Taejin and Kizaru, watching each other, vanished from their spots in an instant, and the surroundings were filled only with flashes of light as if announcing their clash. At that sight, Magellan looked around with a troubled expression.
"Well, well... I can't get in..."
While fighting Kizaru, I learned several things. Originally, scientifically speaking, if you run at a speed close to light, time slows down. Because of that, the mind should also be affected, but since the Glint-Glint Fruit is a Devil Fruit, it allows one to move at light speed without being affected by time.
What this means is that while the body can move at light speed, the mind β that is, the thoughts inside the head β cannot.
Of course, through the Glint-Glint Fruit and training, it would be faster, but I also had the [Accelerated Thought] ability, and I could utilize the limitless (Mugentan) technique "Blue (Sou)," which was almost at the level of teleportation.
In the end, it became a battle of who could think faster and who had superior [Observation Haki]. But my [Observation Haki] was already EX rank.
We clashed for a long time and then separated. Kizaru was sweating and looking very flustered.
"No way... he's keeping up with my speed..."
"Light may be the fastest, but spatial distortion is faster than light. I don't know if you'll understand, but the reason the night sky is dark is proof of that."
Even though I kindly explained, Kizaru looked like he didn't understand. With their level of scientific knowledge, it was probably an incomprehensible story.
"Anyway, to put it simply, it means that I might be faster than you, Kizaru."
"W-well, that's scary~!"
Having fought once, Kizaru seemed to understand this part.
"So the Space-Space Fruit truly is an unbelievable Devil Fruit. How did its existence remain unknown until now..."
To say it again, no such Devil Fruit exists. I simply made it up for my own convenience in using abilities.
"Well, someone probably had it but couldn't utilize it, so it never gained attention."
At those words, Kizaru scratched his head, looking troubled.
"Hoo... this is a problem..."
I looked at Kizaru and urged him once more.
"It is true that I hold a grudge against the Navy for abandoning their own comrades simply because of different origins. However, I still occasionally visit and cherish the good memories of sharing a drink and grilling sausages together. So please, even now, take your Marines and return to headquarters."
"I think you already know my answer, since your Observation Haki is so excellent."
"I suppose so."
Kizaru firmly refused.
I readjusted my stance and prepared to fight, and Kizaru and Magellan likewise prepared. This time, using [Parallel Thinking] to manifest the limitless technique as a blue (sou) blade, I closed the distance with Kizaru while simultaneously using [Observation Haki] to read his movements.
Following that movement, I used "Crimson (Kaku)" to instantly expand the space, slowing Kizaru's movement, and then closed the distance.
Wham wham wham whack!!!
"Guh!!!"
Following Kizaru, I infused [Conqueror's Haki] into my fists and struck him repeatedly, attacking his abdomen.
Suddenly, purple poison in the shape of a dragon flew in from the side.
"Poison Dragon!!!"
I quickly dodged backward to avoid the attack. Seizing that opportunity, Kizaru kicked and launched a ball of light at me.
"Amano-Iwato!"
But the attack lost its light and disappeared as it approached me. With Kizaru already damaged, forcing out an attack like that could not penetrate the limitless technique.
"N-no way..."
I moved quickly again, this time approaching Magellan, grabbed both his horns, and delivered a knee kick to his head.
Crack!!
"Gwah!!!"
My attack didn't end there. I strongly kicked Magellan's abdomen with a roundhouse kick as he tried to fall backward from the powerful knee strike.
Thump!!!
"Ugh!!"
Magellan flew backward from the attack, hitting the wall hard enough to be buried in it.
Thud!!
"Magellan!!"
Kizaru, still suffering from the damage of my consecutive attacks and having forced an attack in that state, could only clutch his abdomen and was completely unable to help Magellan.
"Ghh... ugh... I made a mistake. The Navy underestimated your level far too much. Conqueror's Haki, the utilization of the Space-Space Fruit... you may have already surpassed the level of the Four Emperors. I should have realized it from the time Sakazuki was defeated..."
"I gave you many opportunities."
"Damn it... Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi!"
