Chapter 73

As the Marine Scout ship finally caught a glimpse of me high in the air, I appeared as the embodiment of lightning itself. "That... That... That's the Lightning Logia!" the captain roared in disbelief, realizing the true extent of the revelation. Their transponder snails had already been knocked out by my power, leaving them helpless to communicate with headquarters.

Just as the captain understood the gravity of the situation, a massive pillar of lightning descended upon the Marine Scout ship, obliterating it from existence. Any vessel that dared to pry into the events unfolding on the island met a similar fate, as I unleashed my monstrous range of destruction upon them.

As the dust settled and the echoes of our battle faded into the distance, I stood victorious amidst the wreckage of our clash. The once mighty island lay in ruins, its landscape devastated by the ferocity of our battle. With a heavy heart, I approached Issho's unconscious form, feeling a sense of respect for his bravery and determination.

And with that, I turned towards the island, where the fate of its inhabitants awaited my judgment. What followed was carnage as I ensured that Doffy's promise made on this island was kept, the dancing dark clouds in the sky bearing witness to the chaos that ensued. I had finally come to truly embody my true character.

As I set foot upon the island's soil, a palpable sense of dread permeated the atmosphere, mingling with the ominous shadows cast by the dancing dark lightning clouds overhead. With every step, the ground trembled beneath my feet, a harbinger of the carnage that was about to unfold.

With a single swing of Sandai Kitetsu, arcs of lightning danced along its blade, illuminating the darkness with an eerie glow. The first strike was like a bolt from the heavens, cleaving through flesh and bone with merciless precision. Blood sprayed in crimson arcs as screams echoed through the night, the air thick with the sickening scent of iron.

I moved with relentless efficiency, my movements a blur of death as I cut down anyone who dared to stand in my path. With each strike, I could feel the raw power coursing through me, fueling my rampage with an insatiable hunger for destruction.

The streets ran red with blood as I carved a path of devastation through the heart of the island, leaving naught but death and despair in my wake. The cries of the innocent mingled with the crackle of thunder, a symphony of chaos that echoed across the island.

But even amidst the slaughter, a part of me recoiled at the horror of what I had become. The screams of the dying haunted my every step, a grim reminder of the price of vengeance. Yet, I pushed onward, driven by a singular purpose—to fulfill the promise I had made to my brother, no matter the cost.

As dawn broke upon the ravaged landscape, I stood amidst the ruins of the island, a lone figure bathed in the pale light of the rising sun. The once vibrant streets lay silent and desolate, a testament to the devastation wrought by my hand.

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It had been two days since my clash with Issho, and he had yet to awaken. The man must have truly pushed himself beyond his limits. Despite my recent surge in strength, which had brought me to the brink of admiral-level power, it had proven too much for Issho to handle in his current state. Our little caravel now carried five people, including myself and what remained of the Donquixote family. Giolla had already regained consciousness, but she was in no condition to move about. Therefore, it fell to Lucci and Gladius to care for the two wounded on board.

However, my main concern now lay in discovering what had happened to Doffy and his whereabouts. I couldn't afford to waste even a second; for all I knew, Doffy might have been suffering for these past three months. Only after speaking to Trebol did I confirm that Doflamingo was last seen surrounded by Beast Pirates and World Government agents.

It wasn't as though I hadn't attempted to gather information through other avenues. Most of what I had found were mere rumors, and even some of the Cipher Pol agents I had captured could offer nothing more than hearsay about an event that occurred in Mary Geoise around the time I was ambushed by Agana.

With all the rumors pointing to Mary Geoise and with time running out, I decided to take the gamble. The world still believed me to be dead, and I intended to use this to my advantage. With that in mind, I steered the caravel in the direction of North Blue Red Port. While I wasn't an expert in navigation, I had a decent knowledge of navigation from my time as a Marine to navigate the seas of North Blue.

Meanwhile, news of the massacre on the North Blue Island had spread far and wide. However, all the blame fell on the head of Golden Lion Shiki. I paid little heed to the accusations, as my actions were solely aimed at fulfilling Doflamingo's promise. Soon enough, I would hunt down every single person involved in bringing down the Donquixote family.

Just as I pondered how effectively to infiltrate Mary Geoise, Lucci came running. I had already begun training both him and Gladius, and I had to admit that Doflamingo had done an excellent job of laying a strong foundation for them, particularly Lucci, whose talent was apparent.

"Ross, the blind man is awake. He wants to talk to you," Lucci said, his cheerful demeanor evident. It seemed his time with the Donquixote family had treated him well.

I ensured the weather was steady before making my way to the small cabin where Issho and Giolla lay. Gladius was already seated by Giolla's side, diligently tending to her.

"How long have I been out? And you spared my life even after I tried to bury us both in the sea," Issho said, lowering his head in guilt as he detected me entering the cabin.

