Straw Hat Pirates With Rimuru

Ch12 : Cursed Land ←⁠_⁠←

The moon hung high over Dressrosa, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch and twist unnaturally across the cobbled streets. The air was thick, not just with the weight of the night, but with an unshakable tension. The crew was gathered in a narrow alley, their eyes fixed on the looming silhouette of the royal palace in the distance.

"So, we're really doing this, huh?" Usopp's voice trembled as he peeked around the corner, his slingshot ready but his hands shaking. "We're going straight to Doflamingo's heart. I don't know if I'm ready for this..."

Rimuru raised an eyebrow, unfazed by the tension. "You think you're the only one scared? The real question is if you're ready to win."

Franky pumped his fist into the air, his usual exuberance shining through. "This is gonna be a super showdown! Let's break that factory wide open!"

Robin remained calm, scanning the area. "We need to stick to the shadows. If we're caught, it'll be game over. Doflamingo's spies are everywhere."

"Not to mention his officers," Law muttered. He was already piecing together the strategy in his head, thinking through every move before making it. "We can't afford to underestimate him."

Rimuru nodded. "I agree. But I'm not worried about the officers. It's the factory I'm interested in. This kind of power... it's unlike anything I've seen before." His fingers flexed as gravity swirled around him, feeling the invisible force vibrate under his control.

The group moved in silence, creeping deeper into Dressrosa's twisted streets. The usual sounds of the island-laughter, music, the clinking of glasses-had all but vanished. Now, only the distant hum of machinery from the underground factory broke the silence.

As they approached the palace's walls, Rimuru could feel it-the pull of something much larger than Doflamingo's influence. The gravity in his chest hummed, as if the very structure of the island was alive and pushing back against him.

"This place is... different," Rimuru muttered. "It's like the whole island's under a spell."

"That's because it is," Robin replied, her voice low. "The Smile factory is at the core of all of this. Doflamingo's grip on Dressrosa isn't just from fear-it's from magic. Dark magic."

Franky's metal fingers tingled with anticipation. "Magic, huh? I'll smash any magic that gets in our way!" His voice was as loud as ever, but his words held a hint of seriousness behind them.

"We need to be quiet," Law warned, his eyes scanning the environment. "Doflamingo's people are probably on the lookout. One wrong move, and this whole place will come down on us."

Rimuru gave him a sidelong glance. "You really think we can't handle it?"

Law gritted his teeth but didn't respond. He didn't need to say anything; they both knew the stakes.

The palace's grand gates loomed ahead, guarded by a few shadowy figures that stood like statues in the darkness. As the crew huddled behind a nearby building, Rimuru's mind raced. The gravity within him pulsed again, more urgently this time, drawn by something deeper inside the palace.

"I'll handle this," Rimuru said, his voice quiet but determined. Without another word, he walked out from their hiding spot and toward the guards.

The figures saw him immediately, their eyes glowing under the faint light. One of them-tall, cloaked, and with an unnerving grin-stepped forward.

"Who goes there?" the figure barked, but before he could make another move, Rimuru raised a hand.

The air around him seemed to bend and shift.