Who doesn't know how to fly yet? (Seeking follow-up reads!)

Golden Trophy!

Storm looked at the gleaming [Big Trophy], a flicker of delight crossing his face.

It seemed the Beast Hell's prison guards' assessment of the Sphinx's strength was indeed accurate.

The Golden Big Trophy was now in hand, wasn't it?

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

Without a second thought, he plunged the [Big Trophy] into the [Clay Fruit]!

[Clay Fruit: ★★★★☆]

Storm glanced down at the Sphinx, now utterly still below, and once again manipulated the surrounding clay.

An endless stream of inspiration erupted in his mind.

Storm felt he had glimpsed the boundless developmental possibilities of the [Clay Fruit].

The next moment.

A stroke of insight struck Storm.

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

The Little White Dragon flapped its wings with effort, its broad Dragon Wings stirring the surrounding air into a fierce, powerful updraft.

Once. Twice.

Under Storm's eager gaze.

The Little White Dragon's Dragon Claws slowly left his palm, and the entire dragon floated up into midair.

Storm stared at the Little White Dragon soaring freely through the sky, and a phrase suddenly surfaced in his mind.

Who says I can't fly?

Storm commanded the Little White Dragon to fly back and land on his shoulder.

Then, he resumed his monster-grinding journey.

After the Monster Boss, the Sphinx.

The Monster Second of Beast Hell, the Cockatrice, was also sought out by Storm on his own initiative.

The boss had no resistance.

The second had even less.

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

But what disappointed him slightly was this.

The Sphinx had provided a [Golden Trophy].

Yet the Cockatrice only offered a [Silver Trophy].

Their strengths were not on the same level.

Storm then went after the Sickle Mantis—rated by the prison guards as the "Monster Third."

But the third could only provide a Silver Trophy too.

Among the Beast Hell's Prison Guard roster, only the Sphinx could yield a Golden Trophy.

Storm immediately abandoned any further thoughts of hunting other beast guards.

With the Silver Trophies from the Cockatrice and Sickle Mantis, plus those from the earlier Man-faced Lions.

The number of Silver Trophies in Storm's possession had reached a full eleven!

He decided to first digest the ability enhancements from these 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: ★★★★]

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

Storm examined his ability list, his gaze lingering for a moment on the [Haki] stat.

"But there's still [Haki]!"

Storm raised his right hand, flexing his fingers a few times.

He wasn't sure if it was an illusion.

Earlier, while fighting the Man-faced Lions, he had intended to use them to train [Tekkai].

But during the execution of [Tekkai], he vaguely sensed a different effect.

Now, with the Silver Trophies elevating [Tekkai] to "★★★★."

This peculiar sensation grew clearer and clearer.

"With just a few more practice sessions, I'll be able to grasp this feeling!"

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

"Could a 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 floor above sea level.

He had barely sat down for a moment when he heard another urgent knock at the door.

"Storm! Open up!"

"Why is it always you? Hannibal?"

Storm manipulated the clay to pull the door open, looking at Hannibal outside with exasperation.

"Is the Warden's job really this leisurely?"

"Did you forget what I taught you before?"

Hannibal showed no shame at all, swaggering into the office with a smug air.

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

"My Domino is incredibly efficient!"

Domino?

Storm recalled that blonde, wavy-haired Deputy Warden.

No wonder he never saw Domino around!

She was being exploited by her unscrupulous boss!

Poor working stiff...

Hannibal strode briskly over to Storm's desk.

Just as he was about to say something, he caught sight of the dragon perched on the latter's shoulder.

"Hey! Storm, where did you get that dragon?"

Hannibal leaned in curiously, staring intently at Little White Dragon.

"This is a dragon you made with your ability, right?

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

What's the point?

Storm looked at Hannibal, who was Close At Hand, and a playful impulse stirred within him.

Little White Dragon suddenly raised its broad Dragon Wings and flapped them forward sharply.

A sharp smack rang out.

Hannibal's face met the dragon's wing in a zero-distance, intimate collision.

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

To serve the Warden his favorite treat—a face full of wing!

