The Art of Clay! (Seeking Follow-ups!)

"You two! How dare you brawl in front of so many prison colleagues?!"

Magellan's face turned purple—physically purple.

"Absolutely lawless!"

In his fury, Magellan's Doku Doku no Mi erupted with astonishing effect.

Deep purple venom coated his entire body, dripping steadily to the floor.

The moment this venom touched the ground, it immediately emitted a series of sizzling, crackling sounds, clearly indicating its ferocious toxicity.

When it came to offensive power alone, the Doku Doku no Mi's strength was beyond doubt!

Before the enraged Poison Human.

The entire prison cafeteria fell so silent that a dropped needle could be heard.

Magellan didn't care whether Storm had beaten Shiryu, or Shiryu had been beaten by Storm.

Either way, two people brawling in public was wrong!

Magellan cut through the mess decisively.

"You both need punishment! Solitary confinement!"

The Poison Dragon fixed its gaze on Storm and Shiryu, delivering the Warden's verdict.

Storm received a "24-Hour Scorching Hell Special Forces Tourist Guide."

Shiryu received a "Seven-Day Extreme Cold Hell Tour Package."

Storm hadn't expected to be punished too, and he protested.

"Warden! I was acting in self-defense!"

Little White Dragon, who had somehow returned to Storm's shoulder, roared along with its master at the Warden.

"But it still caused a bad influence!"

Magellan's face was stern as he spoke gravely.

"Considering it's your first offense, you're only being sent to Scorching Hell!"

Impel Down's fourth level, Scorching Hell.

The fifth level, Extreme Cold Hell, had a harsher climate than the fourth.

Magellan's punishment plan had already accounted for Shiryu's initial attack.

So his punishment for Shiryu was more severe!

Perhaps aware that he was in the wrong, or simply unwilling to argue with Magellan.

Shiryu dispelled his Armament Haki, cleaned the clay off Rain Shower, and turned to leave without a word.

"Hannyabal! Take Storm to the fourth level!"

Magellan gave the order to the Chief Jailer, then followed Shiryu out.

He would personally escort Shiryu to the fifth level, Extreme Cold Hell!

Once both Wardens had left.

Hannyabal slowly shuffled over to Storm, putting on a fawning smile.

"My dear Chief Jailer, you're really something! Even that bastard Shiryu is no match for you!"

"Still far from it!"

Storm shook his head, speaking noncommittally.

Perhaps to others, the fight just now had looked like he was dominating Shiryu the whole time.

And in fact... that was the case.

But the truth of the battle was different.

Storm's flurry of moves was fierce as a tiger.

Yet the damage was a measly 2.5.

Storm's attacks had only made Shiryu bleed a little, without truly threatening him.

As a great swordsman, Shiryu's physical resilience was terrifying!

Far tougher than something like a sphinx.

On the other hand, the Clay Fruit's offensive power was severely lacking.

If the Clay Fruit's attack power could rival the Doku Doku no Mi's...

Forget it.

Storm shook his head inwardly.

A Devil Fruit's attack power was determined by its fundamental nature.

The essence of the Clay Fruit was to create clay.

Even if you could make clay do tricks, turn it into art—

Wait.

Art?

Storm's mind flashed with the image of that four-mouthed art brat who loved playing with clay.

Could he imbue certain traits into the clay to boost its basic attack power?

Hannyabal had no idea what Storm was thinking at that moment.

Hearing his words, the Lord Chief Jailer cheerfully chimed in.

"Right, right! That bastard Shiryu is nowhere near your level!"

After saying that, Hannyabal fidgeted for a moment.

"Uh, Storm, it's time to head to Scorching Hell."

Storm snapped back to reality, burying the thought of "Clay Art" deep in his mind.

"I haven't eaten yet!"

"I'll have someone send food over right away!"

Scorching Hell, single cell.

Well-fed and satisfied, Storm sat cross-legged on the floor, the terrifying heat around him having no effect whatsoever.

His four-star [Physique] was more than enough to let him completely ignore that temperature.

Storm summoned his [Big Trophy] and stared at the [Armament Haki] rated at a full "☆".

"So I really did awaken [Armament Haki]?"

Storm clenched his fist, somewhat clumsily channeling that power.

