Luffy sat up, his face drawn tight with worry, "Oh shit. It's Doflamingo."

"What's a Doflamingo?" Usopp whispered.

"Doflamingo Donquixote," Marco explained. "President and founder of The D Foundation."

"Well shit. It's Doflamingo," Nami whispered, clutching the hem of Usopp's shirt in her thin hands. "What do we do now?"

"Luffy, we don't have time for this," Ace realized, exhaling heavily. "You need to be outside and waiting when the evac vehicle arrives."

"Law!" Luffy called down. "We don't have time for that. We need to go."

"He's…" Brook murmured, his mandible slapping noisily as he spoke. "Incredibly strong… I don't know what he…" Brook suddenly gasped, rolling over to his side. "Mister Law…"

"Can you hear me, Law?!" Luffy pressed.

"I heard ya," Law replied. "And I told you to go on ahead."

"I'm not leaving you," Luffy refused.

"Who would you leave instead?" Law questioned. "We're not all getting out of here."

"You're wrong," Luffy argued. "We will."

"Law is right, well, mostly right," Doflamingo drawled, snickering darkly. "None of them will make it out alive. You and Law will be reunited with Teach and spend the rest of your little lives in a lab beneath my feet."

"I'll never do that again," Luffy declared. "I'm no one's lab rat."

"You're wasting time, Luffy," Law warned. "This house is burning to the ground and you've got a ride to catch."

"Zoro," Luffy barked, turning to the others. "Take Sanji." Luffy disconnected the IV, ripping it from his flesh impatiently. "Ace, Marco, get them to the ride. We'll be there."

"No," Ace refused, shaking his head. "Nope. Fuck no."

"Yes." Luffy insisted, pushing his finger against Ace's vest. "They're in the way here. Law and I… we… we'll get there."

"Let me stay with you," Zoro interjected, adjusting Sanji in his arms.

"I don't like this-"

"Yeah, Luffy, this seems-"

"Everyone shut up and trust me!" Luffy shouted.

"Luffy, I can't just walk off when you're in danger," Ace refused, chewing on his bottom lip. "I have to make sure you're safe. I have to get you out. I c-"

"The field in front of the mansion," Luffy murmured, patting Ace's shoulder affectionately. "I'll be there. Make sure you're there too." Luffy grinned, "You've got an important job. I can't be my best if I'm down there worried about everyone up here."

"He's not just a man…" Ace cautioned.

Luffy nodded slowly, "I know. That's why I can't leave Law."

"Why don't we shoot him in the head and grab Law and run for it? Hmmm?" Usopp whispered, leaning into Luffy closely. "It's dark down there but I'm sure I could get it quick if I had some light."

"No," Luffy said flatly. "Now get the hell outta here so we have some room to move."

"Come back," Ace barked, punching his fist gently against Luffy's shoulder. "Or I'll beat your ass."

"Don't sacrifice yourself in some feeble attempt to be the hero," Luffy retorted, punching his brother in return.

"Same, little idiot."

"Luf," Zoro groaned hesitantly.

"Don't worry," Luffy breathed out. "You're gonna be stuck with me forever."

Zoro smiled, "Yeah? Well, good. 'Cause we're a team."

Luffy nodded, returning the smile, "Yeah."

The floor unexpectedly dropped, as if sinking in on itself. And then Luffy was falling backward, like the ground was pulled out from under him. He hit the concrete, several other bodies falling beside him. He hit hard. For several seconds he was afraid he might vomit. The impact made his head spin and his neck tense. He rolled over with a grunt, looking through the dusty darkness for the others.

"What the heck just happened?" Luffy asked aloud.

"Franky, you motherfucker!" Zoro barked, kicking out from under a pile of rubble. "You broke the damn floor!"

"Now I don't even have to go anywhere," Doflamingo interjected. "You've all come to me."

"Luffy!" Ace shouted from above. "Are you guys alright?!"

Luffy didn't respond immediately. He pulled himself into a sitting position, his arms crossed over his chest. A stream of blood dripped from his nose, dribbling down his chin. "Is everyone okay?"

"Yeah," Zoro said simply.

"Yeah," Nami whispered. "I think so."

"Who all fell?" Chopper asked, standing up.

"We're fine, Ace. Keep going," Luffy called back.

"Na-a-aa-miiiii!" Usopp shrieked with panic, his face emerging at the top of the hole. "Are you alright?"

