[97] : Join Me, Byrnndi World!

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Level 5, Frozen Hell. A desolate wasteland of ice and snow, patrolled by packs of vicious wolves.

The prisoners here faced a constant, bone-chilling cold—a double threat that made this level a true hell.

Ironically, Level 6, Eternal Hell, offered a more comfortable existence—a simple routine of eating and sleeping, free from the constant dangers of the upper levels.

"Help us!"

"Let us out! We'll escape together!"

"Do you know who I am? I'll reward you handsomely!"

The prisoners of Frozen Hell screamed and pleaded, but the escapees from Eternal Hell ignored them, a sense of superiority—of having survived a deeper hell—setting them apart.

"Free them. They'll make good distractions. While the guards are busy, we'll move to Level 4," Arthur said coldly.

Frozen Hell's extreme environment prevented even Transponder Snails from functioning. The control room was blind to what happened here.

But the guards would react eventually. Arthur's plan was to use these freed prisoners as pawns, buying himself time to recover.

"Hahaha! Freedom!"

"Damn Marines…"

The prisoners of Level 5, several times more numerous than those on Level 6, swarmed out of their cells, a chaotic mob rushing towards Level 4, the Blazing Hell.

——

Gurgle… Gurgle… Gurgle…

Level 4 was a landscape of fire and pools of boiling blood, the bubbling surface like molten lava.

But the gurgling sound wasn't coming from the blood pools.

"Prisoners should know their place—Venom Demon: Poison Cloud!"

Magellan, his body oozing purple venom, unleashed a cloud of poisonous gas. The approaching pirates collapsed, choking and convulsing, their bodies wracked with pain.

The toxic cloud spread.

"Wretched criminals! I'll lock you all away in darkness…your bodies—and your souls!" Magellan's voice, laced with venom, echoed through the level, droplets of poison sizzling as they hit the scorching ground.

"Kill him, and we're free!" Arthur yelled, then, cloaking himself and World in invisibility with electromagnetism, he slipped away, heading for Level 3.

"KILL!"

The prisoners charged forward, some with reckless abandon, others with a desperate, frantic energy.

"Hydra!"

Magellan's venom coalesced into two massive purple serpents, striking at the remaining prisoners.

——

On Level 3, the Starvation Hell, Arthur and World moved silently through the passageways, cloaked in Arthur's invisibility.

"The Rumble-Rumble Fruit can make you invisible? How?" World couldn't believe it. One Devil Fruit replicating another's power? He'd never heard of such a thing.

"You need to broaden your horizons." Arthur's voice was calm, his pace quick.

"Devil Fruit development depends on the user's ingenuity. Your More More Fruit is incredibly powerful, but your methods are…crude."

The More More Fruit could amplify an object's size and speed a hundredfold. It could even enhance the user's own speed, exponentially increasing their attack power. But it had limitations. It couldn't amplify anything other than the user or objects they touched.

"Crude? Are you saying I lack ingenuity?" World bristled.

It was a natural reaction. No one liked being told they weren't good enough.

"Not ingenuity—perspective." Arthur's voice remained neutral.

He was considering recruiting World, now that his spirit seemed broken. A little "guidance" couldn't hurt.

World, unaware of the fruit's true potential, limited by his own narrow perspective, had hit a wall in his development.

"Devil Fruits have another level—Awakening! An Awakened Devil Fruit can affect its surroundings. If your More More Fruit Awakens, you might overcome those limitations—the hundredfold limit and the restriction to yourself."

"Imagine amplifying another person's power a hundredfold—or even a thousandfold. Think of the possibilities!"

To Arthur, the More More Fruit's greatest potential lay in support, not direct combat. Amplifying his own meager cannon fire was a waste.

Arthur's Raigo could destroy islands. If World's fruit Awakened, amplifying Raigo a hundredfold…the destructive force would be unimaginable.

What could withstand such power? Not even the World Government.

Ancient Weapons? They'd be reduced to scrap.

No one could survive, unless they could escape to another dimension.

An amplified Raigo could sink Mary Geoise, sending the Celestial Dragons to a watery grave.

Of course, the stamina cost of such an amplification was unknown. It might kill World instantly. But amplifying the voltage of Arthur's lightning?

The More More Fruit was the ultimate offensive support ability. If World hadn't eaten it, Arthur would have taken it for himself. He'd even considered killing World to get it back.

But the fruit, once returned to the world, could reappear anywhere, perhaps remaining hidden for centuries. Killing World was too risky. Recruiting him was a far better option.

"Awakening? Breaking the hundredfold limit? Amplifying others' attacks?" World's eyes gleamed as he stared at Arthur. He wasn't stupid. He understood the implications.

"Bararara! You want me to join your crew, Arthur?"

World, though appearing middle-aged, was only in his forties. Six years frozen in ice had halted his aging.

"That's right, World."

Arthur's voice was sincere, his gaze steady as he stopped, extending his hand towards World.

"Your power and mine—together, we'd be unstoppable. Even Whitebeard wouldn't stand a chance."

It was a polite exaggeration. If he ever faced Whitebeard, he wouldn't allow any interference. He wouldn't let anyone tarnish his pride. If anyone got in his way during such a fight, he'd kill them.

"Join me, World! I can see your ambition is gone, but that fire... that rage in your eyes…it's still there, burning to be unleashed. Follow me, and you'll find no shortage of thrills... of battles. And sooner or later, We'll face the World Government!"

Arthur's invitation was genuine.

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