"Damn it!"
Bellamy tried desperately to spring his body away, but his eyes widened in horror—his Spring-Spring Fruit powers were gone.
"W-What?!" He stumbled back. "My ability… it's gone?! How is this possible?!"
The scarred monster with the clawed hand leaned forward, lips twisting into a mocking grin.
"Oh, Bellamy," it hissed, voice dripping with false pity. "Without that fruit, what else can you do but bully those weaker than you?"
Pfft!
In a flash, the monster's head was severed by a large blade. Its twisted grin froze before the body hit the ground.
"Captain!" Sarquiss shouted, lowering his weapon. "Where did that thing come from?!"
Bellamy slumped against a chair, clutching his chest. His breathing was ragged, his eyes locked on the twitching corpse.
"I-I'm alive… that thing nearly tore my heart out. We need to return to Mock Town—quickly! I need surgery!"
But Sarquiss only smiled strangely as he lifted Bellamy up.
"No need for doctors, Captain," he whispered. "I can handle surgery myself. After all, it's just a heart removal. Nothing major."
Bellamy froze, struggling against the sudden bindings around his limbs. His eyes widened in dawning horror.
"S-Sarquiss?! What are you—"
"Ahahahaha…" Sarquiss's body ignited, spewing flames and oil that splattered over Bellamy.
From the burning shell of his vice-captain's body, the scarred monster burst forth again, claws glinting under the firelight. Its grin widened as it leaned close.
"Wrong guess, Bellamy. I'm still your nightmare."
The claw scraped against his chest. "Heart removal surgery… begins now."
The monster pounced, stabbing mercilessly into Bellamy's abdomen. His screams echoed through the cabin as blood sprayed. Within moments, the beast held his still-beating heart aloft, dripping red.
"Surprising," the monster said, cocking its head with a twisted smile. "It isn't black after all."
Then, without hesitation, it devoured the heart whole.
"It tastes just like a dog's heart," it cackled.
Bellamy roared in terror, eyes bulging as the monster leaned close to his face.
"Nooooo!!!"
Mock Town, Docks
"They're back!"
The pirates waiting on the pier cheered as the New Witch's Tongue drifted into harbor. But as the ship settled, silence hung heavy. No one came down.
"What's going on?" one of them whispered nervously.
Minutes dragged by. At last, Bellamy staggered out of the cabin and collapsed onto the deck, gasping for breath. His face was pale, his eyes vacant as he stared at the moonlit sky.
"I… I'm alive?"
Inside the ship, chaos festered.
More than a dozen pirates lay trembling, unable to move, covered in filth. Some screamed, others wept. The unlucky few simply stared blankly at the floor, their pupils dilated, their sanity gone.
That night, a new story was born in Mock Town.
A warning: never set sail after dark. For in those waters lurked something unclean—a scarred monster with a clawed right hand. Those who encountered it would fall into a nightmare worse than death. Compared to those visions, true death was mercy.
Out of Bellamy's twenty-three crew members, ten were left brain-dead. Two slipped into madness.
The nightmare had claimed its toll.
Secret Room, Bellamy Pirates' Base
Shirogai Yamikuro sat alone in a chair, calm and unconcerned. He had arrived long before the crew suffered their torment.
Whether they lived or died was meaningless. They were nothing more than arrogant ants mocking the dreams of others. Their fate held no weight.
His gaze shifted lazily to the wall, where the symbol of the Donquixote Family leered back at him. He crossed his legs, smirking as he reached for the Den Den Mushi.
"Heh. Time to make contact," he muttered. "I'll need your influence soon, Joker."
The line rang.
"Pururu… pururu…"
Click.
Silence answered at first. On the other side, confusion lingered. Why would Bellamy dare call him at this hour?
Shirogai smiled. "Hello, Joker. I heard you were looking for me."
For a moment, only silence. Then, a chilling laugh erupted.
"Fufufufufu…"
The Den Den Mushi now wore red-tinted glasses, mirroring its master's expression.
"Well, well. So it's you. The Plunderer himself. How amusing. And here I thought this was one of Bellamy's pathetic calls. Has that fool already been dealt with?"
Shirogai leaned back, his voice casual. "He's alive… probably. Though I'm sure he wishes he wasn't."
"Oh?" Doflamingo's laughter deepened. "So you've taught him fear. Good. That clown deserved it."
Shirogai smirked. "You sound pleased, Joker."
Dressrosa, King's Plateau
"Fufufufu…"
Doflamingo stood at the balcony, bare-chested, gazing at the moon. His sinister grin widened as the Den Den Mushi echoed Shirogai's voice.
"It's my honor to be speaking with the Fifth Emperor," he drawled. "The one even the World Government watches with caution."
Shirogai's voice replied with amusement. "Seems you've already heard from Vergo."
Doflamingo froze. His grin faltered.
That name—Vergo. Only a handful knew the truth of his double life. Yet this man, this monster, had spoken it so easily.
"…You know quite a lot, don't you, Shirogai Yamikuro?"
Silence stretched. Then, Doflamingo chuckled again, low and dangerous.
"Fufufufu… very well. I won't waste time. Are you interested in joining forces with me… to overturn the world itself?"
Shirogai's chuckle was soft, almost mocking. "Overturn the world? An interesting thought. But tell me, Joker… how can a man who plays dog to both the World Government and Kaido qualify to stand beside me?"
Doflamingo's grin sharpened, his eyes glinting.
"You're arrogant. But that's fine. Only arrogant men like us have the right to challenge the monsters above us… and seize the throne at the top!"
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