56 Chapter 56

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In the midst of the inferno, Diamante danced among the flames, his body morphing and shifting as he tapped into the power of his Soot-Soot fruit. Trails of swirling soot encased his form, rendering him impervious to the heat and granting him the ability to manipulate the very fabric of reality itself.

Together, Doffy and Diamante became a deadly duo, their powers intertwining in a deadly ballet of destruction. Flames roared and soot billowed as they cut through their enemies with ruthless efficiency. The air was thick with the stench of burning flesh and the agonized screams of the dying.

"Show no mercy! Let their blood paint the walls of this accursed hall!" Doffy's laughter rang out above the din of battle as he unleashed torrents of fire upon his foes. His eyes gleamed with mad delight as he reveled in the slaughter, each death fueling his insatiable thirst for power.

Meanwhile, Senor's control over the goons grew ever more absolute as he manipulated their minds, turning them against each other in a frenzy of bloodlust. Brother turned against brother, friend against friend, as Senor's strings of manipulation danced like marionettes in his hands.

Amidst the carnage, Marcus and his companions stood frozen in horror, their faces pale with shock and disbelief. They had thought to align themselves with Doffy in hopes of gaining power and prestige, but now they found themselves caught in the crossfire of a battle they could never hope to win.

"Master Doflamingo, what have we done?" Marcus whispered, his voice barely audible above the roar of flames and the screams of the dying.

Doffy turned to regard Marcus with a twisted smile, his eyes gleaming with madness. "You've made your choice, Marcus. Now live with the consequences."

With that chilling proclamation, Doffy unleashed another wave of fire, consuming everything in its path. The once-grand meeting hall now lay in ruins, a testament to the brutality and ruthlessness of the Donquixote Pirates.

As the flames began to die down and the screams faded into silence, Doffy stood amidst the smoldering wreckage, his laughter echoing through the hall like the toll of a death knell. For in that moment, he knew that he had cemented his place as a tyrant without equal in his quest for ultimate power.

The next morning, as I lounged on Garp's ship, the tranquil atmosphere was shattered by the chaotic explosions from within the Ambrosia Kingdom. Despite the ongoing war, I had completed my journey through the ravaged country and returned to the safety of the marine vessel. Bogard, brought a newspaper aboard, and as he flipped through its pages, a bounty poster tumbled out and landed near me. It was my brother's new bounty poster, and the staggering amount printed on it, 249,600,000 Belly, immediately grabbed my attention.

Confusion clouded my thoughts as I turned to Bogard, who was engrossed in the contents of the newspaper. He noticed my gaze and tossed the paper over to me. As I scanned through it, the reason for my brother's sudden increase in bounty became painfully clear. He had single-handedly decimated an entire island in the North Blue, a territory under the control of the Western Mafia. Unlike the last time, he did not even spare the women and children this time around.

The newspaper featured a grim photograph of the island engulfed in flames, and speculation ran rampant that my brother had consumed a powerful devil fruit related to fire.

Despite my brother's recklessness, I knew he had disregarded my warnings and consumed the Flame-Flame fruit. With a sigh, I tossed the newspaper back to Bogard and pocketed the bounty poster. With heavy steps, I made my way towards my cabin, the weight of my brother's actions weighing heavily on my mind.

As I entered the solitude of my quarters, I unfolded the bounty poster and studied the image of my brother's face. Mixed emotions swirled within me—anger, frustration, and a lingering sense of responsibility. I had always tried to guide my brother on a cautious path, but it seemed that he was determined to chart his own course, consequences be damned.

I picked up the transponder snail and activated it, the snail flickering to life as the connection was established. After a few moments, my brother's expression appeared on the transponder, his expression unreadable.

"Ross?" he greeted, his voice tinged with surprise. "What brings you to call me?"

I composed myself for a moment, the weight of our recent conversation weighing heavily on my mind. "I saw your new bounty poster," I began, trying to keep my tone neutral. "What happened, Doffy?"

A flicker of annoyance crossed my brother's features before he masked it with a practiced smile. "Ah, that. Just a little misunderstanding, Ross," he replied nonchalantly, as if the destruction of an entire island was a trivial matter.

"Just a misunderstanding?" I echoed, incredulous. "Doffy, you annihilated an entire island. Including women and children, and tell me, Why did you rush to consume the flame fruit?"

Doffy's smile faltered for a fraction of a second before he regained his composure. "Ross, you know how it is. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the greater good, and the rumble fruit seems too elusive," he said dismissively, as if his words could justify the senseless loss of life.

I shook my head in disbelief, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "There's nothing 'good' about what you did, Doffy. You've crossed a line, and now that you have attracted too much attention to yourself, do you understand the consequences of your recent actions?"

Doffy's expression hardened, his eyes narrowing with a hint of defiance. "Consequences? Ross, you know me better than anyone. I don't answer to anyone's rules but my own."

His words struck a nerve, a reminder of the stubbornness that had always defined my brother. "You can't keep doing this, Doffy. Sooner or later, they'll catch up to us, especially those bastards from Mary Geoise who are looking for a chance to eliminate us; do you even understand why I am pushing myself to death every day to grow stronger?" I warned, my voice tinged with frustration and concern.

