The underwater prison, for top-tier criminals.
Strictly enforced, the policy of "just enough to not starve."
First, prolonged starvation could significantly weaken their strength, preventing rebellion.
Second, under constant hunger, their physical abilities would continuously deteriorate.
Third, it allowed prisoners to perpetually feel the torment, serving as punishment.
For criminals like the Golden Lion, the control was even stricter, augmented by the suppression of Seastone, preventing him from regaining even a shred of strength.
Otherwise, his Haki-infused physical techniques would be too much for ordinary guards to handle.
After all, techniques like Finger Pistol, when reaching a certain level, were self-taught.
However, no one anticipated, not even in centuries, that this would happen.
The Golden Lion was about to achieve it, shaking the world.
A fierce glint flashed in the Golden Lion's eyes as he slowly crawled towards the cell door.
Compared to when he was first imprisoned, the Golden Lion was a shadow of his former self, emaciated.
Two years of starvation had left him unable to stand.
It took him several minutes to crawl the three meters, gazing at the small bowl of rice.
The Golden Lion let out a sinister grin and consumed every last grain.
Then, he crawled back to the corner and gently pushed aside a piece of cloth.
Beneath the cloth was rice, a few grains saved daily.
After more than half a year of accumulation, it was enough.
With his only remaining hand, he grabbed the rice mixed with dirt, already somewhat spoiled.
He chewed it mouthful by mouthful, expressionless.
Upon finishing, a sinister smile touched his lips. Truly delicious...
The Golden Lion slowly lay down, awaiting midnight...
----
Deep in the night, the underwater prison, Level 6.
In his cell, the Golden Lion opened his eyes, feeling a sliver of recovered strength.
He sat up, slowly raising a finger, a hint of sword energy flowing at its tip.
"It's been too long..."
He grinned sinisterly and looked down at his feet.
He picked up a small piece of gravel and put it in his mouth.
*Swish*--
*Crunch*!
A flash of sword light, and the gravel in the Golden Lion's mouth was instantly shattered.
His fingers clawed at the ground, drawing blood, his entire body trembling, cold sweat pouring down.
Yet, the sinister smile on his face never wavered, growing more unbridled.
Because strength was surging within him...
"Hahahahaha!"
"Exhilarating! Exhilarating!!"
"Aaaargh—"
A deep roar echoed as the Golden Lion slowly levitated.
Blood dripped from his feet as his single remaining arm pressed against the ground.
*Clatter, clatter*.
The gravel on the ground shattered and coalesced.
Forming a stone sword.
He raised his hand, gripping the hilt, and executed a flourish.
"Shishi'i - Sentoryu."
*Boom*!
----
The underwater prison.
*Buzz*--*Hum*--*Buzz*--
A piercing alarm blared.
The Warden's office.
The Warden looked at Magellan:
"What's happening, Magellan?"
"Why has the alarm been sounded?"
The young Magellan saluted crisply, cold sweat beading on his brow.
"Reporting, Warden!"
"The Golden Lion has escaped!"
"He should still be somewhere within the prison."
The Warden abruptly stood up:
"What happened?"
"The Seastone shackles, were they removed?"
Magellan, still sweating profusely, replied:
"No, the Seastone shackles were not removed."
"He... "
"Cut off his own feet!"
The entire security force of the underwater prison mobilized.
"Quick, quick, quick!"
"Find him, no matter what!"
"It'll be a disaster if that notorious criminal escapes!"
"The myth of the underwater prison will be shattered."
"We absolutely cannot let it be ruined in our hands!"
"Hurry, hurry, hurry!!!"
The underwater prison, Level 6.
The Golden Lion killed a few guards, stuffing food into his mouth.
His physique gradually regained some strength. He heard the piercing alarm growing louder.
The Golden Lion finished the last bite and let out a long sigh.
"All my strength has returned."
He casually picked up a cigar from a table and lit it, taking a puff:
"Cough, cough..."
"What shoddy goods."
He frowned, but still held it in his mouth.
He floated outwards, surrounded by various pieces of gravel.
They flew out, smashing the Den Den Moshis.
Suddenly, his Observation Haki sensed a slightly stronger ant approaching.
The Golden Lion stopped, directly flying up to the beam of the corridor.
He sat there, smoking his cigar.
*Drip*... *Drip*...
Blood dripped from the beam.
Soon, the young Hannyabal arrived.
He suddenly felt something was wrong and looked back at the blood pool on the ground, cold sweat trickling down.
*Whoosh*—
With a soft exhale, the Golden Lion slowly blew out cigar smoke.
The Golden Lion's sinister voice echoed:
"Do you know where my sword went?"
"It's a famous sword."
"Kokuto."
Hannyabal nervously shouted:
"Promote, promote... I really want a promotion!"
"Ah! Wrong!"
"It's Shiki!!!"
The Golden Lion looked down, taking a puff of his cigar:
"So he's an idiot."
"But, whatever."
"I'm leaving here anyway."
"I don't need my feet."
"I'll give them to you."
"Thank you for your hospitality these past two years."
His ferocious face stared intently at Hannyabal.
"Shishi'i - Jikoten."
*Boom*—
----
"Poison Dragon!"
"Shishi'i - Goryuten !!!"
Six enormous lion heads materialized, roaring as they faced Magellan's three massive poison dragons.
The Golden Lion sneered:
"Brat, I don't have time to play with you now."
"Tell me quickly, where is my sword."
A bead of sweat appeared on Magellan's forehead:
"I will absolutely not let you advance another step."
A hint of impatience flashed in the Golden Lion's eyes. He swung his right arm, holding the stone sword, forward.
The six colossal rock lion heads, imbued with Haki, charged at Magellan, followed by:
"Shishi'i - Sentsurya!!!"
Frenzied sword energy swept out like a hurricane.
Several hundred-meter-long sword slashes tore through layer after layer of ground and roof.
Piercing through the roof of the underwater prison, a sliver of sunlight penetrated. He let out a light sigh.
Looking at Magellan, who was controlling the poison dragons to contend with the lion heads.
"Die."
The ground continuously vibrated and churned.
Like waves of rock, they surged and crashed down upon Magellan.
*Swish*!
The Golden Lion ascended into the sky.
----
In the Calm Belt, on the cliff of a small island.
The Golden Lion arrived here with three swords.
He directly inserted two other famous swords, casually acquired, into his severed leg stumps.
"Aaaargh—!!!"
Upon completion, he collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath, cold sweat pouring.
He tore strips from his clothes, using them as ropes to bind the swords tightly to his stumps.
The Golden Lion struggled to stand, using the swords for support, the intense pain continuously stimulating his nerves.
Yet, the Golden Lion's smile grew even more ferocious.
"Jiehahahahaha."
"Hahahahahahahahahaha!!!"
"Excellent!"
"I have legs now!!!"