Golden Trophy!
Storm gazed at the glittering [Grand Prize Trophy], a flicker of joy crossing his face.
It seemed the wardens of Beast Hell had been absolutely right about the Sphinx's strength.
Hadn't the Golden Grand Prize fallen right into his hands?
He'd already decided how to use this four-star trophy.
Without hesitation, Storm tossed the [Grand Prize Trophy] into the [Clay-Clay Fruit]! [Clay-Clay Fruit: ★★★★☆]
Looking down at the motionless Sphinx below, Storm once again manipulated the surrounding clay.
A continuous stream of inspiration exploded in his mind.
Storm seemed to sense the infinite possibilities for developing the [Clay-Clay Fruit].
The next moment.
Divine inspiration struck.
He raised his right hand, and a mass of white clay emerged from his palm, instantly transforming into a lifelike Little White Dragon.
The Little White Dragon flapped its wings vigorously, its broad dragon wings stirring the surrounding air into powerful updrafts.
Once, twice.
Under Storm's eager gaze.
The dragon's claws slowly lifted from his palm as the entire creature rose into the air.
Watching the Little White Dragon soaring freely in the sky, a sudden thought occurred to Storm.
Who says I can't fly?
Storm guided the Little White Dragon back to land on his shoulder.
Then he continued his monster-hunting journey.
After dealing with the "top monster" Sphinx.
Storm sought out the "second monster" of Beast Hell—the Cockatrice.
If the top monster couldn't resist.
The second stood even less chance.
The Cockatrice soon fell at Storm's feet too.
But to his slight disappointment.
While the Sphinx had provided a [Golden Trophy].
The Cockatrice only yielded a [Silver Trophy].
Their strengths clearly weren't in the same league.
Next Storm hunted down the Scythe Mantis—rated by the wardens as the "third monster".
But the third monster also only provided a Silver Trophy.
Among Beast Hell's Prison Guard Beasts, only the Sphinx could provide Golden Trophies.
This realization extinguished Storm's interest in hunting other beast wardens.
Combined with the Silver Trophies from the Cockatrice and Scythe Mantis, plus those from the earlier Human-faced Lions.
Storm now possessed a total of eleven Silver Trophies! He decided to first absorb the power boosts from these eleven trophies before hunting more.
Storm allocated all eleven Silver Trophies to his [Six Styles].
[Iron Body/Paper Drawing/Shave/Tempest Kick/Moon Walk/Finger Pistol: ★★★★]
"Aside from [Swordsmanship] and [Gunnery], all my attributes and abilities are now four stars!"
Storm examined his ability list, his gaze lingering on the [Haki] attribute.
"But there's still [Haki]!"
He raised his right hand, flexing his fingers.
Maybe it was just his imagination.
During his fight with the Human-faced Lions, Storm had intended to use them to train his [Iron Body].
But while using [Iron Body], he'd faintly sensed something different.
Now that he'd boosted [Iron Body] to "★★★★" with the Silver Trophies.
This peculiar sensation was becoming increasingly distinct.
"Just a few more practices, and I'll be able to grasp this feeling!"
Storm glanced at [Iron Body], then at [Haki].
"Could a four-star [Iron Body] become the 'key' to unlocking [Armament Haki]?"
Having finished his patrol in Beast Hell, Storm returned to the Warden Chief's office on the sea-level floor.
No sooner had he sat down than he heard urgent knocking at the door.
"Storm! Open up!"
"Why is it always you, Hannyabal?"
Storm manipulated the clay to open the door, giving Hannyabal an exasperated look.
"Is the Head Jailer's job really this idle?"
"Have you forgotten my teachings already?"
Hannyabal strode into the office without a hint of shame, looking quite pleased with himself.
"As long as you have a capable subordinate, you can delegate all your work! My Domino is extremely competent!"
Domino? Storm recalled the blonde, wavy-haired Deputy Warden.
No wonder he never saw Domino around—she was being exploited by her unscrupulous boss!
Poor overworked employee...
Hannyabal cheerfully walked up to Storm's desk.
He was about to speak when he suddenly noticed the dragon perched on Storm's shoulder.
"Hey! Storm, since when did you have a dragon?"
Hannyabal leaned in curiously, scrutinizing the Little White Dragon.
"This is one you made with your ability, right?
"Haha! Clay can't fly—what's the point of this dragon's wings?"
What's the point?
Storm looked at Hannyabal's face right in front of him and felt mischievous.
The Little White Dragon suddenly raised its broad wings and gave a powerful flap forward.
Smack!
Hannyabal's face made intimate contact with the dragon's wings at zero distance.
What's the point of the Little White Dragon's wings?
To give the Head Jailer his favorite serving of a slap to the face!