"It's alright, Issho-san. You were only following your beliefs. I won't hold it against you. And now that you've lost, I hope you remember our wager," I replied with a soft smile. I knew I had found a valuable addition to the Donquixote family in Issho. While his loyalty was guaranteed, I also resolved to keep a watchful eye on him. I couldn't afford to let him be swayed by his morals in the future.

"I do, Ross-kun. I am a man of my word. I will follow you. But I would like to know something: Did you kill everyone on the island?" Issho tightened his fist, now considering their deaths his fault as he was not strong enough to defend the innocents. Despite his current condition, Issho was still thinking about the people on the island. I chose to remain silent because anything I said at this point would only make things harder for Issho to be part of our family. My silence was all the answer Issho needed regarding the fate of the people on the island.

"Ross-kun, aren't you afraid that I would betray you in the future? Our ideals completely clash. Are you still confident that I would be loyal until the end?" Issho's conflicted feelings were evident. On one side was his promise to follow me, and on the other side were his morals that he stuck onto.

"That is why I am asking you this one last time, Issho-san. If you feel you are not meant to be a part of my family, you can leave, and I will consider our debts to each other repaid in full. But if you choose to join my family, then you know what it entails, make no mistake our future will be written with the blood of thousands and I am sure many a things we might do might not be in line with your ideals." My words hung heavy in the air. I couldn't leave a powerful man like Issho in my family if his allegiance was not guaranteed . In such a case, it was better to part ways now. I couldn't afford a Marcus situation occur again. Someday, when I lay my hands on that bastard, I would make him suffer.

"Don't worry, Issho-san. I am not that ungrateful to force you against your wishes . Go ahead and take your time and think about it and let me know about your decision when we reach our destination, and whatever you decide to do I'll respect your decision. But I hope you are not naive enough to believe that just because they call themselves civilians in this world , they are innocent. Human cruelty knows no bounds, the devil lurks deep inside every soul. " I remarked, checking Issho's injuries to ensure he did not sustain any lasting harm. Only his left arm seemed heavily damaged, but I was sure he would soon recover. I left the cabin leaving the man with his decision.************In the center of the Holy Land of Mary Geoise, on the central square, stood a grim testament to suffering and defiance. For the past three months, a large crucifix has been erected, its imposing presence visible from nearly every corner of the Holy Land. Upon it hung the shriveled and broken form of Donquixote Doflamingo, his once proud and formidable figure reduced to a pitiful state.

Doflamingo's condition was beyond pathetic. His once vibrant and charismatic demeanor had been replaced by a gaunt and emaciated shell of a man. His clothing, once regal and imposing, now hung in tatters around his frail frame. Deep bruises and lacerations covered his body, evidence of the relentless torment he had endured. His once fiery gaze was now hollow and vacant, a mere shadow of its former intensity.

For three long months, Doflamingo had been subjected to unimaginable suffering. Originally slated for permanent incarceration by the elders because Doflamingo was the current user of the flame logia and they didn't want the fruit recirculating back into the world after he was killed , however, his fate took a twisted turn when Doffy's threat of his brothers vengeance, amused the Elders, which prolonged Doflamingo's agony. And with requests for vengeance from the the Donquixote family in Mary Geoise, Instead of a swift death or eternal suffering in Impel Down, he was made to endure each agonizing day as the entire Holy Land watched.

Despite the repeated attempts to break his spirit by informing him of his brother's supposed demise and presenting him with a gruesome reminder—a chunk of what was claimed to be his brother's heart—Doflamingo refused to yield.

He clung to life with a tenacity that defied all reason, driven by the belief that his brother would come for him. Starved and tormented daily, Doflamingo's resilience was nothing short of miraculous. While any normal person would have succumbed to despair within the first week, Doflamingo remained steadfast. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months, yet the flicker of life in his eyes never wavered, a testament to his unyielding willpower.

As the days dragged on and Doflamingo's suffering continued unabated, whispers of his resilience and defiance spread throughout the Holy Land of Mary Geoise. Despite his broken state, there was a strange aura of strength that seemed to emanate from him—a silent defiance that captured the attention of all who passed by.

Those who witnessed his ordeal couldn't help but feel a mixture of awe and horror at his unwavering determination. Some whispered that he was possessed by a devil's spirit, while others believed he was simply mad. Yet, regardless of the speculation, none could deny the sheer willpower that kept him clinging to life.

Meanwhile, within the confines of his own mind, Doflamingo fought a battle of his own. Memories of his past, both triumphant and tragic, flooded his thoughts, providing him with moments of solace amidst the torment. He recalled his rise to power, the glory of his reign as a budding rookie in the New World, and the fierce loyalty of his subordinates. But alongside these memories lurked darker shadows—the betrayal of his family, the loss of his freedom, and the relentless pursuit of vengeance. With each passing moment Doffy's conqueror haki was being tempered without his own knowledge and even his flames were undergoing a transformation.

Yet, amidst the chaos of his mind, one thought burned brighter than all the rest: the promise he had made to his younger brother, Ross. Doflamingo's unwavering belief that Ross would come for him was the only thing that kept him going—a beacon of hope in the darkness of his despair.