Chapter 22: The New God
Disclaimer: I spent the last week camped outside Eiichiro Oda's house, holding a rally to convince him to turn over ownership of One Piece to me. Alone. Absolutely nobody else showed up. I stood by myself in freezing cold for days. All of my readers stood me up.
Well, screw you guys too…
Previously:
After a hard-won battle filled with sacrifices, Luffy defeats Enel and eats the Rumble Rumble fruit, before collapsing from his injuries. All of the enemies in Skypiea have been defeated and peace returns to the Sky Island.
As Luffy sleeps, the now leaderless Skypieans begin to regard him as their new God…
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Luffy's eyes flickered gently in the darkness. He wasn't quite sleeping, but he could hardly be called awake either. Instead, he was just lying there with his eyes closed, mind caught somewhere in that twilight space between consciousness and unconsciousness.
The return to consciousness was gradual, a process of steps, almost like climbing a ladder. And sometimes he fell. At first, he felt numb, hardly even able to twitch his fingers. His breathing was steady, regular and relaxed, but his muscles were so tired he just didn't have the energy to move. Even lifting his eyelids felt like an enormous task.
For a time, he just lay there, drifting between consciousness and unconsciousness. But there were more and more moments of lucidity, and he slowly gained an awareness of where he was. At first, he could only parse the world through his newly awakened sixth sense, he didn't even know what it was, but it felt like a slightly different form of haki, one Shanks had never explained. It felt like it came from nearly the same place in his spirit. Unconsciousness took him again not long after, but even so, he could begin to feel flickering presences around him, like tingles at the edges of his senses. A few near, many more somewhat farther off.
He eventually learned he was resting on a hard surface, probably in Chopper's cabin of doctoring or whatever. Someone had put a comfy pillow behind his head at some point, and blankets over his body. Sometimes, like a tickle on his skin, he could vaguely feel the presence of his friends around him as they drifted in and out of the room. Sometimes they spoke to him, but he could barely grasp the words. He sensed them through his new senses more than his eyes or ears, and sometimes he could sense many more people coming nearby the ship. They drifted at the edges of his awareness like drifting stars, stars with heartbeats, and soon Luffy came to understand why that little girl, Aisa, had called them 'voices.'
His body eventually passed a sort of fulcrum point when it transitioned from being near death, to being merely badly wounded and recovering. When his body found that equilibrium in its healing, he was able to relax more, and spent more time truly sleeping instead of being comatose and wounded.
It took more days still before Luffy finally started to react to the world around him, and of course it was his stomach more than anything that demanded attention. Chopper had been feeding him through a drip, but his stomach obviously wanted more, and when it started to growl like an irritated animal, Luffy finally, unwillingly found the strength to open his eyes.
The medical cabin was dim, illuminated by only a wan light from a shaded window – but even then, the light was blinding. His pupils screamed in pain as they struggled to adjust, but slowly he realised he was staring straight upwards at the wooden ceiling of what was, all considered, a pretty dark room. Luffy groaned softly as he felt his entire body tremble with the slightest of motions. And then he was, finally, wide awake.
Someone was sitting next to him. Luffy barely understood how he knew that, how he had that knowledge, it had something to do with his new senses. He hadn't been looking at or hearing anything for at least a week, now, but still - he had known for a while. Someone was there, next to him. And now that he was awake, truly awake, he could more properly understand what his new senses were telling him. He could understand just who the presence was.
He recognised her instantly, and he sighed as a soft, slender hand pressed coolly on his forehead.
"Careful," Robin said gently, putting her book down as she checked his temperature. "Don't try to move too fast."
I don't think I can move at all, Luffy thought quietly, but he could only wince as he started to register the pain again. His bones were aching, and his skin was screeching in a sort of muted pain that promised agony if he began to properly move. Vaguely, he realised that his whole body was covered in bandages, while a set of buckles and belts fastened him securely to the doctor's table. Luffy's nose wrinkled as a pungent, antiseptic smell hit his nostrils.
"Herbs and poultices," Robin explained quietly, watching his face. "Your body was burned pretty badly; we wanted to try and stop any scarring. Chopper smeared you with every medicine he had to try and reduce the blistering."
She quickly unfastened the buckle around his chest. Every inch of skin except his face was covered in bandages. Luffy groaned softly, weakly looking around the empty meeting room. It was the middle of the night, but Robin had been sitting on a stool next to him, underneath a small lantern, reading a book.
Robin was wearing tight purple trousers and a white collared shirt, unbuttoned just over her cleavage. There were tired shadows under her eyes, but she still somehow looked more perfect than he remembered. She just seemed to radiate grace at all times.
The ship looked a lot more damaged than he remembered it. Above him, there was a hole in the ceiling that had been clumsy patched up with odd planks of wood.
"How long've I been asleep?" Luffy muttered feebly, his throat as dry as sandpaper.
"Four days," Robin replied, slowly holding a glass of water next to him. She held the glass up to his lips and raised his head up as he gratefully gulped the cool liquid down. His body cried in relief as the liquid flooded him.
"Thanks," he said quietly, meeting Robin's dark, wide eyes. The tip of her silky hair brushed lightly against his cheek. She looked every bit as composed as ever, and Luffy felt his heart skip slightly.
"Tell me…" Luffy asked pleadingly. "Is everyone ok? Are they safe?"
A tender smile fell across Robin's lips as she stroked his cheek softly. "Yes," she said with a nod. "Everyone is fine."
Luffy grinned so hard he winced in pain. "Thank you," he said with a sigh of relief. It was so good just to hear her say it.
He closed his eyes softly. "Everyone except you," Robin continued, a hint of warning in her voice. Even Zoro had been impressed when he saw the state Luffy was in. "Do you have any idea how many injuries you took?"
Robin was standing over him, looking down with dark eyes. He shook his head. "Me neither," Robin countered. "I lost count past the first hundred."
"So long as everyone is safe," Luffy said quietly, his voice still raw and he felt lightheaded. Everything was so quiet and tranquil in the room that it felt wrong to even raise his voice.
"You pushed yourself too far," Robin chided with gentle concern.
He only shrugged, or tried to at least. "I would have gone further," he said honestly. "If it meant everyone stayed safe."
Robin paused to stare at him. After a lifetime on the run, she had gotten pretty good at recognising duplicity and ulterior motives. It was still vaguely unnerving for her to look into the eyes of someone like this, a man, he could no longer be called a boy, who was so completely, utterly earnest and honest. When she looked at him, she could only see a smile as an open and warm as the sun.
