I stepped forward, my presence adding to the pressure on Riku. "And why should we bother about that? Aren't you the current king? We're just taking what belongs to us. If you think it's unfair, you can try to beat us. At least we are keeping the people in our territory safe. If you cannot maintain peace in this country, then you should just step down, Riku." I chuckled while scanning the palace to locate where the money was kept. From the heavy protection around the vault, it was easy to guess.
"How can you do this? Dressrosa will suffer. How can you do this to innocent people?" Riku completely lost his composure. He knew he could never hope to defeat the two monsters standing before him, and his frustration boiled over.
"You...you, do you think the World Government will let you steal what is theirs? They will hunt you down!" One of the ministers bellowed. Doffy gestured for a few of our goons to move to the vault and take away the money set for the heavenly tribute.
"Let them come. And just so you know, their ships will soon reach Dressrosa. You can complain all you want to the Marines and World Government about us," I chuckled while I moved towards the vault. The Dressrosa soldiers did not stop us, many of them knowing all too well the terror of the Donquixote brothers.
As we approached the heavily guarded vault, the tension in the air was palpable. The guards, recognizing our authority and the futility of resistance, stepped aside. The vault door creaked open, revealing chests overflowing with gold and jewels—enough wealth to fund our ambitions and more.
Doffy walked up beside me, a satisfied grin on his face. "This will do nicely. With these funds, we can expedite our plans and strengthen our grip on Dressrosa."
King Riku, standing powerless in the throne room, could only watch as we seized the tribute. His face was a mask of despair and rage. "You are condemning this kingdom to chaos. The people will suffer."
Doffy turned to him, his grin widening. "The people of Dressrosa will be just fine. They will learn to thrive under our rule. It's you, Riku, who failed them. We're merely correcting your mistakes."
With that, we left the throne room, the chests of tribute in tow. The citizens of Dressrosa watched in silence, a mix of fear and resignation in their eyes. They knew their fate was now tied to ours, and any resistance would be crushed without mercy.
"Your Majesty! What are we to do now? The World Government ship will soon be here for the tribute. How are we going to answer them?" One of Riku's ministers, his voice tinged with despair, questioned the king. The room was thick with anxiety.
Even Riku Doldo seemed lost, having not anticipated the Donquixote brothers' audacity to seize the heavenly tribute. Few pirates dared to provoke the World Government so directly unless they were either reckless or confident enough to challenge the World Government head-on.
King Riku's mind raced as he tried to formulate a response. "Let the Marines come," he finally said, his voice gaining a measure of resolve. "I am sure they will handle this matter. And I will soon put an end to this menace once I get to the Holy Land for the Reverie." The king's resolve solidified.
Knowing that the Marines were on their way, he found a glimmer of hope. Perhaps they would send strong figures who could drive the Donquixote brothers and their ilk away from Dressrosa forever.
Meanwhile, the news of the approaching Marines spread quickly through the palace. The remaining ministers and soldiers looked to Riku for leadership, their faith wavering but not yet broken.
Riku stood tall, his determination shining through. "We must prepare to welcome the Marines. Ensure that the eastern port area is secured, and inform the populace to remain calm. We will not let the Donquixote brothers believe they have won."
Half a day had passed, and the anticipation at the pier was palpable. I stood beside Doffy and Issho, our eyes fixed on the horizon where the Marine ships would soon appear. This encounter was not just about defending our turf—it was a statement. We were ready to show the world that the Donquixote family was a formidable force in the New World, and Dressrosa was now our stronghold.
As the Marine warships grew closer, the tension in the air thickened. The soldiers and officers around us were on high alert, their weapons ready, and their expressions steely. We had prepared meticulously for this moment, and our resolve was unwavering.
The first ship to come into clear view had the unmistakable figurehead of a seagull, signaling that the Marine Chief of Staff herself was leading this fleet. Behind it, other ships followed, their sails bearing the insignia of the Marines and the World Government. The sheer number of vessels was impressive, but it did little to shake our confidence.
Doffy leaned slightly toward me, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "This is it, Ross. Let's make sure they understand that Dressrosa is no longer under their control. Let the fireworks begin."
Just then, I manipulated the massive thundercloud rumbling overhead. Suddenly, like hell unleashed, lightning rained down on the Marine warships. The sky lit up with blinding flashes, and the roar of thunder echoed across the sea.
