But now, it seemed these departed monsters, these titans of a bygone era, were returning one by one.
They flickered back into existence like ghost lights in the encroaching darkness, bringing with them both a thrilling surprise and a faint, deep-seated unease.
Doflamingo's gaze grew distant, piercing through the clouds before him as if he could see the grander, chaotic picture of the world taking shape.
So... he thought, a cold thrill running through him.
Will the fading era of the past truly return like the tide?
This question echoed endlessly in the silent chambers of his heart, yet no answer came.
Just as he was lost in this grand, strategic reverie, his gaze inadvertently fell upon the figure standing calmly at the head of the lead dragon.
In that instant, time seemed to freeze.
Doflamingo's entire body went rigid, utterly stunned by the force of a sudden, paradigm-shattering epiphany.
His pupils contracted to pinpricks, his eyes betraying a hint of raw, unadulterated disbelief.
Yes.
Ron.
All of this—the return of a legend, the shifting of global power, the impossible deal he himself had just made—every single thread was being pulled by one man.
The Golden Lion, a king in his own right, was now bound to serve him for three years without complaint.
And he himself, the Heavenly Yaksha, the Joker of the underworld, along with his entire Family, had been skillfully and knowingly guided by Ron's open schemes, willingly stepping aboard the same great, unstoppable ship.
Doflamingo realized with a profound, humbling clarity that what Ron possessed was not just overwhelming strength or a miraculous technology.
It was the power to resurrect the past, reshape the present, and command the future.
The power to unite hearts and bind monsters to his will.
With such ability, such charisma… what did it matter if the old kings returned?
This era was destined to be Ron's era.
At this thought, a powerful, undeniable premonition surged in Doflamingo's heart.
The coronation of the new Pirate King—it would not be for the figurehead, Whitebeard, who lay sleeping.
The crown was destined for the man standing behind the throne… Ron.
....
Sky Island—Angel Island
The return of the nine giant, ethereal dragons was like a volley of meteors streaking across the calm sky.
The entire island, from the shores of the white sea to the steps of the highest plaza, erupted in a tidal wave of pure, unadulterated excitement.
For a long, difficult time, Angel Island had lacked a true protector.
During those dark days under Enel's tyrannical rule, they had endured the suffering of enslavement, constantly fearing the whims of a capricious god.
Even after his defeat, a lingering fear remained—that others would come, trample them underfoot once more, and plunge them back into that endless darkness.
Now, the return of Ron and his dragons was like a sudden, brilliant sunrise, chasing away the last of the shadows and bringing with it the promise of a secure future.
The cheers of the people rose and fell like waves, a joyous, deafening roar as they poured out all the relief and gratitude in their hearts.
"Look! Up there! That's Lord Ron, standing on the head of the lead dragon!" someone with sharp eyes shouted, their voice cracking with emotion.
Instantly, every single person's attention was drawn skyward.
"So young! And so handsome!" a young Skypiean girl blushed, her eyes sparkling with pure admiration as she whispered to her friend.
In her eyes, Ron was a hero from the storybooks, a prince descended from the heavens to save them from their suffering.
"Thank you, Lord Ron, for giving us back our freedom!" an elderly man, his face a roadmap of weathered hardships, spoke with deep emotion, his voice trembling.
He remembered the fear, the helplessness.
Now, they were finally, truly free—and it was all thanks to this young man.
"Shh… keep it down!" someone hissed, gesturing urgently with their head.
"Enel is right behind Lord Ron—look, his face is getting darker!"
Following the direction of the pointing finger, the crowd saw the deposed god, Enel, standing there, his face so gloomy it seemed like storm clouds were gathering around his head.
A moment of silence fell, followed by a defiant shout from the crowd.
"What's there to fear? We have Lord Ron backing us now! Yahahaha!"
The cheers redoubled, now laced with a taunting, mocking energy directed squarely at their former tormentor.
The sheer volume of the noise was deafening, reaching even those thousands of feet in the air.
Enel's expression grew even more awkward, a vein throbbing in his temple.
He inwardly groaned. T
hese insolent mortals! Are they really rubbing salt in my wounds right in front of my face? Couldn't they at least wait until I've left? He felt like a clown under a spotlight, stripped of his divinity and left with nowhere to hide.
Meanwhile, Ace and Marco smiled warmly, taking in the scene.
They loved this kind of atmosphere—so full of life and unbridled energy.
The people's raw enthusiasm and kindness made them feel incredibly welcome.
The Golden Lion narrowed his eyes slightly with a look of genuine surprise crossing his face.
He truly hadn't expected this.
A pirate being welcomed as a hero? It was unheard of.
In his mind, Ron was just a powerful rookie, but the lively, adoring scene before him was beyond anything he could have imagined.
He nudged Ron lightly with his elbow.
"Jihahaha! Ron, seems like you're quite the popular one!"
Ron was equally taken aback.
He remembered the last time they were here.
The people had been grateful, certainly, but their enthusiasm had been nowhere near as fervent as it was now.
What had changed?
Just then, his gaze was drawn to two graceful figures in the crowd, waving enthusiastically.
It was Conis and Whitey Bay, standing out like two blooming, exotic flowers amidst the sea of people.
Conis wore a soft pink dress that fluttered in the wind, her face radiant with a bright, joyful smile.
Whitey Bay, the fierce Ice Witch, had shed her usual captain's attire for a simple but elegant blue dress, looking surprisingly lively and adorable, though the fiery excitement in her eyes was all pirate.
They waved their arms vigorously, as if afraid he wouldn't notice them in the massive crowd.
As the nine giant dragons slowly descended, they kicked up a swirl of dust and wind.
The moment they touched down, Ace and Marco jumped from their mounts.
After a brief, reassuring wave to the crowd, their expressions turned serious as they hurriedly but gently began to move Whitebeard toward their base.
Their first priority was always their father.
The others also descended from the dragons one after another.
Shiki and Doflamingo's crews looked around curiously, their faces filled with a sense of novelty and wonder at this impossible island in the sky.
After many long days apart, Ron had finally returned.
The once-familiar place appeared exceptionally tranquil and beautiful under the sunlight.
The sea breeze blew gently, carrying a hint of salty dampness, as if whispering tales of longing and the joy of reunion.
For Conis and Whitey Bay, the wait was finally over.
The moment they saw Ron step onto the ground, the longing they had suppressed for so long could no longer be contained.
Tears of relief glistened in their eyes, yet brilliant smiles of happiness curled at their lips.
Without caring about the hundreds of onlookers, they threw themselves into his arms.
"Ron-sama, why did you stay away for so long?" Conis cooed, burying her face in his chest, her voice brimming with both a week's worth of grievance and a year's worth of yearning.
"Conis missed you so much~"
"You jerk, Ron! Did you forget about me completely?!" Whitey Bay refused to be outdone, pounding on his chest with her tiny but surprisingly strong fists in a gesture that was half-hug, half-beating.
"How dare you leave me behind on this cloud for this long!"
Clearly, the time apart had felt like an eternity to them both, every minute and second spent anxiously yearning for his safe return.