Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Perospero Senses Something Amiss
Back on the Path of Life.
Doflamingo's mindset had shifted yet again.
Back then, he was just a rising star from the North Blue, making a living by trafficking weapons. His crew was nothing but a ragtag bunch of misfits and stragglers. Even facing Enel required utmost caution.
But now?
The soon-to-be King of Skypiea.
A man capable of stirring chaos across the seas single-handedly.
He had beaten the Seven Warlords of the Sea and would one day challenge the three Admirals.
His subordinates—Enel, Moria, Tesoro, Urouge, and Pica—were all formidable forces in their own right.
Steadying himself, Doflamingo strode toward the marker behind Dressrosa's road sign. At the journey's end, a massive lighthouse loomed over him, its brilliance illuminating the surroundings as if it were broad daylight.
The walls of the lighthouse stretched skyward, each surface depicting crucial moments of his past— dismembered Disco, his time in Dressrosa, and the games he played with Scarlett.
Doflamingo smirked at the sight. "Tch. How nostalgic."
A static display like this no longer stirred any emotions within him.
"Panel!"
Donquixote Doflamingo [World-Famous]
Donquixote Family - [Renowned in the New World]
Sea Calendar: 1499--
Birthplace: Red Line, Holy Land Mary Geoise
Skills:
Conqueror's Haki [Expert]
Combat [Master]
Rokushiki [Master]
Navigation [Skilled]
Armament Haki [Pseudo-Master]
Demon Form [Expert]
Observation Haki [Expert]
Advanced Technique: [Forced Emotional Resonance]
Devil Fruit: String-String Fruit [Master]
Innate Traits: Innate Strength, Enhanced Skeleton
Achievements: Filial Son, King of the North Blue, True Usurper (Reward Available)
Landmark: Dressrosa (Reward Available)
...
[World-Famous]: Your battle in Loguetown spread through the media, and now even children worldwide hear tales of you before bedtime.
"What the hell? So I'm just a bedtime story now? What about my reputation as a pirate?"
[Conqueror's Haki – Expert]: Your will and power continue to expand, but you still lack true confidence in a direct clash. Translation? You haven't fought enough strong opponents.
[Combat – Master]: Your fighting style is uniquely your own, but your recovery isn't great. It's advised you don't rely on pure brawling.
[Navigation – Skilled]: Don't bother. Even Observation Haki can't save you from your lack of weather sense.
...
Ignoring the snide remarks, Doflamingo focused on his three near-perfect skills—Conqueror's Haki, Armament Haki, and Demon Form.
"The first two... I haven't mastered Conqueror's Coating, and my Armament Haki still requires an external medium for projection. But what's missing for Demon Form to reach its final form?"
He thought for a while but found no answer.
Instead, his eyes narrowed at a newly unlocked achievement.
"True Usurper?"
The panel helpfully provided an explanation:
[True Usurper]: As a former royal who voluntarily abandoned Dressrosa, you have now ignited chaos for your own ambitions. Unlike the dethroned Riku family, who were forced to relinquish power, you are the true usurper... No, scratch that. You're a conqueror.
As the victor, you may choose one of the following rewards:
Superhuman Attributes
Skeletal Reinforcement (Can be granted to subordinates)
Innate Strength (Can be granted to subordinates)
Either of the latter two, if given to Enel or Moria, would elevate them to at least a right-hand commander level.
But Doflamingo's sharp gaze flickered as he made his decision.
"I choose 1."
No matter how strong his subordinates became, nothing was more important than his own power. Besides, he had already planned their upgrades.
Cheat codes like these? Better to keep them for himself.
This time, there was no excruciating bone-altering pain.
Lifting his right hand, he willed the power of the String-String Fruit into action.
His arm unraveled into countless silk-like threads.
"Fuffuffuffuffu... With Awakening, I might as well be a Logia-type Devil Fruit user."
Doflamingo let out a triumphant laugh. Right now, he had only gained superhuman attributes, but in the future? Supernatural abilities.
Light, gamma rays, lifelines, timelines, fate lines—none of it was impossible.
The future looked promising.
And the Path of Life would take him there.
With a thought, he claimed his evolution into Strengthened Physique.
"Path of Life, show me my limits!"
A long-absent mirror materialized.
Within it, Doflamingo's body, sprawled across his throne, began to tremble. The shaking intensified, as if his flesh had gained a life of its own.
"Hissss!"
His muscles ripped apart, each fiber tangling like a nest of serpents regenerating at rapid speed. Thick, glue-like blood sealed the torn flesh, healing him almost instantly.
"Good thing I sent Enel and the others away," he muttered, watching his reflection with a smirk.
"They'd lose their damn minds seeing this."
On the panel, Innate Strength vanished, replaced by a new term:
Race: Long-Lived Species
[Long-Lived Species]: Ever thought about outliving Imu and breakdancing on her giant straw hat? I think you could pull it off.
"I want to personally wipe out every single Celestial Dragon in the Holy Land."
Was he answering someone? Or just talking to himself?
...
The Singing Ship
"Mamamama! Thanks again, Kaido!"
"Tch, I'm only here for a fight. Just hand over the elixir, ton ton ton ton..."
"No problem. This is my son-in-law's business, after all..."
Watching Kaido collapse into a drunken slumber, Perospero and the others heaved a sigh of relief.
Dealing with Big Mom's insatiable hunger pangs was already bad enough. Now, they had to babysit a drunk Kaido?
Sharing a ship with these two was pure hell.
Cradling his scalded right arm, Perospero stepped forward, his expression dark as he reported an anomaly in their plans.
"Mama, the Navy shouldn't have known our movements. It's possible Doflamingo didn't attack Dressrosa as promised. The G-5 Marine base hasn't mobilized toward Dressrosa or Prodence, both of which are World Government affiliates. Instead, they're stationed in the Golden Lion's waters—completely out of sync with our projected timetable."
"If not for this, we could've withdrawn from the Golden Lion's territory before running into the Navy's main force."
"Or worse... Doflamingo might have betrayed us and sold our plans to the Marines. Perorin~!"
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