Chapter 21: Shadows in the Frost
Inazuma's gaze remained fixed on the unharmed Clay Clone standing before him. A sense of unease surged through his body, and instinctively, he took a few cautious steps back.
As far as he knew, there was only one person in all of Impel Down who possessed the ability to manipulate clay.
The newly appointed Chief Guard of Impel Down, the man who had been sent to the Freezing Hell just this morning!
Inazuma's throat went dry as he whispered the name.
"Chief Guard Storm?"
A sudden burst of sound, like thunder cracking through the air, erupted in his ears.
"You know me?"
The voice carried a pressure that sent shivers down Inazuma's spine.
A sinking feeling took hold of him. It wasn't just the sound of Storm's voice—it was the overwhelming presence coming from behind him!
Without a second thought, Inazuma pushed his body to the limit, exploding forward at the fastest speed he had ever mustered, fleeing from the spot. Only after he had put some distance between them—ten meters at least—did he dare to turn his head.
Storm was standing exactly where Inazuma had just been, gazing in his direction with a calm, unreadable expression.
'When did he move?!'
Inazuma's heart pounded wildly against his ribs. Cold sweat formed on his back.
"Was he standing there the entire time... watching me attack?!"
Storm's crimson gaze locked onto Inazuma, his steps deliberate as he moved forward.
"A half-yellow and half-white hair style… massive dual-wielded scissors..." he muttered.
Storm took another step closer, his voice devoid of emotion.
"You were a prisoner originally confined to the Freezing Hell."
"A high-ranking officer of the Revolutionary Army, Inazuma."
Hearing his true identity exposed, Inazuma's face darkened. His muscles tensed as he prepared for what was to come.
But before he could speak, Storm's relentless questioning continued.
"I'm curious..."
His presence grew heavier, his words sharper.
"Why is a prisoner on the death row standing before me, alive and well?"
"Why is there not a single trace of frostbite on you, yet your aura is so full of vitality?"
"And why..." Storm's eyes narrowed slightly, "do you know my name when I've only just arrived at Impel Down?"
Storm's cold and logical breakdown sent an alarming signal to Inazuma—he had to act. He couldn't allow Storm to connect the dots.
His hands shot up as he interrupted Storm's train of thought.
"Spinning Shears!"
Inazuma swung his arms violently, and the giant scissor blades that replaced them spun at terrifying speeds.
The air whistled.
Two massive pairs of spinning scissors launched forward like rotating saw blades, hurtling toward Storm with enough force to slice through solid steel.
Storm remained motionless, making no attempt to dodge.
Tsk—!
The spinning blades struck him, carving two deep gashes across his torso. The wounds stretched so wide that through them, one could see the snowy forest beyond.
But…
No blood spilled from his body.
Inazuma's pupils shrank.
"You should've realized it earlier."
The wounds sealed instantly. The clay that made up Storm's body reformed as if nothing had happened.
"Your attacks do not affect me!"
In an instant, Storm disappeared.
!
With a powerful stomp on the ground, he propelled himself forward at breakneck speed. In a blink, he was right in front of Inazuma.
A dark, armored fist was raised—coated in pitch-black Armament Haki.
The iron-clad fist descended like a hammer.
Iron Body: Serious Punch!
Inazuma barely reacted in time. He activated his Snip-Snip Fruit ability, hardening his body into solid blades to reduce the damage.
Clang—!
The collision rang out like metal striking metal.
Inazuma was sent flying backward, crashing through several massive trees before his body finally came to a halt.
Dust and shattered ice filled the air.
He coughed, blood trailing from the corner of his mouth. As the dust settled, a distinct fist-shaped dent remained on his hardened torso.
Even with his abilities mitigating some of the damage, the sheer force of Storm's Haki-infused punch had left its mark.
He wiped the blood from his lips, eyes filled with determination.
"As expected of the monster who can fight on equal footing with Shiryu the Rain!"
Gritting his teeth, Inazuma forced himself to stand.
He had to stop Storm.
"But no matter what… I can't let him find Okama Paradise!"
Inazuma's thoughts flashed to the hidden sanctuary beneath Impel Down—Newkama Land, the 5.5th Level.
A refuge led by the Queen of the Kamabakka Kingdom, Emporio Ivankov.
As Ivankov's most loyal follower, Inazuma would rather die than allow a jailer to discover its existence!
