The deep, melodious chime of the Golden Bell echoed between heaven and earth, its resonance lingering, a thread of sound that refused to fade.
This day was destined to be remembered by the world.
"The sound that declares the end of the war... it's truly magnificent!" Gan Fall murmured, his gaze filled with deep meaning as he watched the two men striking the Golden Bell.
"The war is over," the Chief turned and announced to the Shandian warriors. "After four hundred years of struggle, it's finally reached a conclusion. What awaits us now is peace."
"Peace... what a wonderful word," a warrior murmured, awe mixing with relief.
After the ceremony concluded, Doflamingo and the others returned to the Shrine.
"Respected God," the Chief addressed Doflamingo seated upon the throne, his voice thick with reverence. "Thank you for fulfilling our deepest wish. All Shandian warriors pledge themselves to fight for you."
"Excellent," Doflamingo replied, a predatory smile playing on his lips. Internally, he was unsurprised; the Chief's response was exactly as he'd anticipated. "The Donquixote Pirates welcome you."
"Gan Fall. Shandian Chief," Doflamingo's tone suddenly turned serious. Crackling sparks of lightning began to gather ominously in his hand.
"Present! Ready to serve our God!" Gan Fall responded instantly. "Present! Awaiting God's command!" the Chief echoed, equally quick.
Both men bowed their heads respectfully.
"Angel Island is now the territory of the Donquixote Pirates," Doflamingo continued, the lightning dancing around his fingers. "However, I don't intend to linger here long. Ultimately, I will entrust the management of Angel Island to you. I trust you won't disappoint me."
"Yes, my Lord! I will fulfill my duties and protect everything here," Gan Fall pledged. "Yes, my Lord! We wish only to ease God's burdens," the Chief added.
Gan Fall and the Chief exchanged a glance before reaffirming their loyalty.
"From now on, you two shall serve as Skypiea's Divine Envoys, responsible for maintaining stability and overseeing all affairs," Doflamingo declared. "Furthermore, I have another task for you. Do not disappoint me. Ibes, give it to them."
Doflamingo nodded to Ibes beside him. She stepped forward, holding the blueprints for the Ark Maxim, and presented them to the two newly appointed Envoys.
"Divine Envoys," Ibes's light voice reached their ears, "These are the designs for the Ark Maxim. God wishes for you to exert all effort to complete it."
The two men barely registered her words, their attention immediately captivated by the intricate designs laid out before them. After studying the blueprints together for some time, they couldn't help but exhale in wonder.
"The wisdom of those who came before... it's truly ingenious craftsmanship."
"Enough admiration," Doflamingo cut in sharply from the throne. "Complete the Ark Maxim for me as soon as possible. Additionally, your current forces are far too weak. I have no desire for my territory to be seized by others. Therefore, I order the disbandment of all existing military forces. I want a complete overhaul of all warriors – Shandian and Skypiean alike. Under my rule, only the strong will advance; the weak will be cast aside. There is no place for weakness here. Besides," his voice dripped with condescending reason, "you don't want my protection forever, do you? Only by guarding your own land can you earn true honor. Remember this: anyone can become one of the Four Priests, provided they have the strength. I can grant you anything, everything, if you possess the capability. And if you wish to see the world beyond this sky," he added casually, "you may follow my steps down to the Blue Sea and make a name for yourselves. In short, the world is vast and fascinating. There's no need for Skypiea to remain stagnant and isolated."
Doflamingo delivered this decree from his high throne, his words utterly ruthless.
The sudden, drastic changes left Gan Fall and the Chief momentarily reeling. However, neither voiced any objection. They recognized that such measures could effectively eliminate the lingering friction between Shandians and Skypieans. Purging the weak and selecting the capable to defend Skypiea aligned perfectly with their own desires for a stronger homeland. After all, the weak have no right to enjoy the spoils. Even they, the older generation, felt a stir of longing for the world outside; how much more so would the youth?
