Staring at the completely unharmed [Clay Clone] before him, Inazuma instantly sensed danger and instinctively took several steps back.
To his knowledge, within Impel Down, there was only one person capable of manipulating clay—the newly appointed Warden Chief of the underwater prison who had just been sent to Extreme Cold Hell this very morning! Inazuma fixed his gaze on the [Clay Clone] and softly uttered that name.
"Vongola Storm?"
"You know me?"
Storm's voice exploded like thunder beside Inazuma's ear. The latter immediately felt a chill run down his spine—he could almost feel the breath drifting from behind him!
Inazuma erupted with the fastest speed of his life, fleeing his original spot. Only after putting ten meters between them did he dare glance back at where he'd stood moments ago.
There stood Storm, calmly observing him with an air of indifference.
'When did this guy appear?!' Inazuma's heart pounded wildly like a war drum, his nerves still rattled. 'Was he just standing there watching the entire time I attacked?!'
"Distinctive half-yellow, half-white hairstyle. Enormous dual-wielded scissors." Storm took deliberate steps toward Inazuma. "You're the prisoner formerly held in Extreme Cold Hell—the Revolutionary Army's senior officer, Scissor Man, Inazuma."
Having his identity exposed so effortlessly, Inazuma's expression grew profoundly grave.
Before he could speak, the Warden Chief continued his verbal assault.
"I'm curious." Storm closed the distance with measured steps, posing one lethal question after another in an eerily calm tone. "Why would a prisoner already on the death list be standing alive and well before me? Why do you show no trace of frostbite, your vitality radiating perfect health? And how could you possibly know the name of someone who just arrived at Impel Down—"
Fearful of Storm voicing even more terrifying deductions, Inazuma instinctively raised his hands to interrupt.
"Spinning Scissor Shot!" With a powerful swing of his arms, the gigantic scissors transforming his limbs launched forward. The two massive blades spun at blinding speeds midair, transforming into gleaming circular saws.
Whoosh— The scissors tore through the air with a howl, their gold-splitting momentum aiming to bisect Storm where he stood.
Storm remained motionless, allowing the attack to land.
Shink— Shink— Both blades struck simultaneously, carving two bone-deep gashes across Storm's body. Through the wounds, Inazuma could almost glimpse the winter scenery of distant forests.
Yet what filled him with despair was this: despite the grievous injuries, not a single drop of blood fell.
"You should have realized sooner." Storm's clayified body instantly regenerated. "Your attacks are useless against me!"
The moment these words fell—Shave! Storm's feet stomped the ground violently, the tremendous recoil propelling him forward with shocking speed as he appeared directly before Inazuma.
His right fist rose unknowingly, covered in the pitch-black hue of [Armament Haki], striking forward like a nail.
[Iron Body-Serious Punch]! At this critical moment.
Inazuma swiftly activated the power of the [Snip-Snip Fruit], transforming the surface of his body into the sturdy blades of scissors.
Clang—!
Storm's [Cannon Fist] slammed into Inazuma's body, producing a crisp metallic clang.
Inazuma was sent flying backward, soaring dozens of meters before crashing through several large trees and finally coming to a stop.
Dust mixed with shattered snow swirled through the air.
Amid the haze.
Inazuma knelt on one knee, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, a distinct fist imprint still visible on his body.
Though the special ability of the [Snip-Snip Fruit] had mitigated some of the damage.
The inherent suppression of [Armament Haki] against Devil Fruit users remained.
Storm's iron fist had dealt Inazuma a heavy blow.
'As expected of a monster who can trade blows with Shiryu of the Rain!'
Inazuma coughed up a mouthful of blood, his gaze resolute as he looked ahead.
'But no matter what, I can't let him discover the existence of Paradise!'
Impel Down, Level 5.5, New Transvestite Paradise.
This was the "Paradise" painstakingly created by the Queen of Kamabakka Kingdom, Emporio Ivankov.
As Ivankov's loyal follower.
Inazuma would never allow anyone to interfere with the Queen's grand plans!
Especially the wardens of Impel Down! The lapdogs of the World Government! Inazuma transformed his hands into giant scissors once more, plunging them into the ground beneath him.
As a user of the [Snip-Snip Fruit].
Inazuma could not only turn any part of his body into scissors.
But he could also cut through any solid object, manipulating the severed pieces as if they were sheets of paper.
In mere moments.
