One Piece: I Weave the Pirate Codex with My Zanpakuto

[The next level beneath the sea, the Crimson Lotus Hell]

"Don't stop, rush in as fast as you can!"

Hana Hanafuda transformed into the form of an ancient giant lizard, lay down, wrapped her scales in Armament Haki, and charged forward.

"Barrett, go find the passage to the Beast Hell!"

The sword tree, with its blade-like leaves, was crushed and torn apart by the enormous monitor lizard.

The pirates, riding on the backs of Hana-kata, pulled the triggers at the approaching jailers and poisonous spiders.

"No, boss, the poisonous spiders in this place are too... um."

Before the words were even finished, an overwhelming aura of dominance swept over them like a tidal wave.

Whether they were jailers or poisonous spiders, all who rushed towards Hanahana fell to the ground with their eyes rolled back.

"Charge forward, my men!!"

Rocks drew his serrated katana from his waist.

He held the katana horizontally in front of his eyes, the not-so-bright blade reflecting a pair of crazed eyes.

"Let me test your strength again, Ross."

"Devour! Wild Sun!"

Boom!

The Conqueror's Haki that had rushed far away returned, transforming into a wave of energy that enveloped and bound the area.

When everything had dispersed, Rocks, carrying a large cleaver on his shoulder, raised his head, looking quite smug.

"That's the feeling..."

He had witnessed many of Ross's battles at the Zanpakuto workshop.

He even entered "Rose's mental world" and fought against him there.

He could confidently say that, apart from himself, Rocks, no one knew just how terrifying that man's talent was.

At first, the opponent could only manage to fight and entangle with him, but after a while...

Half a month, a month, sometimes even a few days.

Once Rose has digested it, he will turn what he has accumulated from the battles into his own instincts.

How to wield a knife, how to control your footwork while wielding it, when to trade blows for injuries, and when to charge headlong into battle...

Less than three years later, Rocks realized he had nothing left to give Ross.

The opponent only needs to focus on physical training and accumulating combat experience now.

Given enough time, it's inevitable that the man will surpass him.

Just like now.

In the past, Rocks would have looked down on the demon sword and the like.

but now!

As if caressing a lover, Rocks stroked the blade of the machete with a look of rapture.

It's very powerful. If he had been able to get his hands on this sword two years ago during the God Valley battle, Roger and Garp would never have been able to stop him from going berserk.

Do not!

If only he had this demonic sword by his side a long time ago, if only he had been able to trespass among the flowers!

It's not impossible to kill that guy!

"This is the power I've been seeking..."

Bang bang bang--!

Bullets came from all directions. Rocks snapped out of his daze, raised the Wild Sun high, and slammed it down onto the ground.

"If I can regain my physical strength, I can become even stronger."

"But getting stronger again through training isn't bad, wahahaha!!"

boom--!

Did it hit the target?

"No, the enemy is fine!!"

The smoke suddenly spread out, creating a human-shaped gap.

Rocks appeared above the jailer, carrying a large sword.

Conqueror's Haki condensed on the blade.

"Die, you trash!"

Boom boom boom----!

Hana Hanafuda, who was calling out to Tom loudly, subconsciously turned her head to look in the direction from which the aftershocks of the battle were coming.

"That's truly terrifying, such combat power."

"No wonder he's a legend of the old era, how did Boss Ross manage to do it?"

On the lizard's head, Brooke was scratching at the skull.

"Hanahata-san, I've heard everyone talk about the story of Lox, but..."

"His aura doesn't seem as strong as Ross's. How come?"

"I don't know. All I know is that no matter how strong your subordinates are, they can't be stronger than your leader."

Regaining her focus, Hana Hanafuda quickened her pace.

"Rocks may not have realized that he has been subconsciously acting in accordance with Boss Ross's ideas."

"This means that the current leader is stronger than Rocks, or at least stronger than the current Rocks."

Listening to Hana's contradictory words, Brooke sorted them out.

"You mean, the current Rocks isn't the Rocks of his prime?"

Hana Hanazha nodded in agreement.

"Didn't he say that he can't use Armament Haki? That is to say, his body is not a human body, so he can't use many abilities related to his body."

"But Conqueror's Haki is different from Observation Haki. These two types of Haki are different from Armament Haki. In a sense, they are more related to the soul or spirit."

Barrett's call came from afar.

"...Found it! The passage to the second level is here!"

"Thunder Dragon!"

The giant lizard slowed down, turned, and accelerated towards the direction where the thunder dragon was rampaging.

Get out of the way!

call out---!!

The afterimage of Lado rushed past from the side.

"Let me handle this, I need to really stretch this body!"

Despite the still raging thunder, Rocks, who was late to the party, smashed the passage door with a single blow and rushed into the second level.

Before long, Hana-ka-tak and her party arrived and heard exclamations and screams coming from below.

“Our target is not the first two floors. Mr. Tom has made contact with Boss Ross, and his guilt will not be light.”

Reverting to human form, she rushed up the stairs leading to the second floor, speaking rapidly through Hana Hanafuda's words.

"The warden of Impel Down is probably heading to the second level. Let Rocks draw attention to him."

"Barrett, speed up and find a way to get to the lower levels. If you can find a map of Impel Down, that would be even better."

"I see!"

Barrett exploded, claiming the lightning had disappeared.

Hana Hanacha stopped at the second-floor entrance, listening intently.

Once the sounds of fighting subsided, he led his men out of the corner.

"Let's follow the path left by Lockes. At Barrett's speed, it won't take long to search this floor. Let's conserve our energy."

The group ran forward following the corpse.

Poisonous scorpions, lions with human faces, and monsters with snake heads and chicken bodies...

Various corpses fell to either side, all of them fatally wounded with a single blow.

There wasn't a single splinter in the bone at the break point.

"Lox is very strong."

After examining the wound, Brooke quickened his pace.

"That kind of wound couldn't have been caused by an ordinary slash!"

“That knife… Hana Hanafuda, I have a feeling that Rocks’ soul probably didn’t get a new life.”

"In fact, he himself is one of Ross's strengths!"

"This 'resurrection' was merely a breakthrough in Ross's power, which allowed Rox to obtain a new body."

Upon hearing this, Hana Hanafuda's eyes sparkled.

He felt the same way.

He sensed the presence of Boss Ross on Lockes.

It has a very strong aroma!

It's like facing the boss himself.

That's not right at all. Rocks is Rocks, and Ross is Ross.

and many more!

Hana Hanafuda suddenly thought of a possibility and said thoughtfully:

"Brook, do you think Rocks might be the spirit of that cursed sword?"

Sword Soul?

Brooke froze, then remembered the matter concerning the knife.

"Brook, this sword is a cursed sword," Ross explained, who was maintaining his blade. "It's a cursed sword that carries the soul of a berserker."

Berserker?

Rocks?!

Brooke gasped, realizing he had guessed the truth.

He thought it was absurd enough that his soul had escaped from the underworld, but he never expected that the demonic sword could actually absorb people's souls!?

"Wait a minute, Hana Hanafuda!"

"I remember Ross has two more knives on him. No, no, he will most likely acquire another demonic sword in the future!"

"In other words, Ross's goal is..."

He paused briefly, and at the same time, the sound of swallowing saliva was heard.

The giant lizard and the skeleton locked eyes, both understanding what the other was about to say.

"It's the soul of a powerful being!?" *2

Chapter 100 Zoan-type Devil Fruit Awakening Acceleration Experiment

"That's strange, where is this place?"

Barrett stopped at a fork in the road, looking around blankly.

"Why is there so many floors in this place? Hey, you guys!"