"Tell me, what did I experience last August?"
With a savage roar like a bloodthirsty beast, Doflamingo was completely lost in madness. Just as Smoothie had foreseen, he was tormenting and punishing himself like crazy, unable to escape from it.
"You experienced defeat, Boss, a defeat to 'Kaido of the Beasts.'"
Baccarat, wrapped in a thick overcoat, replied helplessly. How she wished they were in "God's Country," the stationary sky island in the first half of the Grand Line, instead of "Balloon Terminal," this drifting collection of balloons released from all over the world. That way, she could just use a Tone Dial to record and play the answer, instead of repeating it endlessly.
"Right! I experienced defeat! I lost to 'Kaido of the Beasts'! Defeat, it's the most damn awful thing in this world!"
Almost a roar erupting from his throat, Doflamingo's face was pale from relentlessly training his body. He was extremely weak, but the wild ferocity and deep madness clinging to him still sent shivers down one's spine, making no one dare to offend him.
However, Baccarat was used to it, or rather, numb to it. After all, she had accompanied Doflamingo for a full year, following him to train in places with extreme climates, islands, or monsters, both above and below ground, all over the world.
"Tell me, what did I experience last August?"
"You experienced defeat, a defeat to 'Kaido of the Beasts,' all day long."
"..."
Over and over again, the questions and answers repeated, as Doflamingo pushed his limits time and again.
Whether eating, sleeping, or using the restroom, as long as he was conscious, he continuously used Observation Haki, Armament Haki, and Conqueror's Haki. He constantly researched the Rokushiki and his String-String Fruit, more mechanically than a machine, with no thought for anything else!
Yes, Doflamingo had no thought for anything else...
Last September, the news of Doflamingo and "Kaido of the Beasts'" battle spread. Under the World Government's intentional or unintentional guidance, people thought Doflamingo had repelled "Kaido of the Beasts," making Doflamingo's reputation soar and gaining him widespread attention. Doflamingo paid no mind.
Last October, the World Government issued a proclamation: the new Germa 66 was established and incorporated into the World Government's affiliated nations. Reiju inherited the "Evil Army" and became the Vinsmoke Queen. Doflamingo paid no mind.
At the end of last year, the World Conference was held, discussing the gradually suppressed Great Pirate Era. The Gorosei also harshly criticized the Ryugu Kingdom for being an affiliated nation of the World Government yet relying on pirates. Doflamingo paid no mind.
In early this year, Golden Lion forcefully relocated Merveille, inserting it into the center of the territories bordering Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom. A small-scale conflict erupted among the Emperor factions, putting the entire world on edge. It finally concluded with Golden Lion distributing his original territory to the other three. Doflamingo paid no mind.
This May, the Whitebeard Pirates, whose Second Division Commander position had been vacant since Kozuki Oden defected to the Roger Pirates, finally got a replacement. A pirate Supernova with a bounty of 300 million Berries accepted Whitebeard as his father. The Whitebeard Pirates grew exponentially, unrivaled for a time. Doflamingo paid no mind.
Defeat was like an stimulant! No, it was practically a drug, stimulating Doflamingo's blood vessels to burst, as if he had lost his sanity, tormenting and punishing himself like a madman.
"Paranoiac," Baccarat muttered to herself. She asked herself if she truly lacked Doflamingo's abnormal willpower, because she had tried. She trained with Doflamingo, but she couldn't endure even a tenth of his training intensity.
Pere pere pere~
Ten thousand meters up in the sky, the air was thin, and even the Den Den Mushi's cry sounded sickly.
After once again answering Doflamingo's "You experienced defeat, a defeat to Kaido of the Beasts," Baccarat connected the Den Den Mushi, speaking rapidly: "Who is this? Please be brief. Boss is in a terrible mood, extremely terrible."
"Behehhehe~ Nyeh, nyeh, it's me, Trebol, nyeh," Trebol said slickly. "I say, I say, Baccarat-chan, Doffy is still in a bad mood? After all this time..."
Baccarat rolled her eyes. "Oh, listen for yourself..."
"Tell me, what did I experience last August?!"
"..."
"Uh..." Just listening sent shivers down Trebol's spine. He didn't dare to chatter any longer. "It's like this: tell Doffy that the auction house has acquired a few interesting Devil Fruits, and three promising new recruits, behehehehe~ They're from the fighting tribe, the fighting tribe of the Amazon Lily Kingdom, nyeh."
Before Baccarat could reply.
Doflamingo, who had stopped at some point, snatched the Den Den Mushi's receiver and said gruffly, "I know. I'll make a trip to the Sabaody Archipelago. Spandine has been gambling at the casino these past few days; tell him to bring my things."
"Alright, alright," Trebol said.
Click.
After hanging up the Den Den Mushi, Doflamingo lost his strength and collapsed.
"Fortunately, it's the uninhabited 'Balloon Terminal'..."
Baccarat, accustomed to this, covered Doflamingo with a prepared blanket, letting him sleep on the clouds. She then busied herself wiping his sweat.
Suddenly, her face flushed, and Baccarat glanced left and right like a thief. Hesitantly, she reached out and pinched Doflamingo's gaunt face. Seeing no reaction from Doflamingo, she chuckled mischievously. "Hehe~" She then tentatively reached to take off Doflamingo's sunglasses. "I've never seen Boss's eyes before. What are they like? They couldn't be beady eyes, that wouldn't be cool..."
"Ah!!!"
Thud!
The sunglasses slipped from her grasp.
A pair of blood-red eyes glared at Baccarat. Her entire body instantly turned cold, and she subconsciously shrieked.
"Don't do anything foolish again. I'll forgive you this time."
————————
Want to read ahead of schedule? Head over to my patreon —— patreon(.)com/EmperorGarus [remove the parentheses ( )]
There are 100+ advance chapters available for you to read!