Chapter 88

Our conversation was interrupted by Doffy, who approached with a smirk on his face. "Are you two plotting something devious again? It seems like we have more guests incoming." He gestured in the direction of the incoming ships.

As the approaching ships grew nearer, I couldn't help but sense their presence with my observation haki. With a sigh, I turned to my companions on the galleon.

"So, who's up for dealing with our unexpected guests this time?" I inquired, my gaze shifting towards the direction of the incoming vessels.

A silent exchange of looks passed between us before Doffy rose to his feet with a resigned sigh. It seemed he would be the one to handle the situation yet again. With a smirk, he prepared to confront the approaching pirates, ready to unleash his formidable power upon them.

"Boom...Boom...Boom" The ominous boom of cannonfire echoed across the sea as the two pirate ships drew closer to our galleon. My observation haki revealed that these aggressors were far from formidable, lacking any real threat. Nevertheless, their approach was imminent, and we prepared for the inevitable confrontation.

As the enemy vessels closed in, Doffy, ever ready for action, braced himself for the impending clash. With a confident smirk, he stood at the ready, his blue flames flickering in anticipation of battle. It was clear that these pirates had underestimated the firepower they were about to face.

With a swift motion, Doffy leaped from the deck of our galleon onto the nearest pirate ship, his devil fruit powers already ablaze. As he landed amidst the startled crew, his aura of blue flames illuminated the chaos that ensued.

"W-Who the hell are you?!"

The pirate captain's voice trembled as he demanded an answer from the mysterious intruder, his bravado fading in the face of Doffy's overwhelming presence. The crew, already on edge, took a step back, their eyes wide with fear and confusion.

"Just a passing flame, here to burn away your little ship," Doffy replied with a sinister chuckle, his blue flames flickering ominously around him. The sight sent shivers down the spines of the pirates, who had never encountered such a terrifying display of power.

Before they could react, the sound of cannon fire erupted from the other ship targeted at our own ship, sending a barrage of projectiles hurtling towards us. Without hesitation, Doffy sprang into action, his movements fluid and precise.

"FIRE FIST!" he roared, unleashing a torrent of blazing energy that engulfed the second enemy vessel in a dazzling display of blue flames. The pirates watched in horror as their ship was reduced to smoldering wreckage within moments, the flames licking hungrily at the sky.

Caught off guard by Doffy's sudden onslaught and the sheer intensity of his flames, the pirates on the second ship scrambled desperately to defend themselves. But their feeble attempts were like swatting at a raging inferno with bare hands—utterly futile against the ferocity of the flame fruit user.

With a second punch, Doffy unleashed another torrent of scorching blue flames, sending waves of heat cascading across the enemy ship. The air was filled with the acrid scent of smoke and the agonized screams of the pirates as they were engulfed by the merciless fire.

Panic swept through the ranks of the pirates as their vessel became a blazing inferno, the flames licking hungrily at the wooden hull and rigging. Men stumbled and fell, their clothes and skin singed by the searing heat, their cries drowned out by the crackling of the flames.

Meanwhile, Doffy stood amidst the chaos, a twisted smile curling his lips as he relished the sounds of agony and despair echoing around him. To him, the screams of the hapless pirates were like music to his ears, a symphony of terror that only fueled his appetite for destruction.

Yet amidst the chaos and carnage, not a single soul aboard the first ship dared to move an inch to help their comrades. Frozen in fear, they watched in silent horror as their fellow pirates were consumed by the flames, knowing that any attempt to intervene would be met with the same fiery fate.

"It's a devil; it's a devil of the sea!" One of the crewmen screamed, dropping his weapon and falling to his knees in terror. The others could only watch in stunned silence as Doffy's power laid waste to their comrades and their ship, leaving behind only ashes and despair.

"We'll pay for the transgression; please spare our lives!" the captain pleaded, his voice thick with fear and desperation. He cared little for the fate of his crew now, consumed by regret for ever setting sail in search of the elusive One Piece.

Doffy's dark chuckle filled the air, sending shivers down the spines of the pirates. He flicked his fingers, and arcs of blue fire danced across the deck, casting eerie shadows in the flickering light.

"What kind of monster are you?!" One of the pirates couldn't help but cry out, his voice trembling with terror as death loomed over him.

Just then, by a stroke of sheer coincidence, another pirate accidentally knocked over a barrel. It tipped and spilled its contents, including a stack of bounty posters. Among them, Doffy's own wanted poster flew through the air, landing at the captain's feet.

The captain looked down, his eyes widening in disbelief as he took in the face staring back at him from the paper—a face that now stood before him, wreathed in flames and dark intent.

As the pirate captain's eyes locked onto the bounty poster at his feet, his heart sank like a stone. The image depicted a man with vibrant, flaming hair and a chilling grin—the very same man who now stood before him, exuding an aura of power and menace.

Doffy's eyes glinted with amusement as he watched the realization dawn on the captain's face. "Recognize me now, do you?" He taunted, his voice dripping with scorn. "It seems like your luck has run out, my friend."

The crew murmured in fear and disbelief, their minds struggling to process the unfolding nightmare before them. Some whispered prayers, while others cursed their ill-fated voyage. But amidst the chaos, one voice rang out with a defiant edge.

"We won't go down without a fight!" a burly pirate shouted, rallying his comrades with a fierce glare. "We'll take this devil down, no matter the cost!"

