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Arthur's condition was severe—like many aging legends of the sea—he now required a constant IV drip just to keep the grievous wound on his chest from worsening. The rightful source is NoveI(F)ire.net
Without the medicine, the unchecked injury would fester and seep into his very bones. At that point, short of a miracle from a rare healing Devil Fruit, he would be beyond saving.
That was why he was so desperate to return to Raijin Island, to summon every doctor under his command and find a path to recovery.
Nico Olvia's pleas meant nothing to him.
It wasn't intentional cruelty.
It was simply that in his mind, if something held no value, its existence was irrelevant. Her life, her death—what did it have to do with him?
Ignoring Olvia's desperate cries, Arthur ordered Doflamingo to press on. Every moment wasted here was another moment his own life drained away. Olvia's helpless, broken form on the deck of the warship might have moved any other man. It did not move Arthur.
You chose your own path, You have to bear the consequences. If you didn't have the stomach for it, you should have just stayed home and played house.
Why set out to sea in the first place?
Under Arthur's command, the Donquixote Family abandoned their attack on Saul's warship. The Marines, in turn, were frozen, daring not to act with a man of Arthur's terrifying reputation present.
The two ships gave each other a wide berth, sailing off in opposite directions.
The flamingo-headed ship sailed for another day before finally reaching its destination: the main stronghold of the Thunder God Pirates, Raijin Island.
From a distance, the sky was a canvas of roiling black clouds. Thunder rumbled, and massive serpents of purple lightning writhed and coiled before striking down with immense, earth-shaking force.
Giant trees that had been transplanted to the island had not only survived the extreme environment but had thrived. After absorbing the electrified rainwater, they had grown even more lush and vibrant, their green leaves occasionally sparking with a faint, blue light.
The Raijin Island of today was a far cry from the desolate, uninhabited rock it had once been. Specially treated buildings, constructed to withstand the constant storms, circled the central mountain where the golden Thunder God Palace stood.
The resplendent island was bathed in the silver-and-gold light of the lightning. Great chains of pure gold, thicker than a man's waist, extended down from the palace, forming pathways to the ground below.
It looked like something out of a myth.
Raijin Island was the heart of the Thunder God Pirates' territory, its significance to Arthur and his crew immense. Only those who had proven their worth—the powerful commanders and their most capable officers—were permitted to enter.
Anyone else would be annihilated.
In the waters surrounding the island, a fleet of ships, all flying the jolly roger of the Thunder God Pirates, waited for the Donquixote Family's ship to dock.
Shiryu, World, Chinjao, and the other commanders were still in the deeper reaches of the New World, there had not been enough time for them to return.
Arthur made his way down the gangplank and was welcomed onto the island by a large group of new recruits.
The omnipresent electricity in the air grew more active at his arrival, almost eagerly surging into his body.
For a moment, Arthur felt his condition improve.
It was an illusion. It only gave him a jolt of energy. The wound itself was unchanged.
He slowly ascended the stairs, heading towards the luxurious palace on the high mountain. He refused the support of his subordinates. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he turned to Doflamingo, who had not yet departed.
"Doflamingo—as we agreed, Dressrosa is yours. No one from the Thunder God Pirates will stand in your way. You may even use our flag to conduct your... illegal underworld business."
Doflamingo's face split into a wild grin. His family—Trebol, Diamante, and the others—also began to smile. They had waited for this for so long. They finally had a foothold in the New World.
With the protection of the Thunder God Pirates, his position as an underworld broker was now rock-solid. No one would dare challenge his success again.
Still, there had to be a reason for Arthur's sudden generosity. After a moment's thought, Doflamingo decided that his family could not simply accept without offering something in return.
"Thunder Emperor, if you have any commands, please speak freely... As long as it is within our power, we will not refuse."
"Your strength is too pathetic. There's no need for you to go out and kill anyone... cough, cough!"
Arthur covered his mouth and let out two heavy coughs, wiping away the blood that was now turning from dark red to black. "I just need you to search for Devil Fruits for my Thunder God Pirates."
"Zoans are bad. I don't want any of them, except for Mythical ones. As for the others—Logias, Paramecias—as long as you have them, you can sell them to the Thunder God Pirates for a fair price. I'll take as many as you can find."
Arthur's reason for collecting Devil Fruits was not to build an army of ability users like Kaido. He had another, greater use for them... and he knew that Doflamingo, with his skills and his network, had a knack for collecting such things.
"Devil Fruits? Fuffuffuffuffu! As long as they're Paramecias or Logias or Mythical Zoans, I will be sure to send them your way," Doflamingo said, almost laughing out loud.
To be granted the protection of the Thunder God Pirates' flag was one thing, but that wasn't true security. Only a relationship based on mutual need, on mutual benefit, could truly solidify their alliance. A partnership —it was the deal of a lifetime.
"In that case, we will take our leave... I wish you a speedy recovery."
With a look of extreme satisfaction, the Donquixote Pirates departed from the waters of Raijin Island. He was going to claim Dressrosa.
With this single agreement, Doflamingo had achieved a goal that would have otherwise taken years of scheming and bloodshed.
"I need to rest... cough, cough!"
Watching Doflamingo's ship disappear into the distance, Arthur let out two ragged breaths, a profound exhaustion settling over his spirit. He waved away the subordinates who were waiting for his orders and stepped into the Thunder God Palace.
This wound, which festered like a curse in his bones, felt as if it had damaged his very essence. Arthur didn't even want to move.
Every movement sent a fresh wave of fatigue through him.
That old man Garp... he's really... annoying.
He recalled the terrifying iron fist, a blow infused with an entire lifetime of conviction, a blow that had bet everything on a single moment.
Arthur couldn't help but smile bitterly.
That punch had been the most terrifying attack he had ever suffered, nearly tearing him apart and making his chest explode.
He entered a resting chamber in the palace, lifted his shirt, and looked down at the dark, bruised fist print on his chest, which had not yet faded.
On the seas, perhaps only a man with Garp's unwavering conviction could throw such a punch.
It was impossible to say if the emotion he felt was admiration or hatred. Arthur sighed, a sound of pure helplessness, and spoke to the guards outside the door.
"Bring food and the newspapers every day. Until the commanders return, do not disturb me... Do you understand?"
"Yes, Thunder Emperor!" came the reply from the guards outside, their voices filled with a fanatical fervor.
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