"We humbly obey God's command," they replied in unison.
Having issued his instructions, Doflamingo wasted no more words. He vanished in an instant, leaving the others staring at the empty space where he had been.
"Gan Fall," the Chief turned to the former God, "I hope we can cooperate well in the future."
"Indeed, indeed," Gan Fall replied smoothly, though perhaps a touch formally. "All in service to our God."
A light shone in both their eyes – the light of the future. A similar excitement buzzed through the others present; Doflamingo's methods, however brutal, promised a clearer path for advancement.
Doflamingo hadn't teleported away to train. Instead, he reappeared elsewhere on God's Island, searching for the 'Master of the Skies' – Nola. His purpose was twofold: to tame the giant serpent and, not incidentally, to assess the gold situation. All that gold lying around unused? What a waste. The current Doflamingo wasn't yet the wealthy underworld emperor, Joker. He still had many uses for funds!
With his expansive Observation Haki, Doflamingo quickly located Nola and instantly appeared before the colossal snake.
Nola was coiled up, resting, when suddenly, a small human appeared before it. Interest flickered in its reptilian eyes. Usually, the inhabitants of Skypiea treated it with fear and reverence, rarely daring to approach. Yet, this bold human showed no fear at all. Instead, he seemed to be admiring its massive form. This perceived disrespect ignited Nola's fury.
"Hssssss!"
The giant turquoise serpent hissed, flicking its tongue, before abruptly lunging, jaws wide open, aiming to swallow the insignificant human whole. This bite would surely teach the creature the meaning of terror.
Doflamingo remained unfazed by the giant snake's thoughts or its gaping maw rushing towards him. He observed the attack with detached curiosity.
Nola's fangs passed harmlessly through Doflamingo's body. No injury appeared.
The moment Nola attacked, Doflamingo had already shifted into his elemental form. Without Haki, Nola's physical attacks were utterly useless.
Shock filled Nola's eyes as its fangs met nothing.
Doflamingo gently placed a hand near Nola's snout. His voice was a chilling mix of coldness and mock tenderness. "You pitiful beast. You're the 'Master of the Skies'? Did you really think you could challenge me?"
"30 Million Volts – Discharge!"
The cold voice commanded, and Nola's eyes widened in primal fear. It tried to strike again, but elemental intangibility rendered its efforts futile.
A storm of violent lightning instantly engulfed Nola's massive body. As expected, the serpent had no power to resist. It was scorched in an instant, collapsing to the ground, writhing and howling in agony.
"Beast. Submit to me," Doflamingo commanded, his voice devoid of any emotion.
Nola's famed venom and immense physical strength offered no advantage whatsoever; it was completely overwhelmed. Possessing near-human intelligence, Nola understood that this human was far beyond its ability to challenge. Comprehending Doflamingo's intent, the massive serpent wisely lowered its head in submission.
The tremendous commotion from God's Island did not escape the notice of Skypiea's residents. Awe rippled through them. Even the legendary Master of the Skies, Nola, had bowed before the might of their new God. His power was truly unfathomable.
The grand, sweeping purge of the warriors began with great fanfare. Though Doflamingo had little personal interest in overseeing it, he made appearances as their 'God,' showcasing enough power to remind everyone exactly who was master and instill the necessary reverence.
The overhaul concluded swiftly. The Four Priests and all military units were newly selected. Doflamingo didn't involve himself in the details, leaving everything to Ibes and the two Divine Envoys. His focus now was on training. He knew he still had a long way to go and couldn't afford to waste time.
With everything on Skypiea smoothly resolved and arranged, Doflamingo felt no need to linger. This venture into the sky islands had proven incredibly profitable. Not only had he obtained the Rumble-Rumble Fruit he'd coveted, but he'd also subjugated Enel and secured two sky islands. All in all, he now had a substantial base of operations. It was time to go out and make some waves.
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