Inazuma slammed his bladed hands into the frozen ground beneath his feet.
Shh—!
The solid ice split apart and sheared into thin, precise layers.
Snip-Snip Fruit granted him more than just the ability to turn his body into blades—he could cut through any substance and manipulate the cut pieces like paper.
Instantly, the severed frozen soil beneath him floated upward, layered together into sharp, paper-thin fragments.
A fierce wind howled through the forest as Inazuma sent the frozen shards flying forward.
"KEEP OUT!"
[T/N: This is a real attack shown in Episode 448 of One Piece.]
The air was filled with dozens—no, hundreds—of deadly fragments, moving at speeds rivaling cannon fire. Each piece of "paper" was in reality a hardened blade of frozen ground, sharp enough to sever limbs on contact.
A barrage of razor-sharp frozen debris rained down upon Storm, aiming to bury him alive.
But Storm didn't falter.
Instead, he advanced toward the oncoming attack.
[Paper Art: Clay Style]!
Storm walked leisurely among the densely packed frozen soil fragments, his body constantly shifting with the fluctuations of the air.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Every chunk of frozen soil that fell created a deafening roar, shaking the earth. Yet, as Storm passed through this 'fatal labyrinth', he remained unscathed. Even the corners of his clothes were untouched by dust!
"Is this the best that the senior officers of the Revolutionary Army can do?"
Storm spread his fingers, and white clay surged out, instantly forming several thick clay strips. The tips of each were coated with a thin layer of Armament Haki to enhance their destructive power.
"If so, it's my turn to attack!"
"Clay Barrage!"
Storm controlled the clay strips, launching a violent hail at Inazuma.
Every piece of clay that struck the ground created massive craters.
Inazuma dodged one. Then another.
But he couldn't avoid the third and fourth—
Bang!
A clay strike, wrapped in Armament Haki, hit Inazuma's body, momentarily halting his movements. Immediately, countless clay strips converged, swallowing him whole.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of thunderous impacts followed.
At that moment, a new trophy appeared in front of Storm.
[Platinum Trophy: Inazuma]
[Star Rating: ★★★★★]
'Another platinum trophy secured!'
Storm retrieved the trophy and withdrew the clay.
On the uneven ground, Inazuma lay deep within the largest crater, covered in wounds. If not for the slight rise and fall of his chest, he would have seemed lifeless.
Looking at his defeated opponent, Storm frowned slightly.
The trophy was great. But what to do with Inazuma?
Storm had long known about the hidden "Five and a Half Floors" within Impel Down. However, he had never considered dealing with the bizarre "new humans" of the Newkama Paradise.
The trophies from the Newkama were no different from those of the prisoners.
If that was the case—
Why go to Newkama Paradise at all?
This was his first time in the Freezing Hell, and he hadn't expected to encounter someone from the Newkama Paradise so soon—let alone its second-in-command!
"The battle just now was quite loud. If the entrance to Newkama Paradise is near this forest, the people inside should have noticed."
"In that case…"
Storm glanced at the Clay Clone observing from the side. An idea surfaced in his mind.
A few seconds later—
A towering figure emerged from the dense forest of the Freezing Hell.
He was massive—over six meters tall—with long golden hair flowing behind him like a lion's mane.
But what stood out the most was the enormous crescent-shaped white mustache on his face!
Whitebeard III!
Edward Teach was back!
Storm's Clay-Clay Fruit ability had fully awakened, and combined with the color change ability he had obtained earlier, his new "Whitebeard III" form was no longer sloppy or comical.
Now, the "Whitebeard III" standing in the Freezing Hell bore an uncanny resemblance to Whitebeard in his forties!
Even if the real Whitebeard were here—
Upon seeing "Whitebeard III," even he might wonder whether he had an illegitimate child with Miss Buckingham!
Storm studied the Clay Clone before him—
No.
Now, he was Edward Teach!
Looking at Edward Teach, Storm nodded in satisfaction.
Then, Storm stepped forward and seamlessly merged with Edward Teach 's body, like a drop of water blending into the ocean.
"Move, Edward Teach!"
Storm concealed himself within the "Whitebeard III Mecha."
Like a novice Gundam pilot, he familiarized himself with his new body.
Once he adjusted—
Storm began imitating the real Whitebeard.
"Gunara—bah!
Gura! Gura—
Gurarararaa!
I AM WHITEBEARD THE THIRD!!"