The night sky of this world was truly peculiar. Although scholars had determined through astronomical observations that there were as many as eight satellites orbiting this blue planet, when the curtain of night fell, only the moon shone the brightest among the stars.
"Fufufufufu—"
Doflamingo stepped out of the stationary Bubble Cable Car, a cold night breeze lifting his pink Flamingo Coat. He noticed, however, that there wasn't even a single Holy Land Garrison soldier on duty nearby. As he surveyed the massive staircase leading to the upper levels, he chuckled softly under his breath.
"Even after all these years, this place hasn't changed a bit. But can power really remain as eternal as these stone steps for a thousand years?"
"Let's go, the elders are waiting for you."
At this moment, the CP0 member in white, who had traveled to the North Sea specifically to fetch Doflamingo, urged him forward. He then stepped past Doflamingo's shoulder and took the lead up the grand staircase.
In a few months, the kings of the 200 affiliated nations would also walk this path, gathering in the World Conference Hall within Pangea Castle to discuss and decide matters of global importance.
At this moment, however, it was just the two of them, one after the other.
Reaching the top of the grand staircase, they arrived at the true Mary Geoise, a place known as the 'Holy Land.' Even the ground beneath their feet was pristine and clean, as if every grain of sand had been meticulously washed.
Doflamingo gazed into the distance. Though it was night, the countless lights of Mary Geoise illuminated the entire area as brightly as day. Even the rows of trees and rivers shimmered with a faint golden glow.
This was true splendor, a place of golden brilliance and radiant light!
Seeing this, his body trembled slightly as he struggled to suppress the anger and longing in his heart. He was supposed to live here, high above, free to do as he pleased, looking down upon all of humanity.
Though it was only for a few short years, Doflamingo had to admit that his happiest childhood memories were from this very place.
Here, servants bowed before him, slaves knelt at his feet, and every day brought an endless variety of delicacies. He had limitless wealth, free from the worries of money, and the supreme power to take the life of anyone who wasn't of his 'kind.'
All of this should have been his! Until that utterly foolish idiot, with his naive stupidity, destroyed everything and took it all away. His mother died because of him, and his brother disappeared.
Though he had personally executed that bastard, what he had lost could never be regained. Doflamingo followed the CP0 member onto the 'Automatic Elevator,' allowing the slaves below to rise in the middle of the night and strain to push the heavy stone path for him.
He was unaware of this, of course, but given his nature, even if he had known, he would have simply enjoyed it without a second thought.
Because he was meant to be above it all! Along the way, Doflamingo caught sight of the large iron gate leading to the 'Land of Gods,' where the Holy Land Garrison soldiers were still on duty.
He knew that his former home lay beyond that gate.
However, it was just a fleeting glance. His gaze soon turned towards the massive ancient castle that was drawing closer—the Pangaea Castle, the very heart of the world's power! "Fufufufufu, I hope you won't disappoint me this time," Doflamingo subconsciously pursed his lips, feeling a hint of nervousness.
At just seventeen years old, he was still immature in terms of temperament, cunning, and strength. Even his experience was limited to the small corner of the North Blue.
Before long, Doflamingo arrived before Pangaea Castle. The massive steel gates slowly rose.
To be honest, everything here felt unfamiliar. After all, how could he have come to such a place as a child? So, he could only remain vigilant, silently following the CP0 agents while committing the surroundings to memory.
This city within a city was vast, yet for some reason, there wasn't a single patrolling or stationed soldier in sight, and it was eerily quiet.
Until he was led into a cold, dark, and expansive hall, where only the golden-red throne on the three-tiered grand stone platform gleamed under the moonlight.
But there was no one sitting on it!
"Weren't we supposed to meet the Five Elders? Huh?"
Just as Doflamingo finished scanning his surroundings, he turned to ask, only to find that the other person had vanished!
Boom—
At that moment, the heavy doors behind him slammed shut, jolting him into action. His fingers curled into claws, his body bent, and he instantly entered a combat-ready stance, with his recently mastered Haki poised to strike.
Doflamingo now strongly suspected this was a trap—a Celestial Dragon's scheme targeting him! He was like a wildcat trapped in a cage, baring his fangs and claws as he fiercely observed every movement around him, with thin threads faintly floating between his fingers.
The atmosphere grew tense and awkward, as if the air itself had frozen, yet time continued to flow like water.
Until Doflamingo once again looked up at the truly lofty Empty Throne above him.
"Huh!"
But that single glance shocked him to the core, freezing his entire body as if under some kind of stasis effect. Behind his sunglasses, his eyes widened to their limit, his pupils filled with the figure that had somehow appeared seated on the throne.
That wasn't even the most terrifying part. The moment his gaze met the eyes of the figure above, his mind felt as if it had been struck by a tangible, invisible force, and an overwhelming sense of fear began to wash over him.
He felt as though he was spinning wildly in a world of golden ripples, the air around him vibrating and growing heavier with each passing moment.
Every muscle in his body trembled in agony, and coupled with the inexplicable mental shock, Doflamingo couldn't even last two seconds before his knees hit the ground with a loud thud. His arms barely managed to support him on the icy floor as he gritted his teeth, trying to lift his head.
But the invisible weight pressing down on him forced his head to bow, his bulging veins straining as he stared fixedly at the pristine, luxurious red carpet before him.
Who is this person? One of the Five Elders?
How could someone be so terrifying, making me kneel with just a glance?
"The little one from the Donquixote family, it is Imu who wishes to see you."
As soon as the words fell, Doflamingo felt the pressure on his body lessen significantly.
However, when he gasped for breath, drenched in cold sweat, and tried to stand up, the air around him seemed to solidify into an immovable, invisible mountain.
This forced him to maintain his kneeling posture unless he was willing to lie flat on the ground. "You... who... who are you?!"
Doflamingo struggled to utter each word, the fear gripping his heart causing him immense pain.
As for the heavy pressure on his body, he also noticed that as long as he had no intention of standing up, the air remained ordinary and unremarkable.
Such a miraculous technique made him instinctively think it was some kind of Devil Fruit ability! "Imu is your king."
An icy-cold voice descended from the Empty Throne, echoing through the vast hall.
"The king of the Celestial Dragons!"