Slowly, she leant over further until her face was hovering over his. She could feel his breath on her lips, and then their mouths collided in a soft, tender kiss. She closed her eyes as she felt time pause for a brief, perfect moment. The feeling of ease flooded through her, and every muscle slumped slightly.
She pulled away carefully. Luffy didn't even look like he was breathing, but he was staring at her with awe. Robin smiled. "You're a good person."
Luffy grinned and shook his head. "You're a better one," he said earnestly.
His body protested with excruciating pain, but he still managed to lift his arm up until he held her hand in his. It was worth it. Robin rested down on the table next to him, while a sense of shared quiet dropped comfortably over them.
The mood was ruined by Luffy's stomach growling. Wordlessly, Robin stood up, walked over to the kitchen and brought him back a snack bar hidden from Sanji's secret stash. The sugar tasted delicious, even as he washed it down with another glass of water. His back started to ache and his body groaned, but Robin was by his side throughout the night.
Luffy felt so content there was no other place he would rather be.
"You should go to sleep," he said finally, just a twinge of regret in his voice. "Don't stay awake because of me."
She shrugged. "I want to stay," she replied simply.
He grinned. The air was so still that you could have heard a pin drop. "My body really hurts," he admitted after a pause.
Robin smiled sympathetically, her fingers tracing across his bandages softly. "Aww…" she said quietly. "I can help with that…"
Luffy barely even had time to react as Robin kicked off her shoes, and carefully climbed upwards onto the table, crawling across towards him. He stared in shock.
"What are you doing?" He asked uncertainly.
She just chuckled as she moved next to him, placing one leg across him until she was straddling his waist. Luffy's eyes widened as he stared upwards at her, smiling teasingly as she pushed her hair backwards.
"I'm making it better," Robin said in a hushed whisper, unfastening her shirt. The white shirt dropped behind her, revealing a curvaceous figure in a white, floral bra. Luffy suddenly remembered that he had to breathe.
Robin couldn't help but smirk at his expression, even as she bent down towards him slowly. She was careful not to put any weight on his bandages, but he still felt the soft press of her breasts on his chest, and her body was so close he could feel her heartbeat. Her lips touched his, softly caressing his mouth with such affection it sent tingles down his spine.
Luffy's body still hurt, but now he had a half-naked, gorgeous woman hovering above him.
He gulped and nodded. "Yep," he said definitely. "This is better."
Robin laughed as they kissed again, slowly and with such passion that it made her body warm up. Her fingers traced across his bandages gently. The stink of the medicines on his skin was horrible, but she didn't care. Luffy was weak, sluggish and tired, but the feeling of her lips on his, her body close to him, send shivers down his back and caused his skin to tingle…
"Ow!" Robin exclaimed suddenly, flinching in shock.
"What's wrong?" Luffy asked urgently, eyes bulging, wincing with agony as he tried to move too fast. "What happened?"
She smiled. "No, I'm fine," she said quickly. Her hair was slightly more frizzy than normal. "It's just… well… static."
Luffy looked dumbfounded for a moment, before realisation dawned. Around him, the air was crackling with electricity. "Oh," he said dumbly. "I'm so sorry… !"
She just shook her head. "Don't be," she said simply, pulling in for another kiss. The air sparked slightly but neither of them seemed to care. Or notice. "You've got absolutely nothing to be sorry about…"
The pirates sat out on the deck of the Going Merry, relaxing gently in the morning sun, while thinking intently about the dilemma they now faced. The crowd of worshippers hadn't faded. If anything, it had just gotten stronger. There were banners proclaiming Luffy as the new God, and every morning a group of worshippers approached the ship to prayer.
Zoro was recovering well; still heavily bandaged but Chopper had allowed him light exercise. He was working with a pair of dumbbells by the door, while Usopp, Vivi, Chopper, and Sanji lounged in deck chairs, looking out over the Skypieans. Everyone was deep in thought.
Finally, Usopp spoke, "How about we show them all Luffy's poop?"
Ok, so maybe not so deep. Vivi turned to stare at the sniper incredulously. "What?! "
"Think about it," Usopp said with a wide smile, as if he had just solved the whole problem. "They think that Luffy is god, we need to convince them otherwise. I refuse to believe that anyone could still worship Luffy after seeing his poop."
Chopper's eyes bulged. "Will that work?"
"Yep," Usopp said with a firm nod. "It's a well-known fact that gods don't poop."
Sanji sighed in despair. He knew he was going to regret the question, but he just had to ask. "Usopp… just how do you know what Luffy's poop is like?" The chef asked quietly.
Usopp just snorted. "Who do you think unblocks the toilets around here?" He asked bitterly. "And you can tell Luffy's poop because he eats nothing but—"
"Oh no!" Vivi groaned, covering her face with her hands. She felt nauseous. "We are not doing this. There is no way that we're going to talk about our captain's poop."
There was a moment's quiet. After a few seconds, Zoro got curious. "So how are we going to get a hold of Luffy's poop, anyways?"
Vivi stood up and quickly walked away from the conversation. Usopp just beamed. "Well, it doesn't have to be Luffy's," the sniper said reasonably. "Any poop would do."
"Wait…" Sanji said slowly. "… Your plan is to throw poop at them until they leave us alone?"
"Exactly!"
There was a moment's pause. The imagery flashed around their heads.
"Usopp…" Sanji said after a while, completely serious. "From now on, you are forbidden to make plans. You suck at it."
"Well, I don't know," Zoro commented sarcastically. "It would drive them away pretty quickly."
Usopp's shoulders drooped. Chopper looked around them in confusion. "So are we going to—" the reindeer began.
"NO!" Both Sanji and Zoro screamed together.
The silence returned. After checking to make sure the coast was clear of any faeces-related conversations, Vivi came back, leaning over the balcony, head in hands, as she stared out at the Skypieans.
"We've got to do something about them," she said finally. "We can't just let them worship Luffy. It's wrong."
"Well, they are giving us the supplies to rebuild the ship," Zoro noted casually, pointing to the pile of offerings. "Plus, that stuff looks valuable."
Vivi turned to stare at the swordsman in shock. "We can't take that!" She protested. "It's taking advantage of them! It's completely and utterly immoral!"
A few seconds later, Nami stormed out of the Going Merry. She was wearing a nightgown, tiredly yawning as she rubbed her eyes. She walked straight over to the edge of the ship and yelled across the railing.
"Hey!" The navigator shouted loudly to the congregation. "God demands a new dress, a cute pair of shoes, a purse and some tangerine-scented perfume!"