The next moment.

An invisible, transparent energy surfaced around Storm's fist, wrapping it entirely.

"No color. Different from the [Armament Haki] I remember. Is it because the level's too low?"

Storm dispersed that bit of [Armament Haki], then closed his eyes to gauge his stamina consumption.

"Using [Haki] drains way more than using [Rokushiki]!

"As for the power..."

With a thought, a clay statue as tall as a man appeared before him.

Boom!

He threw a punch wrapped in [Armament Haki], effortlessly shattering the clay statue into pieces.

"A fist coated in Haki hits far harder than a normal one too!"

Storm dismissed [Armament Haki] and created several more Clay Clones.

If [Tekkai] could guide him to awaken [Armament Haki], then could [Kami-e] help awaken [Observation Haki]?

Under Storm's control, the Clay Clones attacked together, unleashing a storm of relentless strikes at him.

Facing the Clay Clones' assault, Storm held his breath, shed his strength, and dodged like a sheet of paper, weaving through every blow.

After who knows how long.

A new entry appeared in Storm's abilities—

[Observation Haki: ☆]

The confinement time flew by in a flash.

During this period, Storm had gained a preliminary grasp of [Armament Haki] and [Observation Haki].

Not only that, but he had also fully digested the [Rokushiki] abilities he'd previously boosted.

What caught Storm a little off guard was that once he mastered all four-star [Rokushiki], another new ability appeared—

[Life Return: ☆]

[Rokushiki] was a martial art that surpassed the physical limits of Ordinary People.

And [Life Return] embodied the extreme body-development traits of [Rokushiki].

Having mastered [Life Return], Storm could freely control his body—even his internal organs and hair.

As long as he poured his consciousness into it, he could manipulate any part of his body at will.

Storm knew full well that [Life Return] had plenty of untapped potential.

But confinement time was limited; he couldn't finish that task inside the cell.

End of confinement, leaving the cell.

After his confinement ended, Storm was immediately taken to the Warden's Office on the same fourth level, Scorching Hell.

Storm was immediately taken to the warden's office on the same fourth level, the Blazing Hell.

This time, he finally met Magellan in the office—not the restroom.

This time, he finally met Magellan in the office—not the bathroom.

"Storm, my apologies."

"Storm, my apologies."

Magellan's expression was apologetic.

Magellan's expression was remorseful.

"For making you serve solitary confinement."

"For making you serve solitary confinement."

Storm stared at the warden without a word.

Storm stared at the warden in silence.

If apologies were useful, what need was there for the law?

If apologies worked, what use was the law?

"I've thoroughly investigated what happened that day."

"I've thoroughly investigated what happened that day."

Magellan raised both hands, gesturing vaguely.

Magellan raised both hands, gesturing vaguely.

"Shiryu, Shiryu... that Shiryu is a madman!

"Shiryu, Shiryu... Shiryu is a madman!

"Don't take it to heart."

"Don't lower yourself to his level."

"Take it to heart?"

"Lower myself?"

Storm let out a hollow laugh.

Storm let out a hollow laugh.

"Warden, are you saying that when he swung a blade at me, I shouldn't get angry, but graciously forgive him instead?"

"Warden, are you saying that when he swung a blade at me, I shouldn't be angry, but generously forgive him?"

"I know saying that might be asking a lot."

"I know this might be asking a lot."

Magellan tried to continue.

Magellan tried to continue.

"But—"

"But—"

"If you know it's asking a lot, then don't say it."

"If you know it's asking a lot, then don't say it."

Storm cut him off.

Storm cut him off.

"Warden, if there's nothing else, I'll go back to work.

"Warden, if there's nothing else, I'll get back to work.

"I haven't patrolled the prison in a few days. I'm itching for it."

"Haven't patrolled the prison in days. I'm itching for it."

Itching for it?

Itching for it?

Magellan watched Storm's retreating back, and his eyelid suddenly twitched.

Magellan watched Storm's retreating back, and his eyelid suddenly twitched.

He had been worried that Shiryu would turn into a madman who couldn't tell friend from foe and killed indiscriminately.

He'd been worried that Shiryu would become a indiscriminate, murderous madman.

But looking at it now, Storm seemed to have that same potential?

But now it seemed Storm might have that same potential?

