"So I was right after all."
"You really are afraid to get close to me."
"Just a useless fear born of habit."
Rosen watched the reactions of Catarina Devon and Vasco Shot, then shook his head faintly:
"Fighting at a distance only matters when the two sides are equal."
"Between you and me, that kind of gap doesn't exist."
"No matter how far you run, the result will be the same."
The moment those words fell—
Rosen vanished.
A silver flash. Silent as a ghost. The next second, he appeared in front of Vasco Shot—right in front of his face.
Then, without haste, he raised a single hand—
And gently extended his finger forward.
"Move!"
"Move, damn it!"
"Why won't my body move!"
Vasco Shot's crimson pupils shrank to needlepoints. His whole spirit roared in desperation.
He had never let down his guard—not even for a second. His Observation Haki was stretched to its limit, tracking Rosen's every twitch, every breath, constantly bracing for his next move.
He knew Rosen would use Hirenkyaku again.
He saw it coming.
And so—he moved.
But it wasn't enough.
Rosen arrived.
Rosen reached out.
Rosen touched his chest.
And all Vasco Shot could do—
Was standing there.
It wasn't fear, nor hesitation.
It was the price of being half-frozen.
His speed was crippled.
Meanwhile, Rosen wasn't just using Hirenkyaku—he had activated Blut Arterie (Active Blood Dress) as well. His speed was pushed to the limit.
So even though Vasco Shot reacted, even though he foresaw it all with his Haki—
It changed nothing.
He could only stand there—helplessly—watching that finger land on the right side of his chest.
"Look."
"I'll freeze you completely in no time."
Rosen's fingertip touched skin.
Hiss—
From that single point, absolute zero burst out.
A white mist coiled, a frost storm surged outward.
"Stop!"
Catarina Devon's eyes widened. Without a second thought, she transformed into Garp again. In the blink of an eye, she used Shave, launching forward like an arrow from a bow.
She knew the moment Vasco Shot fell, it wouldn't be a 2v1 anymore—it would be a 1v1.
And that meant—
She would die.
Heroically, maybe.
But still—die.
"AHHH!"
Vasco Shot roared.
Frost engulfed his torso, raced up his throat.
His eyes bulged.
His mouth gaped open.
Tongue flailing—
It was the scream of a dying beast, overwhelmed and furious—yet utterly powerless.
Hiss—
Crack—
In an instant, the other half of his body—neck, face, skull—was frozen solid.
He became an ice sculptor.
A monument of defeat, standing alone in Infinite Hell.
His entire expression—twisted, deformed—locked forever in transparent ice. Mouth wide, tongue out, as if death itself had caught him mid-scream.
"Complete."
When Catarina saw this, her charging figure froze mid-step.
All the arrogance she'd had when Shiryu opened her cell—
All the defiance—
Vanished.
Only fear remained.
Real fear.
Even monsters...
...can learn to fear.
"And I don't just freeze."
"Watch this—"
"I can shatter you, too."
Rosen tapped his index finger gently on the ice sculpture.
Clink — Once.
Clink — Twice.
Clink — A third time.
Each tap rang through Infinite Hell like the chime of a death bell.
Catarina Devon's heart skipped with each note. In the cells, other prisoners who were watching this terrifying scene shivered as if frost had crept into their souls.
But—
After three taps, Rosen lowered his hand.
Vasco Shot remained.
Still frozen.
Still whole.
No cracks.
No shatter.
Still a corpse frozen in defiance.
Catarina breathed out—subtly.
But her nerves stayed tight.
Then—
Rosen turned.
And looked directly at her.
Step.
One slow step forward.
But this time—no Hirenkyaku.
No Blut Arterie (Active Blood Dress).
No flash.
No acceleration.
Just — walking.
Step by step.
Eyes glowing faintly red.
Cold. Crimson. Calm.
And as he walked—
A monstrous pressure exploded from his body.
Overwhelming.
Heavy.
It wasn't just killing intent.
It wasn't even battle intent.
It was Haki.
Spiritual pressure.
Aura.
The pressure of a man who had fought through ten days in hell—and emerged stronger than ever.
He didn't need to rush.
Because she couldn't run.
At this pace, she had plenty of time.
She could attack.
She could defend.
She could retreat.
She did—nothing.
She stood still—like stone.
Like a soldier frozen mid-salute.
Her eyes stared at him, unblinking.
Beads of sweat rolled from her forehead, down her neck, dripping down her spine.
"She's been stunned."
Borsalino saw her posture, and sighed softly.
In the Grand Line—momentum is a kind of power.
And above momentum — Conqueror's.
Just like now.
She had every chance to fight back.
But her spirit—
Crushed.
She simply couldn't move.
Just like Monet.
Split in half by Zoro—despite being a Logia.
"Move!"
"MOVE!"
"What's wrong with me!"
Catarina screamed in her own head.
But her body wouldn't answer.
It was as if a mountain sat on her shoulders.
And at the end—
She could only watch.
Watch Rosen approach.
Step by step.
Until he stood before her—
And did with her as he pleased.
...
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