Monsters Erased from History? An Experience Pack for Speedrunning Admiral

"One is a pass for entering and leaving Impel Down."

"One is an Exemption Order."

"Teacher Zefa went to Mr. Sengoku and got both of them for you."

Borsalino handed the pass and Exemption Order to Rosen together.

"With these two things, even if Teacher Zefa really causes a huge mess in Impel Down because of his crazy actions, you won't be implicated or punished, junior."

"Honestly, although Teacher Zefa is famous for being strict and can be pretty full of himself at times, he really has nothing but good intentions for you."

"Unlike with me, his senior student, where he was nothing but strict."

Borsalino glanced at Zefa.

Although they disagreed and had a poor relationship, he could not deny that Zefa was a good teacher.

"Teacher Zefa."

After taking the pass and Exemption Order, Rosen could not help looking at Zefa.

Just these two little booklets in his hands were enough for him to feel a teacher's affection for his student.

It was a deep, weighty concern untainted by anything else.

In order to nurture him without leaving behind any hidden dangers, Zefa had truly racked his brains and poured his heart into it.

"I'm sending you to fight the most vicious pirates on these seas, not sending you to become a Navy Admiral."

Zefa had his back to Rosen, sounding a little stubborn.

"A Navy Admiral?"

Rosen looked toward the sea ahead, in the direction of Impel Down, and thought to himself.

Soon.

Once this lesson is over and I come out of Impel Down, it should be about time.

Having personally experienced how astonishingly the combination of Qi Body Origin Flow and Six Paths Immortal Thief could accelerate the growth of Haki and Physical Techniques, Rosen had no doubts whatsoever about becoming a Navy Admiral.

The only difference was how long it would take.

If he stayed at Navy School without fighting or training, simply eating well and sleeping well, then left Haki to Qi Body Origin Flow and Physical Techniques to Six Paths Immortal Thief, he could probably match a Navy Admiral through Haki and Physical Techniques alone in three to five years.

If actual combat was added on top of that, the time needed to reach Navy Admiral level would definitely be shortened by three to five times.

Impel Down Level 6?

Monster-class pirates erased from history?

In Rosen's eyes, they were nothing more than experience packs.

Their only purpose was to help him speedrun becoming a Navy Admiral.

Impel Down was not far from Marine Headquarters to begin with, and the Buster Call Warship had its own propulsion. Sea Kings would regard it as part of the sea and would not attack it.

Very soon.

A gigantic structure appeared in Rosen and the others' field of vision.

From afar.

Impel Down looked like a Sea King coiled within the ocean, while its entrance resembled the gaping, bloodthirsty maw of a Sea King—ferocious and dark, ready to swallow the pirates of these seas at any moment.

"We're here."

"Junior."

"This is the entrance to Impel Down."

Borsalino was the first to disembark from the warship.

"You'd better prepare yourself mentally."

"Knowing Teacher Zefa, since he made such a big show of getting you an Impel Down pass and an Exemption Order, you'll probably have to stay here for quite a long time."

"Until you reach a level that satisfies him."

He spoke as he walked.

"For example?"

Rosen asked with interest.

He was also somewhat curious about just how high Zefa's expectations—or rather, requirements—for him were.

"Judging by Teacher Zefa's style, Yonko Commander level!"

"Of course, not someone like Benn Beckman. As long as your strength can rival any of the Four Emperors' right-hand men, he'll let you leave Impel Down."

"Is that so, Teacher Zefa?"

Borsalino pinched his chin and looked at Zefa.

"That's only the requirement for you, Borsalino."

Zefa scoffed, then stared directly at Rosen.

"As for Rosen."

"Admiral Candidate level!"

His words were startling.

"You really are as strict as ever, Teacher Zefa."

Borsalino's expression changed slightly as he shook his head.

He had thought he understood Zefa's strictness, but he had still underestimated it.

The combat strength of an Admiral Candidate?

That was no longer merely comparable to a Yonko Commander. It meant being able to pin every Yonko Commander aside from Benn Beckman to the ground and beat them senseless.

In Borsalino's view, with Zefa's harsh requirements, even with Rosen's talent, he would have to spend at least a full year in Impel Down.

"What?"

"Do you lack confidence in yourself?"

"Or do you think, like Borsalino, that I'm being too strict with you?"

Seeing Rosen remain silent, Zefa could not help asking.

"No."

"I was just setting a small goal for myself."

Rosen shook his head, then said in a tone so calm that it sounded as though he were stating a fact.

"Speedrun Navy Admiral within a year."

The moment he said that.

Both Zefa and Borsalino turned pale with shock.

An Admiral and an Admiral Candidate seemed to differ by only two words, but their strength was separated by an entire level.

Just like Benn Beckman and the other Yonko Commanders: they were all second-in-command in Four Emperors crews, but their strength was simply not on the same level.

Just as the two were shocked by Rosen's small goal, several prison personnel who had long been waiting at the entrance to Impel Down saw Rosen's group approaching and immediately came forward.

"I am Impel Down's Chief Guard."

"Shiryu."

"My apologies, Instructor Zefa and Vice Admiral Kizaru. Due to certain special circumstances, Warden Magellan was unable to come personally to receive you. Please forgive him."

He wore an off-white coat over a black military uniform, with a sword at his waist. His body was exceptionally burly, standing over three meters tall.

He was Shiryu of the Rain.

"Iron Wall?"

Rosen sized up Shiryu before him.

The future second-in-command of the Blackbeard Pirates was still Impel Down's Chief Guard, not yet imprisoned by Magellan for slaughtering prisoners and comrades alike.

"It's no matter."

"I'm only accompanying them."

Borsalino looked utterly unconcerned.

"It's fine."

"Speaking of which, we're the ones disturbing you."

Zefa said as well.

He clearly knew about Magellan's situation and did not care whether Magellan had come to receive them. Instead, he directly had Rosen take out the Pass.

To move freely through Impel Down, one had to be at least an Admiral Candidate.

Of course.

One person was an exception.

That was Garp.

"Warden Magellan has already instructed me to cooperate with you at Full Power."

"Forgive my bluntness."

"How would you like me to cooperate?"

Shiryu glanced at the Pass in Rosen's hand and, after confirming it was genuine, spoke.

"Take us to the Sixth Layer."

"And."

"From this point on, whatever you see or hear, Chief Guard, please keep it buried in your stomach. This is Marine Headquarters' highest secret."

Zefa looked into Shiryu's eyes and spoke each word distinctly.

"I will."

Shiryu glanced at Zefa and Borsalino, then fixed his gaze on Rosen.

There were not many people in this group, but one was a former Navy Admiral and the other an Admiral Candidate. One in front and one behind, they were protecting Rosen without even realizing it.

Recalling Borsalino's earlier words, Shiryu's heart tightened.

Even the Admiral Candidate was merely accompanying them.

And Zefa?

He seemed to be as well.

Could such a grand escort, with a former Navy Admiral and a designated Admiral serving as companions, really be solely for Rosen?

"Judging by how he's dressed, he should be a student at Navy School."

"Just who is this kid?"

"To have a former Navy Admiral and an Admiral Candidate accompany him at the same time."

The more Shiryu thought about it, the more astonished he became. At the same time, he grew increasingly curious about Rosen's identity and the purpose of their visit.