"Understood, Doffy/Young Master. Leave it to us."
"Battle Fist: G-Imprint!"
Lao G's already muscular body swelled even further, stretching his tight red-and-blue combat suit to the brink of bursting. His thick, powerful fists raised in front of him, forming the shape of a 'G' as he charged head-on toward Gan Fall's knightly lance.
"Boom!"
"Crack!"
'Impossible!'
Gan Fall's eyes widened in shock as his battle-worn lance splintered upon impact. There was no time to retreat.
The devastating force of G-Imprint crashed down upon his steel helmet.
Gan Fall, along with his mount Pierre, was sent hurtling downward, crashing into the solid island clouds below.
Without hesitation, Lao G stepped onto the air with Moonwalk, his swollen fists raised high. Like a relentless storm, his iron-like punches rained down.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Kagasi, arriving just moments later, could only watch as the former god plummeted at alarming speed.
But there was no time to dwell on it—no room for hesitation.
Despite the immense strain on his arms from using Impact Dial, he pressed forward, launching himself at Diamante.
Seeing the radiant glow from Kagasi's attack, Diamante made no effort to dodge. Instead, he calmly unsheathed his thin rapier and swung it directly at Kagasi.
Kagasi stomped hard on the Wind Dial beneath his feet, accelerating his advance. He barely brushed past the slow-moving blade, his face lighting up as his arm closed in on the suited swordsman.
But in the next instant, the impossible happened.
The man in front of him twisted his body into an unnatural 'Z' shape, and Kagasi's attack struck nothing but air.
'A Devil Fruit user!'
Kagasi was momentarily stunned but quickly recovered, raising his right hand once more, the Impact Dial at the ready.
Diamante, noticing the confusion on Kagasi's face, chuckled mockingly.
"Yohohoho! Your attacks are completely useless against my Fruit. And tell me, boy—did you really dodge?"
"Swish!"
The slender rapier bent unnaturally before snapping back, slicing through the air with a sharp whistle.
Kagasi had no time to react.
"Slash!"
Blood sprayed into the sky as Kagasi's body went limp, falling from the air.
...
Watching the battles unfold, Doflamingo gave an approving nod in silence.
Lao G was a veteran pirate of the New World—not like the likes of Trebol, who was a mere first-timer in these harsh waters. His combat skills were refined and precise.
However, the peak of his strength was already set in stone. Unless enhanced by a Devil Fruit, there was little room for further growth.
Doflamingo wasn't one to force anyone to eat a Devil Fruit. If a man refused, shoving one down his throat wouldn't do any good.
Besides, Lao G was too old for that.
As for Diamante, the combination of the Fruit and the Rokushiki was promising, but his swordsmanship remained as lackluster as ever.
Turning his gaze toward the trembling ranks of the Divine Guard and the Shandian warriors below, Doflamingo spoke lightly.
"Go inform everyone in Angel Island and your tribe—I want every single resident gathered. Your new god has arrived. I expect no one to be absent."
"M-My lord, may we tend to the wounded first?"
"Of course. I am a merciful god, after all."
Doflamingo's proclamation spread quickly across the sky islands.
Gan Fall, revered as the god of Angel Island, and Kagasi, the strongest warrior of the Shandian remnants—both had been defeated within moments by Doflamingo's subordinates.
The people of Angel Island and the Shandians had no illusions. If his subordinates alone could accomplish this, what chance did they have against Doflamingo himself?
Soon, crowds from both factions gathered near the white-sea waters surrounding Upper Yard.
The two groups stood distinctly apart, their eyes locked onto the massive Flamingo ship floating above and the three mummified bodies suspended in midair.
This unknown force filled them with dread.
What kind of future awaited them now?
From above, Doflamingo observed the sea of anxious faces below. He could feel their doubts, their fears, their terror.
With a slight movement of his foot, he stepped forward, supported by invisible threads, walking through the air as if he truly were a god descending upon the world.
The air grew thick with an oppressive heat, black-and-red lightning crackling through the sky. A powerful, unseen force erupted outward.
In an instant, the people below felt as though a predator had its fangs at their throats. Their bodies went stiff as if turned to stone, their pupils dilated with fear, cold sweat dripping from their foreheads.
Seeing their reactions, Doflamingo smiled in satisfaction. Then, his face broke into a bright, cheerful grin as he spoke.
"Fufufufu! I see you're all quite lively. That pleases me. Now, I hope you all listen carefully to what I'm about to say."
"My name is Donquixote Doflamingo, from the lower seas. Just moments ago, your god and your strongest warrior dared to offend me."
"But being the merciful man that I am, I have forgiven them. And according to your own customs, the one who defeats the god becomes the new god. That would be me. Any objections?"
The people of Angel Island and the Shandians exchanged uncertain glances.
No one spoke.
Their eyes drifted toward the three beaten warriors hanging in midair and the man whose mere presence was enough to paralyze them in fear.
Not a single person dared to challenge him.
"Good," Doflamingo continued. "It seems none of you object to me being the new god of the Sky Island. From today onward, the 400-year war between the Shandians and Angel Island ends. This land shall be unified under a new name—Donquixote."
Years ago, Doflamingo had carefully considered this moment. For the sake of his grand ambitions, the Sky Islands had to be united.
It wasn't difficult to satisfy the Shandians. They simply wanted to reclaim their land in Upper Yard. That was a minor issue.
As for gold? That didn't concern them. And even if it did, it wouldn't change Doflamingo's decision.
Angel Island had endured six years under Enel's rule without resistance. They would do the same under him.
Lingering hatred from centuries of war? That wasn't his problem. If they couldn't let go of their grudges and stirred trouble, he'd simply exile them to the Blue Sea. They would never return.
The obedient ones would assimilate within a few decades.
And those who refused?
They would die. Simple as that.
In the North Blue, he already had clone soldiers in production. If the people here perished, he could always replace them with more useful ones.
Wealth? The Sky Islands were poor. Petty robbery was beneath him. Their labor was far more valuable.
With that in mind, Doflamingo added one last decree.
"Upper Yard will now be freely accessible—so long as its environment remains unharmed."
The island's oversized wildlife was important. He had plans for it.
As for the people who wandered in out of curiosity?
If they died, so be it.
...
Leaving Diamante and Lao G to keep Gan Fall and Kagasi conscious, Doflamingo made his way to the towering vines of Upper Yard.
Ascending to the very top, he laid eyes upon the legendary Shandorian relic—the Golden Bell.
"Dong! Dong! Dong!"
Deep, resounding chimes echoed across the sky.
On Angel Island, the gathered people turned in shock toward the source of the sound.
Even those who had never heard it before instinctively knew.
It was the Golden Bell.
Tears welled up in the eyes of the Shandians.
Even the wounded Kagasi and Gan Fall stirred at the familiar sound.
"Four hundred years... The Fire of Shandora has been reignited."
"The Golden Bell... It rings once more."
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+100 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg