Chapter 69

However, the more details I heard from Trebol, the more rage flared in my heart. It was a mess of chaotic emotions—wrath and helplessness threatening to consume me entirely. The realization that my brother was lost to me because of our own foolish mistakes, coupled with the unknown fate of Doffy, weighed heavily on my soul. Added to that sadness was an overwhelming anger, threatening to consume me whole. Despite my bleeding fists from repeatedly pounding the floor, I couldn't stop.

Trebol, despite his weakened state, reached out a trembling hand toward me, his voice hoarse but sincere. "Ross, I know it's difficult to accept, but it's the truth. I never liked you or the way you influenced Doffy, trying to confine him within a set of rules. That wasn't him; that wasn't Doffy. He only followed your rules because he loved and trusted you. Even after all these years, he never forgot any of the guidelines you set, even if they didn't align with his beliefs. Do you know why he still followed them? It's because your brother trusted you more than himself. Find him, I'm sure he's waiting for you. Doffy never lost hope in you." Trebol coughed, his words interrupted by his own weakness. "I don't have much time left, but you need to stay strong, Ross. Doffy wouldn't want you to give in to despair. His time may be running out, for all we know."

With difficulty, Trebol reached into his wax body and pulled out a small chest, presenting it to me. "This was Doffy's gift to you. He always believed you were the only one worthy of this fruit." With a solemn expression, Trebol pushed the chest toward me. "I was originally angry with you, thinking it was your fault for Doffy's fate. If it weren't for you, he may have consumed this fruit. Maybe, just maybe, if you weren't in his life, he may have lived differently. Maybe he wouldn't have ruled the world, but he might have done things differently. I even considered feeding this fruit to someone else or selling it. But then I realized I was being petty. It was his wish and your brother's gift to you. I couldn't bring myself to deprive Doffy of his wish."

With Trebol's words sinking in, I had a vague feeling of what the chest held. I now understood why my brother kept saying repeatedly every time I questioned that the rumble fruit was never found, so that was his reason to me why he had consumed the flame fruit. But the truth was, Doffy had found it and chose to keep it for me. As I opened the small chest, inside lay a round, pear-shaped fruit that tapered off towards the stem, resembling a loquat. Its golden-yellow peel featured the overlapping swirl pattern typical of Devil Fruits while forming sharp, jagged outgrowths all over that varied in length, width, and direction, resembling sparks of electricity.

I immediately recognised the fruit, there was no mistaking it, It was the legendary Rumble Rumble fruit, rumored to be the strongest Logia out there. Legends had it that if one could truly master this fruit, they would be akin to an ancient weapon by themselves.

Trebol's breathing grew shallow, and his eyes struggled to stay open as he mustered the strength to speak once more. "Ross, promise me," he gasped, his voice barely a whisper. "Promise me you'll find Doffy and you both need to go after your dreams. You guys wanted to rule the world, and although most of our family is no more, the family believes in you to carry out all our dreams alongside you . Don't let anyone who was involved in this matter escape. They all must pay for what they've done."

His words pierced through me like a blade, stirring up a storm of emotions within my heart. Despite our tumultuous past that Trebol mentioned that I now came to regret, I had always been suspicious of these people despite them doing so much for Doffy, it hurt thinking despite their loyalty to Doffy I had been petty because of my insecurities from past life, I couldn't deny the sincerity in Trebol's plea.

"I promise," I replied, my voice choked with emotion. "I'll do whatever it takes to make Doffy's dream, no our families dream, the dream of everyone who perished a reality. And as for who were even remotely involved in bringing us down I will hunt them, I will hunt down every last one of them,No one will escape."

Trebol's gaze softened, a flicker of relief passing through his weary eyes. "Thank you, Ross," he murmured, his voice barely audible now. "And please... take care of the kids and Giolla too if she makes it. And the kids remember, They're the future... of the family..." With those final words, Trebol's hand fell limply to the ground, and his breathing ceased.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I looked down at Trebol's lifeless form, a mixture of grief and determination swirling within me. I vowed to honor his final wishes, to help achieve our dreams, so what if people say that I am working for my brothers dream, Doffy is my brother and it was my life and I will decide what to do with it and now with the death of most in the family, this was no longer just Doffy's dream it was now the dream of everyone that the family had lost, as for the opinions of the rest, to hell with it, to hell with them all and to ensure that vengeance was served for all those who had wronged us I now set aside my old prejudice and decided to embrace my calling with all my soul.

