"Ikorose — Shinsō."
Following Rosen's cold command, the surface of the Shinsō — hardened into a pitch-black blade by Armament Haki — suddenly erupted with coursing purple lightning-like streams. With each pulse of Haki infused into it, the spear's sharpness and power skyrocketed to an overwhelming peak.
"Iron Body!"
In that instant, Geber felt as if he saw the Shinigami beckoning to him from the abyss.
Faced with utter despair and helplessness, all he could do was harden his entire body with Armament Haki and gamble everything on the Iron Body technique.
Then—
Ssshhhh—!
With a skin-crawling sound like tearing silk, the Shinsō forcibly ripped open Geber's ironclad defense, slicing through his Haki-hardened flesh, piercing deep into his organs, and finally blasting straight out through his back.
Boom!
The spear-point continued onward, gouging a crater into the prison ceiling behind him.
Geber's eyes widened to their limit. Blood vessels burst red around his pupils, and his outstretched right arm froze mid-air. Within two seconds, it slackened lifelessly and fell with a dull thud.
"Another one... fallen?"
Shiryu stared fixedly at Rosen.
He remembered clearly:
When Rosen first arrived in Infinite Hell yesterday, to take down Brynndi World, he had unleashed all his strength — Three Forms of Haki, physical skills, fruit abilities — all in unison.
Though he utterly overwhelmed the World, it was only after going all out.
But today, facing the former CP0 commander — stronger even than World — Rosen still won in crushing fashion.
The difference?
This time, from start to finish, Rosen hadn't even taken a single step.
Two slashes.
That was all.
Compared to yesterday, Rosen now stood on a completely different level.
His Haki.
His physical technique.
His fruit mastery.
Everything had undergone a complete metamorphosis.
"Changing and evolving each day... monstrous."
"Junior," Borsalino sighed as he turned his eyes from the spear skewering Geber's chest. He slowly shook his head.
This phrase — terrible — had always been his sarcastic catchphrase when mocking pirates.
But now, there was no trace of mockery in his voice. Only solemn sincerity.
He was not teasing. He genuinely thought Rosen was terrifying.
"Compared to you three seniors, I'm still missing a little something."
In the face of Borsalino's praise, Rosen remained calm.
Only he knew clearly where he truly stood.
Indeed, since following Zephyr, his strength had grown by leaps and bounds daily. But in truth, he had only been practicing for three days.
When compared to ultimate forces like Borsalino — who, even as a so-called "candidate" Admiral, was among the highest tiers in all of naval history — there remained a genuine gap.
Borsalino's strength as a top-tier Admiral stood only behind the absolute monsters born with Conqueror's Haki, the likes of Whitebeard and Roger.
Although he knew there was still distance, Rosen's tone was unwavering when he said "just a little bit short." It was not false humility, nor self-deprecation, but a calm confidence — as if he could break through that "little bit short" at any moment.
At least—
Borsalino deeply felt that way, and had no doubt.
"Former CP0 Chief?"
Rosen turned to Geber, whose heart was now impaled, and spoke indifferently:
"Take him away."
With that, he sheathed the Shinsō, dispersing the black Haki around it.
Snap!
The instant the spear was sheathed, Geber's corpse — still pinned high on the ceiling — fell to the ground with a heavy thud, landing right in front of his old cell.
Shiryu said nothing. He simply strode over, lifted Geber like a chicken, and dragged him away.
Though Infinite Hell had plenty of cells and enough "beds" to spare, as warden, he could not allow a corpse to continue occupying one.
Even if it was once the "Chief of CP0."
…
"That's enough for today."
"Prisoners of Infinite Hell—"
"I look forward to an even more exciting show from you all tomorrow."
Rosen slowly slid the Shinsō back into its scabbard, casting a glance across the entire floor.
Each face looked grim and silent, as though cowed by the deaths of Brynndi World and Geber.
Yet Rosen knew clearly:
These criminals — whose crimes had been so great they were erased from history — would never truly submit, nor feel genuine fear.
Their current calm was but a thin facade.
In truth, they were like slumbering volcanoes, silently amassing molten rage, ready to erupt at any moment.
So what?
Rosen's gaze swept across them like an executioner's blade.
After all — what hunter fears a beast trapped in a cage?
Especially when that hunter holds a Zanpakutō in hand.
…
[Your comprehension is extraordinary. Through your battle with Geber and Refining of the Haki Core, your Three Forms of Haki have surpassed a breakthrough threshold.]
[Armament Haki strength +125%]
[Observation Haki strength +108%]
[Conqueror's Haki strength +130%]
…
Through the system's messages in his mind, Rosen could clearly sense his progress after defeating Geber.
His gaze briefly paused on the two deepest cells in Infinite Hell, then he turned away without a word, striding toward the exit.
Although defeating Geber didn't yield as much improvement as his fight with World, the gains were immediate and tangible.
But as with yesterday—
After sending Geber — the former CP0 Chief — off to join those "twenty queens" of the Celestial Dragons in the afterlife, Rosen left without hesitation.
…
Combining work and rest, merging battle and practice seamlessly.
This was the plan Zephyr had meticulously crafted for him.
As Zephyr once said—
Battling, training, eating, resting — these are all merely means. The true goal is to rapidly and steadily attain the rank of Admiral.
Only fighting? No.
It would keep the mind perpetually tense, obstructing self-awareness, delaying growth in physical arts, swordsmanship, and fruit abilities, and risk losing oneself in bloodlust.
Only training? No.
That would yield raw power with no battle sense, leaving one unable to convert strength into real combat force.
Only eating and resting? Even worse.
One would grow lazy, dull, and stagnate.
Only by blending these four pillars could one progress steadily toward the summit.
In the days that followed—
Rosen would step into Infinite Hell every morning, accompanied by Borsalino and Zephyr.
Then—
He would draw his blade.
Cut down another pirate from Zephyr's chosen list.
Send them off to meet their king — Gol D. Roger.
Then return to the fourth floor's Burning Hell, savor Domino's carefully prepared Sea King feasts, and Refine his Haki Core and Rokugan Rebirth (Six-Organ Rebirth) arts to enhance his Haki and physical foundation.
In the afternoons, he would craft new Zanpakutō as usual.
…
Day after day, time flowed forward.
With each passing day—
One less pirate occupied a free bed and free meals in Infinite Hell.
And Rosen's fruit mastery, Three Forms of Haki, and physical prowess advanced by leaps and bounds.
A virtuous cycle.
As time went on—
The stronger the prisoners he faced, the easier it became to kill them.
Not because the later prisoners were weaker — quite the opposite. In fact, the further down Zephyr's list, the stronger they were.
Yet no matter how much stronger they became, they simply couldn't keep pace with Rosen's explosive daily progress.
If the prisoners on day three were 20–30% stronger than those on day two...
Then Rosen, on day three, was already twice as strong as he had been the previous day.
And as time went on, the gap only grew.
Especially on the tenth day...
...
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