[Radiant Moon Trophy: Kizaru Borsalino]
[Trophy Rank: ★★★★★★★★] (8 Stars)
Storm frowned as he gazed at the Grand Prize Trophy floating in the void, its surface gleaming with a moonlit radiance.
"Kizaru… what exactly is he up to?"
Storm glanced at Golden Lion II beside him, then at Whitebeard Jr.
He knew the power behind Whitebeard Jr.'s "Hundredfold Thunder Kick" was immense—after all, it was Storm himself who had delivered that kick.
But no matter how he looked at it…
The idea that Storm had "kicked" a Navy Admiral into complete incapacitation…
Was simply too absurd.
"Falling into the sea, weakened by seawater, completely losing combat ability… That explanation barely holds up."
Storm tried to reason from Kizaru's perspective but still couldn't reach a conclusion.
"But Kizaru is a Glint-Glint Fruit user!"
Storm refused to believe Kizaru had no means of resistance in that situation.
Back in Infinite Hell,
Golden Lion II had also slashed Kizaru with a "Hundredfold Swordsman Slash."
Yet even then, Kizaru had been able to control his body mid-flight, transforming into light to evade…
After much deliberation, Storm could only arrive at one conclusion—
Kizaru simply didn't want to fight him right now!
"Is it really that serious?"
Storm looked at Whitebeard Jr., then at Golden Lion II.
"Aren't they just two ordinary rookie pirates?"
Shaking his head, Storm activated his Clay-Clay Fruit ability, retracting the Clay Dolls of Golden Lion II and Whitebeard Jr.
Setting aside his thoughts on Kizaru, he turned his attention to the dreamlike beauty of the Radiant Moon Trophy.
An 8-star Grand Prize Trophy!
This was the first time Storm had obtained a trophy of this caliber.
Regardless of Kizaru's intentions…
This 8-star trophy now belonged to Storm—
And soon, it would become part of his strength!
The reason Storm had come to Impel Down…
Was because he had unfinished business with the other notorious pirates in Infinite Hell he hadn't eliminated last time!
Judging by the examples of Catalina Devon, Vasco Shot, and Sanjuan Wolf…
The remaining pirates Storm hadn't dealt with last time were at least 6-star level!
However, considering his current strength, Storm had immediately set his sights on Patrick Redfield, the Lone Red, upon entering Infinite Hell.
His original plan was to first take down the Lone Red, then the Devil Heir, before cleaning up the remaining "small fry" in Infinite Hell.
But unexpectedly, Kizaru had arrived far quicker this time!
During Storm's previous confrontation with Gorosei Marcus Mars Saint…
Kizaru hadn't shown up nearly as fast.
Yet this time, before Storm could even finish off the Lone Red, Kizaru had already reached Infinite Hell.
Truly worthy of the title "Yellow Flash"!
Still…
Storm had managed to claim an ordinary Grand Prize Trophy from the Lone Red.
Though he hadn't managed to deal with the Devil Heir, he had fought against Kizaru and obtained an eight-star Grand Prize Trophy from the admiral.
Rounding it off,
Storm only suffered minor losses—those relatively ordinary great pirates from Infinite Hell.
Like the likes of Avalo Pizarro, Vasco Shot, Sanjuan Wolf...
Small losses don't count as losses.
"By the way, I still have another six-star Grand Prize Trophy here!"
Storm summoned a [Diamond Trophy], a high-tier prize he had earned by defeating Magellan a second time.
All his main ability attributes had now reached seven stars.
A six-star [Diamond Trophy] could only be allocated to skill-based abilities like [Six Styles] or [Swordsmanship] if used for upgrades.
Storm didn't hesitate before dismissing the idea.
His requirements for [Swordsmanship] and [Six Styles] weren't high.
Six stars were enough.
"As expected, this Diamond Trophy should still be used for a 'wish'!"
Having made up his mind, Storm directly used the six-star trophy to make a wish.
Moments later,
A brand-new [Devil Ring Replica] appeared in the palm of his hand.
Storm deftly slipped the [Devil Ring] onto his finger, reabsorbing the [Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit] ability he had previously removed into this new [Devil Ring Replica].
The Awakening-level [Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit] was officially restored!
Storm raised his right hand, all five fingers adorned with [Devil Rings].
An eight-star [Clay-Clay Fruit]!
Six-star [More-More Fruit], [Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit], [Rumble-Rumble Fruit], and [Float-Float Fruit]!
"Five [Devil Rings]!"
Storm flexed his fingers, savoring the five completely different Devil Fruit powers one by one, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.
"But there's still the other hand..."
He lifted his empty left hand, shaking his head slightly in regret.
Then, he summoned Kizaru's eight-star Grand Prize Trophy.
He had already decided how to use this one.
"It has to go into [Physique]!"
Using the [Float-Float Fruit], Storm maneuvered several Marine battleships back up to the Sky Garden, 10,000 meters above.
Along with him came a massive volume of seawater and several Sea Kings from the Calm Belt.
Sky Garden.
The vast body of water encircled the island at its center, the Sea Kings swimming within, breathing life into the otherwise desolate isle.