Doffy's grin widened, relishing the challenge, or rather, the foolishness, of these pirates. With a casual flick of his wrist, he summoned a swirling vortex of azure flames, casting an ominous glow over the deck. "Then come at me, if you dare," he challenged, his eyes gleaming with sadistic delight. "But be warned—you're playing with fire."

Suddenly, the burly pirate's cutlass cleaved through the air with deadly intent, aiming straight for Doffy's head. But Doffy's reflexes were lightning-fast. With a fluid movement, he sidestepped the attack, the blade whistling harmlessly past him.

Before the pirate could recover from his failed strike, Doffy's hand shot out like a viper, seizing the man by the throat with an iron grip. The other pirates watched in horror as their comrade's eyes bulged with fear, realizing too late the grave mistake they had made.

"Welcome to Paradise!" Doffy's voice was a chilling whisper as he unleashed a torrent of azure flames from his palm. The searing inferno consumed the burly pirate's face in an instant, reducing it to ash and bone. The once-formidable man collapsed to the deck, his agonized screams silenced forever.

The remaining pirates recoiled in terror, their resolve shattered by the merciless display of power before them. But Doffy showed no mercy. With a savage grin, he unleashed a barrage of blue flames upon the hapless crew, engulfing them in a maelstrom of fire and chaos.

The deck became a battlefield bathed in hellfire, the scent of burning flesh mingling with the acrid smoke. The pirates' desperate cries echoed across the sea, drowned out by the crackling flames and the triumphant laughter of their assailant.

In mere moments, it was over. The once-proud pirate crew lay decimated, their charred corpses strewn across the deck like discarded puppets. Doffy stood amidst the carnage, his expression twisted with sadistic pleasure as he surveyed his handiwork.

"Pathetic," he scoffed, his voice laced with disdain. "Is that the best you fools could muster?" With a contemptuous flick of his hand, he extinguished the remaining flames, leaving nothing but smoldering wreckage in his wake.

As the smoke cleared and the echoes of battle faded into silence, Doffy turned away from the scorched remnants of the pirate ship, his hunger for destruction momentarily sated. But deep within him, a dark hunger stirred—a hunger that could only be sated by the chaos and devastation of the open sea.

As the tumultuous waves crashed against the sides of our galleon, threatening to swallow us whole, Mihawk's gaze remained fixed on the raging sea. His sword, Yoru, gleamed in the faint light, a silent testament to his unwavering resolve.

"You say this happens every year around this time?" Mihawk's voice cut through the roar of the storm, his eyes sharp with curiosity.

"Yes, it's called Aqua Laguna, and it's getting worse each year," I replied, my voice barely audible over the howling wind. With a gesture, I summoned a bolt of lightning to cleave through another towering wave.

Mihawk's expression remained unreadable as he processed the information. Meanwhile, Doffy, his usually confident demeanor faltering in the face of the tempest, voiced his concerns.

"You're mad, little brother. If no ships can sail through this storm, why risk it? Can't we wait for one more day and make it to Water 7 safely?" Doffy's voice trembled with apprehension, the sea's oppressive presence weighing heavily on him.

"Doffy, if you can't weather such a simple storm, how will you fare when faced with the truth that our entire world is on the brink of sinking?" My words cut through the air like a chilling wind, silencing Doffy's laughter.

Doffy's laughter died down, replaced by a disbelieving scoff. "Our world sinking? That's the grandest joke I've ever heard," he retorted, unable to comprehend the gravity of my words.

As the galleon surged forward, battling against the relentless assault of the storm, the atmosphere aboard grew tense. Doffy's once jovial expression faltered, replaced by a look of genuine concern.

"Ross, are you being serious?" His voice carried a weight of urgency, and his eyes searched mine for any hint of jest. My silence only seemed to deepen his unease as he grappled with the possibility of my words being true.

Even Mihawk, renowned for his composure, couldn't conceal his surprise. "Ross, is our world truly sinking? How do you know about it?" His inquiry cut through the roar of the storm, demanding answers that I was not yet ready to divulge.

With a cryptic smile, I held their gaze, my thoughts consumed by the gravity of our impending mission. Our journey to Water 7 held multiple agendas, each as vital as the next. Securing the blueprints of Pluton from the legendary shipwright Tom held paramount importance. With the Cipher Pol on the hunt for Tom for building Oro Jackson, time was of the essence, and recruiting him to our cause was imperative.

But Tom was not the only one I sought to enlist. Iceburg, with his vision of a floating city, possessed the expertise we needed to turn our aspirations into reality. In a world on the brink of collapse, a floating city could be our salvation, a bastion of hope amidst the chaos. And who better to help us bring this vision to life than Tom and his apprentice?

As the galleon battled against the raging currents, I found myself lost in contemplation, my thoughts swirling like the turbulent waters beneath us. The revelation I had shared weighed heavily on my mind, its implications stretching far beyond the confines of our current voyage.

"Ross, you idiot! Are you serious about our world sinking? How sure are you about this information?"

Doffy's expression mirrored my own internal turmoil, his typically flamboyant demeanor subdued by the gravity of our conversation. Gone were the laughter and jest, replaced by a somber realization of the challenges ahead.

Mihawk's stoic facade cracked, revealing a hint of concern beneath his icy exterior. His penetrating gaze bore into me, seeking reassurance in the face of uncertainty.

As the galleon pressed on through the tempest, each crashing wave bringing us closer to our destination, I couldn't help but wonder if our mission would mark the beginning of a new era or the end of everything we held dear.