"BOOM!"
A deafening sound echoed through the dark corridors of Level 2 of Impel Down's Wild Beast Hell.
Two massive shadows were blasted backward in opposite directions.
Kojin's shackled feet dragged along the ground behind him. His breathing was slightly ragged, yet his eyes were filled with excitement.
Not only was his body suppressed by Seastone, but he was also burdened with severe injuries. He could not unleash even a tenth of his full strength.
Yet, even under these circumstances, he could feel himself growing stronger.
In this extreme state of weakness, his body was adapting rapidly.
"Interesting... This is truly interesting!" With a loud laugh, Kojin suddenly charged forward again.
A few breaths later, he leapt high into the air and dived fiercely towards the savage beast ahead.
"Headbutt!"
His hardened forehead slammed ruthlessly into the Jailer Beast's skull.
Immediately, the huge eyes of the horned Jailer Beast spun in circles.
Five or six seconds later... BANG!
The enormous creature crashed to the ground.
Kojin landed on its head.
Suddenly, a violent gust of wind hit him from behind as another shadow lunged towards him. His legs exploded with force as he leapt upwards once again. The chains behind him rattled loudly and stretched taut.
Then, in mid-air, his body spun sharply and the chains whipped out violently.
SMACK!
The hard chains slammed directly across the Jailer Beast's face, causing it to howl in agony as deep chain marks appeared on its cheek.
"ROAR!"
The pain only served to enrage the Jailer Beast further as it lifted its head and roared furiously.
"Haaa…"
Kojin landed on the ground, sliding backwards a considerable distance, before breathing out slowly.
"The feeling of suppressing my condition to its absolute lowest while still fighting intensely…"
"It's truly exhilarating!"
"Every second feels like standing on the boundary between life and death!"
As he muttered to himself, he looked up at the clawing and roaring Jailer Beast ahead of him.
Then, without warning, he turned around suddenly and sprinted away.
In the blink of an eye, he vanished into the shadows.
Neither the Jailer Beast nor the prisoners in the nearby cells could react in time.
"ROAR!"
It was only after two or three seconds that the Jailer Beast let out an enraged howl and charged after him, but by then, Kojin was nowhere to be found.
After the furious beast had rushed past, Kojin calmly opened a prison cell door and stepped out.
"This level of high-intensity, continuous combat has already pushed this body beyond its limits. I need to rest and recover for a while." He muttered quietly.
Then he headed deeper into Wild Beast Hell, searching for a ruined, empty location in which to hide before finally closing his eyes to rest.
Ten days later, he awoke.
After checking his physical condition, Kojin entered Wild Beast Hell once again and resumed his fierce battles against the Jailer Beasts.
The fighting continued for almost a month, leaving countless prisoners shocked and confused.
"He clearly isn't afraid of the Jailer Beasts, so why doesn't he escape?"
"That man is a monster, not just in strength, but mentally too!"
"He seems to be deliberately seeking out battles with the Jailer Beasts!"
"..."
All kinds of speculation spread throughout Wild Beast Hell.
Yet no one could answer these questions.
Kojin had completely immersed himself in this ascetic form of cultivation and could no longer pull himself away from it.
He had even forgotten the passage of time itself. The only thing he could sense was that the Seastone's hold on his body was weakening gradually, or, more accurately, his physical strength was increasing.
Although the improvement was incredibly slight and almost imperceptible, it was undeniably real.
"With this kind of training, my perception of the surrounding environment is improving too."
"Is this the aura that allows you to perceive the world so clearly?"
"Observation Haki?"
Whenever Kojin paused to rest, he would think deeply about it.
He closed his eyes and deliberately trained this growing perception. With both arms severed, his feet bound in shackles and his Devil Fruit powers completely suppressed by Seastone, he was at his weakest. Yet, despite these restrictions, his other senses had become sharper than ever before.
It was as if he were a person whose eyes had been blindfolded, unable to see the surrounding world but with heightened hearing and awareness to compensate.
...
In the blink of an eye, a full year passed.
Impel Down had not changed in the slightest because of his arrival. Even Magellan had almost forgotten about him.
The jailers had not seen him for a long time either. Whenever new prisoners were brought in, they were confined to the entrance area of Wild Beast Hell.
Meanwhile, Kojin remained deep within its depths.
This area contained the greatest number of Jailer Beasts, including the strongest of them all. In fact, even after a whole year, there were still many Jailer Beasts that he had yet to encounter.
He led a mechanical and monotonous ascetic life.
His meals were reduced to the bare minimum, causing him to grow thinner and thinner.
...
During that same year, many events unfolded in the outside world.
The World Government officially implemented the Warlord System.
The first person invited to join was the recently famous captain of the Kuja Pirates, Boa Hancock.
Her appointment as the first Shichibukai signaled that this turbulent era had entered its most intense phase.
…
Time passed quietly.
Kojin's black hair grew longer and longer, hanging messily across his body. The chains piercing through his back had practically become part of him, and even the shackles on his feet barely affected his movements anymore.
Because under such intense restraint, he had mastered far more refined methods of movement.
The strong never complain about their environment.
An even harsher environment only forces them to adapt more quickly and become even stronger.
…
Another year passed, and in the blink of an eye, it became the year 1512.
