The crew of the Solar Rift Pirates was standing on the shore, looking out to the vast sea in front of them. The sun was going down, tinging the ocean yellow and the wind carrying the hope of a new dawn. But amidst the serenity of the sea, a storm was brewing in Solian's thoughts.
They had been fighting for weeks, training and gaining strength. From the battle against the Marines to the victory over Kordak and Ragnor, Solian underwent a transformation within himself. The thought had been in his head for a long time, but now more than ever did it look like it was time to take action.
"Everybody," Solian yelled, his voice ringing above the noise of the ship. The crew waited around him, catching on to the gravity in his tone.
"Captain, what's the plan?" Vance asked, his cocky smile changed to a more serious face.
Solian was at the helm, peering out onto the horizon. His eyes screened in thought as he reflected on the future of the crew and their existence in the world.
We have to take a nation," Solian said.
Silence fell over the crew. They stared at each other, processing what they'd just heard. Winning battles against Marine ships and pirates was one thing, but taking over an entire nation? That was something else entirely.
"By. a kingdom?" Kael asked, shoving his glasses up. "That's. a bold move. But how do we even do it?
Solian turned to his men. "We take Dressrosa."
The word hung like a sneer. Dressrosa was a legendary, rainbow-hued kingdom, celebrated for its wealth, its vibrant commerce, and its gifted citizens. But most of all, it was known for its brutal tyrant king—Donquixote Doflamingo. The warlord, notorious for his cruelty, had already conquered the island and ruled it with an iron fist.
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Doflamingo? Isn't he one of the world's most feared pirates?"
Solian nodded. "Yes. He's strong, but not immortal. If we beat him and his crew, Dressrosa is ours. And with that, we'll have a good starting point to expand our reach. We'll establish a kingdom, a kingdom where we rule the land, not the Marines or the World Government."
Jorin crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "That's a rather ambitious plan, Captain. But what about the Marines? They're not going to let you steal a nation from them.".
"I know," Solian replied. "And that's why we have to move quickly. We'll destroy Doflamingo's forces, take away his authority over the island, and then claim the throne for ourselves. The Marines will come if they can, but they'll be powerless to stop us."
Vance cracked his knuckles together, smiling the way he always did. "I'm in. If it means driving that piece of shit Doflamingo out of here, I'm so in."
We'll have to gather intel first," Kael went on. "We can't just rush in blindly. We need to know where Doflamingo's forces are weak.".
"Agreed," Solian consented. "Jorin, Milo—gather intel on the island. Discover Doflamingo's most powerful lieutenants and where we can hit him hardest. Vance, Rock Lee, start mobilizing popular support. Doflamingo's grip on power is rooted in fear. If we can get the people to accept us, that will sap his strength. Kael, you handle the big threats. We have to be ready for whatever happens to us."
The crew concurred, the reality of their new mission setting in. They'd always been pirates, but now, their prey had changed. They weren't searching for treasure or glory—though those still were alluring facets—they were searching for something greater. A kingdom.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Solian stood at the prow, looking out into the boundless sea. His men were loyal, courageous, and ready for what lay ahead. But he knew that taking Dressrosa would not be easy. They would face great enemies, on the island and on the seas. But for the first time, Solian felt a deep sense of purpose. This was only the beginning.
Chapter 84: Dressrosa – Ambition's Target
The next day, the Solar Rift Pirates sailed towards Dressrosa, the island emerging from the horizon. The wind blew in their favor, and the sea was calm, but something did not feel right that filled them with unease. The closer they sailed to the island, the more the weight of their mission pressed down upon them.
Solian was on the deck, gazing out towards Dressrosa. The island was as beautiful as it was deadly. Its tall spires and colorful, handsome buildings were contrasted with the dark cloud that hung over it. That dark cloud was Doflamingo's, a man who was in control of the island and everything on it, from its citizens to its soldiers.
"Captain," he said, going to him. "We've received some news. Doflamingo's forces are spread out all across the island, but his strongest lieutenants are the ones we have to take care of. There's also his family situation—his brother, Donquixote Rosinante, is alive, but I'm not sure how much influence he has. He could be an ally, or he could be a problem."
"Good," Solian replied, his head bobbing up and down. "We'll have to take care of his lieutenants first. We can't let them be the ones to defeat us. Once we break their grip on the island, we'll have the people behind us. Doflamingo is a brutal man, but his empire is founded on fear. If we can use that to our advantage against him, we'll have an awful lot easier time of taking it over."
Jorin and Milo returned from their scouting mission, a grim look on their faces.
"We've learned some important details," Jorin said. "Doflamingo's lieutenants are tough. One of them, Trebol, is known for his sticky abilities. Another, Pica, controls stone and can manipulate the terrain. There's also Diamante, a master swordsman. They're all strong, but they're not unbeatable."
"We can handle them," Vance said confidently. "We'll knock them out one by one."
We're going to have to walk carefully," Solian cautioned. "We don't want to warn Doflamingo yet. Let's do it, hit them where they're weak, and make sure we have the people on our side.".
The members of the crew nodded, prepared for the mission ahead. Solian sensed the weight of the mission bearing down on him. But he was ready. They were ready. And now, with Dressrosa ahead of them, there was no turning back.