Vivi's mouth dropped open. Nami just smirked as the screams of 'Yes priestess!' resonated from the crowd. It was slightly unsettling how readily Nami had adjusted to having a crowd of devoted followers.
"Nami!" Vivi shouted in shock.
The navigator just looked confused. "What?"
"You can't make demands like that!"
"Why not?" She protested. "They want to help!"
"Only because they're terrified their going to get hit by lightning if they don't!" Vivi retorted. Years of serving under Enel had really messed up the psyche of the Skypieans. "You're taking advantage of their fear and turning them into slaves!"
Nami pouted miserably. "Fine," she said reluctantly, before turning back to crowd and yelling. "It doesn't have to be tangerine-scented!"
"That's not what I meant! "
The pair started bickering instantly, only interrupted by Sanji excitedly attempting to serve them drinks. Slowly, the morning started to stretch out in a warm, idle silence. Usopp returned to trying to fix up the Going Merry, joined by Chopper eagerly trying to help. Zoro just sighed as he leant against the deck tiredly, scratching at his bandages as he lifted the dumbbells with his eyes closed.
Eventually, Zoro was the only one left outside on the deck. He was half asleep as his arms moved by themselves, exercising gently. In the distance, the sounds of frenzied shouting and scuffling erupted at the edge of the Skypiean camp. Zoro frowned but didn't open his eyes.
The shouting only got louder and more frenzied. Then, the ground started to rumble and a thunderous hiss cut through the air.
"What's going on?!" Nami demanded, rushing out of the ship. Reluctantly, Zoro opened his eyes, only to glance at the chaos erupting over the island.
At the edge of the Skypiean camp, a huge plume of smoke was cutting through the worshippers, tossing them out of the way. Further in the distance, a thrashing shape tore through earth and trees in primal rage. Zoro just sighed exasperatedly.
"It looks like Smoker is coming to arrest us again," Zoro muttered with mild annoyance, before glancing up to the writhing monster approaching over the horizon. "And that giant python is awake and going berserk."
The Skypieans were running for cover. The python was so humungous that even at this distance the shadow loomed over the entire ship. Usopp was just about to start to brag, and then the python hissed madly and the sniper ended up transforming into a toad out of fear. Nami's face paled. Zoro just kept on working out.
"What are you waiting for?!" Nami screeched at the swordsman. "Go take care of this!"
He shrugged. "Too much effort," he said dismissively.
"Don't worry, Nami!" Sanji screamed eagerly, rushing out in front. "Ignore that shitty swordsman, I'll take care of this! Stay close to me, I will protect—"
The python thrashed its tail, and the earth rumbled so ferociously that they all dropped to the ground. The writhing cloud of smoke was pluming closer, and Nami glimpsed Smoker in the middle of it. The captain was limping, but looked angrier than she had ever seen him.
The mast is broken, she realised with dread. They couldn't even get away…
Around them, everyone was screaming. Somehow, the quiet voice still managed to cut through the noise. Slowly, the door open gradually and a figure limped out slowly.
"Hey guys," Luffy greeted quietly, glancing curiously towards the giant snake bearing down on them. "How's it going?"
Nami's mouth dropped. The captain was covered head to toe in bandages, and his body looked frighteningly thin and fragile. He had to use a piece of wood as a crutch just to stand up, but Robin was still next to him, holding the captain upwards.
"Luffy… !" Nami screamed, just as his face break into mad grin.
"Luffy!" Chopper scolded, his doctor's instincts temporarily overpowering his fear. "You should be resting!"
"It's alright," Luffy said weakly, limping across the splintered deck. Robin was by his side, supporting every step. "I could use a bit of exercise."
The plume of smoke was swirling around the ship. Nami was just about to scream at him to run, but then Luffy's hand gently pressed against his shoulder as he passed.
"Don't worry," he said quietly. "I'll take care of this."
His body was so weak and frail it was a wonder he was still alive, let alone moving. Every step looked like a goliath task. Still, Nami met his eyes, and then suddenly she completely and utterly believed that he could handle it. There was a fire in his gaze that simply refused to be extinguished.
Slowly, the air began to crackle with electricity.
"I will not allow you to escape!" Smoker screamed loudly, pushing Skypieans to the side with tendrils of smoke. He was still pale from blood loss, but after removing the bullet and a couple of day's recovery he was at least ready to fight again. "You pirates are coming with m—"
The crack of thunder took them all off guard. Luffy appeared in front of the captain in a flash of lightning. Smoker reacted instinctively and lashed out with a vicious whip. Luffy's movements were almost lazy as he extended a hand in front of the whipping coil of smoke.
And the whole world seemed to halt as his fingers wrapped tightly around Smoker's arms.
The captain's mouth dropped. He could suddenly feel the grip of Luffy's fingers against his flesh and bone. His attack had been blindingly fast, yet Luffy hadn't even appeared to exert himself. He was suddenly staring into Luffy's eyes, and there was an intensity there that sent tingles down Smoker's spine.
He can touch me… and this willpower… Smoker thought dumbly, his mind reeling. The presence was enough to make his head spin. … Can he use Haki now?!
Luffy gradually tightened his grip, just to prove a point. Around him, the air was crackling gently.
"Give it up, Smoker," Luffy said quietly. His voice wasn't threatening or angry, but more like a cautionary warning. "Just let it go already."
The seconds felt like hours. He has the power of the Rumble Rumble fruit and mastery over Haki, Smoker realised. Luffy was injured, but there was an absolute certainty running through him that it wouldn't be enough.
I… I can't beat him… The very thought was like a punch to the gut.
Gently, Luffy let go of Smoker's arm and started to limp away, wincing painfully with every step. Smoker was left standing as still as a statue, eyes staring at Luffy in shock, even as the giant python lunged towards them. The snake carved a crater through the ground as the giant fangs snapped towards the Going Merry.
Luffy glanced towards the huge monster with a flash of annoyance. "Oi," he muttered quietly, eyes blazing. "Stop."
Power dropped out of the sky like a hammer. The whole area pulsed with an insane force that pressed on the spirit, like the interdict of a king. Skypieans dropped unconscious to the ground, while every sound seemed to disappear. The power of Luffy's raw willpower seemed to freeze everything.
The giant python halted instantly. It wasn't hissing anymore. Two snake eyes bulged with dread, and if it was possible for a snake to sweat, then this snake was sweating now. Luffy just glared at the monster.
"You're not going hurt anyone," Luffy said warningly, his eyes unblinking. "I will be very upset if you eat any of the people here."
No one made a move. Luffy just frowned. "You will not hurt them," he repeated, as the air pulsed again. "Is that understood?!"