"Ow! That hurts!"

Hannibal stumbled back a few steps, rubbing his face vigorously.

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

"Huh? Why does that sound so familiar?"

"Ahem."

Storm cleared his throat twice, steering the conversation back on track.

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

"Right! I've got major news to tell you."

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

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

"Storm, you defeated that Sphinx in Beast Hell?"

"How can you say 'defeated'?"

Storm frowned, correcting him seriously.

"I was just managing the Prison Guard under my command."

"Right, right, managing."

Hannibal nodded in agreement, but a flicker of complex emotion still crossed his mind.

Within Impel Down, Warden Magellan and Deputy Warden Shiryu stood far above the rest in strength.

Especially Magellan—his [Doku Doku no Mi] was enough to suppress any dissent.

But aside from those two Wardens, the strength of the other jailers could only be described as average.

Take Hannibal, for example.

If he were to deal with some small-time pirates with bounties in the tens of millions, there would certainly be no problem.

But if he had to face pirates with bounties over a hundred million, Hannyabal would be in a bit of a bind.

You see.

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

In other words.

Hannyabal himself didn't have the strength to take on the Sphinx...

Yet the Sphinx had been easily dealt with by Storm.

This new subordinate's strength was far greater than anticipated...

Thinking this, Hannyabal's mood stirred with excitement.

With Storm's support, I'll soon get a promotion and raise, become the Warden of Impel Down, and reach the peak of my life, right?!

Immensely gratified, Hannyabal immediately shared the good news he'd brought.

"Storm! Through my tireless efforts, you've been promoted now!"

"Promoted? Again?"

Storm recalled something, his eyes lighting up.

"Is it the Prison Beasts?"

"That's right!"

Hannyabal lifted his chin proudly.

"I ordered Magellan to hand over the management rights of the jailers on floors one through four to you.

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

There was certainly plenty of exaggeration mixed into Hannyabal's words.

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

He never expected that Hannyabal had actually managed to secure him the authority over the Prison Beasts!

"Thanks, Hannyabal."

Storm said sincerely.

"What's the big deal!"

Hannyabal's chin was practically pointing at the ceiling.

"Just remember one thing.

"You're a man I've acknowledged!

"If you run into any trouble from now on, just tell me! Don't go to Magellan anymore!"

"Alright, alright."

Storm went along with it.

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

"No problem!"

Hannyabal thumped his chest, his bragging booming loud.

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

By evening.

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

Most people were surprised by it.

But a very few individuals sought out Storm because of it.

At dinnertime, in the prison cafeteria.

The jailers of Impel Down gathered together.

Except for Sadie-chan, who was still recovering from her injuries.

Almost all the prison staff had come here.

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

However.

Just as Storm looked at Shiryu.

This great swordsman seemed to sense his gaze.

Shiryu strode over.

The surrounding jailers instinctively cleared a path for the Deputy Wardens.

Even someone as thick-skulled as Hannyabal could sense something was off about Shiryu.

"Shiryu, you—!"

"Get out of the way, Hannyabal!"

"You got it!"

Hannyabal didn't hesitate, stepping back a few paces to let Storm shield him.

Storm shot a sidelong glance at Hannyabal.

Lord Chief Jailer, weren't you the one who said to come to you if there was trouble?

What exactly are you doing?

"So you're the newcomer everyone's talking about?"

Shiryu bit down on his cigar, his right hand resting on the hilt of the Famous Sword [Rain Shower]. Beneath the brim of his black hat, a pair of sharp eyes gleamed.

"Looks... pretty weak to me!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Shiryu of the Rain drew his blade in a flash.

Storm's pupils contracted sharply. The Little White Dragon on his shoulder launched itself like a bullet, charging straight at Shiryu of the Rain.

Shiiing—

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

Bam!

Storm's Little White Dragon crashed into Shiryu of the Rain's head, knocking the black military cap clean off his skull.

"Fast sword."

Storm's body split into two halves, white clay churning endlessly at the severed edges, clearly unharmed.

"How terrifying~"