He thought of Doflamingo in the skies of Dressrosa. That string-demon had laughed at regular punches, at Jet Gatlings, at everything Luffy had. But when Luffy had compressed himself into that bouncing, red-hot sphere and vanished above the clouds? The look in Doflamingo’s eyes changed from arrogance to primal fear.
“Gomu Gomu no…”
He muttered the words aloud in the quiet cabin. His fist began to darken. Coating. The black of Busoshoku spread up his wrist like ink in water. Then, he bit down on his thumb. gear fourth
“Gear Fourth,” he whispered to the wind. “Is me at my limit. And I’m not done pushing yet.”
He walked past her to the deck. The wind was picking up. Dark clouds boiled on the horizon. The crew was scrambling to tie down barrels. Jinbe was at the helm, calm as stone. He thought of Doflamingo in the skies of Dressrosa
He stopped the transformation just as his shoulder began to swell. The power receded. But the memory remained.
“Remembering what?”
The door creaked.