The python seemed to shudder, the monstrous hundred-foot body trembling slightly. Even if it couldn't understand human languages, the force and meaning behind Luffy's voice was unmistakable. Every syllable of Luffy's voice seemed to trigger some primal instinct that warned that, maybe just this time, it would be advisable not to eat the little two-legged things.
All animals instinctively knew that it was a bad idea to oppose a force of nature.
Luffy's body relaxed slightly as he felt the quiet obedience settle over the snake. Luffy could feel everything. It was like he could feel the snake's presence in his mind, and he could sense the primal thoughts writhing within the monster. Luffy frowned as he focused further on the presence, and then he slowly realised that python was a mess of emotions and hurt.
This snake is angry, hurt and suffering, Luffy realised with a twinge of empathy. It's lost something precious and is lashing out…
Luffy's gaze softened as placed a comforting hand on the python's snout. "It'll be alright," he muttered under his breath, before shouting louder. "Chopper!"
The doctor shook out of his trance at the sound of his name. The rest of the crew were all staring at Luffy with various degrees of awe. "Yes?" Chopper squealed.
"Come treat this snake!" Luffy shouted. "It's in a lot of pain. The stomach, I think."
That psychopath was inside the python, Luffy remembered. What kind of damage did Marcus do as he crawled out?
Chopper hesitated with few. Luffy just turned to him and laughed. "Don't worry!" He said brightly. "She's not going to eat you. She was just a bit angry because she was hurt, but it's all going to be better now."
The doctor gulped, saluted and then rushed to fetch his medicine kit. The giant python seemed to calm down at Luffy's words. Robin approached Luffy slowly, wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and acted as a crutch as he limped back up the Going Merry.
"It's alright, guys!" Luffy said with a grin, calling out to the Skypieans who were only just starting to wake up. The snake looked like she was falling asleep on the ground. Smoker was still trying to recover himself, staring at Luffy in shock and amazement. "No one is going to hurt you!"
"Settle down," Robin whispered playfully in his ear. "You're still injured."
His grin only widened as he glanced at her. "I'll live," he promised quietly.
Just as they exited the gangway, Luffy's stomach growled angrily. "But I'm really hungry…" he added with a wince. Robin chuckled.
Around them, there was a frantic rush of movement as hundreds of Skypieans hurriedly rushed to prepare a meal for their new God. The silence was broken by a panicked urgency as every angel tried desperately to search for a stove in the wrecked camp.
The pirates just kept on staring at the scene with gaping mouths. The python looked as calm as a humongous, three hundred feet long, scaly kitten with venomous fangs. Smoker hesitated slightly, before glancing at Luffy's shape and slowly walking away. Within seconds, the air was filled with the overpowering smell of rapidly cooking meat.
On the Going Merry, everyone was still speechless. After a few minutes, it was Usopp that finally broke the silence.
"You know…" Usopp muttered, rubbing his eyes. "If we want to try and convince them that Luffy isn't a God… then he's really got stop doing things like that."
The party started early in the morning with piles of meat and food. It lasted until midnight, as a huge bonfire erupted in front of the ship, and booze was served and music started playing. Chopper spent most of the day treating the python's injuries, but by nightfall the giant snake was dancing across the clearing, hissing a song of its own.
Even Enel's Enforcers joined in on the celebration. The Birkans had been living in fear of the tyrant as much as anyone, and any lingering resentment seemed to fade with every song.
By nightfall, the Shandorians slowly approached and took part. The raiders were hesitant at first, but then Usopp, in toad form, started to sing a very croaky melody and the party spirit was so infectious that they couldn't help but join in. Wiper lingered at the rear of the group, casting a suspicious eye over the party. The berserker didn't join in, but he didn't oppose it either, leaving him to stew broodingly in his own thoughts as he watched the celebration.
Luffy was at the centre of the crowd. Every Skypiean huddled around him, offering food and praying at his feet. Somehow, Robin didn't think he actually realised that they all were worshipping him as God. He thought they were just being really friendly.
Robin spent the whole day next to Luffy. He was still too injured to really take part, but he laughed and smiled louder than anyone. In the chaos and darkness, no one noticed that she wrapped her arm around his waist gently. Whenever Luffy was given a particularly succulent piece of food, he always offered it to Robin first. Their touches lingered on each other, tender and soft.
Towards the end, Conis appeared and sat quietly next to Vivi. The slender girl Skypiean girl was pale, with blood-red eyes, but at least she wasn't crying any more. She looked like she had run out of tears.
The party started to die down once the food ran out, but it was well past midnight by then. It lasted a bit longer on booze alone, but between Nami's and Zoro's drinking competition, it didn't last that long.
Luffy's painkillers wore off eventually, and even the euphoria high started fade. His eyes were drooping slightly, while Robin took his hand and stole a brief kiss while no one was looking. He grinned softly even as he looked like he was about to collapse.
As Robin carefully helped him stagger upwards and put him to bed in a large tent donated by the Skypieans, her heart fluttered as she realised it had been years since she had had so much fun, or felt so at ease.
Outside, the party was dying down quickly. Most of the people were unconscious or retreating for the night. Even the giant snake had collapsed from exhaustion. Robin paused outside of Luffy's tent, taking a deep breath as she pressed her hand to her heart.
Around her, a group of women hesitantly approached the tent. They were all young, attractive, and wearing white robes. Robin recognised them as the devotees that used to serve Enel in God's Shrine.
"Can I help you?" Robin asked after a pause.
A young blond cleared her throat, staring at Robin with wide eyes. "Priestess, we're here to serve God Luffy."
She looked at the group critically. "'God' Luffy is out for the night," Robin said with a touch of sarcasm.
"No, erm…" The young girl hesitated, glancing around bashfully at her companions. "… We're concubines. We're here to serve God Luffy."
The air turned quiet. Robin counted to ten before replying. "Your 'services' will not be needed," she said in the sweetest voice she could manage, but her eyes were far from friendly.
The girls looked at each other, milling around like lost little lambs. After a brief moment's hesitation, Robin sighed and pointed them in the direction of Sanji.
The next morning…
Luffy groaned weakly as he woke up. His body was aching more than ever, but it was his head that was absolute agony. As soon as he came back to conscious, he was hit by a torrent of thoughts, emotions and feelings. It felt like someone was screaming in his skull.
The voices and presences were overwhelming.
He blinked as he tried to process his surroundings. He was in a tent, sleeping on a soft mattress as the early morning light flittered through the fabric. The memories of last night were crystal clear; but the high of the party had vanished, leaving only tattered muscles, broken bones, and a throbbing skull.