"Arara!!! It seems like Ross-kun doesn't want us here," Aokiji said, his tone surprisingly calm as he leaped onto the ship's railing. He initiated a large-scale attack to intercept the onslaught of lightning bolts descending on the fleet.
"Ice Age!!!" he bellowed. A massive dome of ice formed above the fleet, intercepting the lightning bolts. However, the sheer intensity of the lightning began to overpower the ice, forcing Kuzan to pour all his energy into the defense.
"Oye! Oye! Ross-kun sure has become scary since he got the Lightning Logia, don't you think, Tsuru-san?" Kizaru commented, his voice lazy but tinged with amusement as he watched Aokiji earnestly defend against the relentless attack.
Tsuru remained calm, her sharp eyes assessing the situation. "He's certainly become more formidable. We can't underestimate any of them."
As the ice dome struggled to hold against the lightning, the sea around the marine ships began to churn violently. Kuzan's ice was melting rapidly, unable to withstand the relentless electrical assault.
Aokiji's ice dome finally shattered, with the immense force of my lightning breaking through. Kuzan leaped to the deck, breathing heavily; his eyes locked on me. "You've gotten stronger, Ross," he acknowledged, his tone serious.
"Strong enough to defend what's ours. Long time no see, Kuzan san; it seems you have grown strong yourself as well." I replied.
Kizaru, with his typical nonchalance, disappeared in a flash of light and reappeared on the shore, facing us. "Well, this is going to be troublesome. Let's see how bright your lightning can shine, Ross-kun."
"I have always wondered if lightning can catch up to my light!" Kizaru chuckled, readying himself to attack. "Yata no Kagami!" He formed a light beam between his hands, preparing to move behind Doffy and launch his assault. But suddenly, massive pressure descended on him, intercepting his attack. A flying slash tore through the path of the light beam, and standing right in front of him, intercepting his path, was Issho.
Kizaru's gaze turned solemn as he realized the gravity of the situation. He could already tell that Issho was no pushover. The pressure Issho emitted made it clear that he was an admiral-level fighter.
"Scary! So King Riku wasn't exaggerating when he reported that there was a blind swordsman amongst the Donquixote pirates who could rival the Admirals," Kizaru remarked. He vanished and reappeared next to Tsuru, while Kuzan also retreated. This initial probe revealed the strength of both sides.
"Enough! We are not here to fight," a voice bellowed, cutting through the tension. The source was a CP agent, seemingly the captain of the World Government ship. His authoritative tone halted the two sides from clashing again. "Vice Admiral Tsuru, have you forgotten what we are here for?"
Tsuru stepped forward, her expression stern. "We have not forgotten, but it seems the Donquixote family has other plans."
"Tch, I have to do everything myself," the CP agent murmured under his breath. Turning to Tsuru, he added, "Just stay on the ship. I will personally handle this matter." With that, he used Geppo to step on the air, rapidly making his way to the shore.
I wanted to continue the assault, my fingers itching to send another barrage of lightning bolts. But Doffy placed a hand on my shoulder, stopping me. "Wait, little brother. It seems the dogs have a message from their master. Let's hear what he has to say."
Initially, I thought the Marines had come to reinforce Dressrosa, but something didn't feel right. Their posture and approach suggested a different agenda. So, I held back, curious to know what exactly was going on.
The CP agent landed gracefully on the pier, his eyes sharp and calculating as he surveyed the scene. He walked towards us with an air of confidence, despite the overwhelming show of force we had displayed.
"Donquixote!!!" the CP agent began, his voice calm but authoritative. "The World Government has no intention of engaging in a pointless battle. We are here for the tribute, yes, but more importantly, we are here to negotiate."
Doffy raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Negotiate? Since when does the World Government negotiate with pirates?"
"Since the stakes have changed, we would like to make a proposal, something that would be beneficial to both of us," the agent replied smoothly. "Dressrosa is strategically important, and the World Government is willing to make certain concessions to avoid unnecessary conflict."
I crossed my arms, eyeing the agent with suspicion. "And what exactly are these concessions?"
The CP agent smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Firstly, we will acknowledge that Dressrosa is currently under Donquixote control. However, we require assurance that the island will not be used as a base for activities against the World Government. In return, we will allow a degree of autonomy and will not interfere with your operations here, provided you pay the tribute as agreed. And in addition, you become one of the Shichibukai."
