Amidst the Red Count's scream, searing flames burst forth from around Kaguya. Empowered by the Invisible Air's Barrier, the fire blazed upward, engulfing everything in an instant and reducing the Red Count's blood mist to ashes.
This was none other than Saber's skill—"Memories of the Dragon."
As one bearing dragon blood, Saber could wield aspects of a dragon's power. This ability was one of them. Though its name sounded terribly lame to Kaguya—so uncool she almost didn't want to use it—its power was undeniable.
The Red Count, sensing danger, quickly retreated. Even so, the scorching heat singed his hair, tattered his clothes, and left his face charred black.
"You fell for it," Kaguya said coldly, a trace of mockery flashing in her eyes.
With a stomp, the ground beneath her cracked, and her body shot out like an arrow. She gripped her black-red sword tightly, dark crimson light surging across its shimmering blade.
The Red Count's eyes narrowed.
What an overwhelming aura.
"I'll admit your strength isn't bad, but it won't be enough to defeat me," the Red Count said coldly, red light flashing in his eyes. "Night Veil."
At his words, the prison plunged into pitch-black darkness. Not even a hand in front of one's face could be seen. A thick curtain of darkness shrouded everything. The Red Count's form vanished into the gloom.
Kaguya paused, her eyes narrowing.
She could feel it—the light had disappeared, like it was stripped away.
This ability resembled the Second Hokage's Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, depriving enemies of vision through illusory darkness.
To Kaguya, this was a mere parlor trick. Normally, she could break it with ease. But in her current form as Black Saber, she lacked the true body's "Star Eyes" that could see through all illusions.
That made things slightly more troublesome.
"Roger, Whitebeard..." the Red Count's voice echoed from all directions. "It was because of them that I gave up my ambition and chose to rot away in Impel Down. But Roger was executed, and Whitebeard became a decrepit old man, drained of power."
"So now, I will inherit their dream. With this eternally youthful body, I will become the true King of Pirates!"
"And you... you will be my second sacrifice."
"King of Pirates?" Kaguya sneered. "You're nothing more than a rat in a sewer. And you dare boast so shamelessly?"
"Instinct."
An invisible ripple spread out like waves.
There.
Kaguya's eyes sharpened. With a powerful motion, she swung both arms down. A black sword beam tore through the air, transforming into a massive lightning-wrapped dark pillar that shot forward with thunderous might.
"Ex—calibur!"
"What?!"
BOOM!
A deafening roar echoed through the prison as it shook violently, as if struck by an earthquake. The stone walls shattered, fragments flying in all directions. Violent shockwaves turned into sweeping gales, kicking up clouds of dust.
Boom!
A figure was sent flying like it had been struck by a freight train. With a loud crash, it slammed into the wall, blowing a massive hole through it. Cracks spread like a spiderweb across the surface, and rubble tumbled down.
He looked utterly miserable—his clothes were torn and disheveled, his body charred black and smeared with blood, radiating a scorched stench. He was a far cry from the once self-assured and elegant figure he had portrayed.
After being imprisoned in Impel Down for so long, not only had his body deteriorated, but his spirit and fighting will had dulled. Even after absorbing Catarina's blood, he was still far from the peak of his youth.
More importantly, in his hasty assault, Kaguya had burned most of his blood with her Memories of the Dragon ability. Without the support of that blood, his power dropped significantly.
Cough cough.
The Red Count struggled to his feet, hacking up blood. As he looked up, his eyes narrowed.
His Night Veil ability should have rendered all light null, disrupting an opponent's vision. Normally, even a powerful enemy would need time to adapt to such darkness. But she had immediately seen through his location with ease.
Kaguya stepped in front of him, gazing down coldly.
"You said earlier you wanted to become what? The true king who rules all pirates? Since when did the title of king become so cheap?"
Anger flickered across the Red Count's face.
"Don't get cocky. You're nothing but a snot-nosed little girl. How could you possibly understand my dream?"
"Your dream was to rot in Impel Down forever?" Kaguya retorted icily. "If I hadn't shown up today, you probably wouldn't have even considered leaving."
The Red Count's face stiffened, turning livid. "Don't spout nonsense. You have no idea what's in my heart!"
"Is that so?" Kaguya tilted her head slightly, her lips curling. "Then show me."
"What did you say?" the Red Count asked, eyes narrowing.
"If you're so determined," Kaguya said, dismissing her sword with a flick of her arm, "then go prove it. Actions speak louder than empty words."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Red Count growled. "Are you pitying me?"
"Pity?" Kaguya turned back, mocking him. "A salted fish with no dreams will always just be a salted fish—no matter how much pity is offered. You should be thankful you're not one yet."
The Red Count couldn't help but ask, "Then what am I?"
"A salted fish with dreams."
"..."
...
Kaguya released all the prisoners from Level Six, and the prison instantly became lively. Except for Catarina, who had been drained into a desiccated corpse, there were also Vasco Shot the Heavy Drinker, Sanjuan Wolf the Colossal Battleship, Avalo Pizarro the Corrupt King, World Destroyer Valdo, and the Red Count, Baloric Redfield.