He couldn't even make sense of what he was sensing. There were too many people swarming, all bleeding together into an intense noise. He could feel his friends clearly, like they were tattoos on his skin; Zoro was quite far away but the others were nearby, yet everyone else was just random noise, like static he couldn't filter out. It was too much. Luffy groaned in agony, before realising who he needed to talk to.
Luffy staggered upwards weakly, wincing with every slight movement, as he stumbled outside. The remains of the party still littered the ground, surrounding a giant burnt out-bonfire, while the giant snake's snoring form was wrapped around the entire campsite. Luffy limped slowly through the camp, until finally he recognised the small dark shape sleeping on the ground.
Aisa had cut her hair shorter, but otherwise she looked exactly how Luffy remembered. She had spent most of the party either with Laki or Robin, eating and dancing with the best of them, yet there had been too much going on for them to talk. The petite Shandorian girl stirred slightly as Luffy approached, while Luffy dropped down to sit cross-legged next to her.
"Ugh…" Aisa murmured, before glancing towards Luffy. Her eyes widened. "Luffy!"
"Hey there," he said with a smile, still rubbing his skull. As soon as she awoke, Luffy recognised Aisa's presence touching his.
Aisa recognised it too. Suddenly, she could hear Luffy's voice, but now Luffy wasn't deaf. Her mouth dropped open.
"You can hear the voices too!" She shouted loudly. Around her, the other Shandorians stirred.
Luffy nodded. "It's more a feeling than a voice to me, though," he muttered weakly. "But it's just so loud…"
Aisa smiled softly. Luffy looked at her curiously. "Is this what you feel all the time?"
"It gets easier," Aisa said sympathetically. "I can't block it out, but I can, well, I think I can focus it…"
Luffy hesitated for half a second. "Could you teach me?"
Zoro paced across the ground impatiently. He was standing at the edge of the island, looking out at the chasm that now cut Upper Yard into two. His fingers were twitching as he fiddled with the bandages across his chest. Chopper would probably mummify him if he took them off again, but that was the least of his worries right now.
With everyone else knocked out from the party, it would be a while before they realised he was missing. Still, Zoro only had a limited amount of time…
There was a rustling from the bushes. Zoro jumped, instantly alert, just as he glimpsed a slender figure emerge out of the foliage. Zoro felt his heart almost skip.
Tashigi panted heavily as she approached. Her chin length dark hair was slightly frizzled, and she wore a light brown tank top that hugged her figure generously. Her dark jeans clutched her hips, supported by thick belt that held Shigure. Her clothes were unwashed and a bit dirty, but neither of them cared.
"How long do you have?" Zoro asked with a pause.
She shook her head. "Not long."
There was no hesitation. In an instant, Zoro darted across the distance, wrapped his arms around her and pressed his lips against hers. Tashigi's body folded into his instantly, her chest pressing against him as she wrapped her hands around his head and returned the kiss. Her body shivered with every caress, while Zoro's mouth smooched against hers with fierce intensity.
After what seemed like a lifetime, they pulled away from each other to breathe, but they were standing so close that they were staring straight into each other's eyes. Tashigi gulped as she pulled her glasses off.
"Let's make the most of it, then," Zoro muttered, as his hands dropped downwards to her hips.
Tashigi gasped as he lifted her off the ground, but then her legs wrapped around his torso while Zoro lifted her backwards. She collided with the rough bark of a tree roughly, leaning backwards as he pushed against with a stream of wanton kisses. She couldn't help but moan while Zoro's mouth moved down her neck, kissing and nipping the skin softly.
Ever since the first morning, Zoro snuck away from Going Merry, while Tashigi escaped from camp. They collided with each other in this area, and after that they'd been meeting each other here at every opportunity. Sometimes they'd come to fight and sometimes they'd come to make out.
Frequently, they came to do both.
The thrill pounded through Zoro. There were no words other than short gasps and choppy breaths, but there was absolutely nothing that needed to be said. Tashigi's hands roamed across his back, her fingers scratching lightly at his skin, while she kissed him passionately. Her lean legs wrapped around his torso tightly, leaving Zoro's hands free to caress her skin, tracing the ridges of her muscles with his fingertips, from her hips up to her collarbone.
They were so close they could feel every tremor and sensation flicker between them. Tashigi could feel the heat rising between her thighs, causing her whole body to sweat. Their hearts were pounding furiously, beating in tandem with every kiss and touch. Zoro had to stifle a groan when Tashigi broke away from his lips to kiss down his neck, while her fingers slowly moved across to unbutton his shirt. Zoro responded by lifting her tank top up over her head, taking the opportunity to pull her backwards and drop her lightly over the ground.
The kiss became even more heated as they ran their fingers over the other's barechest. Tashigi was wearing a pink, plain bra, yet her generous cleavage still pressed against him so closely he could feel the point of her nipples. She kept on kissing down his sternum, feeling the ridges of his gloriously muscled chest. Her hands groped across his abs, running up and down body, even gingerly tracing the jagged line of his scar.
Tashigi's body was lean and slender, but still muscled and well-toned. Zoro wrapped his arms around her as he leant over her, pressing her close to him as he kissed him passionately. Tashigi's glasses clattered to the ground next to her. Her eyes were closed and her face was blushed bright red, but there was absolutely no doubt or hesitation in her hungry kisses. The morning air was cool, but the sweat still dripped between them.
Ever since the first night, it had become harder and harder to sneak out of the marine camp. Tashigi reckoned she had forty minutes until they would realise she was missing. Still, it was nearly an hour before she could even thought about going back.
The initial passion faded slowly, until Zoro was lying on the uncomfortable ground with his arms wrapped around her. They were both still wearing trousers. Tashigi felt his biceps press against her, as she snuggled into him cosily. Her body felt limp, folding around Zoro until they were pressing together. It was so hard to even gather up the energy to move. It was a while before either of them said a word.
"I've got to go," Tashigi said quietly after a while. Still, she never made a move.
Zoro nodded, lightly kissing the back of her neck. Tashigi bit her lip. She had managed to ignore any doubts or fears in the passion, but as it started to wind down it was like reality seemed to creep back in.
"You know I'm still a marine, right?" She snapped, rolling off him slowly. "The next time I see I'm going to arrest you!"
Zoro grinned. "You're welcome to try," he said with such a mischievous smile that it made her blush.
Tashigi pulled on her shirt quickly. Zoro pulled himself off the ground, but stayed bare-chested. There was an awkward pause.
"When will I see you again?" Zoro asked quietly.
