In the underground prison, only Caesar and Redfield remained.
The expressionless Ice Demon stood like a statue outside the cell.
Without Caesar's next order, he would remain there indefinitely.
When Caesar's gaze shifted toward him, Redfield—who had been raving like a madman—suddenly fell silent, as if sensing danger.
His sinister eyes locked onto Caesar with a piercing glare.
A mocking smile curled at the corner of Caesar's lips.
"Redfield, why the sudden silence? Weren't you making quite the ruckus earlier?"
Redfield's eyes were like those of an aged lone wolf—vicious and wary.
"Caesar the devil, I remember you. Back in the New World, when Rocks wanted to capture me, he sent you and your men after me. Heh, you were no match for me back then. You had to team up with Shiki—otherwise, I would've killed you on the spot."
"Borororo, killed me?"
Caesar's smile vanished, replaced by sheer disdain.
"You? When was your prime? Forty years ago, your physique and Haki weren't even a match for Roger's. What gave you the audacity to claim you could kill me? Not even Rocks dared say such a thing, Redfield. That title of 'Strongest Loner'—you never earned it in your youth."
"Thankfully, Rocks didn't personally intervene back then. Otherwise, your grave would've been overgrown by now. And as for me? I've already surpassed Rocks from that era. Where's your prime, Redfield?"
"Then let me go! Fight me one-on-one!" Redfield snarled, his agitation boiling over.
"'The Proud Red,' borororo. Where's that noble demeanor of yours? What's got a highborn like you so rattled?"
Caesar slowly spread his massive hands.
Though no energy surged forth, Redfield lost all composure, thrashing wildly against his chains.
"Release me! If you have the guts, release me Caesar! Too scared to face me alone? Where's your courage, you Oni Clan traitor? Its because of you that your entire clan was wiped out!"
Redfield's eyes burned crimson as he roared.
At his words, Caesar's mountainous frame shuddered violently.
An overwhelming wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted uncontrollably from him.
BOOM!
In an instant, the crushing pressure swept across all of Sweet Island.
The surrounding seas recoiled as waves violently retreated.
Most of the island's residents, still asleep at this hour, only felt a vague heaviness in their chests.
But a few powerful individuals jolted awake, scanning their surroundings in alarm.
In Caesar's residence, Linlin's eyes snapped open from her bed, her brow furrowing.
"Caesar... what's happening?"
Over at Pudding's quarters, the sleeping Pudding and Sanji remained undisturbed.
Only Yamato, snoring loudly, bolted upright—bare-assed—nearly smashing through the ceiling.
Yamato glanced around in confusion, finding everything normal.
Muttering a few words, she shook her ample curves and burrowed back under the covers, pulling the petite Pudding into her arms.
Her long, voluptuous legs wrapped around Pudding's body as if hugging a pillow.
Caesar's Conqueror's Haki was so tangible it violently shook the entire basement, sending dust cascading from the ceiling.
His furious aura was fleeting yet struck like thunder, slamming the defiant Redfield into the wall behind him, embedding him into it.
With a darkened expression, Caesar coldly said, "Redfield, do you really want to die?"
Redfield spat out a mouthful of blood, his face growing even paler, devoid of color.
He let out a bitter laugh.
"If you're not a traitor, why did the Oni Clan exile you and your brother? Hahaha! After leaving that place, do you even know that the Celestial Dragons extracted the blood of 90% of the Ogre Clan to refine their essence?"
"Shut your mouth!"
Caesar's face twisted with rage, his gaze icy as a terrifying aura surged around him.
"Hahaha!" Redfield seemed utterly deranged, laughing maniacally without restraint.
"You ancient remnants of a race, thinking you're so special with your bizarre abilities—some even surpassing ordinary Devil Fruit powers. Heh, but all those abilities brought you was destruction at the hands of the Celestial Dragons."
"The Lunarians, the Oni Clan, the Three-Eyed Tribe, the D Clan—the stronger the race, the faster they fell. That's your fate, Caesar. Even you can't escape it. What can you possibly do?"
"In the end, you'll just end up like your mighty ancestors—vessels for extracting Oni blood, drained of your sweet essence to be their juice, their beverage!"
Redfield's eyes were bloodshot as he licked his lips, grinning wickedly.
"Caesar! If you let me go and help me regain my peak, with our combined strength, even if we can't kill all the Celestial Dragons, taking out a few of their bloodlines would be effortless. What do you say? Your Life Force is nearly endless—restoring my body wouldn't cost you much blood."
Caesar sat on the ground, his massive frame silent as he stared straight at Redfield.
The intensity of his gaze made Redfield uneasy.
He wasn't afraid of death—but he feared becoming a mindless puppet, stripped of his will.
Redfield glanced at the Ice Demon outside the cell door, a flicker of dread in his eyes.
What terrified him was the thought of turning into a puppet like Kuzan, completely under Caesar's control.
Even now, Redfield clung to his pride, stubbornly believing himself to be the "Lone Red"—a man who once stood against the Roger Pirates or the Whitebeard Pirates single-handedly.
But he forgot—his greatest feat was only fighting Kong the Iron Bone for ten days and nights.
Though he defeated Kong, he collapsed from exhaustion and was hauled off by Garp, tossed straight into Impel Down.
Just as Redfield was getting carried away with his speech, he saw Caesar pull a belt from his waist.
"You…?" Redfield frowned, wondering if he'd pushed him too far.
But under his stunned gaze, the belt in Caesar's hand transformed into a massive blade.
Caesar remained silent, gripping his greatsword enveloped in Armament Haki, and under Redfield's horrified gaze, swung it down at him with a single slash.
Swish!
Just as Redfield braced himself for death, he suddenly felt the chains binding him snap all at once, clattering to the ground.
Overjoyed, Redfield then heard a faint jingle—a key tossed by Caesar landing right in front of him.
"Hahaha! Caesar, good! You've come to your senses. I'm pleased!"
Eyes burning with excitement, Redfield trembled as he picked up the key and unlocked the shackles on his wrists and ankles.
Then, with eager anticipation, he looked up at Caesar, licking his cracked lips.
"Caesar, come on. Restore me to my prime, and I'll help you conquer territories in the New World!"
"Ice Demon, beat him up."
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