The floor between Scorching Hell and Extreme Cold Hell was violently blasted through by Storm.
Above was a sea of scorching flames.
Below lay a frozen wasteland.
The drastic temperature difference created a terrifying pressure differential between the two hells.
The moment the ground shattered, an unprecedented storm erupted within Scorching Hell.
"My Scorching Hell!"
Hannyabal, watching from a distance, clutched his head in horror.
"My Scorching Hell has been destroyed by Storm!!"
"Magellan! What the hell have you been stopping?!!"
There had been an agreement earlier.
Magellan had the authority to terminate the battle at any time.
Yet even as Scorching Hell was being torn apart by Storm, Magellan had merely stood by watching.
In truth, Magellan himself was stunned.
He had assumed Storm's challenge against Shiryu was just asking for trouble.
Never had he imagined...
Storm's strength would reach such terrifying heights!
That colossal thousand-armed Buddha statue towering between heaven and earth—Magellan couldn't even begin to guess how many in Impel Down could withstand Storm's assault!
However, Hannyabal's screams snapped Magellan back to reality.
Bracing against the gale, he rushed toward Storm and immediately activated his [Venom-Venom Fruit] powers.
Magellan's already imposing figure instantly transformed into a venom-drenched "Venom-Venom Man."
Two grotesque Poison Dragons erupted from his body, crossing midair to form a massive "X" symbol.
"Enough, Storm!" Magellan bellowed.
"The battle is over!"
Perched atop the giant Buddha's head in meditation, Storm gazed down at Magellan below.
At this moment, an oddly profound feeling welled up in his heart.
There was a time...
When the formidable Warden of Impel Down had seemed invincible in Storm's eyes.
Yet now...
He appeared no more significant than a tiny "three-inch purple potato."
Having defeated Shiryu of the Rain with relative ease, Storm's confidence swelled severalfold.
No enemy shall stand before us.
From this day forth, I shall reign supreme!
Storm took a deep breath.
His eyes flickered to the star rating of his [Devil Ring].
Then to the [Clay-Clay Fruit]'s star rating.
His inflated ego instantly deflated.
How could he claim invincibility without even reaching nine-star strength?
Controlling the white Buddha, Storm willed the clay sculpture to melt like candle wax.
The molten clay splashed onto the ground, rapidly repairing Scorching Hell's shattered floor.
Within moments, the white clay had completely restored Scorching Hell's terrain.
The violent storm dissipated as abruptly as it had formed.
Returning to ground level, Storm gave Magellan a nod.
"Warden."
Faced with this overwhelmingly powerful subordinate, Magellan found himself at a loss for words.
In the end, he could only maintain a stern, bureaucratic demeanor.
"Are you satisfied with this outcome?"
"Not particularly."
Storm shook his head with deliberate gravity.
"Shiryu was weaker than I expected."
This assessment came from the heart.
In Storm's view, Shiryu's ability to withstand attacks was indeed far weaker than he had imagined.
The legendary "Shiryu of the Rain," so highly spoken of among Impel Down's prisoners, couldn't even manage a single sit-up after being hit!
Disappointing!
With such poor durability, how could he ever survive on the high seas?
The scale of the earlier "Awakening Clay-Clay Fruit True Several Thousand Hands" attack might have seemed exaggerated.
But in reality, Storm hadn't even coated the fists of the "True Thousand Hands" with Armament Haki!
Plain clay fists were enough to take Shiryu down in one go.
And this guy was called "Impel Down's Iron Wall"? Could it be that Magellan was the "Great Wall" of Impel Down, while Shiryu of the Rain was just the "Second Wall"?
Of course, Magellan couldn't hear Storm's internal mockery.
But the other party's attitude still gave Magellan a massive headache.
This troublemaker!
"Storm, can you stop targeting Shiryu now?"
Helpless, Magellan could only steer the conversation toward work matters.
"Can you focus on your duties instead?"
Work?
Storm's eyes lit up as he caught the keyword.
"Of course, Warden! I love my job!"
Storm fully embraced his initiative.
"However, managing the first five levels is no challenge for me.
"I hereby request a transfer to the sixth level—Infinite Hell!"
"No!"
Magellan rejected Storm's application without hesitation.
"This is non-negotiable!" With that, he turned away from Storm and waved at Hannyabal.
"Hannyabal! Go down to the fifth level and bring Shiryu back!"
"Eh? Me?"
Hannyabal pointed at himself.
"Extreme Cold Hell again?"
Magellan and Hannyabal walked off together, leaving Storm alone where he stood.
Watching the current warden and future warden's retreating figures, he silently shook his head.