"Get me out of this hole, damn it!" Nami insisted, reaching out uselessly with her arms.

"Lemme get a rope," Usopp began to formulate a plan. "And I'll…"

"No." Luffy refused. "Go on."

"But!"

"No." It was nonnegotiable.

"I'll wait for you," Usopp promised.

Nami smiled, shaking her head sadly, "Don't. Just go. If you have the chance, take it."

Usopp shook his head, "I'm waiting."

"Well wait outside then!" Nami shouted. "Hold the tank or whatever is coming to save us and don't let them leave until I'm on it! Hear me?!"

"I won't leave you," Usopp vowed.

Nami let out a sad, delirious laugh, "Just go, soldier boy. It's okay."

"What about Sanji?" Chopper asked, watching Zoro move the incapacitated man.

"That's not our problem right now," Law snapped, his eyes trained elsewhere.

Nami and Chopper turned, searching out what had Law and Luffy's undivided attention and gaze. Their eyes settled on Doflamingo, still perched atop a crate. He smiled coolly, smacking a piece of chewing gum between his impeccably white teeth.

"I was starting to feel forgotten," Doflamingo drawled. "I didn't like it one bit."

"This is the guy keeping us from our escape?" Nami asked, tossing her hair over her shoulder.

"Seems like it," Chopper wheezed.

"Okay, well," Nami breathed out, "Let's just kill him." She reached behind herself, pulling a pistol from the waistband of her pants. She slid the safety, clicking the magazine pointedly. "Bye-bye, asshole." The bullet pierced directly between Doflamingo's eyes. He slumped backward against the wall, an arc of blood and brains splattered behind him. Nami blew against the muzzle of the pistol proudly before returning it to her waistband. "And that's how it's done. Texas girls don't play."

"You've gotta be fucking kidding me!" Law gasped, turning to look at Nami in disbelief.

"Thatt'a girl," Zoro murmured appreciatively, nodding his head.

"Thank you, Thank you," Nami gushed, curtsying. "You can all repay me with lavish gifts later on."

"It was that easy?" Chopper said unsurely. "That man was a monster."

"Come on," Nami instructed, "Let's get the hell outta here."

"Wait."

Nami looked at Luffy in confusion, "Wait for what? I'd rather outrun the fire."

Luffy stared straight ahead, his bottom lip pulled between his teeth. "It's not over."

"What are y-?" But Law didn't have to wonder for long. He spun around in shock, watching as Doflamingo sat up.

Doflamingo dragged a long, noisy breath. He licked his lips, his fingers wiping through the blood that dripped down his forehead and nose. He leaned forward, his face splitting with a menacing smile.

"Whaaaat? No way! What the fuck is that?!" Nami screamed, diving behind Zoro.

Law's face twisted through several emotions. He staggered backward, his hand raising in an accusatory gesture, "You! I don't… You… But…" Law shook his head angrily, "This doesn't make any fucking sense."

"It makes total sense," Luffy snarled.

"What's going on?" Zoro whispered. "What's this mean?"

Doflamingo chuckled darkly. He leaned back, his legs spreading far apart, "It means I'm immortal, my little dears."

"But you're not a D," Chopper snapped. "And you're not one of my kind either…"

"I think we should get out of here," Nami suggested feebly.

"How did you do it?" Luffy asked, chewing on his skin until his lip bled.

"Is it the time for this conversation?" Doflamingo questioned, humored.

Luffy scoffed, "Yeah. Now or never. You're not leaving this place."

"I love your confidence but it is terribly juvenile and misplaced…" Doflamingo said, clasping his enormous hands together. "I'm going to kill all of you. Especially, you, bitch," Doflamingo spat, rubbing his head. "That fucking hurt."

"Oh, God, I'm gonna die," Nami cried, clutching Zoro's shirt. "I'm gonna die."

"So, talk," Law muttered bitterly. "Why are you like us?"

"Oh, I'm not like you," Doflamingo shook his head. "I'm better."

Law's jaw tightened, "How so?"

"I spent billions of dollars and over a decade fine tuning your blood until it was truly profitable for me."

"Because making us into weapons wasn't enough?" Luffy censured.

"Don't be stupid, that was simply a lucrative plus," Doflamingo explained. "Why the hell would we use dead people to develop weapons? The study was always about prolonging life." Doflamingo smirked, "Caesar is a piece of shit, but as you can see, he's a damn genius."

"Don't be coy, just tell us what you did," Law said.

