Magellan walked at the front of the group.
Even though he was only facing prisoners who had long since been locked away, his expression never showed the slightest carelessness.
His face was grave, eyes sweeping coldly across the cells of Level 6.
The moment Magellan appeared, the deathly stillness of Level 6 immediately began to stir.
The piercing screech of metal chains dragging against the stone floor rang out from all directions, as the convicts inside began to move.
"Oi, Magellan! You here to let me out? If you open this cell for me, I'll make you my vice-captain, how about it?!"
"Hah! Quit joking! Magellan's nothing but a loyal lapdog of the World Government! How the hell could he ever be your vice-captain?!"
"Or maybe Magellan got tossed in here himself for stinking up the Celestial Dragons with his diarrhea, huh?!"
"What'd you say?! Magellan, are we about to be cellmates? That's the funniest thing I've heard all day! Hahaha!"
"Magellan, hurry up and let me out! I'm willing to work for the Marines!"
"Hey, go find me a few women to clean up this room! Your service around here really sucks!"
From the first shout, it quickly spread cell after cell, the convicts pressed against the bars, all shouting at Magellan.
Some vented their frustration. Others just wanted to amuse themselves. After all, in this dark, lifeless prison, visitors were rare.
"You bastards are noisy as hell!" Magellan's face twisted with fury. Purple venom surged from his back, flooding toward the cells.
"AHHHHH!!!"
The convicts writhed and collapsed under the corrosive torment of the Venom-Venom Fruit, their screams drowning out any further mockery.
"Tch. A bunch of weak, pathetic trash. Am I really going to be locked in here with these useless worms for the rest of my days? What a bore."
The clank of seastone shackles followed. The Golden Lion Shiki stepped forward from behind Magellan, glancing down at the writhing prisoners with disdain.
The sound of his voice carried like a spark through the darkness.
One by one, prisoners deeper in their cells opened their eyes. They smelled it—the scent of a kindred spirit. The aura of a true predator.
Level 6 did not only house criminals of unspeakable cruelty. It also confined those whose very existence was a threat to the Marines itself. Just like…
"Redfield," Shiki muttered, narrowing his eyes.
"Shiki," came the low reply.
Had they met on the open sea, this exchange would never have been so calm.
At the very least, their greetings would have begun with a clash of Conqueror's Haki, followed by the ringing of blades splitting the sky apart.
[Detection: 'Red Count' Baroric Redfield available for Plunder!]
[Proceed with Plunder?]
"Plunder!" The familiar voice of the system rang in Rosen's mind. Walking in the back of the group, his heart thumped wildly with excitement.
[Plunder successful!]
[Acquired part of 'Red Count' Baroric Redfield's abilities!]
"Perfect Entry: Supreme Observation Haki!!"
"Golden Entry: Grandmaster Swordsmanship!!"
In that instant, his advanced Observation Haki was replaced by Redfield's supreme mastery.
The change was overwhelming. The world became sharper, clearer. Rosen could almost hear the whispers of the prisoners' thoughts.
When he focused his Haki on an individual, it felt as if their entire being lay exposed before him.
"This… this is practically a simplified version of the Memo-Memo Fruit!" Rosen thought, breath quickening.
"Mm?"
Redfield stiffened, alarm flashing in his eyes. His perception told him three people had entered Level 6.
But the last of them—the unfamiliar one—was radiating a strong aura, a presence on par with a seasoned warrior.
Redfield assumed this man must be a new-era powerhouse, captured alongside Shiki. Hardly surprising; after all, the seas teemed with monsters, and the New World was their coliseum.
But then suddenly the aura disappeared.
Redfield's brows furrowed. His Observation Haki was second to none. For his senses to be avoided, there were only two possibilities:
Either the man's speed was so great that even light couldn't keep up… or…
"He's mastered Observation Haki at the same extreme as me?"
His gaze shifted past the tall figures in front, landing on Rosen.
Yes. That was the one. A man whose Observation Haki was on equal footing with his own.
Rosen felt Redfield's eyes pierce into him, but he paid it no mind. His own newly heightened senses had already picked up another presence.
Deeper in Level 6, hidden away in a solitary cell.
At first glance, it seemed empty. But no—there was someone.
A beast crouched in the dark. One whose existence alone could send the World Government into panic. A monster that could devour the world.
"I need your strength. Come… let the World Government taste fear once again!" Rosen's pulse hammered in his ears.
[Detection: Douglas Bullet available for Plunder!]
[Proceed with Plunder?]
"Plunder!!" Rosen could hardly contain himself. This was it the ability he desired most. The power to multiply damage and return it with crushing force!
[Plunder successful!]
[Acquired part of Byrnndi abilities!]
"Blue Entry: Intermediate Navigation Skill!"
"Perfect Entry: Moa Moa no Mi Fruit ability (no weaknesses)!!"
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T/N:
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