"The second [Devil Ring]!"
Storm reached out and grasped the silver-gray ring floating quietly in the void, his excitement evident.
"A six-star [Diamond Trophy] can grant a wish for a six-star [Devil Ring Replica]!"
Storm held his breath and focused, carefully examining the specific effects of the [Devil Ring Replica].
In general.
The six-star [Devil Ring Replica] retained the most basic function of the "ring."
That is, it allowed the user to directly wield the power of a Devil Fruit without having to consume one!
Just this feature alone made Storm feel that the wish he had made with the six-star Diamond Trophy was well worth it!
However, the [Devil Ring Replica] was, after all, only a six-star item.
Compared to the original nine-star [Devil Ring].
The [Devil Ring Replica] had obvious shortcomings—it lacked the near-"infinite" natural energy reserves for consumption.
According to the [Grand Prize Trophy].
The [Devil Ring Replica] could provide energy up to the level of [Awakening].
This meant the [Devil Ring Replica] could only unleash abilities at a six-star intensity at most! If the output of the Devil Fruit's power exceeded this limit—that is, surpassed six stars.
Then the [Devil Ring Replica] would risk being destroyed.
The [Devil Ring Replica] did not possess the [Indestructible] effect of the original [Devil Ring].
Its durability was significantly lower than that of the genuine [Devil Ring].
Still, as a six-star item, the [Devil Ring Replica] had sufficient durability.
Much like the "Supreme Flip-Flops" of a certain Sun God who wished to remain anonymous! All in all.
Storm was very satisfied with the effects of the [Devil Ring Replica].
After all, this was just a reward from a six-star Diamond Trophy wish—having this level of performance was already impressive.
At the very least, the [Devil Ring Replica] could unleash Devil Fruit powers at the [Awakening] level!
Looking across the entire sea.
The threshold of "Awakening" had stymied countless powerful individuals.
The [Devil Ring Replica] could directly unleash Devil Fruit abilities at the Awakening level.
It was no exaggeration to say.
This already surpassed ninety-nine percent of the people in the world! Without hesitation, Storm put on the [Devil Ring Replica].
He glanced at the two [Devil Rings], then at the three Devil Fruits before him.
Now came the problem.
Including the genuine [Devil Ring], Storm only possessed two "rings."
Yet the number of Devil Fruits he currently owned had reached four! The [Clay-Clay Fruit], [Chameleon Fruit], [Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit], and [More-More Fruit].
Even if he excluded the [Chameleon Fruit].
Storm still had three Devil Fruits to choose from.
The [Clay-Clay Fruit] had already been developed to seven stars—he couldn't possibly abandon this "ace fruit."
As for the [Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit] and the [More-More Fruit].
Both were incredibly powerful Devil Fruits, and Storm was unwilling to give up either.
Of course.
From a practical standpoint.
Storm could also consume one Devil Fruit himself.
With the help of the two [Devil Rings].
He could simultaneously wield three different Devil Fruit abilities.
But when it's avoidable...
Who would willingly give themselves a fatal weakness?
"That's why kids make choices, while adults take everything!"
Storm took a deep breath and immediately summoned Sanjuan Wolf's Diamond Trophy.
He had just used up Catalina Devon's Blood Diamond Trophy.
The remaining two Diamond Trophies were originally reserved for his [Endurance] attribute.
But now...
"Diamond Trophies can be earned again later!"
Without hesitation, Storm used Sanjuan Wolf's Diamond Trophy to make a wish.
"Only a fool would leave powerful Devil Fruits unused!"
In no time at all,
a third Devil Ring materialized before Storm.
Another six-star Devil Ring Replica!
Storm equipped the third Devil Ring and skillfully absorbed the abilities of the two Devil Fruits in front of him.
Before long,
two new Devil Fruit abilities appeared in Storm's skill panel.
[More-More Fruit: ☆]
[Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit: ☆]
"Nice! Very nice!"
Looking at the two new Devil Fruit abilities, Storm summoned several five-star Platinum Trophies.
"Grand Prize Trophies! Level up!!"
One Platinum Trophy raised the Devil Fruit abilities to five stars.
Two more trophies elevated them to Awakening!
Storm poured six Platinum Trophies into the two Devil Fruits, instantly turning them into—
[More-More Fruit: ★★★★★★]
[Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit: ★★★★★★]
Storm's leveling spree wasn't over yet.
The last remaining Diamond Trophy was still reserved for [Endurance].
