Chapter 120

Balsa, Dessrosa

"White Snake!" Smoker bellowed, his arm transforming into a thick, coiling serpent of smoke as he launched a punch at Gladius. The latter responded swiftly, conjuring a shimmering crystal serpent from his arm, his attack aptly named "Crystal Viper." The two Logia fruits clashed violently, smoke dispersing as it met the solid, glittering form of the crystal snake.

As the smoke and crystal intertwined, Gladius smirked, his attack pushing forward with a sharp, cutting edge. But Smoker, ever the adaptable fighter, shifted into his elemental state just as the crystal viper tore through his form, reappearing unscathed a few meters away.

"Tch, where the hell did you get such a devil fruit? This is not fair!" Smoker complained, his maturing voice tinged with frustration. His smoke-based powers seemed at a disadvantage against the solid, almost unyielding crystal.

Gladius's smirk widened, a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. "Life isn't fair, Smoker. You should know that by now," he taunted, using the same words that Smoker had used countless times against him whenever Gladius complained about Somoker's devil fruit ability, in the meantime readying himself for the next exchange.

The battlefield around them was chaotic, filled with the sounds of combat and the clashing of various powers. The air was thick with tension; every move was calculated, and every reaction was swift. Smoker, determined not to be outdone, took a deep breath, strategizing his next move.

"Smoky Constriction!" Smoker yelled, sending tendrils of smoke snaking towards Gladius from multiple directions, aiming to bind him. Gladius, undeterred, raised his hands, crystal shards forming a barrier around him.

"Crystal Fortress!" he shouted, the shimmering barrier deflecting the smoke tendrils, causing them to dissipate upon impact.

Smoker narrowed his eyes, frustration mounting. He knew he had to outthink Gladius, use his own strengths to his advantage. With a swift motion, he transformed into a billowing cloud of smoke, enveloping the battlefield in a dense fog.

Gladius's eyes darted around, trying to pinpoint Smoker's location. "Hiding won't save you, Smoker!" he called out, his voice echoing in the mist. Gladius had yet to unlock his kenbunshoku haki, so he could not detect the position of Smoker, who was hidden among the mist.

Suddenly, from within the fog, Smoker's voice rang out, clear and resolute. "Smoke Dragon Strike!" A massive dragon-shaped formation of smoke surged forward, aiming directly at Gladius.

Gladius braced himself, forming a crystalline shield, but the sheer force of the attack pushed him back, the crystal cracking under the pressure. He gritted his teeth, summoning more of his power to reinforce the shield.

"Not bad, Smoker," Gladius admitted, a hint of playfulness in his voice. "But you'll need more than that to beat me."

The entire training ground was a stark contrast of elements: the ground covered in red, blood-like crystals and the surrounding air filled with a thick smog. The clash of powers had transformed the area into a surreal battlefield.

"That's enough! Step back, both of you," Issho commanded from the sidelines. He had been observing the sparring match closely, making mental notes of every move. As the mentor to all the young members of the Donquixote family, Issho's watchful eye missed nothing.

"Smoker, your mindset is too restricted. You're only concentrating on one aspect of smoke while neglecting the others," Issho critiqued, his tone firm yet instructive. "I suggest you start learning more about what smoke can truly achieve." His observation was spot-on.

Smoker was overly reliant on his elemental state, neglecting the full potential of his Logia powers. If he continued this way, he would be vulnerable against opponents proficient in Haki. Fortunately for Smoker, Gladius had yet to unlock even the rudimentary form of Haki. However, Issho had already decided that it was time to train the kids in Haki, recognizing the necessity of this skill in their growth.

Turning to Gladius, Issho offered a different critique. "Gladius, I don't have to tell you where your disadvantage lies. If you had strengthened your foundation and unlocked your Haki, the fight would not have ended in a stalemate. Now that you have a devil fruit, I don't want you neglecting Haki. I'll be taking extra care with your training." Issho's smile carried a warmth that belied his stern words, but for Gladius, it sent a chill down his spine. He consoled himself with the thought that it was Issho training them and not young master Ross.

