Bang.
The trigger slowly pulled back. The very same pistol that had once killed his own father was now aimed by Donquixote Doflamingo at his real younger brother, Corazon.
Why.
Why.
Why was it like this
That little brother he loved more than anyone, the one he had imagined countless times bringing back to Mariejois one day once the time was right.
When they had earned enough, proved enough, groveled enough, and offered enough loyalty, all the past suffering would be erased. They would once again be noble Celestial Dragons.
War, slaves, blood, screaming.
What did any of that have to do with them
They were born superior. That was just how the world worked.
So why did Corazon insist on getting in his way
Everything Doflamingo had done was for the two of them. For their chance to go back, to reclaim what was theirs.
Yet in the end, Corazon still chose betrayal.
No one knew the grief and confusion tearing through Doflamingo's heart in that moment.
And all of it would end the instant the bullet left the barrel.
If nothing unexpected happened, this shot would end Corazon's life. He would personally kill the last true family he had left in this world.
The bullet traced a thin arc through the air, flying straight for Corazon's chest.
Just before it could pierce his heart, a black gloved hand appeared out of empty air.
"They are blood brothers. Killing him…"
"Is a bit too much, do you not think"
Sizzle.
Fresh out of the barrel and still spinning, the bullet was hot to the touch. A smoldering cigarette tip leaned in and was lit in the same instant.
Ozz caught the bullet barehanded and used it to light his smoke.
The sudden appearance of that figure left everyone stunned.
The Donquixote officers behind Doflamingo had just started to move when they froze mid motion, arms hanging there stupidly as soon as they saw the man's face.
Even Doflamingo himself was struck speechless. His face, dark and murderous from a moment ago, shifted into open shock.
"L Lord Ozz…"
Law, who had already braced himself to die, and the boy lying on the ground next to him both stared wide eyed at this twist of fate.
"We We are still alive"
Ozz rolled the bullet between his fingers. With the lightest pinch, it crumbled into a sprinkle of iron dust.
Cigarette between his lips, he stood there quietly.
Doflamingo snapped out of it first. He glanced at the metal dust in Ozz's hand, confusion clouding his features.
"Why, Lord Ozz Corazon is a traitor to the family…"
If it had been the old Ozz, he might have simply given Doflamingo a look as if to say: I do not need a reason to do what I do.
But the Ozz standing here now was no longer that untouchable, iron faced Emperor.
As the pirate "Black Gun," he had gradually come to acknowledge Doflamingo and the bond between them, pulling him into a rank close to Crocodile's.
Barely friends.
More accurately, comrades with deep ties. Doflamingo had been a bit too unruly in the past and got hammered for it several times, which strained things between them.
But at the end of the day, both of them had built their power waving Ozz's flag.
If anything, Doflamingo was the first of the current Seven Warlords of the Sea that Ozz had ever gotten to know.
"Just call me Mr. Ozz. These days…"
"I am nothing more than an ordinary pirate."
Ever since he walked away from Sabaody Archipelago, the title "Lord Ozz" had slowly started to fade. Besides CP and a few Marines, most people now called him Mr. Ozz instead.
"Truth is, I knew Corazon was a Marine from the very beginning. Strictly speaking, a retired man like me should not be meddling in this sort of thing…"
Ozz exhaled a thin stream of smoke. His lips curled into a smile, eyes full of easy confidence and amused interest.
"But those two both owe me a life. I cannot just sit back and let you kill them, Doffy."
There was nothing saintly or cruel in that statement.
He was simply acting on a whim.
"…"
The hand holding the gun finally lowered.
Whether it was because he bowed his head to Ozz's overwhelming presence or because, deep down, he had never really wanted to pull the trigger on his own brother…
Doflamingo gave up.
"Since you have said so, Mr. Ozz…"
"I will let it go."
Silence fell over the snowy clearing. The two Donquixote brothers stared straight at each other.
One standing tall. One beaten and bloodied.
Suddenly, Doflamingo laughed.
But the smile he showed was not for Corazon. It was for Ozz, who was watching from the sidelines.
"At first, I thought you would be interested. I was planning to gift you the Ope Ope no Mi, Ozz san."
"But it seems that will not be necessary."
Based on what Ozz had just said, Law now belonged to him. And Doflamingo could not help but wonder:
Would that life debt Ozz mentioned someday be repaid in the form of the Perennial Youth Operation
Ozz merely shook his head.
"I have no real interest in the Ope Ope no Mi. Most of the things that fruit can do can also be done with the Warp Warp Fruit."
"Besides my own little bit of selfishness, I also wanted to see…"
"Whether the you of the future will be grateful that I did not let you kill Corazon today."
Ozz's gaze cut straight into his soul. Doflamingo fell silent.
In the end, he turned and left.
He had arrived in high spirits and walked away wordlessly. Ozz tossed a roll of bandages to Corazon and looked him over, shaking his head at how close to death he still was.
"So. What do you plan to do now"
Ozz was genuinely curious. After changing this man's fate, he wanted to see what kind of life Corazon would choose.
Corazon coughed up a mouthful of blood, then looked at Law lying unconscious on the ground and smiled from the heart.
"First I will go back to the Marines. Law is alive now. He can chase his own dream…"
"And I am finally free."
In the end, Corazon was taken away by the Marines. With Ozz watching and Marine soldiers present, Vergo could only pretend not to see him.
Corazon glanced at Ozz, then at Law, and chose silence. He acted as if Vergo did not exist.
This mutual infiltration between the Marines and the Donquixote Family ended with the family a step ahead.
They lost to Corazon's kindness.
"Goodbye, Law."
Ozz freeloaded a full meal aboard the Marine warship. Before leaving, he could not resist tugging Law's cheeks a few times just to be annoying.
"Hey, Corazon, let me give you a little warning. I really do not think Law is the type to behave and become a good Marine with you."
"Eh Really, Law"
"Yeah. The world government and the Marines destroyed my hometown. All I feel toward them is hatred"
"…Well, except for Corazon."
"Hahahahaha"
"Pirates are the freest people on the sea, Law. Go chase your dream."
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250 power stone for extra chapter's? hmmm...
The tides are shifting, and secrets linger in the dark... Step into the shadows early on P@treon, where the next chapter awaits before the world sees it.
[email protected]/_theon
Change @ to "a"