Doffy chuckled darkly. "And if we refuse?"
"Then you will face the full might of the Marines and the World Government. We will not hold back," the agent replied, his tone cold and unyielding.
I exchanged a glance with Doffy, who smirked, his eyes carrying a cruel glint. In a swift motion, he reached out and caught the CP agent by the neck before he could react. "Then I would like to face the full wrath of both the World Government and Marines. Bring it on!" His Haoshoku Haki burst forth, flames engulfing the CP agent completely, not giving him a chance to retaliate.
"Donquixote!" Tsuru roared from the Marine warship as she saw the CP agent being burned alive. She had expected resistance, but she did not anticipate such outright defiance and violence. It was now clear that the Donquixote brothers had no intention of compromising, and this blatant act of aggression was a direct affront to the World Government.
Kizaru immediately moved, his form turning into a blur of light as he tried to intercept and save the CP leader. But Issho was already targeting him. "Raging Tiger!" Issho shouted, unleashing a massive flying slash that tore through the air, forming a deep ravine, and stopping Kizaru in his tracks.
Aokiji, alongside Tsuru, prepared to launch a coordinated attack. Since the brothers had decided to decline the Shichibukai position, they were now targets that needed to be eliminated. However, before they could strike, a barrage of lightning bolts rained down, blocking their path and forcing them to dodge.
The air crackled with energy as the confrontation escalated. Doffy stood tall as he tossed away the burnt husk, his grin widening as chaos unfolded around him. "Welcome to Dressrosa, Marines. This is our territory now."
Tsuru's eyes narrowed as she assessed the situation. "All units, prepare for engagement! We cannot let them defy the World Government like this."
Just as Tsuru's voice echoed across the battlefield, thousands of pirates surged toward the shore, pushing hundreds of cannons ahead of them.
"Boom... Boom... Boom!!!" Cannon fire rang out like an unending storm, targeting the Marine fleet that lay just a few hundred meters from the shore. The explosive sounds reverberated through the air, the sky darkening with smoke and the roar of battle.
"Shit! Where did all these pirates come from?" Aokiji muttered, his usually calm demeanor giving way to surprise. More than a thousand pirates emerged from the forest line, pushing even more cannons and carts filled with cannonballs. The scene quickly turned into a chaotic battlefield as the Marine warships began firing in retaliation.
The air was filled with the thunderous sound of cannon fire, the clash of steel, and the shouts of men. The sea itself seemed to boil with the intensity of the conflict. Pirates, eager to defend their newfound territory, poured their efforts into repelling the Marine assault. Their cannons roared, sending volleys of iron hurtling toward the enemy ships, splintering wood and sending sailors scrambling for cover.
On the shore, Doffy stood tall, his wicked grin never faltering. "Let them see the might of the Donquixote Family. We will not be so easily pushed aside!"
Kizaru zipped across the battlefield, beams of light cutting through the chaos. "It's like a festival of fireworks. Quite the welcoming committee, wouldn't you say, Tsuru-san?"
Tsuru's expression remained stern, her eyes scanning the battlefield. "Enough of this. Marines, advance! Secure the shore and push them back!"
As the Marines advanced, they were met with fierce resistance. Pirates fought with everything they had, their desperation fueling their ferocity. Cannonballs crashed into the water, sending up great plumes of spray, while others found their marks on the warships, causing explosions and chaos.
Aokiji stepped forward, his hands emanating an intense cold. "Ice Age!" He unleashed a wave of ice, freezing the incoming cannonballs mid-air and creating a path of solid ice toward the shore.
Issho, observing the battlefield with his acute senses, commanded the pirates under his influence. "Hold the line! Do not let them gain an inch!" With a flick of his blade, he sent a gravitational force toward the advancing Marines, halting their progress and causing the ground to tremble.
I stood beside Doffy, lightning crackling at my fingertips. "Let's give them a real show." With a surge of my powers, I directed bolts of lightning at the approaching Marines, the electric arcs lighting up the battlefield and sending shockwaves through the enemy ranks.
The clash between the pirates and Marines grew fiercer by the second as more and more Marines made it to the shore. The shore became a maelstrom of smoke, fire, and ice, each side refusing to yield.
This was not just a battle for Dressrosa. It was a statement to the world: the Donquixote family is a force to be reckoned with, and they would not back down, no matter the odds.
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Currently updated until Chapter 161.
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