"Go ahead and monologue," Zoro barked. "We're nosey, we'll wait."

"Oh, goodie, story time then," Doflamingo teased, his face splitting even wider apart.

"It began when a protein was injected into a sample of cadavers." Doflamingo began to explain, "Science-y stuff and all that. It isn't my forte." Doflamingo stood up, his head nearly grazing the ceiling. "One of the subjects, LAW…"

"Skip to the parts we don't know," Law hissed.

"LAW was special. He died of some shitty third-world disease," Doflamingo continued, undeterred. "Some disgusting thing where you literally fall apart…" Doflamingo stepped toward Sanji, still lying on the ground. "Like this guy right here, actually."

"Do you know how to fix him then?" Luffy asked, his eyes glittering.

"Ah, I don't. Sorry. I told you, I don't do the science-y stuff. But he's gonna die and it will be excruciatingly painful; that I can tell you," Doflamingo replied. "And that's enough out of you! No more interruptions or I simply won't tell you anything else. Do I get a monologue or not?"

"Who else?"

Doflamingo looked at Law, "'Who else' what?"

"Who else has this other serum? This immortality serum?" Law clarified. "I have a hit list and I'll be very disappointed if I can't knock a few of you motherfuckers out."

"Naturally, a few of us have taken it," Doflamingo avoided giving a specific answer. "But it was exceptionally difficult to create…" Doflamingo paused a moment, deep in thought, "It's not something we could just give out to anyone…"

"So Daddy Vinsmoke and Caesar too, then?" Law realized, shaking his head. "Damn."

"Too bad… you couldn't… afford to… give it to… Vergo…" Everyone turned, looking down at Sanji in surprise. He was finally awake, leaning on his arms to keep himself up. He pulled the needle from his arm, tossing the tubing behind him.

"Stay down," Doflamingo warned. "You're already dead. It doesn't have to get messy."

"Sanji," Luffy sighed with visible relief, "You're awake."

"Where're the others?" Sanji wondered.

"They went ahead," Nami answered. "They're fine."

"Let's get this over with," Zoro growled. "So we can join them."

"Are you all gonna attack at once or…?" Doflamingo drawled. "Should I start? How are we doing this?"

"Such an ass," Law hissed.

"You know you adore me, dear."

"Luffy."

"Yes?"

Law closed his eyes before replying, "Your friends are down here. If I reset again, I-"

"Oh no, you're at your limit?" Doflamingo mocked. "Already? You didn't save yourself for me?"

"It'll be okay," Luffy maintained.

"I'm tired of being spoken over and ignored," Doflamingo pouted. He pulled out a revolver and switched off the safety, "I'm just gonna kill ya."

"Have fun with that," Zoro snarled. "You're not the only hard to kill motherfucker in this room."

"Be quiet," Chopper chastised sharply, "You can die, idiot."

"We shouldn't be down here!" Nami croaked worriedly.

"How long can you last?" Law murmured, taking off his torn jacket. He tossed the jacket aside, as if settling into someone's cozy living room. "Everyone has a limit."

"You can't outlast me, dear," Doflamingo retorted with a smirk.

"No, most definitely not," Law agreed. "But I'll bet Luffy can."

"You don't get it," Doflamingo sighed mockingly. "I'm not like you, I'm better. I don't have to worry about messy resets." Doflamingo fired suddenly, piercing Law through the abdomen. Nami and Chopper screamed, nearly covering the agonizing hiss escaping through Law's lips. "I don't have your disease, Law. I never have."

Law gasped for air, his hands clutching at his stomach. Blood seeped through his fingers, spilling over and onto the floor. He coughed violently, blood spraying past his pink-stained teeth. "You fuckin' son of a bitch…" Law choked out, dropping to one knee. "The stomache?"

"Why aim for the head? It just ends your suffering faster," Doflamingo replied. "This is better."

"You're a piece of shit," Luffy growled, jumping to his feet. "I'm gonna knock your damn teeth out!" Luffy dropped to the floor, a bullet striking his kneecap. He roared with anger, rolling back onto both feet. "Oh, I'm really gonna-"

"I can do this all day," Doflamingo taunted, firing again. This time the bullet tore through the top of Luffy's foot and through the back of his heel.

"Jesus! What do we do?!" Nami shouted, holding her pistol in her shaking hands.

