Chapter 7

As the training session progressed, Diamante introduced more advanced techniques, pushing me to refine my skills. We practiced parrying and counterattacks, the clash of our blades ringing out like a symphony of steel.

Despite the physical exertion, I was fueled by a sense of exhilaration, with each strike bringing me one step closer to mastery. Sweat glistened on my brow as I pushed myself to the limit, determined to prove myself worthy of Diamante's tutelage.

Time flew by, and our first major clash occurred a month after settling down on Downs Island. We encountered a local pirate group that had control over the entire island. It was hardly a clash, more like a one-sided massacre. Despite our youth, our recent training paid off, while the pirates were just your average thugs. I didn't even bother to ask for their group's name. They were a ragtag bunch who relied on sheer numbers, boasting nearly two hundred members.

"Who are you guys? Why are you attacking us? We have no quarrel with you; this must be a misunderstanding," the supposed leader of the group pleaded, cornered in a shabby tavern where he had been enjoying his drinks. Now, he was missing a limb, which had been severed earlier when he aggressively raised his blade and pointed it toward Doffy and mocked him.

More than twenty corpses lay within the shabby tavern, all once belonging to the little pirate group. Doffy leisurely walked and sat down on a chair and observed the man without responding to his pleas.

The pirate leader was stalling for time, and I knew he was waiting for the rest of his pirate gang to gather to try and confront us with numbers, but the poor fellow had no idea that his fate had already been sealed. It was then that Doffy said, "I really didn't want to shed much blood while settling down on this island. We simply cannot afford to have any disruptions to our plans." Doffy's tone was calm, almost indifferent, as he surveyed the scene before him.

The pirate leader's eyes widened in fear as he realized the gravity of his situation. "Please spare me! I'll do anything; just let me go!" He pleaded, desperation creeping into his voice.

Doffy's expression remained unchanged, his gaze unwavering. "You had your chance to negotiate, but you lost it when you pointed that blade at me," he said, his voice cold and final.

Without another word, Doffy stood up from his chair, and I drew my sword with fluid grace. The pirate leader's eyes widened in terror as he realized his fate was sealed. In one swift motion, I delivered the final blow, ending the pirate leader's life with a decisive strike.

"It seems like we have quite the commotion outside; it seems like the rest of the gang is waiting outside to ambush, maybe." Diamante couldn't help but mock the pirate gang's actions. Our entire family has been growing steadily stronger in the past month. Even Vergo was strong enough to overpower a normal pirate, and except for Trebol and Pica, the rest had started breaching the initial stage of Observation Haki. I was the only exception, as I had awakened it innately; I just had to hone it steadily.

Doffy stood at the front with me next to him, followed by the rest of the family. Doffy gestured to me and Trebol to take the lead, as it would be ideal—I was able to dodge bullets, and Trebol could use his devil fruit to defend himself. I had already observed the surroundings, and I saw more than a hundred pirates who had surrounded the tavern to ambush us.

With Diamante and Vergo at our backs, we stepped out into the fray, ready to confront the pirate gang that surrounded us. Doffy's confidence radiated like a beacon, his presence commanding respect and instilling fear in our adversaries.

As Doffy opened the door for me and Trebol, I felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins. With my blade drawn, I charged forward, my senses heightened by the rush of battle. Bullets whizzed past me, but I moved with preternatural speed and agility, dodging and deflecting each projectile with ease.

The rooftop snipers posed a significant threat, their vantage points granting them clear shots at our exposed positions. But with my observation Haki flexed to its current limit, I anticipated their moves, sidestepping their attacks and redirecting their gunfire back at them with deadly accuracy.

As I closed in on the first enemy, I could feel the weight of my blade in my hand, its edge eager to taste blood. With a swift upward slash, I severed the pirate's jaw, his agonized scream drowned out by the cacophony of battle.

The pirates, faced with the sudden onslaught, faltered in their resolve; their attempts at drawing melee weapons proved futile against my lightning-fast strikes. With each adversary I dispatched, their ranks grew increasingly panicked, their fear palpable in the air.

Meanwhile, Trebol stood steadfast at Doffy's side, his devil fruit powers poised to defend our leader against any potential threats. We fought bravely, but we were not reckless, mindful of the dangers that lurked amidst the chaos.

As the fight intensified, I could feel adrenaline surging through my veins, heightening my senses and sharpening my focus. Bullets whizzed past me; their trajectory was easily predicted with my Observation Haki. I danced through the chaos with fluid grace, each movement calculated to evade the deadly projectiles.

With a flick of my wrist, I deflected incoming bullets, sending them ricocheting off the walls and into the ranks of the pirates. Their cries of pain echoed through the air, but I didn't relent. Every strike was swift and precise, aimed at incapacitating my opponents with ruthless efficiency.

As I closed in on the nearest pirate, I could see the fear in his eyes. He swung his blade wildly, but I effortlessly sidestepped his attacks, my movements a blur of speed and agility. With a swift motion, I disarmed him and delivered a powerful blow that sent him crashing to the ground.

