Today was destined to be an eventful one for the Donquixote Family, though joys and sorrows are not always shared equally. Enel, Diamante, and Pica, having obtained the Devil Fruits they desired, were undoubtedly ecstatic, eagerly familiarizing themselves with their newfound powers. The other subordinates, however, could only look on with envy; not everyone gets the chance to obtain what they truly want.
Beneath the quiet moonlight, in a serene room within the base, Doflamingo lay on his expansive bed. His iconic sunglasses were finally off, revealing eyes that stared blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought. It was a lonely night, devoid of any entertaining activities, quite dull really – though who could say if Doflamingo truly felt the boredom he projected?
Knock, knock, knock.
A crisp rapping sound broke the silence, pulling Doflamingo from his reverie.
"Who is it?" he asked casually, though his Observation Haki had already identified the visitor. He was in a rare mood for feigned ignorance.
"Onii-chan, it's me," Robin's voice came sweetly from outside the door.
Ah, Robin. Doflamingo sighed inwardly. He knew exactly why she was here – the wager. It seemed unavoidable. Still, he didn't move to open the door just yet, merely offering a standard greeting. "Robin? What brings you here so late?"
"Onii-chan! Hurry up and open the door!" Robin urged impatiently.
Hearing her insistence, Doflamingo felt a wave of resignation. Looks like this door has to be opened tonight, one way or another.
At all times, the sunglasses were his signature; they couldn't be easily discarded. Doflamingo smoothly reached over, grabbed the sunglasses from the bedside table, put them on swiftly, and then vanished in a flash, reappearing directly in front of the door. Twisting the handle, he opened it to admit the sly little Robin.
"Onii-chan, you were so slow!" Robin declared, bustling past him into the room without even a glance, adding a complaint for good measure.
Slow? I literally teleported! Doflamingo retorted silently.
"What's this, Robin?" he asked teasingly, attempting to divert her attention. "Want to sleep with me tonight? Did you have a nightmare?"
"Of course not!" Robin's cheeks flushed a charming pink. "I'm a big girl now! How could I possibly sleep with Onii-san?!" she countered indignantly.
"Fuffuffuffu… Yes, that's right! Robin is certainly a big girl now!" Doflamingo chuckled, reaching out to gently pat her head in praise.
Hearing Doflamingo's agreement, a faint smile touched Robin's lips.
"Aiya!" she suddenly exclaimed, stamping her foot lightly in frustration. "Onii-chan! I almost let you trick me again!"
How could she possibly forget about their wager? After the fight concluded, she had spent half the day searching high and low for Doflamingo, but he had vanished without a trace – unsurprising, given his mastery of Observation Haki. So, Robin had switched tactics. You have to sleep sometime, don't you, Doflamingo? She decided to ambush him under the cover of darkness. And indeed, she had finally cornered him.
Seeing her looking adorably ruffled and flustered, Doflamingo felt a surge of amusement. Truly, a Family full of rough men is far too dull. It's time to find some more brats like her to add some spice to life.
"Alright, alright," Doflamingo soothed her, reaching out with both hands to gently pinch her cheeks. Kids really are so chubby and fun to tease!
"Onii-san! If you keep doing that, I'm really going to get angry!" Robin protested, squirming free from his mischievous grasp, pouting indignantly.
"Okay, okay," Doflamingo relented, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, Robin, wasn't there something important you wanted to tell me?"
"Aiya!" Robin paused, furrowing her brow, trying desperately to recall the specific favor she had decided upon for winning the bet. But Doflamingo's teasing had completely derailed her train of thought. "It's all your fault, Onii-chan!" she finally declared, blaming him entirely. "If you hadn't kept interrupting and distracting me, I wouldn't have forgotten!"
"Alright, well, just tell me when you remember," Doflamingo comforted her, patting her head again. "I'll be right here; I'm not going anywhere. Whenever you think of it, just come and let me know."
"Hmph! Fine then!" Robin temporarily yielded, deciding not to torment Doflamingo (or herself) any further. "I'll tell you when I remember. But Onii-chan, don't you dare think about going back on your word!"
"How could I?" Doflamingo declared loudly, puffing his chest slightly. "Donquixote Doflamingo always keeps his promises! You have my guarantee!"
"Heehee, okay, that's good then!" Robin beamed, pleased with his assurance. "I'm going now! I'll tell you when I remember!"
"Go on, get some sleep," Doflamingo instructed gently. He stood at the doorway, watching her small figure disappear down the hallway. A long-lost sense of peace settled over him. Perhaps... this is what life is truly about.
The next day, a sense of normalcy returned after the previous day's excitement. Everyone went about their assigned duties.
"Yahahahaha! Doffy! Let me test the gap between us!"
