Chapter 36: Barrett Awakens! Farewell, Father!

Conqueror’s Haki!
The kingly aptitude found in one among a million!
This power, which even he did not possess, was actually held by this bizarre little brat?
Barrett’s eyes widened, filled with disbelief.
This was the same power as Lord Loa’s!
Just because of this kid? Just because of this kid who was no different from a stray dog on the roadside?!
What kind of joke is this!
By what right?
By what right did he awaken a power that he himself had yet to attain?
Could it be… could it be that he was inferior to this brat? Was he destined to live under his shadow from now on?
Would he eventually become Lord Loa’s top follower instead?
Such a thing… was absolutely unacceptable!!
Intense jealousy and rage bloomed in Barrett’s heart at that moment.
He was a soldier loyal only to Lord Loa, but at the same time, he considered himself a powerhouse second only to him!
And now, this guy seemed to be trying to climb over his head!
Because of Loa’s intervention, Barrett, who had never experienced significant setbacks, fell into an unprecedented state of extreme emotion.
"Hmm?"
Loa turned his head, quite surprised.
What was going on?
Why did Barrett’s aura contain an anger comparable to Doflamingo’s? And even an indescribable touch of jealousy?
Then.
"Hummm!"
A terrifying pressure surged out like a tsunami.
Huh?
Loa was slightly bewildered.
What was this?
Could the awakening of Conqueror’s Haki resonate?
Given Barrett’s strength, his awakened Conqueror’s Haki was no petty display like Doflamingo’s. Passersby in the distance fainted, foaming at the mouth, and residents inside the houses on both sides of the street suffered an unprovoked disaster.
Even Doflamingo, who was excited about gaining his new power, felt his head reel, as if someone had punched him heavily in the skull, causing him to stagger backward.
"Alright, Barrett, that’s enough showing off."
Loa spoke up, "Contain it; can’t you see the new colleague is about to reach his limit?"
Only then did Barrett realize that he, too, had awakened Conqueror’s Haki.
The anger and jealousy in his heart vanished in an instant.
"Apologies, Lord Loa, I was just too excited!"
Barrett’s face was indeed brimming with irrepressible excitement as he clumsily retracted his Haki.
It was only natural!
Of course, he would also be a possessor of Conqueror’s Haki!

***

The Conqueror’s Haki released by Doflamingo had already dissipated; after all, he was still very weak, and his Haki was meager in both quality and quantity.
He looked at Barrett with a hint of fear.
He didn't know what Conqueror’s Haki was, but he knew one thing: this guy was incredibly strong!
"So, Doffy," Loa said earnestly, "you’ve gained the power. What are you going to do now?"
Doflamingo was stunned, then his lips curled upward. "Fufufu! That’s right! That’s right! Now I can finally go and properly repay those guys!!"
A crazed smile appeared on the small child’s face.
Loa just shook his head.
Sigh, the family one is born into.
"Doffy, the ability you possess is called the Paramecia-type Giam-Giam Fruit (Combine-Combine Fruit). It has the power to combine all non-living matter. Use it well; don't disappoint me."
Loa’s tone was profound.
"Combine?"
Doflamingo nodded slightly. "Fufufu! Understood!"
He looked up at Loa. "I know where the armory in this city is. Take me there!"
Loa nodded in satisfaction—a very good idea.
"Johnson, go with him," Loa ordered. "Protect him, don't let him die. But if he tries to break his promise and run away, cut off his head."
Johnson, devoid of consciousness, acted purely on instinct, and Loa’s commands were the instincts etched into his very genes.
Doflamingo instinctively glanced at Johnson.
When he met those eyes, which were like bottomless, lightless pits, he couldn't help but shiver.
What kind of monster was this?
But it didn't matter. Whatever kind of monster it was, as long as it could help him, anything was fine!
Doflamingo scurried away, and Johnson leapt across the rooftops, following him.
"What do you think of that kid, Barrett?" Loa asked casually, watching Doflamingo’s retreating figure.
Barrett hesitated for a moment.
Should he speak the truth?
Would Lord Loa be angry?
But as Lord Loa’s loyal dog, he could never deceive him.
Barrett said in a low voice, "Although he awakened Conqueror’s Haki, there is nothing remarkable about him."
"Hahahaha! An accurate assessment, Barrett!" Loa laughed heartily. "Doffy is just a man who is fierce in appearance but cowardly at heart."
A second-rate Doffy, paired with a second-rate Combine-Combine Fruit—it was a fitting match.
It was still better than the String-String Fruit, wasn't it?
The Combine-Combine Fruit at least offered a legitimate, massive boost in strength.
"Let’s go, let’s look around some more," Loa said.

***

It had been thirteen years since he arrived in this world, and he rarely walked through such normal cities.
Whether it was a resort like Hachinosu or a hell on earth like a country of endless war, the ordinary, bustling life of common folk had been distant for a long time.
However, this leisurely stroll did not last long.
BOOM!
A sudden explosion erupted in the distance.
Then, waves of terrified screams began to approach from afar.
Loa took a deep breath. "Well, not bad, Doffy!"
In the center of the small city, a steel monster was wantonly spewing fire.
The monster stood over two meters tall, composed entirely of steel, its surface covered in countless gun barrels and cannon ports.
At this moment, bullets and shells flew from the barrels, recklessly bringing destruction and death to the area.
The city’s soldiers had tried to retaliate, but the monster’s steel body was simply beyond their power to shake.
"Fufufu! Die! You scum!"
Doflamingo’s crazed laughter echoed from within the steel monster.
This was power!
The ability to trample on others at will, rather than being trampled upon!
This was what he wanted! This was the scene he had craved!
To take revenge on the scum who killed his mother and subjected him to such torture!!
"Go to hell and repent for your crimes, you lowly trash!!"
Although beads of sweat were already forming on his forehead and his stamina was depleting rapidly, Doflamingo refused to stop.
His anger, his resentment—it was far from being fully vented!
However, it was at this moment.
"Doffy!!"
A hoarse roar came from behind.
Doflamingo paused, then instantly turned around.
In the distance, a gaunt, disheveled middle-aged man cried out in supplication, "Enough! This revenge—surely it’s enough! Don't continue this! Don't let the chain of hatred continue!"
"Father?"
Doflamingo froze, then his entire body began to tremble. "Right! Right!! I almost forgot!"
The machine monster turned abruptly and strode toward the rear.
"I almost forgot the root of all my hatred!!"
The man was stunned, then wore an expression of sudden release.
"Everything is your fault!!"
With a roar, all his anger erupted like a volcano at that moment.
Goodbye, Father, and goodbye to my weakness!