Enel slowly opened his eyes, his vision blurred as he lay curled up on the ground. The only thing he could make out was a tall, powerful figure radiating strength, standing with his back to him—an empty back.
No wings! He doesn't have wings either! And in that vision I just saw, none of them had wings!
Enel's eyes, filled with destructive intent, flickered with confusion. His voice came out unsteady.
"That... just now... what was that? Do all people from the Blue Sea have no wings?"
Doflamingo, amused by Enel's reaction, grinned wider. He extended a finger and let out a signature laugh.
"Fufufufu... That was your own Mantra. It allows you to anticipate attacks and avoid injuries. But in the Blue Sea, we call it Observation Haki—just a different way of using it.
As for what you saw—that was my life.
Wings? Most people in the Blue Sea don't have them. Though, there are a few exceptions—certain rare races do."
"Your... life?"
Enel, bruised and battered, looked up at the towering form of Doflamingo—his immaculate clothing, his overwhelming presence, and the dangerous aura that seemed to seep from every fiber of his being. He could hardly believe it. Someone this powerful had experienced such a terrible past?
"That's right. My life. A pathetic father. A mother who died sick and frail. And the first half of my life—spent scrounging like a starving dog. But I, Donquixote Doflamingo, climbed out of that filth. I dragged myself out of the mud of this wretched world."
He met Enel's uncertain gaze with absolute conviction.
"Enel... do you want to carry the name of my family? Do you want to stand with me and turn this world upside down? Fufufufu..."
Dazed by the weight of everything he had just learned, Enel found himself nodding, almost instinctively, under the influence of his Observation Haki.
"Yes!"
...
Birka's Cloud Shores
Aboard the Flamingo
"Oi, oi, Doffy. Someone just spotted our ship landing. Oh? And who's this brat?"
Trebol squinted at the young figure standing behind Doflamingo, his tone laced with curiosity.
"Does a gathering of antelopes pose a threat to a tiger? He's our new family—his name is Enel. Enel, this is one of our family, Trebol."
Doflamingo pulled Enel forward, completely unbothered by Trebol's concerns.
Trebol's pupils shrank at the words.
The Donquixote Family has been running on a merit system for a long time now... It's been ages since Doffy personally inducted someone into the family. Just what is it with this kid?
After sizing Enel up, Trebol scooped up some food with his sticky, mucus-covered hand and held it out.
"H-Hey there, Enel! Here, have an apple. Say, young master... do you know about the Infinite Land?"
Despite Trebol's kindness, the sight of the slime-covered fruit made Enel hesitate. After a brief pause, he took out the only thing he had and offered it in exchange.
"The Infinite Land... That's the moon at night."
"Doffy, the moon...?"
"Don't interrupt me, Trebol. You're standing on an island ten thousand meters in the air. You really think flying to the moon is possible?"
Doflamingo had no intention of answering Trebol's confusion. Instead, he turned to Enel, ready to shatter the fantasy he was clinging to.
"The Infinite Land has already been reduced to ruins by your ancestors, the Lunarians. If it wasn't, your people wouldn't have migrated here, Enel."
He chuckled darkly.
"Perhaps there are other 'Infinite Lands' out there in the cosmos... But we do not know of them. However, there is another 'Infinite Land' in the Blue Sea—the Red Line.
For now, though... it does not belong to me."
...
Birka's Central Clockwork Tower
At the base of a massive winged statue made of interlocking gears, the High Priest sat in deep meditation, gripping a golden scepter. Surrounding him were his bald-headed Divine Guards, seated in silence.
The quiet was broken as a patrol squad burst in from the coast.
"High Priest! Pirates from the Blue Sea have landed! That monster Enel has joined forces with them!"
"Where did they make landfall?"
"The western coast, High Priest."
"Sink them. Send them back to the Blue Sea."
"The so-called Infinite Land isn't completely worthless. Your ancestors left behind a technological city—far more advanced than anything Birka has. And beyond that, there's always the possibility of acquiring valuable biological materials and tech from space pirates."
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The sound of approaching footsteps drew their attention.
Doflamingo and his men turned to face the newcomer.
At the lead was a man with the head of a bird, his feathered crest twisted into a bun-like knot. A red prayer bead necklace hung around his thick neck. Unlike the small wings of his brethren, an additional pair of massive wings extended from his back. He wore a flowing black robe with golden trim, though the sheer muscle beneath the fabric could not be concealed. In his left hand, he held a massive golden scepter.
Behind him stood a formation of Divine Guards, all clad in identical uniforms. Among them, one particularly stood out—a grinning man wielding a massive wooden staff.
Urouge? Doflamingo's eyes glinted. I have to say, Skypiea is a gold mine.
The High Priest locked eyes with Doflamingo, wary of the overwhelming presence he exuded. Yet, he did not attack outright. Instead, his beak-like mouth opened, issuing a warning.
"Blue Sea dwellers. Leave behind the forsaken one and depart. Otherwise, today, you will return to the Blue Sea permanently."
Doflamingo looked at the arrogant, bird-headed monk before him, utterly amused by his confidence.
This is what happens when you close yourself off from the world. Smart, but not very.
A cruel smile spread across his lips as he vanished in a blur.
"Fufufufu... Order me? Threaten me? You seem to have forgotten your place, birdman. Did your extra pair of wings give you a false sense of security? Overheat."
Whip!
A massive string whip shot from Doflamingo's hand, slashing through the air. It extended toward the coast, cutting through palm trees as if they were made of paper.
BOOM!
The High Priest's pupils shrank at the sheer destructive power. His massive wings spread wide, shielding his Divine Guards.
Thwack!
The string whip struck, slicing off countless feathers but failing to penetrate.
"Not bad... That's some solid defense. Not your average Zoan, are you? An Ancient Zoan? A first-rate punching bag. Let's see how you handle this... String-String Fruit: Arm Muscle Reinforcement."
Though unfamiliar with the term "Ancient Zoan," the High Priest instinctively felt a chill of dread crawl up his spine.
With a roar, his body began to change.
Beneath his skin, something squirmed and pulsed. Sharp, metallic feathers erupted from every inch of his body as he grew taller.
A towering, humanoid bird stood in his place.
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+100 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg