingo explained.
"Yeahahaha, is that so? Of course, you're strong! But that's all. The victor will be me, Enel," Enel brushed aside the cloud of frustration, regained his composure, and arrogantly smiled at Doflamingo.
"Oh! Is that right? Then come on! I'll stand right here, and we'll see how much you still resemble your former self," Doflamingo also didn't care. To Doflamingo, Enel, who hadn't mastered Mantra, was trash, just a barking mad dog, an ignoramus. Making Enel see the power difference would be the best way to recruit him. Otherwise, if he were like the future god Enel, it would be terrible, for Doflamingo wanted a subordinate, not an arrogant god.
"Arrogance comes at a price; don't think mastering Mantra makes you invincible," Enel said, brimming with confidence, as he quickly advanced towards Doflamingo.
"You?"
Doflamingo was still disdainful, not moving, waiting for Enel's next attack.
"That's right, me."
No need for many words when people don't understand each other; the truth will be revealed in combat.
Enel attacked again, and this time he wasn't as irritated as before. A calm Enel was much better; his attacks were orderly, and he was much more serene.
A punch came. Doflamingo calmly dodged his head. Enel knew Doflamingo wouldn't be hit so easily, so he took the opportunity to quickly close the distance between them. His fist turned into a claw, trying to grab Doflamingo's shoulder. Would Doflamingo be caught so easily? Impossible! Doflamingo had already predicted Enel's attack with his Observation Haki. How could he fall into Enel's trap so easily? He tilted his body slightly, dodging Enel's claws. However, Enel was already prepared and, as if he knew Doflamingo's move, delivered a powerful knee kick directly to Doflamingo's abdomen. After all, Doflamingo, to show off, had his hands behind his back, leaving his guard open. Taking advantage of the moment Doflamingo leaned, Enel caught him by surprise. Doflamingo, seeing this, knew he couldn't dodge with just body movement. He had to use the strength of his legs to abruptly retreat in a peculiar stance, wanting to take the opportunity to increase the distance from Enel.
However, how could Enel let Doflamingo escape? As if anticipating, he used the strength of his legs to propel himself forward, determined not to let Doflamingo easily evade.
There was no avoiding it. With no options, Doflamingo, who had just steadied himself, whipped his right leg like a lash towards Enel's knee kick. The powerful force of the two collided between their legs. Unfortunately, although Enel had used the force of impact to attack Doflamingo, who had just found his footing, the power difference between the two was still too great. A powerful whip kick from Doflamingo sent Enel flying backward.
"How is that possible? His power is so immense!" Enel, repelled, looked as if he had seen a ghost. He, who had taken the initiative and the advantage, was actually thrown back by a single blow. This unsettled Enel for a long time, making him feel worse than when Doflamingo merely dodged his attacks.
For Enel, constantly dodging attacks and playing with the enemy meant nothing. Only strength, the superiority of power, was what he considered truly decisive.
"Fufufufu, who would have thought! You're so young and already have Observation Haki, and you're not weak!" Doflamingo didn't answer Enel's doubt but laughed loudly.
Doflamingo wasn't surprised that Enel had Mantra, nor the future god Enel. What surprised him was that Enel, so young, had already learned Observation Haki. Indeed, Enel's talent for Observation Haki was excellent; so young and already so proficient. Doflamingo hadn't noticed before, when Enel was furious, but now it was undeniable.
"Yeahahaha, what are you talking about? So young? Are you mocking me?" Enel eliminated his doubts upon hearing this, first laughing loudly and then feeling mocked, attacking Doflamingo again.
"Die, you bastard!"
Doflamingo didn't expect the phrase "so young" to instantly infuriate Enel. After all, Doflamingo was only a few years older than Enel. By saying that to Enel, he seemed to be praising him like a veteran, and it was to be expected that Enel would be furious.
Doflamingo, seeing Enel like this, was also quite helpless. Seeing Enel that way, he gradually understood the meaning of his own words. After all, he himself, like Enel, was young, but he always spoke in an elder's tone, in a condescending posture to "educate" Enel. Enel certainly wouldn't accept it. He understood in his mind, but his hands showed no more mercy. After all, Enel still needed a good beating.
"Enel, you truly have never faced life's harsh lessons. No matter if you're a dragon or a tiger, you'll crawl before me." Doflamingo didn't retreat but advanced, meeting Enel with even greater force.
The two, who had collided and separated quickly, met again. However, Doflamingo was much faster. He landed a punch on Enel's face. Enel perceived the danger. Although his Mantra had predicted this move, Doflamingo's attack was swift and relentless, blocking all of Enel's escape routes. Mantra was useless, and he could only bring his hands together to block Doflamingo's fist.
"Ah!"
