On the fourth level, Blazing Hell, Lucien sensed that several battles had already concluded.
Behind him, Blackbeard had successfully completed his transformation and had become a Demon.
The amount of Demon Blood Blackbeard absorbed surprised Lucien slightly. It was only marginally less than Katakuri's, who belonged firmly to the first tier.
It far exceeded Cracker, Smoothie, Doflamingo, and the others classified in the second tier.
From this alone, Blackbeard later rising to become a major boss, or even a final boss level figure, was not unreasonable.
Aside from the power of the Dark Dark Fruit, Blackbeard's physical combat ability and Haki were already among the strongest.
At present, among all the Demons under Lucien's command, only Katakuri and Blackbeard stood within the first tier.
"Go deal with the others."
Lucien stood atop Zeus, overlooking the massive pit before him that connected directly to the fifth level, Freezing Hell.
Magellan's aura was rapidly approaching.
At the same time, the auras of Katakuri, Cracker, Big Barrel, and Doc Q were also drawing closer. Judging by their presence, their battles had already ended.
"Yes."
Blackbeard responded calmly, though a cold glint flickered deep within his eyes.
He had already finished receiving the cellular memories and understood his current situation clearly.
There were advantages, and there were drawbacks.
The benefit was obvious. He had become stronger and gained an immortal body. As long as that existence above him did not perish, he would remain undying and indestructible.
The downside was just as obvious.
He no longer controlled his own life and death.
His ambition had been extinguished in an instant.
Freedom was gone, likely for a lifetime.
No matter how unwilling he felt, the outcome was already set.
Unless he could find a way to break free from that control.
He had already tried to use the power of the Dark Dark Fruit to resolve the issue.
It failed.
This power did not belong to Devil Fruits, making his abilities useless in this regard.
Lucien paid no attention to Blackbeard's inner thoughts.
He rode Zeus directly toward Freezing Hell.
His target was Magellan.
This was an expert whose strength was not inferior to that of an Admiral.
Especially the Poison Poison Fruit, which was an extremely dangerous and versatile weapon.
In Freezing Hell, Katakuri and Big Barrel encountered Magellan, who had just arrived from Infinite Hell. Cracker and Doc Q were also prepared for battle.
Magellan's entire body dripped with poison as he stared at the four figures before him, his expression grim.
He could not understand what had happened.
He had only gone down to Infinite Hell briefly, yet upon returning, the Blackbeard Pirates and the Big Mom Pirates, who had been fighting each other moments earlier, had somehow united.
Not only that, it looked like they intended to surround him.
What exactly had happened in such a short time?
...
Lucien descended from the sky, raging flames burning above his head as he gazed at Magellan's unsightly face with clear satisfaction.
Magellan's expression darkened as he looked up.
The pressure intensified instantly.
Facing a Yonko, along with four powerful subordinates, the situation was overwhelmingly unfavorable.
"You all go deal with the others."
Lucien waved his hand casually toward Katakuri and the rest.
"Yes."
Katakuri stored his trident and immediately launched himself toward Blazing Hell like a cannonball.
Cracker, Big Barrel, and Doc Q followed closely behind.
Magellan kept his eyes fixed on Lucien. When the others departed, he let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"Big Mom, what exactly are you trying to do?"
Lucien's expression was relaxed, though the grotesque features of his body made the sight unsettling.
"Isn't it obvious? I want to subdue you. So tell me, will you resist, or will you not?"
"Delusional."
Magellan's anger surged.
"The Marines will soon dispatch an Admiral for support. When that happens, you will not be able to escape."
Purple poison poured continuously from his body, corroding the ground beneath his feet.
Lucien remained silent for a moment before smiling faintly.
"Even if the Marines could spare the effort, so what?"
"If they send one Admiral, I kill one."
"If they send two, I kill both."
"If they send three, I wipe them out."
"If they send four, I take them all."
"Just as I wish."
"Poison Hand!"
Magellan attacked instantly, decisively.
The title of Yonko did not intimidate him in the slightest.
Deep purple poison surged across his right arm, forming a massive hand that lunged toward Lucien.
As long as he made contact, Magellan was confident he could take his opponent down.
"Imperial Might."
Thunder and flames intertwined.
Napoleon expanded to ten meters in length as Lucien swung it in a single decisive strike.
Sword and poison collided violently.
Flames, lightning, and poison erupted in every direction.
The ground shattered and corroded endlessly.
Magellan groaned as his right arm trembled violently, his entire body sliding backward across the ground and carving two terrifying trails.
Lucien did not move an inch.
Purple poisonous mist filled the air. Any normal person would experience paralysis and hallucinations just from breathing it in.
Yet before the poison could reach Lucien, it was incinerated by Prometheus's flames.
It could not approach him at all.
Magellan's expression turned grim.
Seeing his poison rendered ineffective, he realized his greatest advantage had been completely nullified.
Wearing down Big Mom was impossible.
As the ground continued to explode, Lucien took the initiative.
"Poison Holy Dragon!"
Magellan roared as the poison transformed into a colossal beast that charged forward.
"Shattering Blade."
Lucien raised Napoleon and unleashed a massive thunder fire slash.
Napoleon's ability to grow and shrink allowed for devastating attacks, and with Prometheus's flames and Zeus's lightning reinforcing it, the slash carried overwhelming power.
Lucien only needed to expend Armament Haki.
Puff. Puff.
After a brief stalemate, the Poison Dragon shattered.
The scattered poison was burned into residue by lightning and flame.
Only a faint purple haze lingered in the air.
"Damn it!"
Magellan roared in fury as poison swelled across his entire body.
"Poison Hole, Pillar of Heaven!"
He slammed both hands into the ground.
The area exploded instantly.
Countless poison pillars shot skyward, rotating violently as they enveloped Lucien, attempting to tear him apart.
A red light flickered within Lucien's eyes.
He swung Napoleon repeatedly, unleashing fiery slashes that forcibly neutralized the attack.
"Poison Dragon!"
Magellan gasped for breath as multiple Poison Dragons rose behind him, charging forward with gaping maws.
Lucien landed firmly, gripping Napoleon tightly.
Prometheus and Zeus wrapped around the blade.
The ground beneath his feet collapsed as Lucien transformed into a golden bolt of lightning.
"Tenfold Instant Kill!"
Time seemed to slow.
The Poison Dragons froze midair as Lucien passed through them effortlessly.
Magellan's expression shifted to disbelief.
He had never imagined Big Mom could move at such speed.
By the time he realized what had happened, a deep wound tore across his abdomen.
His entire left waist had been severed.
Lightning crackled violently through the air as blood poured out.
Magellan collapsed to his knees, hands bracing against the ground, his face twisted in pain and disbelief.
He had not even been given time to react.
Lucien appeared behind him.
A black thorn extended from his back and pierced directly into Magellan, beginning the injection of Demon Blood.
Magellan was nearly severed in half.
Without transformation, death was inevitable.
Lucien had no intention of letting such a powerful individual die.
Not yet.
If Magellan was going to die, it would be after his value had been fully extracted.
Resistance no longer mattered.
Demon Blood surged into Magellan's body, reshaping his cells violently.
He convulsed uncontrollably.
As the blood continued to flow, Lucien's expression shifted slightly.
Magellan's tolerance surpassed Cracker's second tier.
It continued rising, steadily pushing toward the first tier threshold.
Once it crossed that boundary, Magellan would become a first tier Demon.
Ten minutes later, the transformation completed.
Until now, only Katakuri and Blackbeard occupied the first tier.
Magellan had officially joined them.
===
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