Each one of them was a notorious pirate with bounties in the hundreds of millions, clearly not minor characters. Of course, in Kaguya's eyes, they were nothing remarkable.
After all, despite their ferocious appearances, hardly any among them could reach the level of a navy admiral—perhaps only the Red Count came close.
"You actually dared to break into Impel Down. You must have quite the nerve."
"Exactly. Don't you know what Impel Down represents?"
"With your strength, do you think you can leave here?"
"Let me say this first. Just because you freed me doesn't mean I owe you anything. Hahaha!"
The released pirates laughed wildly like untamed horses, showing no self-awareness, not even showing gratitude to the one who freed them.
"Are you really going to save them?" the Red Count asked, walking over and giving them a cold glance. He snorted, "These lawless bastards won't be grateful."
"They're just a bunch of small fry," Kaguya said coldly. "I'm not interested in the gratitude of weaklings."
"What?!"
Kaguya's words immediately drew their ire. The crowd broke into a clamor.
"Too arrogant! Calling us small fry!"
"She clearly looks down on us!"
"Such self-importance. Does she even know who we are? We're big-time pirates!"
"Right! Just a little girl who got lucky sneaking in here dares to be so presumptuous."
"Yeah! Just a benefactor, that's all!"
"What, you people itching for a beating?" Kaguya turned around, clutching the chillingly cold black-and-red longsword, pointing it at them as she said coldly, "So, is it one-on-one, or all of you at once? Let's make it all of you. I don't have time to waste."
Kaguya's words were like oil poured onto water—it immediately exploded. The crowd was furious, stomping with rage, ready to cause her trouble.
Before they had been imprisoned in Impel Down, each of them had been fearsome pirates with infamous reputations. They had never been so blatantly disrespected before. Just a so-called benefactor, and she dared speak to them like that?
"Enough!" the Red Count barked. "What are you squabbling about? Still making noise now? Do you want the Navy to come and throw you back in?"
The agitated crowd froze at his words, suddenly coming to their senses. Thinking about it, he was right. What they should really be doing now was escaping—fast.
They had been locked up in this hellish place for who knows how many years, and they'd had enough. They weren't eager to stay a moment longer.
As for Kaguya, she hadn't come here to fight these guys in the first place. She simply intended to release them and let them cause chaos. But if anyone didn't know their place, she didn't mind teaching them a lesson.
Kaguya let out a cold snort and stopped paying them any attention, turning and walking deeper into the corridor.
"What, you're not coming with us to escape?" the Red Count asked in surprise.
Without looking back, Kaguya waved her hand dismissively and said, "I have other things to do. If you feel like thanking me, don't bother. I'm not used to being thanked. And if you're going to be cannon fodder, at least do your job properly. Don't die too fast—it'd just be annoying."
The Red Count snorted as he watched her figure recede into the distance. "What an unlikeable brat." He turned and headed toward the corridor leading out of the prison.
Caesar was indeed on the sixth floor, but not in the main area—rather, he was locked in a far more "luxurious" private cell. The entire room was reinforced with concrete and encased in thick seastone. Without a key, opening it was nearly impossible.
"Hey! Let me out! Let me out now! I'm a scientist from Marine Headquarters! How dare you treat me like this! When I get out, I'll make you all pay!"
The one shouting had horns on his head, blue hair, a sharp, mean face, and a thin frame clad in prison clothes. He looked surprisingly spirited—this was Caesar.
"Damn it! It must have been that bastard Vegapunk! He was jealous of my genius, so he framed me! That damn bastard!" Caesar clutched the iron bars, gnashing his teeth with rage.
The corridor was dead silent. His voice echoed far and wide, but there was no response—only his own voice echoed back.
Normally, someone would have shown up by now. But now, there wasn't a soul in sight.
"...I've been shouting for so long, and still no one's come. Plus that earthquake earlier..." Caesar paused. His eyes gleamed with a crafty light. "Could something have happened up there? If so... this might be my chance to escape."
He glanced around, confirming there was no one nearby. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small vial of light blue liquid.
While this potion couldn't corrode seastone, it could erode the reinforced concrete surrounding it. After all, seastone was expensive, and it was unlikely the entire structure was made of pure seastone—even the World Government wouldn't waste that much money.
"You're Caesar, right?"
A melodious voice suddenly rang out behind him.
"Who's there?!"
Caesar jumped like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his hair standing on end. He spun around in alarm.
A beautiful blonde girl stood before him.
When he saw who it was, Caesar sighed in relief. "You're not a Marine... Who are you?"
"Who I am doesn't concern you," Kaguya said coldly, glancing at him. "All you need to know is that I came to save you."
"Save me?" Caesar turned his head with a sneer. "Do you even know who I am? You think I need your help?"
"Don't want my help?" Kaguya raised her hand, summoning a black and red sword emanating a sinister aura. "Then I'll just kill you."
With that, and before Caesar could react, she swung the sword. A black flash shot toward him like lightning, leaving him stunned in horror.
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