Feeling like a part of me was severed, I was overwhelmed by a peculiar sense of loss and liberation at the same time . Despite the intense grief and pain, I couldn't help but wonder if I had become less human or if my love for my family wasn't as strong as I believed. Perhaps, in some strange way, I had come to make peace with with my recent failures after hearing Trebol's words, but I had resolved myself to find what exactly happened to my brother and find him soon because my gut said that time was running out . My mind raced with a thousand conflicting emotions as I sat there in front of Trebol's lifeless body, clutching the small chest in my hand.

It had been two days since Trebol's death, and I had given the man the burial he deserved despite my lack of time. Gladius and Rob were also present, and even Issho joined despite knowing that the man we were burying was a pirate and a criminal. He did not condemn the dead for their deeds in life. Gladius and Rob were already aware of my true identity within the Donquixote family; it seemed like I was a legend among them, a young master whose status was equal to Doffy himself.

Sitting by the shore, I gazed at the horizon as the waves lapped at my feet. I was yet to complety decide on my upcoming course of actions. My thoughts wandered, wondering how much Doffy might be suffering at the hands of those bastards in case he was captured . I vowed to repay every ounce of pain and humiliation they might have inflicted on my family. Lost in my thoughts, I didn't realize when Issho appeared with the two kids in tow. I hadn't moved from the spot since we buried Trebol. Issho had accepted my request and had helped find Giolla and treated her, although her injuries were grave it was not as worse as Trebol's condition, with our intervention Giolla would make it.

"Ross-kun, are you alright?" Issho asked, settling next to me without a care for the wet sand. The kids followed suit, their presence a silent comfort.

"I'm lost, Issho-san, I don't know what pat I should take anymore " I confessed, my voice heavy with uncertainty. "I instinctively feel like I should rush out to find my brother but then I don't know where to start, I don't even know what exactly to do anymore. A part of me wants to give up, and another part of me wants to burn this world." My admission hung in the air, the weight of it pressing down on me. Despite my promise to Trebol, I couldn't find the right direction to start, I had underestimated the elders the rulers of this world and I had paid dearly, my pride and overconfidence came at a staggering cost . Both in my past and present lives, I have been blind to my own strengths and weaknesses . Now, with my brothers fate completely unknown , I felt adrift in a sea of uncertainty.

"Tell me, Ross-kun, do you know what the purpose of life is?" Issho questioned, his voice carrying a weight of wisdom, as he used his gravity powers to gently move a stranded turtle back towards the sea.

I remained silent, unsure of how to answer the blind man. He was someone who had blinded himself because he could not bear to witness the cruelty of this world, a stark contrast to my own experiences and outlook. Issho could be said as the extreme opposite of what Doffy and I stood for, but here the man was sitting trying to comfort me despite knowing what kind of man I truly was and the past two months have made it atleast a bit clear with what my true character was it was especially evident with how I treated the captured Marines and Government agents.

"Remember, Ross-kun," Issho continued, his tone gentle yet firm, "life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by a lack of meaning and purpose. You are simply lost. Find your meaning and purpose; it doesn't have to be something grand, just something that your heart truly desires."

His words struck a chord within me, resonating with the turmoil I felt inside. Despite his cryptic nature, I knew Issho was trying to help. There was a sense of understanding in his blind gaze, as if he could see into the depths of my soul, and I found myself inexplicably grateful for his guidance. He already knew about my past as a Marine and the betrayal I had faced at the hands of my former comrades, yet he offered his wisdom without judgment or expectation.

With a newfound understanding, I realized that to give meaning to my life once more , I must have a purpose larger than myself. Determined not to feel lost anymore, I accepted that Donquixote family members who felt their spirit lived on through me. My purpose became clear: to immortalize the Donquixote family name in this world forever, achieving what they truly desired and going even beyond.

With resolute determination, I grasped the small chest and walked into the sea, under the bewildered gazes of Issho and the kids. I was different now, ready to start fresh from scratch. From that moment onward, I vowed to ensure that no one I cared for suffered the same fate as Trebol and the rest. Gladius and Lucci relied on me, and I would protect them as my family.

Renewed in my resolve, I cast aside all doubts and immersed myself in the sea and with powerful strokes i soon reached an small island nearby. After reaching the central part of the island which only spanned a few hundred meters, I carefully opened the chest. Even before I completely opened the chest the surrounding climate roiled in sheer chaos the entire world seemed to resonate with me. The sheer power and aura I radiated caused even the sea kings to flee. Unleashing my Haoshoku Haki to the fullest, I commanded the world's flow to bend to my will.

Dark clouds filled the sky, and the winds howled, stirring up the entire island where I stood and all its surroundings engulfing most of the islands around . Though not prosperous, it housed a decent population. Issho stood protectively on the shore, shielding the kids from the pressure. Both children had succumbed to my overwhelming Conqueror's Haki, which grew stronger with each passing second.