Inazuma had sliced the ground beneath him into countless "frozen earth fragments."
Under the influence of the [Snip-Snip Fruit], these "frozen earth fragments" stacked together like sheets of paper.
Inazuma manipulated them, hurling them forward as if tossing paper airplanes.
Though seemingly thin and light, these fragments were still hard, icy chunks of frozen earth.
Under Inazuma's control, their destructive power was no less than that of ordinary cannonballs. "KEEP OUT!"
A torrent of frozen earth fragments rained down on Storm, threatening to bury him entirely.
Faced with this onslaught, Storm advanced instead of retreating.
[Paper Art - Clay]! Storm strode leisurely through the dense barrage of frozen earth fragments, his body morphing fluidly with the shifting air currents.
Boom! Boom! Boom!—
Each fragment that struck the ground erupted with deafening force, shaking the earth.
Yet when Storm emerged from this "death barrage," he remained completely unscathed.
Not even the hem of his clothes was stained with dust!
"Is this all the strength a high-ranking officer of the Revolutionary Army has?"
Storm spread his fingers, white clay surging forth and instantly forming several thick, serpentine strands.
The latest chapter is first published on 69shu!
The tip of each clay strip was coated with a thin layer of [Armament Haki], enhancing its destructive power.
"Now, the tables have turned!"
"Clay Barrage!"
Storm manipulated the clay strips, launching a torrential assault at Inazuma.
Every clay strip that struck the ground effortlessly blasted out massive craters.
Inazuma dodged one, then another.
But he couldn't evade the third, the fourth…
Bam! A clay strip wrapped in [Armament Haki] slammed into Inazuma's body, instantly halting his movement.
Then, an endless barrage of clay strips swarmed him, burying him completely.
Boom! Boom! Boom!—
Amidst the relentless explosions, a new [Grand Prize Trophy] materialized before Storm.
[Platinum Trophy: Inazuma]
[Trophy Rating: ★★★★★]
"Another platinum trophy in the bag!"
Storm stored the trophy and retrieved his clay.
On the scarred battlefield, Inazuma lay in the deepest crater, battered and bruised.
If not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, he might as well have been dead.
Storm frowned slightly as he looked at the utterly defeated Inazuma.
He was pleased with the platinum trophy.
But what to do with Inazuma now posed a small dilemma.
Though Storm had long known about Impel Down's hidden "Level 5.5,"
he hadn't initially planned to deal with the eccentric "New Humans" of the New Kama Land.
Trophies from the transvestites were no different from those of the prisoners.
So why go out of his way to stir up trouble in the New Kama Land?
This was his first time in the Extreme Cold Hell.
He hadn't expected to run into someone from the New Kama Land so soon—
and not just anyone, but its "second-in-command"!
"The commotion from that fight was a bit too loud."
"If the entrance to the New Kama Land is nearby, they've probably already noticed."
"In that case…"
After a moment's thought, Storm glanced at the [Clay Clone] observing from the sidelines, and an idea struck him.
Seconds later,
a towering figure appeared in the frozen forest of the Extreme Cold Hell.
He stood over six meters tall, his golden mane cascading down his back like a lion's.
But the most striking feature was the enormous, crescent-shaped white mustache curving upward on his face—
Whitebeard III.
Edward Teach, returned to the world!
Storm's [Clay-Clay Fruit] had reached its Awakening, and combined with his previously acquired [Color Change] ability,
the "Whitebeard III" he created was no longer the crude, laughable imitation of before.
Now,
the "Whitebeard III" standing proudly in the Extreme Cold Hell bore an uncanny resemblance to the real Whitebeard in his forties.
Even if the genuine Whitebeard were here,
he might've doubted whether he'd truly fathered a secret love child with Miss. Buckingham all those years ago!
Storm examined the [Clay Clone] before him—
No! Now, he should be called "Edward Teach."
Storm nodded in satisfaction at Edward Teach.
Then,
he stepped forward and merged into Edward Teach.
He merged into Edward Teach's body like a drop of water.
"Move! Edward Teach Construct!"
Storm co
ncealed himself within the "Whitebeard III Humanoid Mecha."
Like a novice Gundam pilot, he continuously familiarized himself with the capabilities of this new body.
Once he had adapted to the new body, Storm began tentatively imitating the real Whitebeard.
"Gunala— pah!
"Gula! Gula—
"Gurararara—
"I am Whitebeard III!!"