One Piece: From Marine to Legend

The floor between Burning Hell and Freezing Hell was violently blasted through by Storm.

Above, a sea of blazing fire raged furiously.

Below, an endless frozen wasteland spread out in eerie silence.

The drastic temperature difference between these two hells created an immense air pressure shift, unleashing a terrifying storm that roared through the depths of Impel Down.

The moment the ground shattered, a cyclone of fire and ice was born, creating a scene of absolute chaos.

"My Burning Hell!!!"

From a distance, Hannyabal clutched his head in horror, his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets.

"Storm, you bastard! You broke my Burning Hell!!"

His voice was filled with despair as he pointed at the massive hole that had been torn through the prison's floor.

His face twisted in frustration as he turned to Magellan, the warden of Impel Down.

"Magellan! Why did you not stop him, you bastard?!!"

Hannyabal's words carried heavy blame. They had agreed beforehand that if things went too far, Magellan would step in and end the battle.

Yet now, Burning Hell had been completely shattered, and Magellan had done nothing but watch.

The warden, however, remained silent, his expression unreadable.

In truth, Magellan was completely shocked.

When Storm challenged Shiryu, Magellan assumed the newcomer was biting off more than he could chew.

He had expected Shiryu the Rain to quickly end the fight.

But the reality was far more terrifying…

Storm's strength was far beyond anyone's expectations.

Magellan turned his gaze toward the colossal Buddha-like construct that loomed over Burning Hell, its thousand arms stretching toward the heavens.

Even among all the monstrous criminals imprisoned in Impel Down, how many could truly withstand Storm's attacks?

He struggled to find an answer.

Yet, Hannyabal's furious shouting dragged him out of his thoughts.

With a heavy sigh, Magellan stepped forward, braving the violent winds swirling around them.

Boom!

A thick, poisonous aura erupted from his body, flooding the area with deadly toxins.

Magellan's gigantic frame transformed, his entire body now covered in a thick layer of corrosive venom.

Two massive poisonous dragons extended from his shoulders, their fanged maws dripping with lethal toxins.

They twisted together, forming an enormous "X" in mid-air.

"Storm! That's enough!"

Magellan's voice thundered through the battlefield.

"This battle is over!"

From atop the towering clay Buddha, Storm remained seated cross-legged, gazing down at Magellan.

At this moment, a peculiar sensation stirred within him.

Once upon a time…

Storm had regarded Magellan as an insurmountable force. The Warden of Impel Down was a figure of absolute authority—a nightmare to those who dared defy the prison.

Yet now…

That same Magellan… looked like nothing more than a "three-inch purple potato."

A strange confidence swelled within Storm.

With one battle, he had overcome Shiryu, one of Impel Down's strongest warriors.

And now, as he looked ahead…

'There is no one here that can challenge me.'

The thought sent a thrill through his veins.

But just as his pride began to soar, Storm took a deep breath and shifted his attention.

His gaze fell upon the Star Rating of the Devil's Ring.

Then, he glanced at the Star Rating of the Clay-Clay Fruit.

His inflated ego immediately deflated.

'How can I claim to be invincible… when I haven't even reached a nine-star rating?'

With that, his mind regained clarity.

Without another word, Storm released his control on the clay Buddha.

The massive construct melted like a burning candle, its body collapsing into a river of clay.

The thick clay flowed across the shattered battlefield, rapidly mending the destruction that had been wrought upon Burning Hell.

Within moments, the ground was restored to its original state.

The storm of destruction that had ravaged Impel Down finally subsided.

Storm descended from the sky and landed smoothly on the ground.

He nodded toward Magellan.

"Director."

Magellan remained silent for a long moment.

His expression was unreadable, his mind struggling to process what had just occurred.

Finally, he sighed and crossed his arms.

His voice, when he spoke, was firm and serious.

"Are you satisfied with the outcome of this battle?"

Storm tilted his head, considering the question.

Then, with a straight face, he answered.

"Not really."

Magellan's brow twitched.

"What?"

Storm sighed, shaking his head.

"Shiryu was weaker than I expected."

The comment came from genuine disappointment.

Magellan felt a headache coming on.

Storm continued his rant, ignoring the growing tension in the air.

"With that level of endurance, how does he expect to survive on the seas?"

Magellan rubbed his temples.

"Storm…"

"Do you still plan to target Shiryu?"

Storm's eyes flickered with thought.

Then, unexpectedly, he grinned.

"Of course not!"

Magellan narrowed his eyes.

"Then can you focus on your job?"

Storm's expression brightened instantly.

"Director! I love my job!"

He straightened his posture, looking as though he had just received divine revelation.

"However, managing the first five floors is far too easy for me."

He clasped his hands together in seriousness.

"I would like to request a transfer… to the sixth floor, Infinite Hell!"

Magellan's expression darkened immediately.

"No!"

The rejection came without hesitation.

"This is not up for discussion!"

Storm wasn't surprised.

The sixth floor, Infinite Hell, was home to the most dangerous criminals in the world—prisoners whose very existence was erased from history.

Even among the jailers, only a select few were allowed to enter.

Storm was still too new.

Magellan simply didn't trust him enough.

Storm sighed.

'Time waits for no one…'

As Magellan and Hannyabal walked away, Storm clenched his fists.

