Chapter 35: Doflamingo Gains Power

"What a coincidence."

Watching the two brothers before him, Luo Ya could not help but sigh. Getting lost had led him straight to them—how fortuitous.

Just as Rayleigh once said, perhaps there are no coincidences in this world; perhaps every chance encounter is merely fate weaving its tapestry? Was it destiny that brought a bright, cheerful boy like him here to redeem this little brat who was destined to go astray?

Sigh, it truly is true: the greater the ability, the greater the... no, the greater the responsibility.

Bullet, following closely behind Luo Ya, scrutinized the two brothers. He couldn't quite grasp why Luo Ya would take such a special interest in these two. However, even if he didn't understand, he trusted that Luo Ya had his reasons.

As Bullet studied them, the two brothers were also observing the figures who had kept a deliberate distance from the piles of trash. They were not as composed as Bullet; after a panicked glance at Luo Ya and Bullet, the pair did not hesitate and bolted.

Bullet frowned immediately.

"The local brats have no manners at all! Master Luo Ya went out of his way to greet you, and you just turn around and run! You're courting death!"

"Are you going to keep running like this?" Luo Ya’s voice was slow and languid, like Kizaru’s, as he watched their escape with ease. "Until when?"

Doflamingo’s pace slowed visibly. His younger brother, Rosinante, who was lagging behind due to his age, screamed in panic, "Brother!"

Startled, Doflamingo gritted his teeth and pushed himself to run faster.

How pathetic, Luo Ya thought, watching their backs. This is what it means to be weak. Thankfully, I was born a strong one.

"The fork in the road of fate lies right before you, Donquixote Doflamingo," Luo Ya said leisurely. "Do you want to remain a stray dog scavenging in the trash, or will you turn back and accept the power to change your fate from me? Which do you think is better?"

Doflamingo stopped. Without a second thought, he spun around and locked his gaze on Luo Ya, who stood not far away.

"Brother?" Rosinante asked, dazed and terrified, tugging at his brother’s hand. "Run! We have to run!"

Over the past year, he had suffered too much, hunted time and time again, narrowly escaping death multiple times. The innocent child he once was had long since vanished, leaving only a frightened bird.

But Doflamingo was done running. Just as this strange man had said, how long could he keep running? How much longer could he suppress the overflowing anger and resentment inside him?

Doflamingo bit his lip until it bled, then shoved his brother’s hand away and strode toward Luo Ya.

"Now that’s more like it," Luo Ya nodded, satisfied. If you lack the courage to stake everything, how can you talk about changing your fate?

***

Was Doflamingo afraid? Of course he was; he had never been particularly brave. But deep in his bones, there was a gambler’s instinct. He wanted to take the risk.

"You said... you would give me power?" Doflamingo stood before Luo Ya. He didn't ask who the man was or how he knew his name; he went straight to the question that mattered most.

"If that is what you wish," Luo Ya asked with a smile.

Doflamingo’s fists tightened, the veins on his forehead bulging. His voice was squeezed out from between gritted teeth: "Give it to me! Give me the power!"

"Brother!" Rosinante, standing not far behind, was already weeping. The seven-year-old boy didn't understand much, but in this moment, he felt a terrifying sensation. His brother was leaving! He was going somewhere he could never reach!

"Brother! Let's go back!" the boy screamed, his heart breaking. "Father is waiting for us! Let's go back!"

Doflamingo paid him no heed. Go back? He didn't want to go back to that dilapidated shack on the shore!

"Then," the nine-year-old stared intensely at Luo Ya, "what is the price?"

*Eh?*

To that question, there was only one answer. Luo Ya said meaningfully, "Everything."

Doflamingo paused for a brief second, then gritted his teeth. "Fine!"

What a pity, Doffy. At this moment, you should have replied that a Donquixote would never be a slave. Luo Ya lamented inwardly, though he said aloud, "Wait a few minutes. What you crave is on its way."

Bullet understood what Luo Ya meant and glanced at Doflamingo again. Just like with himself back then, was Master Luo Ya going to give a Devil Fruit to this brat? Even though he still saw no value in the kid, if it was Master Luo Ya’s judgment, then it was beyond question.

Doflamingo stopped meeting Luo Ya’s eyes, keeping his head down and his fists clenched, his chest heaving. Clearly, his heart was in turmoil. Behind him, Rosinante, his eyes blurred with tears, took one last look at his brother and turned to run. His brother was in trouble! He had to find their father. Father would surely have a way!

Doflamingo felt anxious as well. A total stranger, promising him power—the odds of this being a scam were incredibly high. But at this point, could things get any worse? He had already fallen into hell; could he really sink any lower?

His anxiety lasted for a few minutes. On the roof of a building nearby, a black shadow vaulted down and landed gracefully. The man, beast-like, knelt respectfully before Luo Ya and presented a small box.

"Good work, Lieutenant General Johnson." Luo Ya took the box. "For deliveries, nothing beats Moon Walk and Shave."

Controlling the *Changui* (zombie-like thralls) could be done remotely, but it required Luo Ya to have a good understanding of the environment, otherwise, they would just fly around like headless chickens. It worked best when paired with long-range Observation Haki, though Luo Ya’s nascent Haki wasn't quite at that level yet.

"If you are prepared," Luo Ya handed the box to Doflamingo, "then eat it."

Without hesitation, Doflamingo snatched the box, opened it, and saw the fruit inside. Even his tense face couldn't hide his sudden shock and joy. It was a Devil Fruit! Having been a Celestial Dragon until age eight, he knew exactly what this magical fruit was. It was the very symbol of power!

Is the price truly everything I have?

He picked up the fruit and devoured it ravenously. He was hungry, yes, but more importantly, he was impatient.

Within seconds of swallowing it, while he was still wincing at the awful taste, he suddenly let out a wild laugh.

"Fufufufufu, power! This is power!"

Purple fluid began to spread across his hands as the power of the Paramecia-type Union Fruit began to stir.

This kid, just like Bullet, was the type to adapt to a Devil Fruit easily. But even Luo Ya didn't expect what happened next.

"Fufufufufu!" Doflamingo’s laughter grew increasingly manic. *It’s here! The moment I’ve dreamed of! Finally, finally, I’ve waited for this day!*

*Hum!!!*

An invisible aura surged out from his body.

"Oh?" Luo Ya adjusted his sunglasses. "So this is happening too?"

Awakening at a moment like this? It made sense. At a critical turning point where his fate was changing, amidst extreme emotional agitation, his latent Haki had been released.

Behind Luo Ya, Bullet’s expression shifted violently.

*Are you kidding me? This brat has it too?*