As Daemon's voice echoed, the world seemed to hold its breath.
Akainu and Magellan exchanged glances, bewildered, unable to comprehend what the Celestial Dragon intended with his words.
Shiryu's eyes, however, burned with fascination as he stared at Daemon. He caught a subtle hint of murderous intent in Daemon's tone, and something about the nobility of this world seemed to resonate with his own desires.
Stussy was caught off guard. She knew well that the position of Impel Down's director was not something one could easily challenge, even for a Celestial Dragon. The idea that Daemon could wield the power to decide the life or death of anyone here felt dangerous.
To her surprise, it was Lieutenant General Bone Dragon, the prison commissioner, who seemed unaffected. He stood with the indifference of someone who had already seen everything and was resigned to the inevitable.
Meanwhile, in the chat group, chaos erupted.
Sakura Tosaka: "Eh, Brother Daemon, what are you going to do?"
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "Asking someone directly if they want to dedicate their life? Is this for real?"
Miyuki Uchiha: "Wait, Daemon's first target shouldn't be the prison director, right? He didn't even appear in the original series. Could he really be a legend?"
Yamamoto Mei: "It's not that he didn't appear, it's just that the world of pirates is so vast. If he's high-ranking, he definitely has his own legendary story."
Yamamoto Mei: "But even if Daemon plans to kill him, asking him directly? Isn't that a bit... too direct?"
Esdeath: "Hmph, don't worry. Daemon's not an idiot, just wait and see."
In the world of One Piece, Daemon's gaze remained steady on Lieutenant General Bone Dragon as he addressed him calmly.
"I've reviewed your background on the way here," Daemon began, his voice cold and clear. "As long as you agree to die willingly by my hand, I will ensure your crippled son's promotion to civilian lieutenant general within the world government. No need to see battle, and he'll live a life of luxury."
Daemon then turned to the others present. "Magellan, you will take over as director of Impel Down and simultaneously hold the rank of lieutenant general of the Navy."
"Shiryu, you will be promoted to deputy director of Impel Down, and you will also hold the rank of major general at the Navy headquarters."
Daemon paused, his eyes locking with Akainu's for a moment. "And you, Akainu…"
He hesitated briefly, then added, "You will rise above Borsalino and Kuzan. I'm promoting you to Admiral, and you will oversee the Buster Call."
As Daemon's words hung in the air, Stussy could sense the rapid breathing of everyone around her. Even the prison commissioner, Lieutenant General Bone Dragon, was still, waiting for what Daemon would say next.
Yamamoto Mei: "I see... Mr. Daemon really does have a way with people. Who could resist such an offer?"
Esdeath: "Indeed, everyone here is clearly moved."
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "What a terrifying man. A noble with such power...~"
Daemon's proposition was undeniably tempting.
For Magellan and Shiryu, it was a chance to bypass years of struggle, instantly securing their positions. For Akainu, it meant fewer years of fighting and a much quicker path to fulfilling his 'absolute justice'.
As for Bone Dragon, the old man, having lived his life and worried for his crippled son, saw Daemon's offer as the key to securing his son's future.
The silence that followed was deafening.
"I am willing to die for the nobility of the world," Lieutenant General Bone Dragon finally declared, his voice steady. Without hesitation, he knelt before Daemon, exposing his neck, a silent surrender.
Daemon smiled gently, his left hand transforming into a strange, black-gold form.
"What is this!?" Akainu and the others instinctively recoiled, sensing an oppressive energy emanating from Daemon's hand, something that gnawed at their very souls.
Miyuki Uchiha: "It's happening, it's really happening!"
Esdeath: "What kind of incredible power is this? I can't wait to see it!"
With a swift motion, Daemon's left hand came down, and in an instant, Bone Dragon's neck was severed.
The blood gushed into the air, a dark crimson mist, as Bone Dragon's head was caught mid-air by Magellan, whose face betrayed a mix of sadness and regret.
Magellan wanted to protest, to shout at Daemon for the callousness of it all. But he knew that Bone Dragon had chosen his own fate. Daemon's promise would be fulfilled.
Daemon didn't bother acknowledging the others. Instead, he stood in silence as the energy from Bone Dragon's life force surged into him. It wasn't just a transfer of power—it was a legendary inheritance.
The moment Bone Dragon's life force entered Daemon's body, something vast and ancient stirred within him.
"Come—Leviathan, the dragon of chaos!"
A deafening boom filled the air, and the once bright day turned to pitch-black night. Everyone was momentarily blinded by the change in the sky.
"What is this!? What's happening!?" Akainu gasped, his teeth gritting in fear.
"It's not dark!" Magellan shouted in disbelief. "It's the sun... it's being obscured!"
"GEYYYYYAAAAAA—" The roar of a dragon echoed through the air, shaking the very foundation of the earth. It was a sound so deafening that it felt like the world was crumbling.
Hundreds of kilometers of the sea were disturbed by the shockwave, and those on nearby islands were frozen in terror, watching as the skies seemed to darken, and the horizon twisted under the immense force.
And then, the dragon appeared.
A massive, bone-covered leviathan, its black body stretching across the sky. Its wings, spread wide, blotted out the sun, creating an eclipse. The dragon's claws could easily crush entire islands, and the size of its body made the walls of Impel Down seem like mere toys.
This monstrous creature—the Leviathan, the dragon of chaos—was born from the soul of Lieutenant General Bone Dragon.
The size and power of the creature hinted at something much older, something ancient, and perhaps... an ancient weapon of the world.
Daemon stood, his eyes gleaming with power as he watched the dragon's enormous form loom above.
"I'm invincible!" he thought, a smile curling on his lips.