This wasn't the end.

His next goal was clear.

He summoned the diamond trophy he had just obtained and threw it into his Devil Fruit.

[Clay-Clay Fruit: ★★★★★★☆]

Six and a half stars.

A smile crept across his face.

He was getting closer.

Over the next few days, Storm trained relentlessly, further developing his Clay-Clay Fruit.

Storm's mastery over the Clay-Clay Fruit continued to evolve, leading to groundbreaking developments in his abilities. Building on past inspirations, he successfully developed two new types of clay with unique properties.

The first was Super Light Clay—softer and significantly lighter than regular clay. It offered enhanced maneuverability and speed, making it ideal for rapid attacks and agile constructs.

The second, and far more critical, was Heat-Resistant Clay—a material with a hardness vastly superior to ordinary clay, boasting first-class fire resistance. The scorching flames of the Burning Hell did not affect it whatsoever.

While Super Light Clay had its uses, the real game-changer was Heat-Resistant Clay.

Storm had long struggled with the inherent softness of clay. While versatile, it lacked the devastating impact necessary to overwhelm tougher opponents. However, the advent of Heat-Resistant Clay changed everything.

This new material was incredibly durable—so solid that it could withstand direct blows from even the strongest opponents.

Storm pondered an age-old question.

"Which is heavier? A kilogram of steel or a kilogram of feathers?"

The answer was, of course, that they weighed the same.

But if you struck someone with a kilogram of feathers versus a kilogram of steel, the difference in damage was unmistakable.

That was the principle behind Heat-Resistant Clay—it wasn't just denser, but significantly harder, akin to the difference between soft feathers and hardened steel.

Based on this discovery, Storm began refining his clay even further.

Through meticulous experimentation, he eventually developed an ultra-dense variant of Heat-Resistant Clay—one with a smooth, glossy surface that resembled polished jade.

At this stage, it could no longer be called mere 'clay'.

A more fitting term would be 'porcelain clay', or even 'ceramic clay'.

Storm had essentially become a human processing factory, refining his natural clay abilities into something akin to high-grade ceramics—strong, durable, and resistant to extreme temperatures.

This upgrade not only reinforced his defensive capabilities but also significantly amplified the destructive power of his attacks.

Storm's obsession with strengthening himself didn't stop at developing new clay properties.

Every night, under the cover of darkness, he would use his Clay-Clay Fruit assimilation ability to slip unnoticed into the Infinite Hell.

Like a phantom, he moved undetected through the most secure prison level in Impel Down, gathering intelligence on its layout and inhabitants.

He memorized the basic structure of Infinite Hell, the exact locations of each prisoner's cell, the positions of surveillance Den Den Mushi, and their blind spots.

This reconnaissance was not done out of mere curiosity—it was preparation.

Storm knew that his strength was increasing at an alarming rate, and soon, the five lower floors of Impel Down would no longer be enough for him.

To progress further, he needed to hunt the strongest prey.

But there was a problem—Level 6 was off-limits to him.

Despite his rising status as a Chief Guard, Magellan had made it explicitly clear that Storm was not permitted to step foot into Infinite Hell.

The reason?

Every inmate in Level 6 was a world-class criminal, a monster among monsters.

These prisoners were so dangerous that the World Government had erased them from history itself. Some were too strong to be executed outright—so they were locked away, and forgotten by the world.

Storm's official access was blocked.

But that didn't mean he had to follow the rules.

He had already decided—that he would break into Level 6 on his terms.

And when he did, he had to make sure he reaped the greatest rewards possible.

Not all prisoners in Infinite Hell were worth targeting.

Storm had been carefully selecting his targets, prioritizing those with the highest value.

Among them, a few stood out.

"Crescent Moon Hunter" Catarina Devon, wielder of the Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit, a mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit.

"World Destroyer" Byrnndi World, possessor of the More-More Fruit, an ability that allowed him to exponentially increase the size and speed of anything he touched.

"Corrupt King" Avalo Pizarro, a notorious ruler with immense combat prowess.

"Colossal Battleship" Sanjuan Wolf, a giant among giants, standing over 180 meters tall.

"Heavy Drinker"—Vasco Shot, a pirate with terrifyingly destructive tendencies.

Storm knew he couldn't afford to waste time on lesser prisoners.

When he made his move, it had to be swift, efficient, and deadly.

His goal?

Maximum gains in the shortest amount of time.

After days of preparation, everything was in place.

It was time to act.

Impel Down – First Floor: Crimson Hell

Storm strode through the bloodstained halls of the prison's uppermost level, his expression unreadable.

His first target was in sight.

Without a word, without hesitation—he struck first.

A powerful fist, hardened with the force of Heat-Resistant Clay, shot forward and crashed directly into his target's face.

BANG!

Caught off guard, the man was launched backward, slamming into the thick iron walls of Crimson Hell.

The sheer force of the impact sent cracks spiderwebbing across the reinforced metal.

His target coughed violently, struggling to regain his balance.

Storm stepped forward, his gaze icy and merciless.

The man he had just struck was none other than—

Shiryu of the Rain.

The Head Jailer of Impel Down.

A man feared for his cruelty, second only to Magellan in authority.

Storm's eyes flickered with calm determination.

"You're my first prey."

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Now Available: Chapter 85: Blood and Resolve