Magellan's reaction was something Storm had anticipated.
The prisoners held in Infinite Hell were all individuals the World Government guarded with extreme vigilance.
Infinite Hell was a matter of utmost importance.
Even among Impel Down's prisoners, many didn't know there was a "sixth level."
Wardens of Impel Down did have the authority to access the sixth level.
But the problem was—
Storm's personal credentials were far too lacking!
As the warden, Magellan simply didn't trust Storm enough.
If Storm had been like Hannyabal—working diligently in Impel Down for over a decade—
Then he could freely "tour" Infinite Hell whenever he pleased.
But Storm was no Hannyabal.
He wasn't even a "staunch government loyalist"—he was sent here by the Marines!
Of course, if Storm were willing to grind away in Impel Down, working hard for a few years—
Magellan's trust in him would undoubtedly increase significantly.
But four words summed it up—
Time waits for no one!
The storm of a new era was coming—how could he afford to stand still?
Storm exhaled deeply.
In that case, he'd stick to the original plan.
Storm summoned the Diamond Trophy he had just obtained and infused it into the Clay-Clay Fruit.
[Clay-Clay Fruit: ★★★★★★☆]
A six-and-a-half-star Devil Fruit ability!
...
Over the next few days.
Storm maintained his daily training routine while delving deeper into developing the [Clay-Clay Fruit].
With the boost from his burst of inspiration.
Storm smoothly researched numerous "Awakening Techniques."
Additionally.
Based on his earlier ideas, Storm specifically developed two types of "special clay" with entirely new properties—
Super-Light Clay, which was softer in texture than regular clay and significantly lighter in weight! Heat-Resistant Clay, boasting far greater hardness than ordinary clay and exceptional fire resistance, rendering it completely unaffected by the flames of the Scorching Hell! The Super-Light Clay was secondary.
The real key was the Heat-Resistant Clay!
Storm's development of "Heat-Resistant Clay" provided a modest yet meaningful enhancement to his combat prowess.
Previously, when using the [Clay-Clay Fruit].
The inherent softness of clay often limited the effectiveness of many attacks.
But Heat-Resistant Clay was different.
This stuff was hard! "One kilogram of cotton" versus "one kilogram of iron"—which was heavier? The answer was obvious.
But which was more effective when striking someone—"one kilogram of cotton" or "one kilogram of iron"? Of course, the iron! The high-hardness "Heat-Resistant Clay" compared to regular clay was like the difference between iron and cotton. Building on this, Storm further refined his development.
Ultimately, he created a special clay with extraordinary hardness and a smooth, lustrous surface.
Less like "clay" and more like "porcelain clay."
Or simply "ceramics!" Storm functioned like a "human processing machine," transforming raw "clay" into "ceramics" through meticulous refinement.
Beyond deepening his understanding of the [Clay-Clay Fruit]'s properties.
Storm also accomplished one other thing during these days.
Every night.
He would use the assimilation ability of the [Clay-Clay Fruit] to stealthily infiltrate Level 6—the Infinite Hell.
The basic layout of the Infinite Hell, the locations of key prisoners' cells, the positions of Surveillance Den Den Mushi...
Storm continuously gathered intelligence on the Infinite Hell.
This was advanced reconnaissance! Storm's ever-growing strength demanded higher-star [Grand Prize Trophies].
He couldn't enter the Infinite Hell through normal means.
Choosing to break in would mean severing all ties with his past identity as a warden! This required Storm to maximize his gains in a single operation. But the Infinite Hell was vast.
And the number of prisoners held there was overwhelming.
In Storm's eyes, only a select few were truly valuable.
First and foremost was the Crescent Moon Hunter Catarina Devon, wielder of the [Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit].
Next was the World Destroyer Byrnndi World, possessor of the [More-More Fruit].
Then there were others like Evil Government King Avalo Pizarro, Giant Battleship Sanjuan Wolf, and Vasco Shot...
To successfully execute his hunting plan, Storm couldn't afford to be greedy.
He had to deal the highest damage in the shortest time possible—securing the most kills!
Today.
Storm completed all his preparations.
The Infinite Hell Hunting Plan officially begins! Impel Down, First Level: Crimson Hell.
Storm swiftly approached his target.
Before the other could react, he raised his right fist and delivered a vicious blow straight to the face.
Bam! The unprepared Deputy Warden was sent flying backward.
The first target Storm had chosen—
None other than Shiryu of the Rain!
Many thanks to "True Ancestor Slaying Feather" for the 500 Qidian Coin tip!
Finally, a big shot has tipped!
Thank you so much!! (End of chapter)