"Oh, yeah," Doflamingo murmured, as if just remembering the others were there. He turned slowly, raising the gun, "Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Mo…"

"Don't you dare!" Luffy shouted, charging forward on his badly injured leg.

Doflamingo fired in rapid succession. Luffy staggered forward, choking on a mouthful of blood. He wrestled with the enormous man, fighting for control of the pistol. It took a moment before Doflamingo realized Luffy's intention. Luffy forced his finger through the trigger, emptying the magazine into his own body. Doflamingo clicked his tongue in annoyance, "Annoying little brat."

Luffy snickered weakly, a smile on his bloody lips. He released his grip on the gun and immediately collapsed. He was twitching uncontrollably before he even hit the floor. And then suddenly he was motionless and silent, his blood pooling in a wide circle around him.

Doflamingo tossed his empty weapon behind him. He looked from Law dying on the floor to Luffy dead beneath him. He smirked nastily, "Should I wait for them to reset or go ahead and kill you all now?"

"I have a question," Sanji announced, waving his hand in gesture.

"Yes?"

"I'm dying. Why?"

Doflamingo seemed surprised by the question. He frowned for the slightest moment before speaking, "You were too weak to tolerate Law's blood. His blood is what's killing you." Doflamingo took a slight pause, "If you hadn't have been inoculated against the virus then… well… you'd probably be alive tomorrow."

"There's nothing we can do?" Nami questioned.

"He'll be dead and cold by morning," Doflamingo responded flatly. "But so will you, dear."

"You said you didn't have his 'disease'," Sanji pressed desperately, "What does that mean?"

"Amber Lead," Doflamingo answered, waving his arm in dismissal. "The serum I was injected with was not contaminated. Why so curious?"

"Watch out!" Sanji yelled kicking Zoro to the side roughly.

Chopper smashed through the room, narrowly missing where Nami and Sanji were still located. He shook his massive, bestial head, charging forward with his unavoidable antlers. He crashed into Doflamingo and kept going until his horns were stuck into the wall behind them; pinning Doflamingo through his shoulders.

"Aghhhhh…" Doflamingo groaned. He gripped at the antlers impaling him, pushing back hard against Chopper's force. He managed to budge Chopper several inches, freeing himself from the tips of his attacker's antlers. "I'll have your head on my wall, little reindeer."

"Get Nami up," Sanji ordered Zoro. "It's too dangerous."

Zoro nodded, "Come on, Nami…"

"I can't go up there alone!" Nami hissed, shaking her head in refusal. "Who knows who or what is up there!"

"Go with her Zoro."

Zoro spun around, looking Luffy up and down. His body was smeared with his own blood. His remaining clothes were badly tattered. He looked like a revenant. He looked wild and unreachable.

"I wanna stay and hel-"

Chopper screeched with rage as Doflamingo began to grapple with him, nearly tossing him over onto his back by his antlers. Sanji spoke next, "Take her and get out of here."

"What about you?" Zoro questioned.

Sanji shook his head, "Dead by morning, you heard him."

"Well it ain't morning yet," Zoro argued, "And besides, that guy isn't a scientist or a doctor and-" Zoro was knocked to the ground. He rolled over onto his back just in time for a set of teeth to lock onto his forearm. Law tore at his flesh, his yellow eyes blinded by confusion. Zoro punched Law in the head roughly, "Sorry, Law."

"Zoro!" Nami cried out. "You're hurt."

Zoro shook his head, "I'm fine. Let's go."

"Are we leaving Sanji? Really?" Nami asked worriedly.

Zoro nodded his head, "Yes."

"Why?!" Nami gasped.

Zoro shook his head sadly, "Cause if I know him, he's thought of something…"

"Law's behind you!" Nami warned, raising her pistol.

"Don't waste the bullets," Zoro barked, grabbing Nami and hoisting her up onto his shoulders, "Just climb." Zoro shoved Nami as high as he could manage. She was barely off his shoulders before Law was tearing at him. Zoro murmured apologetically before elbowing Law in the face. "I'm going ahead," Zoro groaned, pulling himself up with his arms. "You'd better follow soon."

"Zoro…" Sanji called out.

"Yeah?" Zoro replied, returning to the edge of the hole.

"Wait for them, they'll come," Sanji breathed out.

"Of course I'll wait for them!" Zoro snapped.

Sanji swallowed thickly before repeating, "Wait for them. You can't leave them."

Zoro nodded, smiling slightly, "Yeah, I'll wait. You come too."