Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Impel Down, Level 6, the Infinite Hell.
Purple, highly toxic slime dripped onto the floor, sizzling as it corroded the stone.
The ground was littered with the corpses of legendary pirates, lying in twisted, grotesque positions.
Their skin had turned an unnatural blue-purple, bodies swollen, death horrifying to behold.
"Poison Colossus!"
Magellan stood expressionless atop a river of venom, hands pressed firmly to the ground.
A giant figure of poisonous liquid rose from the floor, a massive purple titan that engulfed the remaining prisoners, leaving them in an irreversible state of poisoning.
Hawk's figure cut through the toxic mist. With a precise punch, he struck Bondi Walde, the "World Destroyer," square in the chest.
The force tore through him, shattering his heart and spine simultaneously.
[Host eliminated World Destroyer – Bondi Walde. Justice Points gained: 50,000.]
[Remaining Justice Points: 944,598.]
Hawk's eyes were calm as he surveyed the prison turned into a literal hell on earth.
With the purge accelerating, the number of pirates in Impel Down plummeted.
The finishing work would be done in just a couple of days.
A barely audible sound of rushing air announced the arrival of Bartholomew behind Hawk.
Since the purge began, he had tirelessly moved between levels, delivering pain and reporting the battle's progress.
"Major General Hawk," he said.
"Colonel Zoro and Shiryu have reached a conclusion."
"…?"
"Colonel Zoro won."
Hawk nodded. Zoro's victory was expected.
After all, Shiryu had been weakened by Magellan's poison and was far from his peak.
Keeping him alive had been a deliberate choice, a perfect whetstone for Zoro's blade.
"Details?"
Bartholomew recounted the fight.
Half an hour ago, at Level 5, the Ice Hell.
The biting cold wind carried shards of ice as it howled across the frozen expanse.
Zoro stood bare-chested, his muscles cast like steel, each breath forming clouds of white mist.
His eyes were blood-red.
For this period, he had been immersed in a feast of slaughter.
The thick, overwhelming stench of blood in Impel Down did not unsettle him. On the contrary, it awakened something deep inside.
Zoro drew a deep breath, the cold, blood-laden air filling his lungs, and felt an unprecedented thrill.
Across from him, Rain Shiryu leaned on his sword, panting violently, eyes dark with malice.
"Kid, your gaze and swordsmanship are impressive," Shiryu said.
"Too bad, mere skill and stare alone cannot kill."
"Your sword is… too clean."
Zoro remained silent.
He slowly closed his eyes.
Indeed, his sword was not fierce enough, not cruel enough.
If it wasn't fierce enough, if it wasn't cruel enough, how could he protect his brother?
How could he become the greatest swordsman?
"Glare!"
He flung his eyes open. A murderous intent, far more terrifying than before, erupted from his body.
He held Wado Ichimonji across his chest, the blade reflecting a twisted red gleam in the dim light.
"Devour all sins without regret…"
He murmured, his voice hoarse and frenzied, as if a demon from the ninth hell spoke.
"This is the Path of the Demon!"
"Battle Spirit: One Sword Style – Demon, Abyss Unending!"
In an instant, Zoro vanished.
Shiryu's pupils contracted sharply. All he saw was a blood-red afterimage, exuding an aura of death, shredding every defense he had!
Fast to the extreme, merciless to the extreme!
"Splurt!"
Shiryu's chest erupted in a massive spray of blood. He was thrown back, slamming hard against the distant ice wall.
Zoro reappeared, maintaining his stance.
A single drop of blood slid down Wado Ichimonji's blade, landing on the ice, instantly forming a vivid red ice flower.
Nearby, Sanji quietly puffed on a cigarette, observing everything.
The lingering blood aura around Zoro sent a shiver through him.
If that slash had been aimed at him…
No, he needed to study his older brother carefully, or else…
He would be left behind by Zoro completely.
After Bartholomew's report, Hawk nodded with satisfaction.
Even without Onigiri's cursed sword, Zoro, relying solely on his talent, had tapped into a new type of "aura" in Impel Down, a slaughterhouse of death.
Blood aura… intriguing.
Hawk glanced at Bartholomew. "Good work."
"No trouble at all."
Bartholomew bowed slightly and vanished, moving to other levels.
Yet thinking of the recent call from old friend Borsalino, the familiar, tear-tinged voice of Bonney over the den-den mushi… made him feel that all this effort was worthwhile.
Hawk withdrew his gaze, focusing on the deepest part of the Infinite Hell.
Only two cells remained with pirates inside.
In one, Barrett sat cross-legged, eyes closed. He knew that until the final duel with Hawk arrived, this terrifying Marine would not strike.
In the other, shadows revealed a pair of sharp, aged eyes slowly opening.
"Finally… is it my turn?"
"Balorick Redfield," Hawk said calmly.
"Your swordsmanship is the strongest in Impel Down. You were the perfect whetstone for my swordsmen…"
"But…"
Unfortunately, the Justice System panel showed Hawk's Justice Points had plateaued at over 900,000, just shy of the one million needed to upgrade to top-tier Conqueror's Haki.
Nearly all pirates with bounties in the hundreds of millions had been slaughtered. The purge was in its final stage.
Now, Redfield would contribute his last measure of value.
Redfield chuckled lightly, stepping from the shadows.
"That green-haired kid is indeed a talented genius," he said, scrutinizing Hawk.
"But even more astonishing… is you, Marine brat."
"In my years ruling the seas, the only Marine who impressed me was that old bastard Garp."
"Never did I expect, as I rot here, to witness a monster like you."
"I think… with you here, I won't be too lonely below."
"My old friends will be visiting soon."
Click. Crack.
The cell door slowly opened.
Hawk looked at the legend before him.
"Yes. Your pirate friends… not one will be missing!"
Boom!