His gaze wandered to the side, where Lucci was being trained by Ross. The intensity of their session was palpable even from a distance. Ross, a formidable figure in his own right, was putting Lucci through a rigorous regimen, honing his already impressive skills, calling it a training would be an understatement.

Issho's training sessions were grueling, but they lacked the raw, almost brutal edge that Ross's sessions had. Ross demanded not just skill but perfection, pushing his students to their absolute limits and beyond. Watching Lucci endure this, Gladius felt a mix of relief and envy. Relief that he wasn't the one under Ross's direct tutelage and envy of the progress Lucci would undoubtedly make under such intense guidance.

"Remember, both of you," Issho continued, his voice cutting through Gladius's thoughts, "power is more than just brute strength or flashy techniques. It's about controlling, understanding, and using every aspect of your abilities to their fullest potential. We'll be focusing on Haki from now on, so prepare yourselves."

"1012... 1013... 1014..." Lucci struggled under the immense weight on his back, striving to add one more pushup to his count. Sweat drenched his entire body, staining the ground beneath him. His nerves were strained, and his bones seemed to creak under the pressure. Tears welled in his eyes, but his determination to not give up shone through. He gritted his teeth so hard that his mouth began to bleed.

"1015..." Lucci pushed himself up for one more. I observed Lucci closely, noting how he was already at his limits but refraining from intervening. I wanted to see how far the kid could push himself. Using my keen Observation Haki, I could tell he was running on fumes by the time he reached 900, yet he continued to push further.

My attention turned back to little Shyarly, who stood before me with a blindfold covering her eyes. After consuming the Giro Giro no Mi, Shyarly surprisingly unlocked her Observation Haki, and it was exceptionally powerful. The canonical Viola was a joke in comparison. Little Shyarly could already see thousands of miles surrounding Dressrosa once she tapped into her devil fruit powers.

Even her scrying abilities were boosted to a dangerously high level. If the World Government learned of such a power, they would surely hunt it down. Thus, both Doffy and I decided to keep Shyarly's abilities as a trump card for the family, opting not to disclose the true extent of her powers even to the rest of the family.

"You're doing well, Shyarly," I said as I stopped swinging the wooden club, which she dodged easily every time I attacked her. I watched her carefully as she perceived her surroundings. "Remember, focus on your instincts; don't restrict your mind; there is more to Kenbunshoku haki than just what you see on the surface. Follow your heart; let it guide you."

Shyarly nodded, her small face set in concentration. Despite her young age, she showed remarkable control over her abilities. Her observation Haki, combined with the Giro Giro no Mi, made her a force to be reckoned with in terms of Kenbunshoku. She could perceive threats and opportunities far beyond the immediate vicinity, a skill that would prove invaluable in the volatile world we inhabited.

Lucci, meanwhile, continued his relentless pushups, each one slower than the last. His muscles trembled with exhaustion, but he refused to give in. This determination was what set him apart. Despite the pain and the seemingly insurmountable challenge, he pushed on.

"Good, Lucci, keep going," I encouraged, though I knew he could barely hear me over the sound of his own labored breathing. "Every rep makes you stronger. Every moment you push past your limit, you become more formidable."

Finally, with a final push, Lucci collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. He had reached his limit, but the determination in his eyes told me he would be back at it again as soon as he could. This was the kind of spirit we needed in the Donquixote family—unbreakable, relentless, and ever striving for more.

"Brother Ross, I detect more than half a dozen Marine warships alongside a World Government ship making their way toward us. They are about a few hundred miles away," little Shyarly reported, her voice calm but urgent as she undid her blindfold.

I was temporarily dumfounded. She was already able to see things hundreds of miles away. How monstrous would her vision become in the future?

Doffy, who had been casually flipping through the newspaper while lounging in his chair, sat up as Shyarly shared the details of the approaching ships. "Shyarly, how sure are you that they are heading towards Dressrosa?" he questioned, setting aside his newspaper.

"Well, I saw the navigator from the World Government ship using an Eternal Pose of Dressrosa, so I am certain they are coming here," she replied confidently. The others on the training ground gathered around us, listening intently to the new information.

