"Tap-tap-tap…" In the Level 4 training room, Wilder's figure flickered in and out of existence, the sheer force of his speed and power causing the air to boom.
"Whoosh!"
"Thud!" Moving at high speed, Wilder's eyes remained unnervingly calm. Crack! He clenched his fist and struck.
"Boom!" The ground instantly collapsed, forming a circular crater.
He landed steadily, exhaling, waiting for his racing blood to settle.
"Digest!" He devoured a mountain of food with incredible speed. His stomach swelled, but with a flex of his hands and a subtle tremor throughout his body, it visibly deflated, leaving him looking momentarily gaunt.
"Absorb!"
With a muffled sound, his lean frame transformed into a mass of rippling muscle.
"Snap!" Wilder suddenly clasped his hands together, his eyes snapping open. The strands of hair framing his face stirred, though there was no breeze.
"Life Return: Thousand Swamp Destruction Kill!"
"Boom!" Countless strands of swamp surged from his body, writhing and swirling around him.
"Devourer!" The strands surged, their ends opening to reveal…eyes. They were thin, chopstick-sized swamp snakes.
Hundreds of these swamp serpents shot out, a dense, overwhelmingly fast swarm.
"Pthw-pthw-pthw!" The wall was riddled with holes as the swamp snakes dispersed and splattered.
"Significantly weaker than the bullets." Wilder lowered his hand, his gaze calm and thoughtful.
His original intention was to develop a technique similar to Shiryu's, one that could ensnare an opponent. He'd planned to use Life Return to grant these swamp snakes temporary mobility. However, it seemed he'd been overly optimistic. Achieving that goal would be difficult, perhaps even impossible.
The training room was in a constant cycle of destruction and reconstruction. Fortunately, Wilder could use his Swamp-Swamp Fruit abilities to repair it, saving him some trouble.
Two and a half years had passed since his training in the Freezing Hell. Wilder knew that that day was rapidly approaching.
Returning to his office and taking a quick shower, Wilder sat at his desk and began reviewing documents.
"It's time to start the preparations."
Pouring himself a glass of his prized red wine, Wilder savored the taste, his gaze seeming to pierce through time itself, distant and enigmatic.
In two and a half years, Wilder's strength had grown considerably, his techniques and experience becoming even more profound. Through his ruthless and efficient methods, his personal prestige had reached its peak. The image of the "Demon" was deeply ingrained in people's minds.
The cries within Impel Down lamented the arrival of another Shiryu of the Rain. In reality, Wilder's management skills were simply exceptional. While the true extent of his combat power remained a mystery, the fact that prisoners in any level he entered instantly became docile spoke volumes about his capabilities.
This was the epitome of having one's name precede them. Beyond Impel Down, the name "First" had also reached the ears of the Marines and the World Government. After expressing their high praise for First, they issued a decree six months prior, promoting Wilder to Chief Warden.
Thus, Wilder replaced Shiryu of the Rain, becoming the new Chief Warden of Impel Down.
But no one knew that this new Chief Warden, named First, was actually an escaped convict.
The office was silent.
"Claire." After a long period of contemplation, Wilder spoke, summoning his loyal subordinate.
Two and a half years had made Claire even more alluring, her beauty exuding a blend of intelligence and gentleness.
"Clack-clack-clack…" The sound of her heeled sandals echoed as Claire pushed open the door and entered, walking with an elegant gait.
She carried a stack of files, wearing a purple tank top under a black, lace, off-the-shoulder long-sleeved blouse. Her hair remained a stylish silver-white bob. A short black skirt completed her outfit, and, to better fit the role of secretary, she'd even taken to wearing glasses, adding a touch of playful charm.
"Boss." At some point, Claire had stopped addressing Wilder as "sir." Wilder didn't bother to question it. He felt Claire's respectful presence before him, his gaze returning from its distant journey.
"Claire, have you finished investigating the matter I asked you about last time?"
"Yes, Boss. Here is the list." Reaching into her cleavage, she produced a slip of paper held between two fingers.
"The most likely candidates are: Level 5, Cell 301, Becken; Level 4, Cell 208, Carifis; Level 3, Cell 586, Teddy. In addition, there's also Level 4, Cell 807, Etta; Level 2, Cell 404…"
"Inform the monitoring team to temporarily disable the visual Den Den Mushi feeds for these locations." After listening, Wilder immediately decided to start with the first three.
"Yes." Claire turned with graceful, sensual steps to carry out Wilder's orders.
...…
Level 4, a dark, deep cell…
"Gurgle…"
"Please, let me go!" In the darkness, a prisoner was pressed high against the wall, his eyes wide with terror, his hands clawing at the thing constricting his neck as he struggled in agony.
"Hiss…" A massive snake coiled around the prisoner's body, its menacing head, with two blood-red eyes, staring intently at him.
"Nyehehehe… Tell me, where is the treasure?"
"I… I don't know!"
"Is that so?" Wilder's smile gradually faded, and the arm that had transformed into the giant snake began to tighten.
"No! Don't! Please! I really don't know!"
"Crack!"
The pleas were cut short. The prisoner's head lolled limply.
The swamp serpent loosened, retracting to become Wilder's arm again.
"Clean this up." He spoke softly, turning away. The moment he stepped out of the cell, his expression became utterly grim.
"Yes." Several jailers emerged from the darkness, trembling.
Level 5…
The same darkness, the same methods. An interrogation campaign was underway, unbeknownst to most.
"Ugh… I know! I know! The treasure is hidden on Fergus Island!" The prisoner gasped, his face contorted in terror.
"Where?" A smile returned to Wilder's face.
"In… in the East Blue… near the Calm Belt, Fergus Island!"
"Nyehehehe, trust me… this is your last chance. I'll allow you to think it over before you speak."
"Ah! Please! Fergus Island is easy to find! The treasure is in the center of the island. There's a cave entrance under the riverbed, visible at low tide! Inside the cave, there's a pool of water. The treasure is at the bottom!"
"Nyehehehe… Becken, is it? I'm very pleased with your attitude. So, you have two choices. One, you wait here until I take you out, and you lead me to that island you mentioned. No… to the treasure. Nyehehehe… Then, you forget about what happened today. As for the second…"
"I choose that! I choose that!" Before Wilder could finish, the pirate named Becken nodded frantically, making muffled, desperate noises.
"Nyehehehe… You're a smart man, Becken. I believe you'll make an excellent guide. Well then, I'll see you in six months." Wilder released the swamp serpent that had been restraining Becken, his smile widening.
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