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The group stopped looking at the scene in front of them. In front of them was a room that was similar to the previous one that they had just left. But bigger, maybe being twice the size as the previous rooms.
The room was clean. Way too clean. While the other room reminded them of the passage of time, this room seemed to be preserved in it.
The walls, ceilings, pillars, and everything in the room were clean. The circuits on the wall could be clearly seen and hummed brightly in a way that was kind of rythmic. At the end of the room, one could see several cells, bars made to trap creatures, but if one looked inside, they wouldn't be able to see anything because of the darkness. There was also another hidden room at the end, but like the tunnels, it was locked.
Inside the last room, stood tall giant headless statues, ten of them in total. A size that matched Dorry and Brogy. They looked a bit similar to the golems from the previous rooms, but on a much larger scale. If someone had to describe some of them, it would look as if they were giant armors.
All ten statues created a passage line on both sides, and at the end of it stood a Golden figure, who was around ten feet tall.
The figure wore an armor that made him look like a knight, a golden knight. He had a cape that clasped around his neck and flowed on his back. Even without a sword, the knight stood proud with a sense of arrogance in him. Of course, like the others, this one was also mechanical. And yet it radiated power and eerriness unlike them, even if it was much smaller than the others.
As the group entered the hall, a wall dropped down behind them, closing off their escape. Along with taking away the weakness of the devil fruit users.
"What the…" Usopp said, surprised as he was back to full strength.
"It seems the weakness is gone." Robin said, with a frown, wondering why they did that. She was pretty sure it wasn't out of good will. "We don't have to hold back now. We can go all out."
Law didn't say anything, but Bepo could see that the doctor was pissed for being useless previously. Sanji also didn't say anything, focusing on the enemy at hand and also checking his returning powers.
"Hail, valiant warriors!" proclaimed the golden knight, its voice resounding with grandeur throughout the chamber. "I must commend thee for venturing thus far. Yet, this is the utmost extent thou shalt reach… ordinarily, I would orchestrate challenges and bestow rewards upon thee, but that shall not suffice…"
"Tch… I don't care. Just free everyone." Sanji said cutting to the point, a bit pissed off. "Us, the small guy right here-" Jabbing his thumb towards the smaller Groot. "-and the large Miss Groot back in the other room. Free all of us, we don't really care about your stupid game."
The golden knight narrowed its eyes, "And why shall I do that?"
"'Cause we are the reason the dungeon was reactivated in the first place." Sanji stated, a small smile on his face, "Miss Groot showed me a lot of stuff, and it seems you guys were trapped here… so you can thank us by freeing us."
The golden knight laughed, finding amusement as it looked at Sanji, "Oh, thou meanest that tree-stricken fool? Who takes heed of her," he remarked, oblivious to the growing ire in Sanji, "She hath been naught but a vexation, incessantly lamenting over progeny and such… nonetheless, that is of little concern to me. What thou hast accomplished is indeed laudable. Yet…"
"Then… why, sir?" Usopp asked, politely, trying to be diplomatic. Now that he got his powers back, he was less afraid, but still, he would try to not fight it through, "We don't need to…"
"Speak not over my words, witless peasant!" growled the Golden Knight, causing the sniper to involuntarily flinch. He then cleared his throat with a haughty air, "As I was elucidating, thine endeavor to rejuvenate this dungeon was indeed praiseworthy, and I find myself beholden for thy actions.
"Yet, apprehend that I was forged to sculpt the most powerful warriors. And that requires a trove of research materials. The dungeon's cessation spanned nearly four centuries, leading to the demise of many if not all experimental materials." The Golden Knight said, of course speaking about the prisoners. "However, fret not, for thy own assemblage is at hand. If you were from the progeny of Shandora, it would have been different, but as you are not, I need not concern myself, for thou art destined to become the ideal subjects for the culmination of my ultimate creation," the Golden Knight declared with an air of chilling certainty. Its eyes gleamed with a manic light, "Thus…"
Before he could finish his sentence he was kicked by Sanji who appeared before him, all of a sudden. Being so fast that, he left an afterimage in his awake. The Golden Knight didn't even see what happened as his body sent through two pillars before he got planted right into the opposite end of the wall, large spider cracks forming, and its head planted like a nail on the wall.
"You talk too much!" Sanji growled as he lowered his flaming leg, not even bothering with anything else. The bastard reminded him too much of his biological father. The arrogant voice, and the madness to fulfill his goal at any cost, he couldn't just stand it. With everything going on, his rage was at a breaking point.
The ten giant armors locked onto their target. But…
"Room!" At the same time when Sanji attacked, Law did his own, engulfing the whole area in his spherical bubble as he moved his sword. Sanji wasn't the only one that was pissed, "Amputate!"
Suddenly all of the ten giant armors fell on the ground in massive chunks, along with some of the pillars getting sliced.
Groot, Usopp, and Chopper had their jaws on the floor, as they looked between Law and the giant —sliced up— armour-statues. Wondering how he was able to do it. This was the first time, they offensively saw Law using his Amputate ability.