Who Still Couldn't Fly? (Please Follow!)

Golden Trophy!

Storm looked at the glittering [Golden Trophy], a flash of delight crossing his face.

It seemed the Beast Hell jailers had been right about the Sphinx's strength.

He'd gotten his hands on a Golden Big Trophy just like that!

Storm had already decided how to use this four-star trophy.

Without hesitation, he threw the [Golden Trophy] into the [Clay Fruit]!

[Clay Fruit: ★★★★☆]

Storm looked down at the Sphinx, which had gone completely still, and manipulated the clay around him once more.

A steady stream of inspiration burst through his mind.

Storm seemed to sense the endless possibilities for developing the [Clay Fruit].

The next moment.

Inspiration struck Storm.

He raised his right hand, and a lump of white clay appeared in his palm, instantly transforming into a lifelike Little White Dragon.

The Little White Dragon beat its wings, its broad dragon wings churning the surrounding air and turning it into a powerful updraft.

Once, twice.

Under Storm's eager gaze.

The Little White Dragon's claws slowly lifted from his palm, and the entire dragon floated into the air.

As Storm watched the Little White Dragon soar freely through the sky, a thought suddenly came to him.

Who still couldn't fly?

Storm guided the Little White Dragon back, and it landed on his shoulder.

Then he continued his monster-hunting expedition.

After the "Monster First," the Sphinx—

Beast Hell's "Monster Second," the Cockatrice, was also sought out by Storm.

The first one hadn't been able to fight back.

The second stood even less of a chance.

The Cockatrice soon fell at Storm's feet as well.

But Storm was a little disappointed.

The Sphinx had yielded a [Golden Trophy].

The Cockatrice, on the other hand, had only yielded a [Silver Trophy].

The two weren't in the same league.

Storm went after the Sickle Mantis next—it had been rated "Monster Third" by the jailers.

But the third one could only yield a Silver Trophy too.

Among the jailers in Beast Hell, only the Sphinx could provide a Golden Trophy.

Storm immediately gave up on the idea of hunting down the other Beast Hell jailers.

The Silver Trophies from the Cockatrice and the Sickle Mantis, combined with those from the Man-faced Lions he'd beaten earlier—

Storm now had a full eleven Silver Trophies!

He decided to absorb the power boosts from those eleven Silver Trophies before hunting for more.

Storm looked at the eleven Silver Trophies and fed them one by one into [Rokushiki].

[Tekkai/Kami-e/Shave/Rankyaku/Geppo/Shigan: ★★★★]

"Except for [Swordsmanship] and [Marksmanship], all my attributes and abilities are now at four stars!"

Storm looked over his ability list, his gaze lingering for a moment on the [Haki] attribute.

"But there's still [Haki]!"

Storm raised his right hand and opened and closed his fingers a few times.

Maybe it was just his imagination.

When he'd fought the Man-faced Lions earlier, Storm had meant to use them to train his [Tekkai].

But while using [Tekkai], he'd sensed a different effect faintly.

Now that the Silver Trophies had raised [Tekkai] to "★★★★"—

That strange sensation had grown increasingly clear.

"If I practice a few more times, I'll be able to grasp that feeling!"

Storm looked at [Tekkai], then at [Haki].

"Will four-star [Tekkai] become the 'key' to unlocking [Armament Haki]?"

Storm finished his patrol of Beast Hell and returned to the Chief Jailer's office on the First Sea Level.

He'd barely sat down when he heard another hurried knock at the door.

"Storm! Open up!"

"Why is it always you, Hannyabal?"

Storm manipulated some clay to pull the door open, then looked at Hannyabal standing outside with a bemused expression.

"Is the Chief Jailer's job really that easy?"

"Have you forgotten what I taught you?"

Hannyabal walked into the office smugly, not the least bit ashamed.

"As long as you have a capable subordinate, you can hand all your work over to her!

"My Domino is incredibly competent!"

Domino?

Storm thought of the blonde woman with wavy hair, the Deputy Warden.

No wonder he never saw Domino around!

So she'd been exploited by her unscrupulous boss!

Poor wage slave...

Hannyabal strode over to Storm's desk.

He was about to say something when he suddenly noticed the dragon on Storm's shoulder.

"Hey! Storm, where'd that dragon on your shoulder come from?"

Hannyabal leaned closer with curiosity, staring hard at the Little White Dragon.

"You made this dragon with your powers, didn't you?

"Haha! Clay can't fly, so what's the point of its wings?"

What was the point?

Storm looked at Hannyabal, who was standing right in front of him, and felt like playing a prank.

The Little White Dragon suddenly raised its broad wings and gave a powerful flap.

Smack!

Hannyabal's face met the Little White Dragon's wing at point-blank range.