"Whenever I can get away," she said, almost bashfully. There was an unspoken tension between them that seemed to stir every time they weren't exploring each other's bodies. "It's getting harder to get away."
"If Smoker tries to lock you up again," Zoro promised, completely serious. "I will cut through that place to bust you out."
Tashigi didn't respond. They both knew what the issue that lay between them, but neither of them had brought it up yet. Perhaps they were both scared of what the answer would be. Zoro's hands clenched as he decided he had to face the issue head on.
"Luffy's awake now. We're making repairs on the ship," he explained. "It won't be long before we have to leave. I figure your captain will also be setting out soon."
Tashigi turned to stare at Zoro with wide eyes. He took a deep breath. "So then…" he continued, forcing his voice to stay steady. "… When it's time to leave, which ship do you want to be on?"
In the interest of getting the ship repaired quickly, Vivi had reluctantly agreed to hold off on educating the Skypieans about divine matters until they had the supplies they needed. As she watched Nami standing at the front of a column of soldiers, screaming orders as they dragged an enormous object across the ground on rolling logs, Vivi started to regret her decision.
Usopp stood next to her, in toad form. The giant toad was wearing trousers, but was bare-chested revealing a back covered in huge warts. Usopp had been getting better and transforming between human and toad, but he had yet to manage his hybrid form.
"What's all this?!" Usopp exclaimed loudly, his mouth dropping open. "You were meant to be getting wood for the repairs!"
Nami's grin was wider than Vivi had ever seen. "Wood?" Nami responded happily. "Oh, this is much better than wood!"
The block of gold was enormous. It took dozens of Skypieans just to lift it, yet the chunk of metal was so large it was nearly half the size of the Going Merry itself. Part of the dull yellow metal had been mangled by the heat and crash, but most of it was still whole. At the front, it was carved into the shape of a giant face.
Nami was nearly jumping for joy. It was more gold than she had ever seen in her life, and she could tell instantly that it was of a superb purity. The gold from the ancient city had been outstandingly high quality, and Enel had refined it even further when he built his ship.
"It's amazing, isn't it?" Nami shouted excitedly. "We got it from that wreck over there, and guess what? There's even more of it! "
She pointed to the distance, where the scorched skeleton of the Arc Maxim dominated the clearing in the forest. The wood had been turned to cinders and much of the machinery was destroy, but there had still been a large treasury's worth of gold scattered around the debris. The Ark Maxim's grave was a treasure trove.
Around them, the Skypieans heaved the block of gold towards the Going Merry. Usopp's elongated pupils widened as he saw the size of it compared to the ship. Usopp and Vivi shared a glance before turning to Nami.
"Um… Nami…?" Vivi said hesitantly. "There's too much gold there…"
Nami stared at her as if she had gone insane. There was absolutely no such thing as 'too much' gold as far as Nami was considered.
Usopp sighed. "The ship is never going to be able to carry all of that," he explained cautiously. "Even after the repairs, the weight alone will make the Merry sink as soon as we load it."
"Well, you've got do better repairs," Nami ordered irritably, hand on her hips. "Make modifications, or whatever. There's still at least twice that amount of gold that we've got to load up."
The toad rubbed his eyes tiredly. Vivi took a step backwards. "But… but… !" Usopp stammered. "That gold weighs more than Going Merry itself! We'd never be able to take it all! We've got to leave some behind!"
Nami's eyes darkened. "Usopp," she said, deadly serious. "I will leave crew members behind before I leave my gold."
He was just about to argue, before he frowned. "Wait, what do you mean 'your' gold?"
Nami waved her hand dismissively. "We'll talk about that later," she said simply. "Right now you've just got to work on finding a way to carry my gold. Build another ship if you have to."
His mouth dropped. "I'm a sniper. Sni - p - er," he said slowly. "Not a shipwright! How the hell am I meant to build a ship to carry all that?!"
The navigator frowned. Usopp stared at the gold in despair. "Besides, a ship wouldn't even do it," he muttered. Gold was about as buoyant as an anchor. Even a galleon would have trouble lifting all that. "Nothing that heavy would ever float."
There was a pause. Vivi gasped as inspiration stuck suddenly. "Wait, what if we use Dials?" The princess suggested. "Skypieans use Dials for everything, why not put Dials on the Merry so that we can carry the gold?"
Usopp scratched his head, deep in thought. "Well, maybe," he conceded. "But where the hell are we going to get enough Dials to lift a whole ship off the groun—"
As one, they all turned to the skeletal wreck of the Arc Maxim. Realisation hit them.
"Oh… ! " All three exclaimed together.
A few hours later, there was a small mountain of gold piled in front of the ship, so heavy that even the ground cracked beneath it. Usopp was left chasing around the crash site, trying to gather any surviving Dial that he could find. Eventually, he had a bag filled with Dials slung over his back that was so large he couldn't even jump.
Usopp felt like crying as he realised the size of the task. He had a ruined ship, a king's ransom worth of gold, and hundreds of Dials that he had absolutely no experience using. It was enough to make him cry.
And I'm not even a shipwright, he thought in despair. Somehow, the crew still thought that he was enough to do the ship all by himself. With the amount of damage they got into, Usopp suspected that it would take at least two shipwrights just to keep the ship working.
After a few minutes of staring, Usopp had to put a webbed foot down. "Ok, we're in trouble," he announced finally to an impatient Nami. "Even if I can do the repairs - and that's a big if - there's no way that I can use all of these Dials."
Many of the Dials were cracked and broken. Usopp never even knew what most of them did. As far as he could tell, they were all just seashell-shaped mysteries.
"We're going to need someone to handle this," he explained with a sigh while Nami pouted. "We're going to need a Dial Mechanic or someth—"
"I'll do it."
The sudden statement took them all off guard. Conis was suddenly walking down the gangway, staring determinedly at the Dials. "I'll make the repairs on your ship," she said in a firm voice. "I can do it."
No one spoke. Conis was wearing one of Nami's old shirts, slightly too big for her skinny frame but it still wasn't long enough to cover the crisscrossing wounds covering her chest and arms. The injuries from her fight with Yama were as raw as ever, and one of Conis' short wings had been shredded into a stump. The girl was pale and with bloodshot eyes from crying so much, and Nami was suddenly struck by how frail she looked. Still, there was a spark of determination in Conis' eyes, and she wasn't crying anymore.
Nami felt her heart break as she remembered how she had suffered after Bellmere had died. "Conis…" Nami said softly, touching the angel's arm lightly. "Are you alright?"
She nodded. "I can use Dials," Conis said simply, not quite answering the question. "My father taught me how."