"Can you describe the Marine battleships? Are there any unique figureheads or something that makes these ships stand out from the regular ones?" I asked. I knew that King Riku would reach out to the World Government and Marines for help, but more than half a dozen battleships? This seemed intriguing, and I wanted to know if there were any prominent figures incoming.

Most of the marine ships of the Rear Admirals and above had unique figureheads or decorations that made their ships stand out so that they would act as deterrents in the open seas. A normal pirate who saw the dog figurehead of Garp's ship would turn tail and run, even in the New World.

Shyarly closed her eyes for a moment, her observation Haki reaching out across the vast expanse of the sea. "I see a few notable figureheads. One ship has a large seagull figurehead, which is the symbol of the Marine Headquarters. Another ship has a pheasant like bird, which I believe is Vice Admiral Kuzan's ship. There was also a ship with a monkey figurehead, likely Vice Admiral Borsalino's." Sharly shared.

As an intelligent girl, Sharly had memorized all the details of the notable powers of the sea that Ross had shared with her; although she was not honing her blade like the other kids, she was honing her mind.

Doffy's eyes narrowed, and a sinister grin spread across his face. "It seems they're sending quite the welcoming committee. What do you think, Ross?"

I considered the information. "If they're sending such high-ranking officers, especially Tsuru and two admiral candidates, they're not coming here just to talk. They want to make a statement. The presence of a World Government ship suggests they might have an official proposal or an ultimatum. Either way, we need to be prepared."

I released my Observation Haki, extending its reach to discern what exactly King Riku was up to. The information I inadvertently gleaned put a smile on my face. Now I understood why the World Government ship was here with such a formidable force—they were here to collect this year's Heavenly Tribute.

"Doffy, didn't you keep whining about the lack of funds to start our weapons factories despite all our looting? It seems like our good friend Riku has prepared a gift for us," I chuckled. The Heavenly Tribute of a kingdom like Dressrosa was quite substantial, potentially crossing billions of berries. Riku had cleverly amassed this wealth out of our sight, despite our presence.

Even I had completely forgotten about the Heavenly Tribute. This would be an excellent source of funding for us. Although I had plans to find the Goru Goru no Mi, that would have to wait; such devil fruits, despite being Paramecia types, were not easy to come by.

"Come, Doffy. Let's go pay a visit to Riku and collect our rent for using our kingdom all these years without permission," I said with a chuckle, stepping in the direction of the palace.

Doffy grinned, his eyes glinting with anticipation. "Finally, some good news. Let's see how much our dear king has saved up for us."

King Riku stood in the throne room, surrounded by his anxious and uneasy advisors. The moment he saw us enter, his face paled, but he tried to maintain his composure.

"Donquixote, what are you doing here? Did you not say you would confine yourselves to Balsa? Why are you in the capital?" He asked, his voice steady despite the clear rage in his eyes. The memory of Scarlett's arm being burned was still vivid. He had reached out to the best physicians, but none were able to heal the damage completely. Although Scarlett's arm would recover, the scar would remain unless he found some special healing method.

Doffy didn't bother with pleasantries. "We're here for the Heavenly Tribute, Riku. You didn't think you could hide such a significant sum from us, did you? It seems like sparing your daughter last time was a mistake. I wonder how you managed to amass such an amount while the whole of Dressrosa is suffering. Like I said earlier, you are a hypocrite."

One of Riku's advisors stepped forward, looking defiant. "You can't just take the tribute! It belongs to the people of Dressrosa!"

Doffy laughed, a chilling sound that echoed through the throne room. "The people of Dressrosa should be paying their taxes to their rightful rulers. The Donquixote family were and always will be the rightful rulers of Dressrosa. We will just consider this money as rent for the Riku family using my country without permission all these years."

The tension in the room was palpable. King Riku's grip tightened on his sword hilt, but he knew better than to provoke Doflamingo directly. "This tribute is necessary to maintain the protection and peace of Dressrosa. Without it, the World Government will bring their wrath upon us, we will no longer be protected by the World Government if we fail the tribute."

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