"Ow! That hurts!"
Hannyabal stumbled back, rubbing his face vigorously.
"Storm! How did I end up with such a lawless subordinate—
"Huh? Why does that sound so familiar?"
Ahem.
Storm cleared his throat, steering the conversation back on track.
"Warden Hannyabal, what brings you here this time?"
"Right! I came to share important news." Hannyabal stood before the desk, addressing Storm behind it.
"But, well... I just heard a little rumor...
"Storm, did you defeat that Sphinx in Beast Hell?"
"'Defeat' isn't the right word."
Storm frowned, correcting him seriously.
"I was just managing the Prison Guard Beasts under my supervision."
"Right, right, managing."
Hannyabal nodded in agreement, though a trace of complicated emotion flickered in his heart.
Within Impel Down, Warden Magellan and Deputy Warden Shiryu stood far above the rest in strength.
Especially Magellan—his [Venom-Venom Fruit] could suppress any defiance.
But aside from the two Wardens, the other jailers' combat abilities were merely average.
Take Hannyabal, for example.
Dealing with small-time pirates with bounties in the tens of millions? No problem.
But facing pirates with bounties exceeding a hundred million? That would be pushing it for Hannyabal.
You must know.
Even pirates with bounties exceeding a hundred million may not be a match for the Sphinx.
In other words...
Hannyabal himself lacks the strength to deal with the Sphinx...
Yet the Sphinx was effortlessly taken down by Storm.
This new subordinate's strength far exceeds expectations...
At this thought, Hannyabal couldn't help but feel excited.
With Storm's assistance, I'll soon get promoted, become the Warden of Impel Down, and reach the pinnacle of my life, right?!
Feeling deeply gratified, Hannyabal immediately shared the good news he had brought.
"Storm! Thanks to my relentless efforts, you've been promoted again!"
"Promoted? Again?"
Storm's eyes lit up as he remembered something.
"The Warden Beasts?"
"Exactly!"
Hannyabal proudly lifted his chin.
"I ordered Magellan to hand over the management rights of the Prison Guard Beasts from the first to the fourth levels to you.
"In other words, you can now oversee the Warden Beasts!"
Hannyabal's words were undoubtedly exaggerated.
But Storm was still pleasantly surprised by the news.
He never expected Hannyabal to actually secure the management rights of the Warden Beasts for him!
"Thanks, Hannyabal."
Storm said sincerely.
"It's nothing!"
Hannyabal's chin nearly touched the ceiling.
"Just remember one thing.
"You're the man I acknowledge!
"If you run into any trouble in the future, come to me! Don't go looking for Magellan again!"
"Sure, sure."
Storm readily agreed.
"I'll come to you if I have any problems."
"No problem!"
Hannyabal thumped his chest, boasting loudly.
"I'm the man who will become the Warden of Impel Down!"
By evening.
The news of "Storm easily defeating the Sphinx" had spread throughout Impel Down.
Most were astonished by this.
But a select few sought out Storm because of it.
Dinnertime, prison cafeteria.
The Wardens of Impel Down gathered together.
Except for Sadie, who was still recovering from her injuries.
Nearly all the prison staff were present.
Storm even spotted Shiryu of the Rain in the crowd, whom he hadn't seen in a long time.
However.
Just as Storm looked at Shiryu.
The Great Sword Master seemed to sense his gaze.
Shiryu strode over purposefully.
The surrounding Wardens instinctively cleared a path for the Deputy Wardens.
Even someone as thick-skinned as Hannyabal could sense Shiryu's hostility.
"Shiryu! You—"
"Get lost, Hannyabal!"
"Right away!"
Without hesitation, Hannyabal took several steps back, placing Storm between them.
Storm shot Hannyabal a sidelong glance.
Chief Warden, didn't you just say to come to you if I had trouble? What are you doing now? "So you're the new guy everyone's talking about?"
Shiryu clenched a cigar between his teeth, his right hand resting on the hilt of his Named Sword, [Thunderclap Rain]. Beneath the brim of his black hat, a pair of sharp eyes gleamed.
"You look... pathetically weak!"
The moment the words left his mouth, Shiryu of the Rain suddenly drew his blade.
Storm's pupils contracted slightly as the Little White Dragon on his shoulder launched itself at Shiryu.
Ssssh—
Shiryu's [Thunderclap Rain] struck Storm with lightning speed, the blood-red blade effortlessly slicing through his body.
Bang! Storm's Little White Dragon also slammed into Shiryu of the Rain's head, directly knocking off the black military cap on his head.
"What a fast sword."
Storm's body split into left and right halves, white Clay continuously surging from the severed sections—clearly unharmed.
"How terrifying~"
(End of Chapter)