Chapter 11 - CH 11: GOD USSOP

The day blanketed Dressrosa in a strange, suffocating stillness, where laughter and cheers had once ruled. Rimuru and Law moved silently, the aftermath of their standoff lingering like a wound.Neither trusted the other entirely, though they shared the same enemy. Rimuru felt the weight of the power within him-gravity, barely controllable, only a taste of its bare minimum potential.It was not enough to challenge this island or its darker mysteries, but it might serve him at least now.As they approached the rendezvous, they noticed Robin, Usopp, and Franky crouching behind a stone wall, their eyes following the movements of small, bug-like figures scurrying through Dressrosa's alleys.Robin's calm but tense expression spoke of the foreboding feeling that had settled over the group."What's going on here?" Rimuru whispered, his voice low, though he felt the pulse of gravity simmering in his core, eager to stretch beyond his control."These tiny people-Tontattas," Robin replied, her eyes sharp."They know about Doflamingo's secrets. We've barely scratched the surface."Rimuru spoken, all through very dissatisfied in his eye's.Ahead, toys walked the streets, some moving stiffly, others with eyes filled with silent sorrow.Their expressions were foreign, unnatural-no hint of the joy expected in a child's toy. The magic here was sinister, a puppeteer's trick, likely Doflamingo's.Rimuru watched, his mind calculating, assessing. Unlike Luffy's unyielding faith in his friends or Law's vendetta-driven resolve, Rimuru felt only a cold, detached curiosity about these transformations. This was not his battle-yet. For truth he really lost to Doflamingo.Franky clenched a fist, his mechanical arm gleaming under the sparse streetlight. "These people turned into toys... it's like they're stripped of who they are. Doflamingo's going too far.""He doesn't care about limits," Law muttered."This island is nothing more than his puppet show."Rimuru's eyes narrowed. "And what do we gain from intervening? More enemies? More risk?"Robin turned to him, surprised. "You mean to stand by and watch?""Watch? No. But I'm not here to save anyone. I want to understand this power, this control," Rimuru replied. "People with that kind of influence can teach things... useful things."As they pressed forward, Rimuru felt his limited control over gravity straining, like a muscle that could tear if pushed too far.[copy another power will cause harm to user body if he is not a devil fruit user.]He couldn't overpower anyone here-It's like its not his area. So he would manipulate, play his role, and learn. That was the way of survival.At the coliseum, the cheers grew louder, but it was a hollow sound. The contestants, animated by ambition and desperation, barely noticed how the audience was filled with toys. People who had once cheered, laughed, and cursed here now stared back, forever locked in wooden forms. Rimuru observed, his mind racing to dissect this magic, to find the cracks in Doflamingo's design."Can you feel it?" Law asked, his eyes cold but gleaming with ambition of his own.Rimuru met his gaze, understanding the hunger. "Yes. This like people are desaparing , this control-it goes beyond . It's deeper, more twisted." He smirked, though his voice remained as cold as stone. "And I intend to learn from it."The darkness in Dressrosa was a promise-a reflection of Rimuru's own path, where survival trumped ideals, and power was just another tool in the ruthless dance of life.As the group pressed further into the labyrinth of Dressrosa's eerie streets, the shadows seemed to grow heavier, their edges sharp with the weight of unseen eyes. Rimuru felt his gravity pulsing erratically, as if in response to the palpable tension in the air. He tried to steady it, to rein it in, but the island's oppressive aura only made it harder to focus.Robin, always perceptive, tilted her head toward Rimuru. "You're struggling, aren't you? This place-it doesn't allow outsiders to remain unaffected for long."Rimuru clenched his fists. "I'll manage. This... dissonance is fascinating."Ahead, a Tontatta darted toward them, its tiny figure trembling with urgency. Usopp flinched, but Robin raised a hand to signal calm. The creature stopped before them, its voice a desperate whisper."You must help us! The factory-underneath the royal palace-it holds the key to freeing the toys.""The Smile factory?" Law's eyes sharpened. His mind was already piecing together the connection between the factory and Doflamingo's iron grip on the island. "What do you mean by freeing the toys?"The Tontatta's gaze flickered toward the stiff, soulless figures roaming the streets. "The toys... they're people. Their memories, their identities-stolen by the one controlling by a small girl."Rimuru's interest piqued. This wasn't mere transformation magic-it was something far more insidious. He spoke before Law could respond. "And the factory holds where she live?""Yes. It's where there basement is tied," the Tontatta replied. "Destroy it, and you'll get a hold on that child."Rimuru's lips curved into a faint smirk. The thought of dismantling such a complex system intrigued him more than the notion of heroism. "Destroying something that intricate won't be simple."Franky cracked his mechanical knuckles, his usual bravado flaring up. "Complicated or not, I say we crush that factory to pieces!"Rimuru chuckled softly, though there was no warmth in the sound. "Always so eager to act without understanding. But fine. If this factory is the heart of Doflamingo's control, it's worth a look."Law crossed his arms, his gaze fixed on Rimuru. "You're not here to save anyone. Why do you care?"Rimuru met his eyes without flinching. "I care because power, in any form, is a resource. I don't waste resources."The tension between them lingered as the group moved forward, each step closer to the palace's shadow. The sounds of the coliseum faded, replaced by the distant hum of machinery. Rimuru could feel the gravity within him pulling erratically, as if the factory itself was drawing him closer, testing his limits.When they reached the outskirts of the palace, the ground beneath their feet rumbled. A deep, guttural growl echoed from the shadows, and a massive figure emerged. It was one of Doflamingo's top executives, their grin as twisted as the magic saturating the island."You shouldn't have come here," the figure snarled, their voice dripping with malice. "You're about to become part of the collection."The group tensed, readying themselves for a fight. Rimuru took a step forward, his eyes gleaming with a cold, calculating light."Let's see how far this control really goes," he muttered, gravity swirling dangerously around him.The battle would test not only their strength but their resolve. For Rimuru, it was another opportunity to unravel the threads of power binding Dressrosa-and perhaps, to weave a few of his own.Few note1. ( Right now) I am travelling with my friends. (16/11/2024)