A month drifted by, and the fierce battle between Doflamingo and Aokiji began to fade from public memory. However, the site of their clash in the West Blue became something of a morbid tourist attraction, drawing curious onlookers. The sheer power unleashed had irrevocably altered the landscape. What was once a small, temperate island now suffered under a mysteriously biting chill. Charged ions lingered heavy in the air, refusing to disperse, and sporadic bolts of lightning still arced across the sky – remnants of the storm Doflamingo had commanded. In the immediate aftermath of the fight, the vast sheets of ice Aokiji had created had stubbornly refused to melt, and the heavens above had remained turbulent with violent electrical storms. For a time, no ship dared pass through those waters, terrified of meeting an untimely end.
Witnessing the scale of what true power looked like hadn't demoralized the youth of the West Blue. Quite the contrary; it was as if they'd been shot full of adrenaline. A fervent desire to set sail surged through them, each aspiring to become a powerhouse like Doflamingo or Aokiji.
Though the battle had sent shockwaves across the seas, neither of the combatants paid the resulting notoriety much mind. Fame held little appeal for either of them. For Aokiji, such attention was unwelcome; as a Marine Vice Admiral, failing to apprehend Doflamingo was a black mark on his record, a failure. For Doflamingo, his current reputation felt unearned, outstripping his actual influence. Grand infamy served little purpose when his Family was still fledgling, its core members yet to mature. Operating alone, he couldn't exactly shake the world just yet; it was hard to make thunder with only one hand clapping.
Having finally endured Doflamingo's final, devastating attack, Aokiji eventually made his way back to Marine Headquarters. Admiral Sengoku specifically summoned him for a debriefing. Although Sengoku had already spoken with Aokiji via Den Den Mushi when the news first broke across the world, having the Vice Admiral back in person warranted a more detailed inquiry.
Sengoku hadn't anticipated this. Doflamingo, a figure he hadn't paid much attention to since he'd seemingly vanished, had suddenly caused such a monumental disturbance. Even more alarming was the power Doflamingo now wielded. Sengoku recalled that during the initial pursuit years ago, any competent Vice Admiral should have been able to handle the rogue Celestial Dragon easily. He couldn't believe that in just a few short years, Doflamingo had become utterly uncontrollable, even managing to escape from Kuzan. Kuzan was one of the three 'monsters' the Marines were carefully cultivating – the future pillars of the Navy!
Sengoku's mood had been foul for the entire past month. He knew that with Fleet Admiral Kong stepping down, the position of Fleet Admiral was inevitably his. Of his two old comrades-in-arms, one had retired to become an instructor, and the other was perpetually laid-back and troublesome; Sengoku considered it a good day if Garp simply didn't add to his burdens. Only Tsuru remained a relatively normal, understanding colleague amidst the chaos. Sengoku often privately lamented that Garp was likely responsible for at least half of his prematurely white hair.
"Kuzan," Sengoku began, looking at Aokiji who was slouched comfortably on the sofa in his office. "How are you holding up? Is that Doflamingo fellow really as strong as the reports suggest?"
"Ara... I'm fine," Aokiji replied languidly, though a shadow lingered in his eyes. "Doflamingo is definitely strong. Still a step below me, perhaps, but... not by much." The memory of that day, of Doflamingo's Raigo, still sent a shiver down his spine. Even though Aokiji wasn't yet at his peak strength, he was formidable. It spoke volumes about the sheer power of Doflamingo's final gambit that Aokiji had needed to expend considerable effort just to withstand it.
Just one Devil Fruit, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, has boosted Doflamingo's strength to this degree, Sengoku mused darkly after hearing Aokiji's assessment. We'll need to take him far more seriously from now on. Still... I can't let Tsuru put herself at risk dealing with him again.
"Alright, I understand," Sengoku said, rubbing his temples. "Go get some rest, Kuzan. The failure to capture Nico Robin isn't entirely your fault. No one could have predicted she'd end up entangled with Doflamingo." He sighed, already dreading the pressure he was about to face from the World Government over this mess.
Aokiji felt a knot tighten in his own stomach. The thought of Robin being with Doflamingo deeply unsettled him. Knowing some of the Navy's and the World Government's inner workings, he was acutely aware of their complex and often hostile stance towards the former Celestial Dragon. That was precisely why he worried. It was a strange, almost paternal concern bubbling up inside him, leaving a complicated mix of faint relief and profound anxiety. On one hand, Doflamingo's strength, which Aokiji now acknowledged, meant Robin might finally have a chance at a safer, more stable childhood than she'd known. On the other hand, Aokiji didn't believe for a second that Doflamingo was the type to quietly settle down. He dreaded to think how Robin might be influenced, what kind of person she might become under the sway of the 'Heavenly Yaksha'.