Since he didn't have enough food supplies at hand, he wasn't in a hurry to boost [Physique].
But there was no need to wait for other upgrades!
Storm cheerfully dumped four Platinum Trophies into his [Haki] attribute.
[Armament Haki/Observation Haki: ★★★★★★]
After glancing at his skill panel, he pondered briefly before turning his attention to Six Styles.
[Six Styles: ★★★★★★]
Platinum Trophies were spent like water.
Storm blew through a total of twenty-two five-star Grand Prize Trophies in one go.
Looking at the remaining four Platinum Trophies, he scanned his skill panel once more.
"Spend them! Spend them! Out with the old, in with the new!"
[Life Return/Swordsmanship: ★★★★★★]
With that, Storm had used up every last five-star Grand Prize Trophy.
But all his base attributes and abilities had now been elevated to six stars!
If Storm was previously just a "triangle warrior,"
now he was undoubtedly a "hexagonal warrior"!
Physique, Haki, Devil Fruits... overwhelmingly powerful with no weaknesses!
"Hmm, maybe not quite 'hexagonal'—still missing [Conqueror's Haki]!"
Storm looked at his still-unawakened [Conqueror's Haki].
"Guess that makes me a 'pentagram warrior' then!"
Having successfully upgraded his abilities, Storm wasn't in a hurry to adapt to or digest these newfound powers.
He had just finished a major battle, "escaped" from Impel Down, and wanted to rest for a while.
"Let's find an inhabited island first!"
Storm looked around.
Blue sky, white clouds, and endless ocean stretched before him.
"Where the hell is this!?"
...
While Storm was "lost at high altitude," another development was unfolding.
The news of "an unprecedented riot in Impel Down" had been swiftly relayed to the World Government and Marine Headquarters.
At Marineford, within the headquarters building, urgent knocks sounded on the Fleet Admiral's office door.
Sengoku the Buddha, the current Fleet Admiral of the Marines, casually tucked away a confidential document to his nearby goat.
"Enter."
A Marine communications officer with a distinctive green afro hurried into the room.
"Ah, Brannew?"
Sengoku recognized the man and greeted him warmly.
"On duty today?"
"Report, Fleet Admiral Sengoku!"
Brannew saluted respectfully before delivering his urgent message.
"Impel Down has reported in! A catastrophic incident of unprecedented scale has occurred within the underwater prison!"
"Impel Down?!"
All traces of ease vanished from Sengoku's face.
"What happened there? Did another prisoner escape from Infinite Hell?"
Though Impel Down was touted as "impregnable," with no escapes on record, this was merely the official stance.
From the intelligence Sengoku possessed, not to mention distant cases, just over a decade ago, Golden Lion Shiki had broken out of Impel Down—even Infinite Hell couldn't hold him. Strangely, however, Shiki hadn't been seen since.
The most recent news related to him was that after escaping Impel Down, he'd briefly met with Whitebeard in the New World before vanishing completely, as if evaporated from the world...
Now another catastrophe had struck Impel Down.
Could it be another breakout from Infinite Hell? Devil Heir Douglas Bullet? Or perhaps Patrick Redfield, the Solitary Crimson? Lesser criminals wouldn't stand a chance against Magellan...
"No prisoners have escaped from Infinite Hell."
Brannew reported meticulously.
"But the current state of Infinite Hell is... dire."
Sengoku frowned.
"Dire?"
"By all accounts, the vast majority of prisoners held in Infinite Hell have been killed."
Brannew continued.
"According to the list provided by Impel Down, fewer than ten inmates from Infinite Hell survived..."
"That's impossible..."
Sengoku instinctively wanted to reject this information.
"Did Magellan go on a rampage in Infinite Hell?"
"Magellan did unleash his 'Poison Giant Soldier' in Infinite Hell."
Brannew relayed.
"Post-incident investigations confirmed some prisoners died from its super-toxicity. Magellan has expressed deep remorse, stating he'd commit seppuku if the government permits."
"Stop him from doing anything rash!"
Sengoku interjected quickly.
"But why would Magellan take such extreme measures?"
"Because someone else had already begun slaughtering prisoners in Infinite Hell."
Brannew explained.
"He's the one who nearly emptied Infinite Hell!"
"Who?"
"Vongola Storm!"
Sengoku vaguely felt the name sounded familiar.
A moment later, it suddenly came back to him.
Wasn't this guy a member of SWORD? Aokiji had even assigned him to go undercover in the pirate faction.
But...
Who told him to go undercover like this?!