"It must be an illusion! An illusion!"

"Must be an illusion! An illusion!"

Magellan clamped his buttocks and rushed into the restroom.

Magellan clamped his rear and dashed into the bathroom.

Outside the Warden's Office, in the corridor.

The corridor outside the warden's office.

Storm hadn't taken many steps when he suddenly heard a voice from beside him.

Storm hadn't taken many steps when a voice came from beside him.

"Vongola!"

"Pengorre!"

Storm turned his head to see Sadie-chan, fully recovered, waving her whip at him.

Storm turned his head. The fully recovered Sadi-chan waved her whip at him.

"...Remember to discipline those Prison Beasts properly!"

"...Remember to discipline those Jailer Beasts!"

"I don't have such a terrible hobby."

"I don't have such a terrible hobby."

Storm waved a hand at Sadie-chan and took the elevator straight up to the first floor above sea level.

Storm waved Sadi-chan off, boarded the elevator, and went up to the first floor above sea level.

He cleaned up, washed, changed into his uniform, and once again began his patrol of Impel Down.

After washing up and changing into his uniform, Storm began his patrol of Impel Down once more.

But the "Head Jailer vs. Deputy Warden Incident" from a few days ago—

But the "Head Jailer vs. Vice Warden Incident" from a few days ago, passed from jailer to jailer, and many prisoners caught wind of it.

passed from jailer to jailer, had reached the ears of many prisoners.

Shiryu of the Rain was a bloodthirsty brute who killed without blinking.

Rain Shiryu was a bloodthirsty, merciless brute.

And Storm had managed to beat such a ruthless man down.

Storm had managed to beat down such a ruthless man.

The prisoners immediately transferred their fear of Shiryu onto Storm.

The prisoners immediately transferred their fear of Shiryu onto Storm.

As a result, his entire patrol of Impel Down this time was so peaceful it was almost unnatural.

As a result, this entire patrol of Impel Down went so smoothly it was almost unnatural.

How could that do?

How could that be allowed?

Thinking of the [Big Trophy], Storm found another excuse.

Storm, fixated on the [Grand Trophy], found another excuse.

—Today, he didn't like striped uniforms.

—Today, he didn't like striped uniforms.

Then he went straight for the highest-bounty prisoner in Scorching Hell.

Then he went straight to the highest-bounty inmate in the Blazing Hell.

A bounty of 91 million Berries, a user of the Zoan Chameleon Fruit!

Bounty: 91 million Berries. [Zoan Fruit] user!

Even in a place like Impel Down, packed with prisoners, Devil Fruit users weren't common.

Even in Impel Down, a place packed with prisoners, Devil Fruit users weren't common.

At least among the first four levels, the number of Devil Fruit users was scarce.

At least among the first four levels, the number of Devil Fruit users was scarce.

Storm sought him out just to see if this pirate with over ninety million in bounty could provide a Golden Trophy!

Storm sought him out just to see if this pirate with a bounty over ninety million could provide a golden trophy!

But the result disappointed him.

This "Chameleon Person" could only provide one [Silver Trophy].

'A bounty over a hundred million corresponds to a Golden Trophy!'

From this, Storm confirmed a suspicion.

'Looks like the hope of hunting a Golden Trophy lies in the Extreme Cold Hell!'

Today he obtained one [Silver Trophy].

Considering the other party's identity as a Devil Fruit User, Storm didn't use this trophy to add points. Instead, on a whim, he used it to "make a wish."

'A chameleon, a three-star trophy—could it really give me a three-star [Demon Ring]?'

Storm looked somewhat expectantly at the Silver Trophy melting before him.

But until the trophy completely disappeared, he didn't see any physical object.

'Could it be... a new ability?'

Storm checked his ability panel and only then saw a new ability.

[Name: Color Change]

[Stars: ★★★]

[Effect: Freely change the color of one's body surface]

[Comment: How did I change color?]

'Color change—the chameleon's signature skill.'

Storm released a lump of clay, and the clay's color shifted freely according to his will.

'The effect is that I can mold more realistic puppets?'

'The Clay Art I wanted isn't this kind of art!'

No recommendation. Try again next week.

Fifty thousand words!

Begging for comfort! Begging for readership!