One Piece: Ulquiorra Template

Chapter 81: Old Man, That's a Low Blow!

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All eyes were fixed on the lone figure standing amidst the devastation. Silence hung heavy in the air, not from shock, but from a complete inability to process the scene. Minds were blank, eyes filled with a mix of awe, and stark terror.

At the figure's feet lay a man, motionless, barely clinging to life. A gaping wound marred his right chest, slowly being stitched together by thin, nearly invisible threads.

The standing figure's right hand dripped with blood. Though his clothes were torn and tattered, his body covered in wounds, obscuring his features, his identity was unmistakable.

"Black Winged Devil" Ian, once again, had proven his strength as a Marine Vice Admiral by defeating a Warlord of the Sea.

Perhaps he was now the strongest among them, on par with Momousagi and Chaton.

"Doflamingo, you'll be spending the rest of your life in prison." Ian stated coldly, looking down at the unconscious Warlord.

He flicked his wrist, opening a Garganta, a black void in space, and retrieving a pair of seastone shackles. Even for normal humans, these restraints were incredibly durable, imbued with the power of the sea.

His next objective was to deliver Doflamingo to Impel Down before Kaido could intervene. This would provide him with an opportunity to hunt down and absorb the souls of the prisoners, further increasing his power.

He needed to investigate Doflamingo's artificial Devil Fruit production in Dressrosa. The Donquixote Family consisted mostly of Devil Fruit users..

As he withdrew his hand, Ian extracted the essence of the String-String Fruit from Doflamingo, along with a fragment of the Warlord's soul.

This instantly increased his fusion rate by 1%, equivalent to hundreds, if not thousands, of normal souls. He wasn't concerned about Doflamingo escaping once the seastone wore off.

Without his Devil Fruit, Doflamingo was significantly weaker. His Haki and physical abilities were inferior to Ian's. Unlike Moria or Enel, he wouldn't become a vegetable or an amnesiac, merely experiencing weakness and a lack of focus.

He would likely attribute his weakened state to the effects of the seastone.

Doflamingo's soul was surprisingly potent, filled with resentment. Considering his traumatic childhood, it was understandable. Even if Kaido rescued him and he regained his Devil Fruit powers, he would never reach his former strength. He wouldn't be able to devour souls to enhance himself.

Ian wondered if Doflamingo would descend into madness upon awakening.

Individuals of his caliber were destined for Level 6 of Impel Down. While the String-String Fruit was powerful, Ian wasn't particularly interested in its abilities. He had absorbed it solely to increase his fusion rate. If not for the need to lure Kaido, he would have eliminated Doflamingo, just like Crocodile, despite the tragic circumstances that had shaped the Warlord's life.

Ian wouldn't subject Doflamingo to the same fate as Enel, leaving him to the mercy of the Dressrosa citizens. However, if he proved troublesome in prison, Ian wouldn't hesitate to end his suffering.

Out on the sea, a large Marine warship cut through the waves at full speed. Under the dark, ominous sky, a shape emerged on the horizon, gradually growing larger, transforming into a massive silhouette.

"Report! Approaching Sabaody Archipelago!"

A Marine lookout, perched high on the mast, shouted down to the crew below.