One Piece: Start with Zanpakutō

At this moment—

Zephyr, Borsalino, Shiryu, and even Domino—who had been vehemently opposed to releasing the prisoners of Infinite Hell at first—all turned their gazes toward Rosen.

They all wanted to know what choice this man standing before them would make in the end.

Would he turn back?

Or would he step into hell?

"Hell?"

"Why don't I see it?"

Under everyone's gaze, Rosen let out a light laugh. He reached out, took the list from Zephyr, scanned the names from top to bottom without missing a single one, then handed it back. He turned to meet Shiryu's mocking eyes.

"Perhaps our understanding of the word 'Hell' itself is different."

"In my eyes…"

"The so-called Infinite Hell is nothing but a bit of wind and frost, no different from the so-called 'extreme cold' I saw just now."

As soon as the words fell—

Sizzle—

Amid the thunderous rumbling, a hideous, captivating black-red lightning burst out from Rosen's entire body, like a dark dragon twisting around him, releasing a crushing, suffocating pressure in all directions.

"Hmm?"

"Why did my Conqueror's Haki suddenly grow so much stronger?"

Rosen was the first to notice the changes in his own Haki.

Soon after, he understood.

This wasn't from Haki Core Origin, nor from Rokugan Rebirth (Six-Organ Rebirth). It was purely because of the rise in his personal spirit, which caused his Conqueror's Haki to undergo a qualitative leap.

Although Rosen immediately controlled the surging Haki and didn't let it spread through the Fifth floor of Impel Down or affect anyone else, Zephyr, Borsalino, and the others nearby still clearly felt that terrifying, tangible oppression.

"Your spirit has grown stronger..."

Zephyr was the first to react.

The conqueror's Haki is the spirit of the king.

Before Rosen created the Haki Core Origin method for cultivating Haki, all Conqueror's Haki in the world could only grow through the evolution of one's spirit.

"In just one day… you're already like a completely different person."

"Compared to yesterday, his Conqueror's Haki has more than doubled."

"Junior… you really are a monster."

Borsalino's face carried genuine emotion.

He had witnessed everything—from when Rosen first awakened his Conqueror's Haki, to when he was able to control it freely and reach Intermediate level.

Yesterday, Rosen's Haki could be compared to Doflamingo's.

But today—

Katakuri.

In just one day, as if reborn.

"Conqueror's Haki…"

"And it's even..."

"Conqueror's Haki Infusion."

Shiryu's expression changed dramatically. Especially when he saw Rosen forcibly restrain the Haki that was about to explode, instead wrapping it tightly around his own body without letting it dissipate—he could no longer suppress the shock in his heart and let out a hoarse shout.

As the second-in-command of Impel Down, Shiryu knew all too well: ordinary Conqueror's Haki, whether at the entry or intermediate level, is basically just a means to clear away small fry—only a mere qualification for kings.

But once one grasps Conqueror's Haki Infusion—

It's an entirely different level.

No matter how low the user's Haki strength is, as long as he lands a hit, even pirates with bounties over a hundred million will drop dead on the spot.

"A freshman… actually mastered Conqueror's Haki Infusion…"

Domino's eyes were wide, her face pale.

She didn't fully understand the concept of Haki Infusion, but she understood the terrifying power of Conqueror's Haki.

Even though Rosen controlled it in time, just now when he let it leak slightly, she felt as if her heart had stopped—her vision went black for a moment.

Seeing Shiryu, who always acted arrogant, actually be shocked and let out a cry, she could imagine just how fearsome Rosen truly was.

"Apologies."

"My Conqueror's Haki suddenly advanced."

"I almost accidentally hurt you all."

After Rosen suppressed the Haki that had surged due to his spiritual growth, he calmly apologized to Zephyr and the others. Then, under Shiryu's shocked gaze, he turned and took the lead, stepping toward the entrance of the sixth floor.

This was the first time since coming to Impel Down that Rosen walked in front of everyone.

It wasn't that he didn't dare before—he simply needed someone to guide him through the first five floors.

But now, it is no longer necessary.

The classroom for his Fifth lesson was right ahead.

"The frost in the freezing hell…?"

Domino stared at Rosen's back, thinking of how easily he had blocked all the ice and snow earlier. The scene of his unstoppable aura roaring toward the Infinite Hell involuntarily replayed in her mind.

The heavy snow that couldn't even approach his Blut Vene Anhaben.

Perhaps it was really as Rosen had said.

Even Infinite Hell was nothing more than a bit of wind and frost to him.

"Maybe… he really can do it."

"This thing called 'breaking through Infinite Hell'..."

This thought suddenly popped up in Domino's mind.

Even she found it unbelievable—something even an Admiral might not dare dream of—yet for some reason, she believed Rosen could do it.

"A freshman… actually grasped the Conqueror's Haki Infusion…"

"Incredible…"

"Then let me see—how you disperse this so-called wind and frost inside Infinite Hell."

Shiryu paused, then let out a cold grin.

Originally, when Magellan asked him to cooperate with Zephyr and these people, he had felt immense resistance.

Rather than wasting time, he'd rather kill a few prisoners to indulge his bloodlust.

But after seeing Rosen, that thought changed.

The longer he spent with Rosen, the more his resistance faded, replaced by curiosity.

Was he merely boasting?

Or could he truly break through Infinite Hell?

As long as they reached the sixth floor, the answer would reveal itself.

"I suddenly feel this mission of accompanying my junior is going to be pretty exciting…"

Borsalino suddenly spoke up, sounding amused.

"To witness the rise of a new king."

"To witness the birth of a legend."

"Of course it's exciting."

After saying that, Zephyr took a deep breath and began to follow Rosen forward.

"A new king…"

Borsalino repeated softly, then broke into a grin of anticipation and followed.

Seeing this, Shiryu also silently started walking.

Domino hesitated, then clenched her teeth and followed after them.

Clack—

A door slowly opened.

This was the gate to Infinite Hell.

"Oh? A new inmate coming in?"

"I wonder who it is this time?"

"To be sent here… you must have destroyed at least one or two countries, right?"

"No matter how glorious you were outside, once you're sent here—your name and everything about you will be erased from history forever."

…

Hearing the sound of the door opening and footsteps approaching, the prisoners trapped in the eternal darkness of Infinite Hell all looked over with twisted smiles.

Some are curious.

Some mocking.

Some are excited.

Some simply savour another's misery.

The pirates here were already evil to the core—and after countless months and years in this sunless abyss, even the last shred of humanity was devoured.

For them, besides reading newspapers, the greatest pleasure was seeing new prisoners enter.

As the footsteps drew closer, several figures appeared in their sight. They all grinned, lifting their arms high like demons from the abyss, welcoming the arrival of their new "neighbor."

"A new arrival…?"

"Hehehe…"

"Welcome—"

"Welcome to Infinite Hell!"

...

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