On the training ground, Enel, brimming with self-satisfaction after receiving the Cloud-Cloud Fruit, confidently issued a challenge to Doflamingo. Observing Enel's puffed-up arrogance, Doflamingo couldn't help but think, He's gotten cocky.
"Alright then," Doflamingo replied calmly, his voice even. "Just try not to lose all your confidence afterward." Since Enel had declared war, Doflamingo saw no reason to refuse. It was necessary, occasionally, to properly demonstrate the true gap in power, to remind his subordinates of their place. Confidence was fine, but overconfidence was dangerous.
"Come on!" Doflamingo gestured with an open palm, inviting Enel to make the first move.
"Doffy, watch out!" Enel cautioned, perhaps genuinely concerned Doflamingo might underestimate him. "Don't get caught off guard; it would be embarrassing for you!"
"Cloud Stream - Apocalypse Judgment!" Enel roared, manipulating his newfound power. Clouds gathered, forming a surging river that rushed violently towards Doflamingo.
"Not bad," Doflamingo offered a fair assessment as the torrent of clouds approached, threatening to engulf him.
"God's Punishment!"
Intense lightning flared from Doflamingo's hand, clashing head-on with Enel's cloud stream. The resulting explosion rocked the center of the training ground. The sheer power displayed shocked the onlookers – Robin, Ibes, Diamante, and Pica – who hadn't expected Enel to develop his Cloud-Cloud Fruit abilities to such a degree overnight. A measure of admiration entered their eyes as they watched Enel.
"Still not enough," Doflamingo stated coolly, increasing the output of his lightning. Instantly, Enel's cloud river began to dissipate under the overwhelming electrical assault.
"It can't end like this!" Enel realized he was losing ground. Shouting defiantly, his hands moved rapidly, weaving new techniques. "Cloud Float - Dust Explosion!"
Clouds rapidly converged around Enel himself, swirling with visible particles.
"Interesting!" Doflamingo remarked, genuinely impressed. "Enel, you truly are a genius." He paused, then added the critique, "But your execution is too slow. An enemy wouldn't just wait for you to attack."
Quick as thought, even as he finished praising Enel, Doflamingo vanished in a flash of lightning, teleporting clear just as the clouds around Enel detonated violently. The explosion was powerful, based on igniting the water vapor and dust particles within the clouds – a potentially lethal technique if used correctly. Who knew clouds could pack such a punch? Doflamingo mused.
"Yahahahaha! Of course! This Lord Enel has plenty of tricks up his sleeve!" Enel boasted loudly, reveling in Doflamingo's praise.
Speed is weight, Doflamingo thought, deciding it was time for a more direct lesson. "Enel... ever been kicked by lightning?" He teleported instantly, reappearing right beside the still-boasting Enel. A leg wreathed in crackling golden lightning and coated in shimmering Armament Haki lashed out, striking Enel squarely in the abdomen.
(BANG~)
Enel was sent flying, unable to react in time. Doflamingo's speed was simply too great; Enel's Observation Haki hadn't even registered the threat before the kick connected. His earlier excitement had clearly made him careless. He crashed heavily in the distance, kicking up a large cloud of dust that momentarily obscured his form.
"Cough, cough..." As the dust settled, Enel was revealed, looking considerably disheveled. A thin trickle of blood escaped the corner of his mouth. "Doffy... that kick... was seriously heavy!"
"Still want more?" Doflamingo asked nonchalantly.
"Forget it," Enel conceded immediately, wisely choosing not to continue. "The gap between us is still too large. No need for me to actively seek punishment." He temporarily shelved his ambition to challenge Doflamingo.
"Don't ever think that obtaining a Logia fruit makes you invincible," Doflamingo addressed not just Enel, but everyone present, his voice carrying weight. "There are no invincible Devil Fruits in this world, only invincible people. A powerful fruit can certainly help us achieve our goals faster and more easily, but ultimately, we are the ones who make the fruits powerful. A weakling given a strong fruit remains a weakling if they themselves lack strength. Remember this: your own inherent strength is more important than anything else."
"No invincible fruits, only invincible people..." Enel murmured the phrase, his arrogant demeanor fading, replaced by a look of deep contemplation.
The other onlookers were also struck by Doflamingo's words, falling into thoughtful silence.
Slowly, Enel's expression shifted from confusion to resolute determination, the familiar fire returning to his eyes, but now tempered with understanding. He realized he had become arrogant lately. This world wasn't simple. The path ahead was long, filled with powerful opponents. Possessing a Logia fruit didn't guarantee invincibility. Reaching the summit would require much more struggle and growth.
Doflamingo watched Enel's transformation with satisfaction. He had high hopes for Enel, envisioning him reaching at least the level of a Marine Admiral in the future. Enel still needed much more tempering, but this lesson was a crucial step in achieving Doflamingo's expectations.