In the next moment, the massive beast-like figure was sent flying like a cannonball, crashing into the central tower.
"Boom!"
With a thunderous impact, the towering gear structure tilted slightly, while smoke billowed into the battlefield.
The Divine Guard, witnessing the scene, were filled with terror.
In contrast, Enel, standing atop his flamingo mount in the distance, had gone from anxious to exhilarated.
"Don't underestimate me, Blue Sea dweller!!! Divine Claw Strike!"
The beast-like figure roared in fury as its enormous form emerged from the smoke. Spreading its thirty-meter-wide wings, it shot into the sky. Its razor-sharp eyes locked onto the target below as it accelerated, gaining tremendous momentum. Its metallic claws, gripping a golden scepter, glowed ominously as they sliced through the air with a piercing shriek.
Hearing the howling wind, Doflamingo's excitement only grew. He craved an even more intense clash.
"Still this lively after taking a direct hit? As expected of an Ancient Zoan user. Armament Hardening."
Doflamingo flexed his already reinforced muscles, his massive fists now coated in a deep black sheen, resembling steel forged for battle, brimming with primal strength.
"BONG!!!"
With a burst of air pressure, the golden scepter clashed against his iron-hardened arm, producing the sharp clang of metal striking metal.
Despite the overwhelming force pressing down on him, Doflamingo remained rooted in place like a nail driven into the ground, his feet sinking slightly into the sandy terrain.
Is this still not enough?
Seeing Doflamingo's unfazed expression, the beast-like opponent grew more and more grim.
"Die, Blue Sea dweller!"
Raising its scythe-like beak, it lunged forward for a lethal strike.
Balance—lost.
"Fufufufufu, foolish birdman. I was just toying with you. String-String Fruit: Leg Muscle Enhancement. Soru."
The instant the beast altered its attack, Doflamingo seized the opening.
His legs bulged with the same artificial muscle structure as his arms, surging with power akin to a hydraulic pump. Like a tightly drawn bowstring, he launched himself forward, throwing the beast's body off balance.
The creature's pupils contracted. Though inexperienced in battle, even it recognized the danger at this moment.
The next second, Doflamingo appeared behind the staggering beast.
"Crack."
A crisp snap echoed as another swollen lump formed on the beast's already battered head. Its massive form was sent flying once again.
"BOOM!"
Buildings and palm trees along the way shattered like a child's discarded toy blocks.
Watching the airborne opponent, Doflamingo flicked his wrist, vanishing in an instant.
No one understood the importance of a finishing blow better than him.
"Sticky Launcher! Mahahaha! Spacing out in battle? Just how long has it been since you last fought for real?!"
Trebol cackled as he launched blobs of thick mucus at the dazed warriors.
Urouge dodged the incoming globs, gripping his wooden staff as he charged at Trebol.
Seeing that the attack lacked Haki, Trebol didn't even bother dodging.
"Splat!"
Urouge and his weapon disappeared into the sticky mire, his massive strength and even his Boost-Boost Fruit's accumulated power rendered completely useless.
Elsewhere, the carnage continued.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
"Aaaahhh!"
"Lord Divine Master! Lord Divine Master has fallen!!!"
"Monster! A monster!"
"Somebody save us!!"
Panic spread among the islanders as they fled from the chaos.
The so-called "Divine Master" was being ruthlessly slammed into the ground by Doflamingo, his bird-like head making repeated, intimate contact with the dirt.
"Too weak. Far too weak. What a waste of an Ancient Zoan."
"P-P-Please… spare me, Blue Sea dweller…"
Pain. Excruciating pain.
Feeling his bones nearly shattered beyond repair, the so-called Divine Master couldn't help but beg for mercy.
"Fufufufufu, what you should be saying is, 'Please forgive my transgressions, I pledge my eternal loyalty to you.' But no matter—your fate is sealed. You'll spend the rest of your life in a laboratory."
Sensing the insincerity behind the words, as well as the lingering malice, Doflamingo's patience wore thin.
Some people simply couldn't be tamed through brute force alone.
Lifting his thick, elephantine, enhanced leg, he stomped down mercilessly.
"BOOM!!!"
"Crack."
The sickening crunch of bones shattering filled the air.
Dragging the unconscious, completely broken Divine Master behind him along with the golden scepter, Doflamingo stepped into the sky, leaving the ruins he had created.
As for why he didn't kill him? Simple.
Doflamingo had the String-String Fruit, not the Dark-Dark Fruit—he lacked the ability to extract Devil Fruits from corpses.
An Ancient Zoan user left alive was a rare experimental specimen with immense value.
Killing him without squeezing out every ounce of usefulness would be a terrible waste.
As the islanders beheld Doflamingo and his newly acquired "accessory," fear of the future gripped their hearts.
...
Two Months Later
Upper Yard.
The Germa Kingdom Laboratory—stripped of its name twenty-six years ago.
Having acquired everything he wanted, Vinsmoke Judge had decisively renounced Germa's status as a World Government-affiliated nation, conveniently saving a hefty sum on the Heavenly Tribute tax.
He had come to terms with reality. The World Government had no intention of allowing Germa to rise again. They treated him like a criminal, refusing to grant him even a scrap of land. It was time to find a new backer—one who didn't just offer empty promises.
"Zzzt... Zzzt... Zzzt..."
A slightly healthier-looking Enel grinned with excitement as he flickered across the sky, transforming into lightning.
During the looting of Bilka, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit had indeed been found.
Unfortunately, the blueprints for the Ark Maxim were nowhere to be seen.
As for why the fruit was given back to Enel?
First, he was young, had been thoroughly reconditioned, and was easy to mold into shape.
Second, in the original timeline, Enel had already proven the incredible potential of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. He was worth investing in.
Doflamingo's eyes gleamed as he watched the newly extracted blood sample in the cultivation chamber, pulsating with tiny bursts of electricity from Enel's movements.
He fell into deep thought.
'In this world, Devil Fruit abilities can undergo an Awakening stage.
For Zoans, Awakening enhances their animalistic traits, granting extreme stamina and recovery abilities. They can survive even fatal injuries.
Based on the behavior of the Jailer Beasts in Impel Down, combined with Bloodline Factor theory, there are two methods to achieve Zoan Awakening:
Method One: Abandon reason and allow the primal beast instincts within the Bloodline Factor to take over, becoming a mindless monster—like the Jailer Beasts or Chopper's Monster Point.
Method Two: Completely dominate the will of the Zoan Devil Fruit's Bloodline Factor, successfully Awakening while maintaining full control.
For Paramecia, Awakening manifests as the ability to transform and influence the environment—like Katakuri shaping the Mirror World or affecting entire towns…'
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+100 chapters on p@treon/tambeerg