No one spoke. Conis took a deep breath to steady her nerves. "My father's last words were for me to be strong," she said quietly. "And I don't want to be weak anymore. I'm sick of being afraid."
Conis looked at Nami firmly. "I can be your Dial Mechanic," she said. "And in return you've got to take me with you when you leave."
Nami looked at her in surprise. Conis just clenched her fists and continued. "… And also…" Conis said determinedly. "I want a Devil fruit."
By the time the dusk settled over Upper Yard, the repairs were already beginning. The Going Merry had to be lifted out of the water and settled on its side, while the debris and broken wood of the ship was taken away. Luffy managed to convince the giant python to help them lift the ship. No one was quite sure how he managed that.
Chopper had actually become good friends with the snake. The doctor was the only one who could actually understand what the python was saying, and listened compassionately as the snake introduced herself as Nola, and told them about her past, and dancing beneath the golden bell. Nola even let Chopper walk into her mouth to stitch up the torn stomach lining, although Luffy watched keenly to ensure that Chopper came out again.
Conis spent the time working hard with Usopp, fixing the ship plank by plank. She didn't rest and barely ate, but there was an unspoken understanding that working was her way of moving on from her father's death. The crew politely kept their distance and let her grieve in her own way.
Eventually, the 'Pegasus' Pierre flew down into the camp. Sanji served the bird… horse… thing a large meal, and they were all shocked when afterwards it transformed into its original form, a rather unfortunately ugly bird. Pierre spent the rest of the time playing with Carue. Luffy realised that the bird was lonely after Gan Fall's death, yet then McKinley approached and the White Beret captain promised solemnly to take care of him.
Robin and Aisa spent most of their time together too, even if she had to report back to the Shandorian camp to confirm everything was safe. The girl sat at the corner of the camp, while Robin braided her hair carefully. Luffy watched them for a long time, slowly remembering that Aisa's parents had died when she was young.
Zoro was away for most of the time, but even across the island Luffy could feel his presence clearly. Luffy's nearly awakened sixth sense was still mostly white noise, but he was slowly starting to make sense of it.
The 'Berserker' Wiper sat quietly on the hill overlooking the camp, wondering quietly what to do next. It was not a pleasant thought.
The Skypieans were on the Shandorians' side of the island, but there was already an agreement that they would leave as soon as the ship was repaired. The marines were still trespassing on the Upper Yard, but they had returned to their camp at the far side and everyone seemed willing to let them stay there. As a matter of fact, no one really wanted any more bloodshed. There was no will left to fight in anyone.
For the first time in four hundred years, Skypiea was at peace. The Shandorians had reclaimed the ancient city, and right now everyone was too focused on making the ruins liveable again to bother with anything else. For the first time, the Shandorians had left the cloud wasteland, and were now living peacefully on the soil of their ancestors. It was everything they'd ever fought for. Gan Fall had ensured lasting peace when he split the island.
So why then, Wiper thought darkly, am I so miserable?
Wiper was now the chief of a peaceful village. His biggest concerns were now harvests and rain forecasts. And he found himself despising all of the mundanity. Slowly, he began to realise that he had never really wanted the war to end.
He loved the battle. He loved the bloodlust. It had been all that he had ever lived for, and he needed it. Wiper had always been fighting for the battle, not for the victory. It wasn't an easy realisation to accept. He sat quietly in the darkness, staring at the camp with growing fury.
Now I have a choice, he thought quietly, taking a deep breath. I could be chief. Put down my bazooka for a staff. I could marry Laki, raise children, live as a farmer or something. It'd be a pretty happy life. Everyone else would be happy. Even my own warriors have lives outside of battle.
And I'd be miserable. The very thought of living without battle made his stomach churn. Perhaps if the golden bell was still around he would stay to fulfil his promise to his ancestors, but now that promise had been rendered moot.
I'm a Berserker, Wiper thought sullenly, standing up with a wince of pain. Not a chief…
And my battle isn't over yet.
His injuries still hurt, but Wiper had never been one to sit around recovering. He clutched his spear tightly, limping slowly down the hill with his shield in his other hand. With a deep breath, Wiper placed his bull headed mask on as he focused on his target sitting around the bonfire.
In the camp, Luffy, Sanji and Robin said around the bonfire. Luffy was still resting, but there was still a group milling around him at all times. A woman approached with a new-born baby, dropped to her knees and begged Luffy to name the child. Luffy just laughed, thought for a while and suggested the name 'Sabo'. The woman looked delighted, praising Luffy as 'his holiness' before she retreated.
"Wow," Luffy commented after she left. "That's nice. These people are really friendly."
Somehow, he still had no idea that the Skypieans were worshipping him as God. He thought that all the people offering him food, praying at his feet, and praising him at every moment was just the Skypiaeans being nice.
Sanji and Zoro glanced at each other, before deciding to stay quiet.
After a pause, Zoro frowned at Sanji, remembering a rumour Tashigi told him. "Say, chef," Zoro asked cautiously, dropping any insult. "Is it true that you and that Marine captain hooked up?"
Luffy's mouth dropped. "Huh?!" He exclaimed loudly, staring at Sanji. "You and Smoker?! "
Both Sanji and Zoro reacted together, eyes bulging in shock and glaring at Luffy. "Idiot!" They screamed, slamming their feet into Luffy's face. The captain fell backwards to the floor.
"I'm taking about the other captain," Zoro hissed. "That Hina woman."
Sanji took a deep breath and composed himself, lighting a cigarette with a smirk. "A gentleman…" he said coolly. "… Doesn't tell."
Luffy and Zoro nodded and turned away. Sanji looked disappointed that they weren't going to push him for further details. "However…" Sanji continued hopefully. "I would consider drawing pictures. Has anyone seen my 'cookery book'?"
Zoro glared at him, and it looked like an argument was about to begin. Zoro never even managed to open his mouth before a sharp shape blurred past them.
The spear flew with pinpoint accuracy. Luffy never even had time to blink as the wooden weapon slammed straight towards his forehead, but this his skin dissolved into lightning and the spear thudded into the ground behind him. Luffy frowned.
The shape barrelled into the trio with force. Sanji took a Jet powered foot to the chest while Zoro was knocked away with a shield to the face. Luffy didn't even react as the masked figure drew a flaming sword and lunged, but then Luffy recognised the presence.
"Oh," he said simply. "It's you."
Wiper roared as he lashed the blade in a vicious assault. Luffy just casually dodged every blow with slow, pre-emptive movements while the raider attacked furiously. Luffy looked mildly annoyed rather than angry.
"Quit it!" He said dismissively, raising a hand. The spark of lightning was enough to send Wiper clattering backwards into the ground.