Kizaru struggled to his feet, brought his hands together, then spread them apart, forming a sword of light. The always-composed Kizaru was nowhere to be seen.
I quickly approached Kizaru again. Seeing this, Kizaru hurriedly tried to bring the Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi down on me, but I ignored it and placed my hand on his abdomen.
"This is..."
The Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi could not penetrate the limitless technique and just stopped above my head. Using the "Blue (Sou)" of the limitless technique, I compressed and tore away Kizaru's abdomen.
Crack!!!
"Gwaaah!!"
Thud!
Kizaru took the attack, spat blood, and collapsed on the spot, dead. I had given him a chance to return to headquarters with his Marines out of consideration for our past relationship, but once he chose to fight, I had no intention of letting him live.
The Glint-Glint Fruit was one of the fruits I absolutely needed to obtain in the One Piece world.
And there was another reason I had shown consideration for Kizaru. If he had infused his Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi with maximum Armament Haki and brought it down, that attack would surely have reached me. I had attacked knowing that risk.
Because [Armament Haki] weakens even the limitless technique. But Kizaru did not do that. Whether it was overconfidence in his own abilities or an apology for the island-native Navy soldiers who had suffered all this time, I could not say.
Ding~!
[You have stolen the abilities: (SS) Glint-Glint Fruit (Awakened), (SS) Armament Haki, (SSS) Observation Haki.]
[(SSS) Observation Haki ability is absorbed into (EX) Observation Haki.]
[(SS) Armament Haki ability is absorbed into (SSS) Armament Haki, raising rank to (EX) Armament Haki.]
With the accumulation of abilities I had obtained over time, Armament Haki finally reached EX rank as well.
"No way! Kizaru..."
At that moment, I heard Magellan's startled voice. It seemed Magellan had finally come to his senses.
"Your name was Magellan, was it? I assume you now understand the difference in our strength, so I will say this: take care of Kizaru's remains."
"Guh... damn you!!!"
A warning not to attack further and to just take Kizaru's body. Magellan, understanding that fact, shed tears, looked up at the sky, cursed, then approached Kizaru's body, slowly lifted it, and walked away somewhere.
I watched for a moment, then quickly descended to Level 6. Because there was a fruit I needed to obtain here.
"I need to get the Moa-Moa Fruit before I leave."
The Moa-Moa Fruit was the fruit of the main villain "Byndi World" in the One Piece movie "3D2Y: Overcome Ace's Death! Luffy's Vow to His Friends."
That fruit allows the user to amplify the speed or size of any object they touch by up to 100 times. Its main uses include increasing the size of a held weapon by tens of times to increase attack range and power, or throwing small objects like pebbles or walnut fragments at tens of times speed to use them like a shotgun.
Since the ability can also be applied to the user's own body, it is also possible to amplify one's own speed to move at ultra-high speeds.
To be honest, I think this fruit really ended up with the wrong owner. If a strong person like Whitebeard or Sakazuki had possessed it, it would be such an overpowered fruit that the story of One Piece itself might not have progressed.
A hundred times. That is truly an absurd number. Even a real-life human, if their body could withstand it, could run at Mach speeds.
As soon as I arrived at Impel Down Level 6, I took out [Jack Sparrow's Compass] and searched for Byndi World. Byndi World was frozen in a large corner room on Level 6. With his Viking helmet and missing teeth, just like in the original, I confirmed that it was indeed Byndi World.
So I immediately took a sword-cane from my inventory and cut the frozen Byndi World in half.
Swoosh!
[You have stolen the abilities: (SS) Moa-Moa Fruit (Awakened), (S) Armament Haki, (A) Observation Haki.]
Judging by the ranks of his Armament and Observation Haki, this guy seemed to be one of those who only relied on his fruit ability and ran wild.
'Such a good fruit, wasted on him...'
To hide my fruit collecting, I used Eldritch Magic to open a gate connecting to a distant sea and threw Byndi World's body into the ocean. The Sea Kings would take care of the rest.
Now, I quickly went back up to Level 4 and began searching for the island-native Navy soldiers. I judged that since they were still young and had no bounties, they would not have been imprisoned in levels lower than Level 4.