What was the point of the Little White Dragon's wings?

Obviously, they were for giving the Chief Jailer his favorite big slap in the face!

"Ah! That hurt!"

Hannyabal staggered back a few steps and rubbed his face vigorously.

"Storm! How did I end up with a subordinate as lawless as you—

"Huh? Why does that sound so familiar?"

"Ahem."

Storm cleared his throat, bringing the conversation back on track.

"Lord Hannibal, what brings you here this time?"

"Right! I've got some important news for you."

Hannyabal stood in front of the desk, addressing Storm, who sat behind it.

"But, uh, I just heard a little rumor...

"Storm, did you defeat the Sphinx in Beast Hell?"

"Why call it 'defeating'?"

Storm frowned and corrected him earnestly.

"I was just managing the jailers under my command."

"Right, right, managing."

Hannyabal nodded in agreement, but he couldn't help feeling conflicted.

Within Impel Down, Warden Magellan and Deputy Warden Shiryu stood head and shoulders above the rest.

Magellan in particular could suppress any opposition with his [Venom-Venom Fruit].

But aside from the two wardens—

The other jailers were, to put it simply, fairly average.

Hannyabal was a good example.

He could certainly handle small-time pirates with bounties of tens of millions.

But if he had to face a pirate with a bounty of over a hundred million, things would get dicey.

After all—

Even pirates with bounties over a hundred million weren't necessarily a match for the Sphinx.

In other words—

Hannyabal himself wasn't capable of taking on the Sphinx...

Yet Storm had dealt with it with ease.

This new subordinate was far more powerful than he'd expected...

At the thought, Hannyabal's excitement grew.

With Storm helping me out, I'll be promoted in no time, become Warden of Impel Down, and reach the pinnacle of my life, won't I?!

Filled with satisfaction, Hannyabal immediately shared the good news he'd brought.

"Storm! Thanks to all my hard work, you've just been promoted!"

"Promoted? Again?"

Storm remembered something, and his eyes lit up.

"Is it the Prison Beasts?"

"That's right!"

Hannyabal proudly raised his chin.

"I ordered Magellan to hand over management of the jailers on Levels One through Four to you.

"In other words, you can manage the Prison Beasts now!"

Hannyabal's version of events was no doubt laced with exaggeration.

But Storm was still thrilled by the news he'd brought.

He'd never expected Hannyabal to actually secure management of the Prison Beasts for him!

"Thanks, Hannyabal."

Storm spoke with genuine sincerity.

"It's nothing!"

Hannyabal's chin was practically poking the ceiling.

"Just remember one thing.

"You're a man I believe in!

"If you run into any trouble, tell me! Don't go to Magellan again!"

"Sure, sure."

Storm readily agreed.

"If I run into trouble, I'll come to you."

"No problem!"

Hannyabal slapped his chest, making grand promises.

"I'm the man who's going to become Warden of Impel Down!"

By evening—

News that "Storm easily defeated the Sphinx" had spread throughout Impel Down.

Most people were surprised.

But a few people had gone looking for Storm because of it.

Dinner time, prison cafeteria.

The Impel Down jailers had gathered together.

Aside from Sadie-chan, who was still recovering from her injuries—

Nearly all the prison staff had come.

Storm even spotted Shiryu of the Rain in the crowd, whom he hadn't seen in quite a while.

However—

Just as Storm looked toward Shiryu—

The great swordsman seemed to notice his gaze as well.

Shiryu strode over.

The jailers around them all made way for the Deputy Wardens.

Even Hannyabal, who was usually oblivious, sensed something was off about Shiryu.

"Shiryu! You—"

"Get lost, Hannyabal!"

"Sure thing!"

Without a second word, Hannyabal backed away several steps, letting Storm shield him from the front.

Storm cast a sidelong glance at Hannyabal.

Lord Chief Jailer, didn't you say I should come to you whenever there was trouble?

What are you doing?

"Are you the new guy everyone's been talking about?"

Shiryu clenched a cigar between his teeth, his right hand resting on the hilt of the Famous Sword [Rain Shower]. A pair of sharp eyes showed beneath the brim of his black hat.

"You look... pretty weak!"

The instant his words fell, Shiryu of the Rain suddenly drew his sword.

Storm's pupils shrank sharply. The Little White Dragon on his shoulder launched itself forward, crashing straight into Shiryu of the Rain.

Swish—

Shiryu's [Rain Shower] struck Storm with lightning speed, its blood-glinting blade easily slicing through his body.

Bang!

Storm's Little White Dragon also slammed into Shiryu of the Rain's head, knocking the black military cap straight off.

"What a fast sword."

Storm's body split into left and right halves, white clay constantly surging from the gap. Clearly, he was completely unharmed.

"How frightening~"