But there was no time to dwell on my victory. More pirates surged forward, their numbers seemingly endless. I moved with calculated precision, weaving through their ranks and striking with lethal accuracy. With each enemy I dispatched, my confidence grew, fueling my determination to emerge victorious.

Through the chaos, I caught glimpses of my family fighting alongside me, especially the trio, whose skills had been honed through years of struggle and hardship. Together, we were an unstoppable force. It was a one-sided massacre.

But even as we fought, I could sense a shift in the tide of battle. The pirates began to falter as more bodies piled up, their morale wavering in the face of our relentless onslaught. With one clean swing, I beheaded the vice captain of the pirate group, and we pressed forward, driving them back until they were forced to succumb like the rest of the gang.

As the dust settled and the echoes of battle faded, I stood amidst the wreckage, my chest heaving with exertion. But there was no time to rest—not yet. This victory was just the beginning of our journey, and there were still many challenges ahead.

Time flew by, and it took us another month to completely bring the entire island under our control because of the lack of manpower on our side. After taking Downs Island completely under control, the new Donquixote family was officially established. Doffy was the leader, with me being the vice leader, and the other four were designated the post of elite officers.

Drawing inspiration from the original canon, I suggested an idea to represent our family with a deck of cards , and Doffy's fascination with the King's persona led him to claim that title for himself, changing the canon altogether . As for me, I took on the mantle of the Joker, symbolizing the anomaly. The four main squads, each led by an elite officer, were each assigned a suit in the deck, respectively.

The Ace, Queen, and Jack positions remained vacant for the time being, awaiting the recruitment of worthy individuals who would embody the spirit and values of the Donquixote family. I had already begun compiling a list of potential candidates, each possessing unique skills and talents that would complement our crew's strengths.

Our crew's structure was more than just a hierarchy—it was a reflection of our unity and purpose. Each member had a role to play, contributing their strengths to our collective success. And as we continued to grow and expand our influence, our bonds would only strengthen, solidifying our place in the treacherous world of piracy.

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"Ross, promise me you'll prioritize your safety above all else." Doffy's voice held a hint of concern as he clasped my shoulder, his gaze filled with brotherly affection. Despite his tough exterior, I knew he harbored a deep-rooted worry for my well-being as I embarked on the journey to East Blue in search of the flame fruit.

I returned his gaze with a reassuring smile, determined to ease his apprehension. "Don't worry, Doffy. I'll be back before you know it, and with that devil fruit in hand," I replied confidently, though I couldn't shake the sense of foreboding that lingered in the back of my mind.

As Doffy handed me a transponder snail for communication, I felt a surge of gratitude for his unwavering support. With Diamante by my side, we set out on our journey, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead in our quest for the flame fruit.

Leaving Downs Island felt like stepping into a whole new world. The salty air greeted us as we boarded a small boat, heading towards the distant shores of East Blue. The ocean stretched out endlessly before us, both scary and exciting.

Our journey started with lots of excitement and some nervousness, too. Leaving behind our familiar home was tough, but we were determined to explore new places and make exciting discoveries.

As we sailed on, days turned into weeks. We saw so many amazing things along the way. Tropical islands with lush green forests and clear blue waters looked like paradise compared to the rough terrain of Downs Island. We faced storms and tricky waters, but we never gave up.

With each passing day, our anticipation grew. We were ready for whatever adventures lay ahead in East Blue.

"1736, 1737, 1738..." I counted each pushup, feeling the weight of exhaustion pressing down on me like a boulder. But I persevered, knowing I hadn't reached my limit. It had been over a month since we began our hunt for the famed Logia fruit. While crossing over to East Blue from Downs Island took only three weeks, finding Sixis Island was proving to be a different challenge altogether.

In a world where islands littered the seas in their thousands, finding one whose name might not even be accurate was like shooting in the dark. Many would call our pursuit foolish, but my instinct told me we would succeed, so I hadn't given up hope despite visiting three towns in East Blue without any leads on Sixis Island. So, as we ventured on the hunt for the devil fruit, I immersed myself in training.

"Boom, Boom." The faint sounds of shells exploding caught my attention. Using my Observation Haki, I probed the area around the caravel, but there were no signs of any ships. I understood that there must be a fight nearby. Diamante emerged from inside and began observing our surroundings; he must have heard the cannon fire too.

After a minute or two, we could still hear faint cannon explosions. That's when Diamante spotted the source of the sound. "There, it seems they've caught a big fish, hahaha." I could see a huge merchant ship besieged by two pirate ships. Judging by the pirates' swift approach, they were quickly gaining on the merchant ship, and unfortunately, they were heading in our direction rapidly.

We had no intention of interfering with the ongoing piracy; after all, we were pirates ourselves. However, before we could turn our caravel and move, one of the pirate ships moved to intercept our path. Simultaneously, a cannonball hit the main mast of the merchant ship, shattering it and causing the vessel to slow to a complete stop near our caravel.