Zoro and Sanji hand already recovered, glaring at Wiper angrily. Luffy just put his hands in his pockets as he stared at the raider, but strangely he didn't feel any killing intent coming from Wiper towards him.
"What was that for?" Luffy asked curiously.
Wiper growled as he pulled himself upwards. The lightning strike had stunned him more than hurt. Enel had always thrown lightning around with the intent to burn; Luffy's attack felt more like a mild spark. Zoro's swords were at his neck, but Wiper ignored them.
"I had to make sure," Wiper said simply, glaring at Luffy.
"Make sure what?" Zoro demanded.
"Make sure that he is different from Enel," Wiper snapped. "I will not allow another tyrant God."
Luffy paused for a second as he looked into Wiper's eyes. "It's alright Zoro, Sanji," Luffy said simply. "He's not going to hurt anyone."
After a moment's hesitation, Sanji and Zoro stood down. Zoro glared at Wiper distrustfully, but followed Luffy's orders. The captain had already turned his back on the raider, while Sanji and Zoro dropped to the ground slowly.
Wiper hesitated, still glaring at Luffy. "Pirate," he shouted irritably, dropping his sword and shield. "You've taken something precious away from me."
Luffy looked at him. "I'm really sorry about the bell," he said earnestly.
"Not the bell," Wiper snapped. "You took my war."
Luffy frowned. Wiper just frowned harder and continued. "That was my war that you ended when you killed Enel," Wiper growled. "And now I'm going to have to look for a new battle. You owe me."
Luffy glared. Wiper glared even harder. "I'm joining your crew when you leave here," Wiper declared, in a tone that left no room for discussion. "It's time I went down to the Blue Sea."
Meanwhile…
The Sky Islands hovered in the air, floating in the gentle wind across the Grand Line. The scientists of Weatheria dedicated their lives to mapping the patterns of wind, constantly shifting as the different Sky Islands moved closer together or further apart. Occasionally, the Sky Islands collided with each other, or at least approached so closely it was possible to travel between them.
On one particular Sky Island, the white clouds were stained with red.
"So…" Doflamingo muttered with a wide grin, staring out over the horizon. "… How many Sky Islands are there, anyways?"
No one responded. Doflamingo turned to stare at his captives, who were completely motionless. The monks were hung up in a net of strings, their white robes stained with blood. Doflamingo frowned. Perhaps they had finally died from blood loss.
He was standing in the courtyard in front of old monastery, its crumbling stone walls nearly falling off the edge of the floating cloud. The small island was a peaceful place filled with monks living quiet lives, growing herbs and vegetables in their gardens. Or at least, it had been, before Doflamingo had arrived.
Overall, his trip to the sky was proving to be a disappointment. Sure, the sights were beautiful and the scenery was amazing, but flying through that cloud layer had been cold, wet and disorientating. Even worse, was that so far the most entertainment Doflamingo had were these monks, who had no will to fight. They were as weak as little sheep waiting to die.
Curiously, Doflamingo turned to the last remaining member survivor of the monastery. Well, Doflamingo conceded, most of them were weak…
"You bastard!" The monk roared, glaring at the bodies of his fallen brothers. His robes were covered in blood, and tears were pouring down his cheeks. "I will kill you for this!"
"Whoa, tough guy here!" Doflamingo laughed, as the huge monk thrashed against the strings holding him to the ground. The monk was a beast of a man; with hulking muscles and a thick bushy beard, contrasting clearly against the rest of the monastery. While everyone else had refused to fight, this one tried to wrestle Doflamingo to the ground and crush him with a massive pillar.
Urouge, Doflamingo recalled vaguely. The monk's name was Urouge.
The monastery was actually a settlement inhabited by the refugees from Birka, who had fled the Sky Island shortly before the mad god Enel demolished the place. The monks lived a quiet life of peace and tranquillity, with the exception of Urouge who longed for battle and excitement. As a matter of fact, Urouge had recently been excommunicated from the monastery as the 'Mad Monk', and had been about to head down to the Blue Sea in search for adventure.
Doflamingo arrived before that could happen. Now, Urouge's entire family had been slaughtered in front of him, and the man vowed vengeance on Doflamingo.
"I will rip you in half!" Urouge bellowed, even despite the strings biting into his flesh.
"Hold on now," Doflamingo chuckled, completely unconcerned. "I need directions from you. Let me get my bearings here; there are two settlements on this Sky Island; 'Skypiea' and this monastery. There's the island of Birka to the west, though that's a wasteland, and Weatheria floating around nearby. Also a couple of other islands floating around, yeah? We're on the edge of the White Sea now, and further up there's the White White Sea, right?"
Urouge didn't reply. He was screaming bloody murder as he thrashed against his bonds. "Ok, so I've been flying around sky for a week now," Doflamingo explained. "I've been all the way to the Summit of High West out in the distance looking for a certain pirate crew, but I never realised that there's another layer to this whole Sky Island thing. So, if I want to get to 'Skypiea', which direction do I go?"
The monk spat a bloody chunk of saliva at Doflamingo's feet. The Warlord just scoffed. "Well, that's just rude," Doflamingo muttered, before slamming his foot into Urogue's face. The large man collapsed to the ground from the impact. "You know what? I can figure it out myself."
Doflamingo started to waddle away with an arrogant laugh. Urouge glared at him, his meaty fingers crunching through stone. "I will not allow you to escape!" Urouge bellowed. "I will destroy you!"
The monk's body bulged. He was bleeding heavily, but suddenly the wounds started to close as his muscles expanded. The veins throbbed on Urouge's forehead. "Karma Exposure! " He screamed, just as his muscles ripped through his white robes.
Doflamingo raised an eyebrow. Urouge was clambering off the ground, showing no sign of his previous injuries, all the while his body kept on rippling. His muscles expanded until he was a small giant, every tendon and vein bulging out of his skin.
A maniacal smile broke across Urouge's lips as he leapt at Doflamingo. "I. WILL. CRUSH. YOU!" He screamed with insane fury.
Doflamingo just chuckled, idly raising his fingers in the shape of a pair of scissors. "Wow," Doflamingo said sarcastically. "You really are a tough guy."
His fingers snipped in the air. Blood splattered everywhere. Urouge didn't even have time to react as his severed arm cut cleanly from his shoulder. It took a while for the pain to hit, but then the monk collapsed to the ground, holding the stump of his shoulder as the blood poured madly.
Doflamingo was already walking away, laughing as the strings carried him up off the ground and upwards towards the sky.
Next chapter: 'The Fall'…