Storm eyed the Sea Kings in the water, his [Goethite Sabre] flashing out of its sheath. In no time, the creatures were scaled, skinned, and placed on the grill.
As Storm indulged in the Sea King barbecue, he tossed the [Radiant Moon Trophy] directly into his [Stamina] attribute.
[Stamina: ★★★★★★★★] (Eight stars)
"Impel Down is such a great place—I should visit more often!"
...
Marine Headquarters, Fleet Admiral's Office.
Sengoku stared at the hastily printed issue of the World Economic Journal before him, veins bulging on his forehead.
"The World's Greatest Prison Collapses! The Culprit? Him!"
The contents of this emergency report were nothing short of horrifying.
From the images alone, the vast expanse of seawater had nearly submerged all of Impel Down.
This prison, hailed as the "world's greatest," seemed on the verge of truly becoming an "underwater prison."
"Morgans, you damn news bird, what exactly are you reporting?!"
Sengoku grabbed the Den Den Mushi nearby, but instead of contacting the World Economic Journal, he decided to get to the bottom of the issue before the Five Elders' reprimand call came through.
Impel Down, Maritime First Level, former Warden Chief's office.
Kizaru, his body wrapped in bandages, was leisurely enjoying the freshly prepared meal by Impel Down's chefs.
Just then, a shrill ringing shattered the office's tranquil atmosphere.
Buru buru…
Kizaru set down his chopsticks, glanced around, then lazily raised his right hand to activate the black Den Den Mushi strapped to his wrist.
"Moshi moshi~ No one's speaking~ How strange~"
He idly poked at the black Den Den Mushi a few times.
The black Den Den Mushi—a surveillance type, not a standard one—couldn't receive calls from other Den Den Mushi signals!
Yet Kizaru continued prodding it absentmindedly.
In protest against this insufferable Marine, the black Den Den Mushi strained its eyes, frantically signaling—
Well, more like wiggling its antenna-like eyes toward the still-ringing standard Den Den Mushi nearby.
Buru buru…
Kizaru waited with disinterest for several minutes as the ringing persisted.
Finally, his gaze shifted from the black Den Den Mushi to the standard one meant for communication.
He stared at it blankly.
One second passed. Two seconds… Half a minute.
The ringing echoed like a cursed melody through the office.
"Such terrifying persistence…"
Kizaru twisted his lips and reluctantly answered the call.
Instantly, Fleet Admiral Sengoku's furious voice boomed through the office.
"Borsalino! What exactly did you protect?!"
The Den Den Mushi perfectly mimicked Sengoku's enraged expression—eyes bulging, nostrils flaring, heavy, furious breaths puffing out.
"An angry Fleet Admiral Sengoku is truly terrifying~"
Kizaru sighed, slumping lifelessly into his office chair, his dead-fish eyes fixed on the still-ranting Den Den Mushi.
"The World Economic Journal's report has already reached Marine Headquarters!"
"The higher-ups in the government must have heard about Impel Down by now!"
"Didn't I send you there to guard it? Has Impel Down really been destroyed?"
"What the hell were you protecting, Kizaru?! Speak!!!"
Kizaru extended his right pinky, using Life Return to grow his nail slightly longer.
He dug at his ear absentmindedly.
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, my ears seem clogged~ I can't quite hear what you're saying~"
"Borsalino—"
Sengoku's blood surged, his face twisted and flushed red—"Sengoku the Buddha" was nearly turning into "Demon Sengoku."
"What exactly is the situation at Impel Down?"
"Perfectly fine!"
Kizaru finally perked up and answered seriously.
"Aside from a group of prisoners from some 'Level Five Point Five' successfully escaping, there haven't been any other losses.
"Well, if you don't count economic losses."
"Level Five Point Five? What's that?"
Sengoku was utterly baffled.
"What do you mean? Isn't Impel Down only six levels deep?"
"Magellan and the others still haven't figured it out yet."
Kizaru explained unhurriedly.
"Probably some special space created by a prisoner's ability...
"Though there aren't any prisoners left inside now."
"Impel Down... What exactly are Magellan and his men doing?"
Sengoku found the whole thing absurd.
"A whole new level was right there, and they just didn't notice?"
"That, I wouldn't know~"
Kizaru replied.
"But Magellan has already submitted a request to the government, saying he's willing to take full responsibility for this incident and commit seppuku to atone."
Seppuku again...
Sengoku's eyelid twitched.
Last time, when Storm escaped, Magellan said he'd commit seppuku.
This time, with Golden Lion II's attack, Magellan's talking about seppuku again.
Does the Warden Director of Impel Down have some special obsession with seppuku?
"Stop him from doing anything foolish..."
Sengoku weakly protested.
"I'll explain it to the government. After all, this enemy was unlike any before...
"Speaking of which, what exactly happened with that Golden Lion?
"Borsalino, why didn't you capture him?"
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, do you even realize who I was up against?"
Kizaru finally showed some temper, speaking indignantly.
"Golden Lion II, Whitebeard Jr.!
"Two pirate successors teaming up.