For a moment, there was silence between us, the weight of our conversation hanging heavy in the air. Then, with a resigned sigh, Doffy's expression softened ever so slightly.

"I appreciate your concern, little brother. But you know me—I've always been a survivor," he said, his tone tinged with a hint of sadness.

I wanted to argue, to make him see reason because he was attracting too much heat to himself. I already knew that Tsuru had set her sights on Doffy and the Elders might try to take us out anytime just so that we know secrets, but I knew it would be futile to try to make Doffy hear the reason. My brother was set in his ways, and nothing I said would change that. With a heavy heart, I ended the call, the image of my brother's face lingering in my mind long after the call went dark.

[Year: 1498]

For the next three months, we were stationed in the Ambrosia Kingdom, and true to my initial belief, Garp remained relatively passive, acting more as a bystander than an active participant in the conflict. Despite Dragon's hopes for him to take a more decisive role, he seemed content with observing from the sidelines, offering guidance when needed, but refraining from direct intervention.

During this time, I dedicated myself to training, pushing myself to new limits, and striving to become stronger with each passing day. Garp's decision to stay passive didn't deter me; instead, it fueled my determination to make a difference on my own terms.

Meanwhile, the dynamics of the conflict in the Ambrosia Kingdom began to shift. With the presence of the Marines alongside certain pirate factions, the forces loyal to the King gained momentum, gradually gaining the upper hand over the rebel forces. Despite Garp's passive stance, his mere presence amongst the Marines lent considerable support to the King's forces, bolstering their morale and resolve.

However, amidst the backdrop of war, a few prominent figures emerged on the rebel side, including the leader of the resistance—a Logia fruit user whose formidable abilities posed a significant challenge to our efforts for peace and stability. As the conflict continued to unfold, it became increasingly clear that our journey in the Ambrosia Kingdom was far from over.

Finally, after a back-and-forth stalemate, Kong's pressure compelled Garp to intervene personally, primarily due to the escalating loss of innocent lives. After three months of relative inactivity, Garp's direct involvement marked a significant shift in the dynamics of the conflict. I couldn't help but wonder why he hadn't taken action sooner, potentially sparing thousands of lives from unnecessary suffering.

With Garp's intervention, the rebel commander was subdued, dealing a critical blow to the rebel forces. As their leader fell, the rebels' morale plummeted, and chaos engulfed the Ambrosia Kingdom. The king's forces, emboldened by the defeat of their adversaries, launched a ruthless campaign against the remaining rebel factions.

The once-tumultuous streets of Ambrosia Kingdom descended into further chaos as the King's loyalists hunted down any remnants of resistance. Amidst the turmoil, innocent civilians found themselves caught in the crossfire, their lives hanging in the balance as the conflict intensified.

Despite Garp's belated intervention, the aftermath of his actions only served to deepen the devastation in the Ambrosia Kingdom.

At the end of the war, Garp and Dragon parted ways on sour terms, their opinions diverging sharply regarding the conflict in the Ambrosia Kingdom. Dragon harbored deep resentment towards Garp for his intervention, believing it to be unnecessary and ultimately detrimental. He argued that the rebel leader, a formidable force in the New World, would have likely sustained the rebellion's strength had Garp refrained from interfering. Moreover, Garp's insistence on taking the rebel leader to Impel Down was met with resistance, resulting in the monarch of Ambrosia Kingdom personally executing the rebel leader.

Following the monarch's return to power, his reign was marked by increased aggression towards the remaining citizens, exacerbating Dragon's frustrations with the World Government's complicity in such atrocities. The monarch's ruthless actions only served to fuel Dragon's growing disdain for the existing power structures and their exploitation of innocent lives for political gain.

Out in the vast expanse of the New World, where the ocean's depths hid mysteries and dangers alike, the Oro Jackson sailed with purpose. After their last clash with the formidable Shiki, the Roger Pirates were fully immersed in the pursuit of their ultimate goal: reaching the final unknown island. Despite their legendary exploits and the discovery of several poneglyphs, the key to unlocking the complete secrets of the ancient text remained elusive, as Roger's Voice of All Things only helped him understand the essence of these poneglyphs.

As the ship cut through the turbulent waves like a knife, Captain Roger and his trusted companion, Rayleigh, stood at the helm, their thoughts consumed by the pressing dilemma before them.

"Rayleigh, we might need to find a way to acquire more knowledge about these poneglyphs," Roger remarked, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon. "Time is running out for me, my friend. I don't know if I'll have enough time left to fulfill my dream."

Rayleigh's response was swift and emphatic, a mixture of disbelief and determination. "You bastard, what are you talking about? You'll live healthily until you have great-grandchildren. Don't speak nonsense."

Roger chuckled at Rayleigh's protest, his laughter carrying a hint of wistfulness. "Hahaha, that's a beautiful dream, Rayleigh. But we both know that I don't have long. And honestly, I'm not afraid of death. I'm just worried if we'll be able to reach the last island in time."

Rayleigh's grief turned to anger, his grip tightening on the ship's railing with such force that even the prized Adam Wood groaned under his touch. But before he could unleash further fury, Roger intervened, his voice calm yet firm.

"Rayleigh, don't go destroying our ship," Roger chided gently, his tone tinged with amusement. "Tom-san would chase us to the end of the world if we wantonly destroyed it, hahaha."