Aokiji's fatherly intuition, however unwelcome, was proving remarkably accurate. Doflamingo fully intended to subtly mold Robin, to make her unequivocally one of his people. As the only known person alive capable of reading the Poneglyphs, Robin's importance was self-evident. She was incredibly precious to Doflamingo – a crucial piece, one of the key players he needed for his future plans to overturn the world order.
Despite the massive incident Doflamingo had caused, the Navy made no major moves against him. While his power was undeniable, his movements were erratic and unpredictable, making capture incredibly difficult. Launching a large-scale pursuit would be costly and likely futile; the Navy had far too many other pressing concerns across the four seas and the Grand Line to focus excessively on one rogue element, however dangerous. Naturally, the World Government was displeased with the Navy's perceived inaction, but their hands were somewhat tied. The Five Elders wouldn't readily dispatch their elite CP agents, who might not even be strong enough to guarantee success against the current Doflamingo. Furthermore, the next generation of top Cipher Pol agents was still in training. For now, they could only table the issue. The unspoken truth was that Doflamingo had already grown too powerful to easily suppress. The Five Elders harbored a conflicted mix of hatred and grudging fascination towards him – shocked that such an anomaly could emerge from the ranks of the generally inept Celestial Dragons they considered little more than pampered fools.
That wasn't to say the Navy did absolutely nothing. Recognizing the increased threat Doflamingo posed, they raised his bounty significantly, increasing it from the previous 160 million Beli to a substantial 300 million Beli. This, at least, offered some small measure of consolation to those eagerly awaiting his capture.
Meanwhile, Doflamingo, with Robin in tow, had boarded a passenger ship. After a lengthy voyage, they finally returned to the familiar waters of the North Blue.
The battle with Aokiji had been profoundly beneficial for Doflamingo. While his raw power hadn't necessarily leaped forward, his understanding and application of Haki, particularly in high-level combat, had deepened significantly. He felt confident that the next time he crossed paths with the Admiral-candidate, the encounter would be far less taxing.
But the most gratifying change over the past month, from Doflamingo's perspective, was in Robin. Freed from the immediate shadow of Aokiji and the constant pursuit that had defined her life—her 'inner demon' temporarily exorcised by the confrontation—she had blossomed. The haunted look was fading, replaced by a brighter, more vibrant energy. She seemed happier, more relaxed. After all, having Doflamingo protecting her was infinitely better than the desperate, lonely existence she'd endured before. For the first time since Ohara, Robin, who had never truly known parental affection, was experiencing something akin to familial warmth and security. Truthfully, Doflamingo was spoiling her almost like a daughter, readily fulfilling any small requests she made. Robin, however, was perceptive and mature beyond her years; she never asked for anything extravagant, intuitively understanding the nuances of their situation and Doflamingo's temperament. Such a precocious and sensible little thing – she certainly knew how to read people!
Though the month spent at sea could have been tedious, little Robin's presence added splashes of color to the otherwise monotonous days. Almost before they knew it, their ship was pulling into the port town that served as the current base for the Donquixote Family.
"Robin," Doflamingo said, gesturing towards the bustling harbor ahead. "There it is. Our temporary home."
"Home...?" Robin murmured, then looked up at him, a profound realization dawning in her young eyes. "Home is wherever Big Brother Doffy is." The words tumbled out, simple and earnest.
Doflamingo paused, then a wide grin spread across his face. He reached down and ruffled her dark hair. "Fuffuffuffu... you could say that. And home is wherever my little Robin is, too."
"Really?" Robin's eyes lit up, sparkling with unconcealed joy. She stared up at him eagerly.
"Of course, it's true," Doflamingo affirmed with a decisive nod. "Truer than true."
"Okay... good," Robin whispered, mostly to herself, a small, contented smile gracing her lips.
"Fuffuffuffu!" Doflamingo chuckled again, giving her hair another affectionate ruffle. He had to admit, petting Doctor Robin's little head was surprisingly comforting. Almost addictive.
On this day, the stronghold of the Donquixote Pirates welcomed the return of their King.
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