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A night passed. Arthur, exhausted, slept more soundly than he had in weeks, until the jailer's morning call jolted him awake.
"Chow time, scum!"
The cell door clanged open, two trays of food sliding across the floor.
Arthur stretched his stiff neck, beginning his daily exercise routine.
Creak…
The jailers, noticing the blood and the still form of Flores Moreno, opened the cell, two of them cautiously eyeing Arthur while another removed the body.
Arthur, unfazed, retrieved the two food trays and began to eat. Two rations were better than one. He'd been starving.
Despite the slow-acting poison, he forced the food down. He had no choice. Starvation was a slower, more agonizing death. He needed the energy, even if it meant weakening himself in the long run.
"This can't continue. I have to get these Seastone cuffs off." Arthur's brow furrowed as he ate.
The poison, initially just causing fatigue, would eventually sap his strength completely, leaving him as weak as Moreno.
If Moreno had been at full strength, Arthur, weakened by the Seastone, wouldn't have stood a chance. He wouldn't have even been able to bite him.
The only sound in Eternal Hell was the rhythmic chewing of the prisoners.
After a brief rest, Arthur began his exercises—push-ups.
He wouldn't succumb to the despair of Eternal Hell, giving up and waiting for death like the other prisoners, neglecting even basic physical conditioning. Exercise might drain his limited energy, hastening his demise, but Arthur lived for the moment. He'd take the immediate benefit, consequences be damned.
"Bararara! Look at that! The Devil Fruit user, exercising under the influence of Seastone!" Byrnndi World, who'd been observing Arthur, burst into laughter.
"Kid, wasting energy in Eternal Hell, where food is scarce, is a death sentence!"
"Give it up. You're not escaping."
A death sentence? So what?
Arthur ignored him, managing a few agonizing push-ups before collapsing onto the floor.
Byrnndi World, encased in ice, didn't need food or drink. He was lucky to be conscious at all. He might slip back into a frozen slumber any day now.
——
Two months passed.
Roger, having returned to the New World, instead of immediately seeking out Whitebeard, followed Oden's information to Zou, home of the Mink Tribe.
Nekomamushi and Inuarashi—leaders of the Minks and retainers of the Kozuki Family, reunited with Oden and pledged their loyalty to Roger.
——
In Whitebeard's territory—
Kaido, after two months of wandering, finally encountered the Moby Dick. He challenged Whitebeard without hesitation.
Their battle raged for ten days and ten nights, under the watchful eyes of the world, devastating an entire island before ending with Kaido's defeat—exhausted and tossed into the sea by Whitebeard.
——
Whole Cake Island, Totto Land!
Shiki, his golden, lion-like mane billowing in the wind, hovered above Totto Land, a dozen islands floating behind him.
"Jiehahahaha! Charlotte Linlin! Join my plan to conquer the world! I'll forgive your little transgression against my territory if you agree."
"Mamamama! I refuse! I'm going to be the Pirate Queen!" Big Mom's massive frame radiated power, matching Shiki's aura.
Booooooooooooooom!
Their Conqueror's Haki clashed, distorting the air, red lightning crackling as shockwaves rippled across the sea.
The citizens of Totto Land fainted—even Big Mom's children struggling to remain conscious.
The stalemate broke as Shiki gestured, the islands behind him plummeting from the sky.
Booooooooooom! Booooooooooom! Booooooooooom!!
The partially constructed Whole Cake Island crumbled under the impacts.
"RAAAAGH!!!"
Big Mom roared, her fury unleashing tsunamis across the sea.
Whole Cake Island was her dream—a sanctuary where all races could live together in harmony.
It was being destroyed before her eyes!
"Jiehahahaha! That's what you get for defying me, Linlin!" Shiki laughed.
"Ikoku Sovereignty!"
Big Mom, her eyes bloodshot, consumed by rage, unleashed a devastating sword attack—a massive wave of energy slashing towards Shiki.
It was Big Mom's most powerful attack.
Shiki, though diminished after his defeat at Edd War, was still a Seasoned Pirate, a powerhouse at the apex of the world.
"Lion's Thousand Slashes!"
Drawing his twin swords—Oto and Kogarashi—he unleashed a barrage of sword slashes—colliding with Big Mom's Ikoku Sovereignty mid-air.
The world warped. Whole Cake Island was obliterated, island after island sinking beneath the waves.
Moments later—
Big Mom, overwhelmed by Shiki's power, collapsed unconscious. Shiki, his swords in hand, stood triumphant, hovering above the wreckage.
——
Since Roger's return, major events had rocked the world, shattering the fragile peace, the era teetering on the brink of chaos.
The Marines, having captured Arthur, resumed their duties.
Garp, aboard his dog-headed warship, chased Roger.
Sengoku kept a close watch on Whitebeard.
Kong pursued "Red the Aloof" Patrick Redfield.
——
In the North Blue, a shadowy organization known as the Donquixote Family was rising, led by a mysterious figure known only as "Young Master."
Somewhere else, the silent and brooding Bartholomew Kuma, setting down his firewood and books, gazed out at the sea.
Crocodile, Gecko Moria, and other rising stars were also making their moves, waiting for their chance to enter the Grand Line.
——
On Sabaody Archipelago, in Grove 50, a restaurant called "Jessica's Dream House" opened quietly.
In the back room, Jessica sat alone, two Devil Fruits placed before her, her face pale with worry.
"Arthur's been taken to Impel Down. The Door-Door Fruit can save him, but I don't know where Impel Down is!"
She was smart enough not to ask.
Any inquiries about Impel Down would attract unwanted attention from the Marines.
"I'll wait. Once the Marines stop watching me, I'll go save him." Her resolve hardened. She would risk losing her ability to swim to save Arthur.
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