"Let us out too, King of Merchants!"
Many prisoners in Impel Down saw me and begged to be released, but I ignored them and found the Navy soldiers and freed them. They began to cry, seemingly overcome with emotion.
"President, ugh..."
"Don't just stand there crying, help the ones who have trouble moving."
"Yes, President!"
We continued going through Level 4, Level 3, and Level 2, rescuing Navy soldiers. But it wasn't just Navy soldiers β we also freed some that the island-native Navy soldiers had become close with or recommended as decent people, so the numbers grew a bit. Of course, I thoroughly read their memories to verify them.
Along the way, I also saw Mr. 2 Bon Kurei and Mr. 3 Galdino of Baroque Works. Galdino, whether because he was afraid of me or not, turned his head and pretended not to see me, so I also pretended not to see him. I looked at Bon Kurei for a moment and considered taking him, but since Luffy hadn't come to Impel Down yet, I reluctantly gave up.
Moving on, I finally reached Level 1, where Hannyabal, shirtless and holding his dual-bladed weapon, stood alone blocking my path.
"This is as far as you go, King of Merchants! The Warden may have given up, but I have not!!!"
But this guy β his body was just too ugly. His upper body was abnormally long, and only his stomach stuck out. I normally don't comment on people's appearances, but Hannyabal was really something.
Thud!
Flop!
Not having much time, I quickly approached and kicked him. Hannyabal flew far away, crashed into the floor, and immediately lost consciousness.
Despite that minor incident, I continued rescuing people while going through Level 1. I also saw Buggy imprisoned there. He said, "If you release me, I will lick even your boots," so I frowned and quickly rescued the island-native Navy soldiers instead.
After rescuing everyone and coming outside, I saw a few Navy soldiers guarding the entrance, crying. They seemed to be Kizaru's subordinates.
"You may just leave. Admiral Kizaru gave orders that if the King of Merchants came out first, we were not to engage until they departed."
"I-is that so."
So I took Maxim out of my inventory without any interference, loaded everyone aboard, and quickly departed from Impel Down.
While traveling, I thought about why Kizaru would have given such an order. I wasn't sure how he predicted that I would come out first, but I decided to accept it as Kizaru's own way of showing consideration for the island-native Navy soldiers.
'Did I kill him for nothing? I feel a little guilty.'
With such thoughts in mind, I arrived at a nearby island, dropped off those who would leave, gave brief treatment to the severely injured Navy soldiers, then set off again and arrived at the store. Fortunately, nothing had happened at the store in my absence.
Again, I assigned appropriate jobs to the newcomers and sent the island-native Navy soldiers to the Merchant's Island for treatment.
While living like that, another employee came running to me out of breath and handed me a newspaper.
"[Breaking News] 'King of Merchants' Raids Impel Down... Navy Admiral Killed, Bounty Soars to 4.5 Billion Berries
The King of Merchants has once again shocked the world. This time, he directly attacked Impel Down, known as the world's worst prison, and succeeded in escaping with numerous prisoners.
According to Navy officials, a tragedy occurred during the raid in which one Navy Admiral was killed in action. The Navy Headquarters is currently holding a solemn funeral.
Consequently, the King of Merchants' bounty has been increased by 1 billion berries from before, reaching a total of 4.5 billion berries, placing him shoulder to shoulder with the Four Emperors. Experts are unanimous in saying, 'With this incident, no one can deny that the era of the Five Emperors has dawned.'"
The employee showed me the newspaper and said.
"Congratulations, you have become a Five Emperor. Now, no one will be able to treat us carelessly."
At the employee's congratulations, I fell into thought for a moment.
"Well, I don't know if that's a good thing. It means the world's attention on us has increased by that much. From a merchant's perspective, it's good for the products we sell to be noticed, but it's not so good for the seller to be noticed."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
Moreover, now that Kizaru had died by my hand, I had also become irreversibly estranged from the Navy.
Just then, a loud voice was heard from outside.
"Come out, Five Emperor! Let's fight!!"
I wondered who it was and looked outside. It was 'Eustass Kid' outside, screaming his head off.