Enel cried out in pain. Although he blocked Doflamingo's punch, the force of that blow was truly immense. Enel's arms became swollen and red. So many years of training, and he couldn't withstand a single punch. Enel was filled with disbelief.
Ignoring Enel's cries of pain, Doflamingo's other fist also approached, hitting Enel's abdomen. It was Enel's fault for being too slow. Although his Mantra could predict, predicting without enough speed to dodge was useless.
The strong punch to Enel's abdomen made him feel as if he was about to vomit; he fell to the ground, clutching his abdomen and painfully gasping.
"How boring, truly boring! Too weak, so weak that I didn't even use a third of my strength, and you're already down. Come on, keep dancing! It can't be just this, can it?" Doflamingo, as if he didn't see Enel's pitiful state, continued to mock him.
"Damn it, there's a limit to how much you can despise others!"
Enel mumbled angrily, struggling to get up from the ground.
"Anyway, I won't be defeated by you so easily."
"Fufufufu, very good, then continue, continue to dance, give me more pleasure, show me your greatness, Enel," Doflamingo, now like a demon, displayed an arrogant and domineering posture. He stood in front of Enel, opened his arms, and laughed uncontrollably.
"Ah!"
Enel screamed and attacked Doflamingo with all his might. Doflamingo showed not the slightest panic, delivering a powerful kick that sent Enel flying again. Enel, soaring through the air, couldn't endure the blow, coughed up blood, and fell heavily to the ground.
"The weak must be aware of their weakness, Enel. You are weak. Do you want to be like before, hide like a coward, letting them beat and mock you at will? Or do you want to become stronger, start anew, and live as a person? After all, the weak have no dignity to consider," Doflamingo slowly walked up to Enel, who was lying down but conscious, and gently seduced him.
"Weak?"
"The weak have no dignity to consider?"
"Live as a person..."
Enel mumbled, lying on the ground, seemingly still brooding over Doflamingo's words.
Seeing this, Doflamingo continued to use his ability to manipulate people.
"Come, Enel, join my family. Become my kin. I can make you stronger, make you live as a person."
"Dignity is something only the strong can have. Do you want dignity?"
"Do you still want to continue being a coward like this? This world is much more exciting than you imagine. Birka is just a tiny place. The sky inhabitants are just a bunch of frogs in a well. Let me show you what the world of the strong is like!"
After saying this, Doflamingo extended his hand to Enel, awaiting his response.
Enel was still lying on his back on the ground, his eyes empty, seemingly still absorbing Doflamingo's words.
"Get stronger, stronger."
Doflamingo, seeing that Enel was not yet completely convinced, continued: "Come, join my family. Become my kin. Family doesn't deceive family. Even if you want to go to the Endless Land, I will fulfill your dream. Let's support each other, become each other's support. Let's shine in this world and make the whole world tremble because of us!"
"So, what do you say? Do you dare to accompany me to challenge this world?"
Doflamingo's hand remained extended, not retracting. He was sure Enel would be moved. After all, the current Enel was very weak, without the power to take revenge, without the power to pursue his dreams. The Enel of now was just a frog in a well, pitiful, humble, living under the shadow of the sky inhabitants. Now, Doflamingo offered an olive branch to Enel, showing him the direction to follow, giving him the power to take revenge. Any normal person would accept; after all, a drowning man clutches at any straw to survive.
Doflamingo always believed in this. He wouldn't be mistaken, for he himself was someone who had crawled out of hell. By offering a light to those who live in darkness, they would surely go mad for it. He, now, was the hope for those who live in darkness. Of course, not everyone had the right to receive this hope from Doflamingo, but Enel, coincidentally, did.
Doflamingo's barrage of inspiring words seemed to have taken effect. Enel's eyes gradually returned to normal, and he looked at Doflamingo's extended hand, his gaze becoming increasingly firm.
"Yeahahaha, family, huh? Sounds like a good choice," Enel suddenly laughed. Then, he raised his swollen arm, and his pale hand firmly grasped the hand extended in the air, not letting go for a long time.
"I will become stronger, stronger, as strong as a monster. I will live as a person, and no one will ever again trample on my dignity. Never! I will make Birka tremble because of me, I will make this world tremble because of me!"
Enel looked at Doflamingo, his eyes full of excitement and determination, as if making a vow. These words were spoken to Doflamingo and to himself. Enel's will to become stronger would never waver.
Upon hearing Enel's vow, Doflamingo nodded, acknowledging Enel's will, and confidently said: "Of course. We will become stronger. What is a small Birka? This world is our goal!"
The two looked at each other, and as if they had a tacit understanding, both began to laugh.
"Fufufufu"
"Yeahahaha"
This world will undoubtedly be much more exciting.