CHAPTER 10
Finally you're done. Let's get out of here," Kris exhaled, catching his breath.
Ren tossed something to him without hesitation. A fruit… no… a Devil Fruit.
"Take it," Ren said calmly.
Kris's eyes widened as he caught it. "A Devil Fruit…? You're actually giving this to me?"
Ren just smirked.
Then he turned to Umi and drew out a long weapon wrapped in black cloth from his subspace.
His voice dropped, serious.
"Umi… this belongs to you. But it will accept you only if you conquer its bloodlust."
He threw it.
Umi caught it. The moment the cloth fell—
WHOOM!
A murderous, feral aura burst from the blade, like a beast screaming into his soul.
Umi staggered, his muscles trembling. His breath grew ragged. The weapon tried to devour his mind.
"Don't use strength," Ren said, voice steady, firm. "Use your will. Overpower it."
Umi gritted his teeth—then suddenly he noticed it. A faint black coating spreading along his hand.
It pulsed with his resolve.
The blade's killing intent faded like smoke.
Umi grinned wildly. "Listen to your master, you bad weapon!"
Kris blinked. "Bro… did he just talk to a sword?"
Ren laughed. "Congratulations, Umi. That's the first stage of Armament Haki. The reason you couldn't land a hit on Ace before was because you didn't have it yet."
Before they could celebrate further, Kris's expression turned sharp.
"Captain… I'm sensing someone coming. Wicked intent. Fast."
Ren spread his arms wide and laughed.
"No need to panic! Today marks the rise of The Pride Pirates! HAHAHAHAHA!"
"Sniper Kris! Cook Umi! Welcome to the crew!"
BOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
The steel gates exploded outward as Magellan stepped in—bandaged head-to-toe, fury burning in his eyes.
"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?! IMPEL DOWN IS NOT A PLACE TO WALK IN AND OUT OF FREELY! NOT UNDER MY WATCH!"
Poison surged from his body, a purple tide rushing toward them.
Ren reacted instantly—grabbing both Kris and Umi, hurling them upward.
"GO! SECURE A SHIP! I'LL CATCH UP!"
"Captain!"
"MOVE!!"
Sadi and Hannyabal charged after them.
"You're a fool," Magellan growled. "A Vice Admiral has already been dispatched. And Kizaru is on his way. Your death is certain."
"Hmph. Even half-dead, I'll kill you here," Magellan spat.
Ren cracked his fingers and smiled like a demon.
"Bring your worst. I'll beat you. And then I'll kick the Admiral's ass too."
Magellan roared, releasing venom that shaped into three massive dragon heads.
They lunged.
Ren vanished.
BAM! BAM! A double kick shattered two dragons.
He landed—then kicked the floor rapidly.
TA TA TA TA TA TA TA—
He blurred.
Like Shave.
He materialized before Magellan and buried a fist in his jaw.
Magellan staggered back, blood spraying.
"You… hit hard," he coughed.
But then—
"VENOM DEMON!!!"
His body swelled into a monstrous, red demon of poison, hands large enough to crush a ship.
The first strike missed—
but the second didn't.
BOOOOOOOMMMMMMMM!!!
The demon pummeled Ren relentlessly, smashing him through the floor into the forgotten backup prison beneath Level 6.
Magellan collapsed to his knees, exhausted but satisfied.
"That should be enough… Hmph."
Checking the hole he sneered "I nearly forgot this level existed…"
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Below Level 6 – Unknown Prison
Ren dragged himself up, breathing hard.
"That damn poison… paralysis almost got me."
He checked himself, stretching, relaxing.
"…Wait. It's gone?"
He grinned slowly.
"So the venom only works for short moment on me? Hah… lucky me."
He dusted his clothes off, sat against a stone wall, and pulled out food from his subspace.
"yoi sure talk casually for someone who just escaped an attack." a dry voice spoke.
Ren turned.
Ross, a young man with gold hair stared at him through the dim light of the underground prison.
"Hey you there, Who are you? And how the hell did you get down here?"
Ren blinked.
"…Wait. Where am I? Is this a secret prison or something?"
The young man sighed.
"Yeah. The world forgot we exist. Welcome to the Prison Beneath Hell the backup prison."
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