The battle had leaned, ever so slightly at the beginning, but now the balance of power was ruthlessly tilting one way. Solian's fire, now blazing with molten intensity, had engulfed the battlefield in an inferno so wild that even the Donquixote Family's strongest were beginning to get the burns. Doflamingo, however powerful beyond limits and Haoshoku master that he was, was beginning to lag—just enough to be noticed. His mask of command, once invincible, was starting to crack.
His clothes were scorched from the heat, his strings snapping uncomfortably as they struggled against the rising heat. Doflamingo's smug grin never wavered, but beads of sweat trickling down his forehead told another story. The heat was gaining the upper hand. He was always in control, a masterful puppeteer moving at the strings of the world. But for the first time in years, now, Doflamingo was no longer the one manipulating the strings. His own expertise was in failing.
Solian stood within the inferno of flames, a burning colossus with the fire of his own making spreading around him. His body shifted with the flames as he channeled his will, bringing more of his solar abilities online. He had pushed his boundaries before, but this was not the same. This time around, the fire inside him was no longer an energy—it had become a part of him. The power of the sun coursed through his veins, consuming his very being. The blinding heat came again, this time squarely directed at Doflamingo.
Doflamingo's eyes grew narrow, sensing the change in the battle. The heat was sweltering, and the fire was getting fiercer. His strings attacked, but this time they could not keep up. Solian's solar flames had intensified to a point where even Doflamingo's overbearing grip of Haki could not keep them at bay. The strings, his best asset, broke as the heat grew.
"You're getting desperate, aren't you?" Doflamingo sneered, his voice taunting. "I've seen men break under less."
Solian's eyes were locked onto Doflamingo, his face hard with focus. "It's not desperation. It's my will."
Flames erupted around him with greater ferocity, and this time they were not just flames—they were a drowning wave of molten strength. The ground beneath Doflamingo cracked open as the heat intensified, sending shockwaves rippling through the battlefield. The pressure was so intense that it caused the air itself to shudder as if reality was bending around Solian's sheer strength.
Doflamingo gritted his teeth. His strings lashed out to push back the flames, but they were not as fast as they had been. The heat was starting to melt them, even as they moved according to his will. His eyes shone with growing concern.
"This isn't over yet," Doflamingo growled. "I am the king of this world. I won't fall to some burning brat."
But Solian did not hear his words. His body was ablaze, the flames burning around him like a tempest. His Haki burned again, the pressure mounting as he pushed his limits even further. His eyes, once shining so brightly with the fire of will, now glowed with an ill omen, reflecting the molten fury he wielded.
Roaring, Solian flung out his hand, unleashing an gigantic blast of solar flame at point-blank distance at Doflamingo. The intense heat reduced the air to cinders, leaving the ground as ash and dust. Doflamingo's eyeballs protruded for a moment before the flame engulfed him, his strings failing even to block the full force of the attack.
The flames charged ahead, striking Doflamingo's body and consuming the area around him. His Haoshoku ignited on its own, employing a burst of willpower to drive the flames back, but the heat remained. Sweat poured from his face as he struggled to keep himself intact. The burning heat made it hard to breathe, and the air appeared to be being sucked from him by sheer force.
Doflamingo's legs quivered weakly, the sign that the battle was taking its toll. His teeth were clenched, his Haki fighting Solian's flames, but it was no longer sufficient. His body slowly fell under the heat, his strings trailing and losing their sensitivity.
"Impossible," he growled. "This can't be the way it should be.".
But Solian was not quitting. With each passing second, his grip on the fire tightened. The sun energy inside him burst forth with such might that it was breathing and alive. The fire consumed the edges of Doflamingo's body, charring his clothes and skin. His strings could no longer protect him.
"Have been too arrogant, Doflamingo," Solian's voice was deep, but it was a voice of authority. "You attempted to control everything. But you cannot control the sun."
Doflamingo's face contorted into a combination of frustration and incredulity, his teeth clenched tightly as he attempted to force his strings out and extinguish the flames. But too late for that now. It wasn't warmth—it was Solian's everything, his strength, his determination to protect his friends, protect his crew, and claim himself a future.
With one final push, Solian drew upon every last bit of strength. The solar flames exploded like a supernova, a blindingly intense flash of energy that tore through the air. The blast knocked Doflamingo back, his body scorched by the violence of the assault. His strings snapped, his clothes caught fire, and his face twisted into a scream of pain. He collapsed to the ground, his body taking the full brunt of the blast.
The battlefield was silent.
Solian stood in the midst of the rising smoke, gasping but resolute. His fire was still burning fiercely, a testament to his strength and determination. The battle was far from won, but Doflamingo, the puppeteer, was no longer in charge.
Doflamingo, who was now on the ground, was struggling to stand. His body was charred, his once spotless suit in tatters, and his face contorted in pain. His eyes, however, remained piercing, his pride unbroken. "This… this isn't over, you little brat. You've just begun to see the true extent of my power."
But Solian's eyes never wavered. He was ready to end this, to make that final step towards victory.
"Not the sun, Doflamingo," Solian said, icy but resolute in tone. "Neither do I."