One Piece: Start with Zanpakutō

This was Rosen.

A monster born of unmatched comprehension fused with the Arms-Arms Fruit.

In Baby 5's hands, the Arms-Arms Fruit could only produce ordinary firearms, swords, and shields. But in his hands? He could casually forge a Zanpakutō.

Even if it was the most beautiful Zanpakutō in all of Soul Society—

Sode no Shirayuki.

He merely needed to envision it once in his mind, to visualize it deeply, and it would become his.

Previously, in the Burning Hell, Rosen still had to stop walking, focus his entire spirit, and manually "Forge" the Zanpakutō into form. But after reaching the Freezing Hell, perhaps due to his growing strength and the increasing number of visualizations, his mastery soared to new heights.

He didn't even need to stop anymore.

While walking forward, he could simultaneously visualize Kuchiki Rukia's form with his boundless understanding, and at the same time "Forge" Sode no Shirayuki.

A perfect multitasker.

If this continued, perhaps in the future he would no longer need to pause at all—he could merely think of a certain Zanpakutō, and instantly forge it anywhere, anytime, to match any enemy he faced.

After finishing with Sode no Shirayuki, Rosen felt his proficiency deepen yet again.

By now, his visualizations no longer required his full mental focus. Even when distracted or performing other tasks, he could still fully comprehend and master the unique abilities of his envisioned Zanpakutō.

"We've arrived."

"From here, you descend and enter Impel Down's sixth level—"

"Infinite Hell."

Shiryu stood at the top of a staircase, speaking without turning his head.

"Then what are you dawdling here for?"

Zephyr's voice was cold, his tone blunt.

Perhaps because of Shiryu's dismissive attitude toward Domino earlier, Zephyr's attitude toward him had shifted to pure ice.

"Instructor Zephyr."

"As Impel Down's chief warden, I believe I have the right to know what you intend to do."

"Moreover, if you want my full cooperation, should you not at least explain a bit more?"

Shiryu was unperturbed by Zephyr's harsh tone.

He cared nothing for Zephyr's opinion of him.

All he wanted was to know—what exactly was this group plotting?

"Fine."

Zephyr glanced at the heavy gates leading down into Infinite Hell.

After considering that they would indeed need Shiryu's cooperation later, he finally stopped concealing his intent.

He took a sheet of paper from his pocket.

"Instructor Zephyr… What is that?"

Rosen's eyes flickered with curiosity.

"This is the 'knowledge point' you must master in your Fifth class."

"Only after you have thoroughly understood everything listed here will you be allowed to leave Impel Down and graduate from the Naval Academy."

As he spoke, Zephyr turned the sheet so everyone present could see.

"A list…?"

Rosen lowered his gaze.

On the white paper—rows upon rows of names.

Some of them were familiar.

For example, the very first one:

Brynndi World.

The World Destroyer.

The man who wielded the fearsome More-More no Mi.

"Instructor Zephyr… What is the meaning of handing out this list of Infinite Hell prisoners?"

Shiryu clenched his cigar between his teeth.

He couldn't fathom Zephyr's intentions, especially after hearing their cryptic conversation just now—

Fifth class?

Mastering knowledge points?

He was utterly baffled.

"The meaning is simple."

"I will be teaching my student directly in Infinite Hell."

"As the chief warden, your only responsibility is to bring each prisoner listed here to me, when I call their name."

"You need not concern yourself with anything else."

Zephyr's voice was calm as still water.

"What?!"

Domino's eyes shot wide open.

"Mr. Zephyr, you intend to release Level 6 prisoners?! That is absolutely forbidden!"

"If even a single Level 6 prisoner escapes into the sea, the consequences would be catastrophic!"

Before Shiryu could speak, Domino had already jumped up, her voice filled with panic.

"Fool."

"Why do you think a former Admiral and an Admiral candidate came here together?"

Shiryu spat out his cigar smoke, dismissing Domino's panic with a cold snort.

"Interesting…"

"I'm starting to change my view of you…"

"Not a 'don't kill' general, eh?"

A twisted grin spread across Shiryu's face.

"The so-called 'don't kill' general—"

"He died long ago, alongside his family."

"Standing before you now is simply the chief instructor of the Naval Academy—"

"An old man who has devoted his last breath to forging a new force capable of ending this so-called Great Pirate Era."

Zephyr's eyes were as cold as iron as he met Shiryu's mocking stare.

"Instructor Zephyr."

"So as long as I finish all the names on this list, I graduate?"

Rosen's eyes drifted to the list again.

He even suspected that every single name here belonged to Infinite Hell's inmates.

Dozens of them.

Even at one per day, it would take at least a month.

Perhaps even longer.

Toward the end of the list, Rosen spotted several names belonging to living legends of the old era.

"Correct."

"This is your internship assignment. Once completed, you graduate."

"And your assignment is simple—"

"Break through Impel Down LV6."

Zephyr held Rosen's gaze unwaveringly.

If Rosen had been like Sakazuki, or like Borsalino beside them, possessing a straightforward Admiral's potential, he would not have imposed such harsh standards.

But Rosen was different.

In Zephyr's eyes, Rosen's abilities surpassed even those of Admirals or the fleet Admiral himself.

As the navy's top instructor, Zephyr understood—

A super-monster like Rosen had never before appeared in the world's history.

He could not be cultivated using ordinary lesson plans.

Otherwise, it would simply be wasting divine talent.

Yes.

After just two days of teaching Rosen, Zephyr realized—he had almost nothing left to teach.

Thus he made his decision immediately—

A practical lesson.

Break through Infinite Hell.

In others' eyes, such an assignment might even be impossible for Borsalino, a full Admiral, let alone a student who had not yet graduated from the academy.

But in Zephyr's mind—

For Rosen right now, Infinite Hell was exactly the right level of difficulty.

It was, in fact, a tailor-made internship course.

"I'm not looking down on your teaching abilities, nor your student."

"But Instructor Zephyr, surely you know what Infinite Hell is."

"There are monsters imprisoned there on par with Admirals."

"Even you, at your peak before retirement, might not have broken through."

Shiryu's gaze flicked between Zephyr and Rosen, a gleam of morbid curiosity flashing.

"Are you sure you want to personally send your student into hell?"

A sly smirk played on his lips.

"Rosen."

"What do you say?"

"If you wish to turn back, now is the time."

"Once this lesson begins… there will be no stopping halfway."

Zephyr folded his arms, his eyes sharp as a blade.

"It is either break through hell and graduate—"

"Or return to the academy, spend a full year on training voyages, and graduate like everyone else."

"The choice is yours. I will not force you."

After the earlier rift with Borsalino, Zephyr had resolved never to impose his will on Rosen.

He was merely fulfilling the responsibility of a teacher—offering the best possible training plan.

To become a general within a year, or to drift along and spend three to five years crawling toward the same rank—

The choice belonged solely to Rosen.

...

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