Kojin had completely integrated himself into Wild Beast Hell.
Within this level, not only had he become thoroughly familiar with the Jailer Beasts, but he had even established surprisingly good relationships with the prisoners.
Whenever he grew tired, he would casually pick a prison cell, close his eyes, and sleep there while the prisoners stared at him, trembling in fear, offering concerned looks and even friendly food.
Once he had rested enough, he would leave the cell and throw himself back into battle again.
This only made the prisoners even more confused about his identity.
They simply could not understand how this man could move so freely within the dangerous Wild Beast Hell.
"He even has the keys to the prison cells?!"
'A prisoner just like them actually possessing keys to Impel Down, Wasn't that utterly ridiculous?'
Meanwhile, Impel Down remained peaceful throughout the year.
…
Outside World, Foolshout Island
"Boss Tiger!!"
"Hurry! Big Brother Tiger is injured!"
"He's lost too much blood! He needs a transfusion!"
Arlong, Jinbe, and the other Fish-Men stared at Fisher Tiger lying there, their bodies trembling with panic. They had escorted the former slave Koala back to her hometown, only to be betrayed by the residents and ambushed by Marines lying in wait.
The leader of the Sun Pirates, Fisher Tiger, had suffered severe injuries during the battle and was now barely clinging to life.
"This is a human battleship! We only have human blood here!"
Soon, a Fish-Man rushed out carrying several blood bags and shouted loudly.
"Quick, give Big Brother the transfusion!" Jinbe roared.
The ship doctor immediately moved to act, but the unconscious Fisher Tiger suddenly opened his eyes and grabbed the doctor's arm tightly.
"It seems… I still cannot let go of it." A complicated expression appeared on Fisher Tiger's face as he sighed softly.
"I was once a slave."
That single sentence caused Arlong, Jinbe, and the others to change expression instantly.
"Even though I have always preached equality and coexistence… I myself was the one who could never truly achieve it."
A look of sorrow emerged on Fisher Tiger's face.
"Big Brother Tiger!" Arlong cried uncontrollably, tears and snot running down his face as he tightly held Tiger's hand.
"But only human blood can save you!" Jinbe also silently shed tears.
"I… can no longer love humans." Fisher Tiger slowly closed his eyes.
He wanted to quietly wait for death.
To simply leave this world.
Perhaps, for him, this too was fate.
The sea breeze blew past him, and he could clearly feel the airflow brushing against his body.
The experiences of his life rapidly flashed before his eyes.
"Let me leave like this."
"Only by not passing my hatred of humans onto the next generation can true reconciliation exist."
Fisher Tiger silently thought to himself as he felt his life slipping away and his consciousness gradually fading.
The scenes before his eyes flashed faster and faster.
Suddenly, A figure seemed to appear before him.
He had short black hair and was wearing a white Marine uniform.
A sword hanging at his waist, while a Marine cloak fluttered behind him in the wind.
The man stood there silently, looking down at him.
"Vice Admiral Kojin!" Fisher Tiger froze.
"So this is all you amount to, Fisher Tiger?"
"It seems you still do not truly understand the meaning of equality."
"If even you cannot achieve equality… Then who among the Fish-Men can?"
"And who in this world ever could?"
The voice grew louder and louder, roaring through his mind like thunder, causing Fisher Tiger's entire body to jolt as though struck by lightning.
His eyes suddenly snapped open.
He grabbed the ship doctor again just as the man was shaking his head and preparing to leave.
"Transfuse… Give me the blood transfusion!"
The ship doctor turned around in shock.
Just moments ago, Big Brother Tiger had seemed ready to die.
'How had he suddenly awakened again?'
"I suddenly remembered… There is still something important I have not yet done." Fisher Tiger spoke with difficulty.
His physical condition was indeed extremely weak, and he could die at any moment.
But at this moment, his spirit burned with unprecedented intensity.
"Hurry! Save Big Brother!" Arlong shouted excitedly.
The entire Sun Pirates crew became emotional.
The ship doctor immediately began the transfusion. As they watched human blood flow into Fisher Tiger's body, all the Fish-Men finally let out sighs of relief.
There was still hope!
He could still be saved!
Fisher Tiger gradually felt strength returning to his body and slowly exhaled.
"No matter what doubts I still carry… Before saying goodbye to this world… I should at least go see him one more time."
Half an hour later, Fisher Tiger's injuries were stabilized for the time being.
But at that very moment, they encountered another danger.
"A Marine Admiral has arrived!!"
The sudden report caused Jinbe's expression to change drastically. Fisher Tiger slowly stood up and calmly issued his captain's orders.
"All of you, take the lifeboats from the battleship and leave immediately! I'll hold off the enemy ahead!"
Arlong still tried to object, but under Fisher Tiger's gaze, he could only fall silent.
The crew quickly evacuated.
Meanwhile, Fisher Tiger continued receiving the blood transfusion while personally steering the battleship straight toward the enemy without hesitation.
"So being alive… can still serve a purpose after all."
As he looked at the approaching enemy forces, Fisher Tiger suddenly thought to himself, a faint smile appearing on his face.
What he did not notice, however, was the hidden figure inside the ship's cabin behind him… A pair of eyes filled with nervousness and determination, silently watching everything.
(End of Chapter)
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