It was all because of Caesar's methods—too peculiar, yet too perfect.
Who would have thought he would use a technique similar to the Pope's method of inheriting Devil Fruits as a means of systematically hunting them down?
Who would have guessed that his method had a 100% success rate in extracting Devil Fruits from their users?
Even the World Government, despite knowing of such inheritance methods, wouldn't have suspected that Caesar had personally constructed a Seastone-lined chamber and utilized the Doa Doa no Mi (Door-Door Fruit) to reap Devil Fruits at will.
However, as Magellan patrolled the Sixth Level of Impel Down, Devil Fruit users from the upper floors continued to die silently, one after another.
Even under strict surveillance, nothing suspicious could be detected.
Though the underwater prison was heavily fortified, it was not without blind spots.
Caesar lurked in a separate dimension, waiting for the right moment—an overlooked corner, a lapse in attention—before striking with surgical precision.
With the aid of his electromagnetic field, his actions remained undetected for a time.
It had to be said—this colossal, underwater fortress was the ideal hunting ground for Devil Fruits.
With ease, Caesar could pull imprisoned individuals into his pocket dimension.
Then, in mere moments, he would extract their abilities, swiftly transferring each fruit into the Seastone storage chamber.
Before this, he had been searching for high-value Devil Fruits.
Now, that problem was solved in an instant.
His hunger for Devil Fruits remained insatiable, but this raid on Impel Down had yielded an unprecedented harvest.
The extraction continued.
By the time Magellan finished his Sixth Level inspection and rushed toward the Warden's Office to report, a jailer intercepted him with an urgent update.
"What is this?"
Magellan's expression darkened as he took the report.
A deep unease settled in his chest—though he hoped otherwise, he dreaded the list would contain names of Devil Fruit users. But…
"Deputy Warden, this is the latest death report. We just compiled it!"
"J-just as you finished patrolling the Sixth Level and left… dozens of inmates died under inexplicable circumstances!"
Even the guards weren't oblivious to the growing anomaly.
Magellan's fury was evident, his face contorted with rage.
Though the jailers trembled under his glare, duty bound them to report everything.
Hearing this, Magellan erupted in anger.
He abandoned his intention to report to the director—this situation took precedence.
He immediately ordered all guards to mobilize, tighten security, and conduct a full-scale investigation.
As Deputy Warden, he had the authority to enact such measures, and the Director himself had high expectations for him.
More than that, Magellan refused to allow any disturbances in the prison under his jurisdiction.
This mass death event had pushed him beyond his limit.
He was determined to uncover the truth and rectify the situation.
But by that time, Caesar—having secured over sixty Devil Fruits—had already vanished.
He had no reason to linger.
Before even setting foot in Impel Down, he had pre-selected the Devil Fruits he intended to take.
Thus, the entire extraction process was swift and methodical, devoid of any unnecessary delays.
Using the Doa Doa no Mi, he seamlessly exited Impel Down's depths, emerging undetected.
Then, alongside Doyle, he swiftly returned to Central Island.
---
The Devil Fruit Army's Birth
Deep within the Middle Kingdom, inside a secluded royal chamber, Caesar meticulously cataloged his newfound treasures.
One by one, he photographed each Devil Fruit, annotating them with names and estimated abilities.
Carefully, he sealed them inside secure boxes, placing them into a reinforced cabinet.
This time, he had no need to test them on random criminals.
He had already researched the abilities of their original users during his information-gathering phase.
That foresight was why this operation had been executed so flawlessly—one after another, the extractions had occurred with uninterrupted efficiency.
With this vast collection, his vision of a Devil Fruit Army could now become reality.
It was similar to Kaido's ambition of constructing an army infused with Zoan-type SMILE fruits.
However, the key difference was that Caesar's army would wield authentic Devil Fruits, whereas Kaido's forces relied on artificial knockoffs.
The contrast was stark—one was genuine, the other a cheap imitation.
SMILE fruits mimicked real Zoans, but beneath the surface, their power was unstable and flawed.
Additionally, the quality of Caesar's army would vastly surpass Kaido's.
He would personally select only the strongest, most elite individuals to wield these fruits of power.
In contrast, Kaido's Beast Pirates were composed of unrefined thugs, mere cannon fodder masquerading as enhanced warriors.
Even with artificial Devil Fruits, Kaido's minions were barely stronger than standard grunts.
Caesar's approach was different—his army would be composed of hand-picked champions, each reinforced with genuine Devil Fruit abilities.
He would cultivate the best of the best, ensuring only the most capable warriors bore these gifts.
At that moment, an idea sparked in his mind.
"What if… I host a grand competition?"
His eyes lit up.
This was the perfect strategy—a public trial of strength to determine the most worthy recipients.
Not only would this ensure the strongest soldiers received Devil Fruits, but it would also inspire ambition among his forces, fueling their hunger for power.
Having made up his mind, he immediately summoned Barrett.
---
The Military Tournament Begins
Inside the military headquarters, Barrett, upon receiving the sudden summons, felt a surge of curiosity.
It had only been a few days since their last meeting—what could be so urgent?
Still, without hesitation, he made his way to Caesar's office.
"Captain, what's the situation?"
Caesar leaned forward, his gaze sharp.
"I'm organizing a military competition."
"Take your time and plan it thoroughly—I want this executed flawlessly."
Barrett raised an eyebrow.
A competition?
Just recently, their entire army had been subjected to Caesar's Conqueror's Haki, allowing him to identify the most promising recruits.
Wasn't this tournament simply another method of selection?
Still, he understood Caesar's intent.
This was about establishing authority—making sure that the recipients of the Devil Fruits were beyond dispute.
Caesar smirked.
"I'll select the top thirty winners and reward them with Devil Fruits."
Barrett's eyes gleamed with excitement.
With this, their army would rapidly ascend to new heights.
Caesar continued, detailing the structure:
1. Strength Test – A weightlifting challenge to measure raw power.
2. Speed Test – A 3,000-meter sprint, ranked by completion time.
3. Endurance Test – A 30,000-meter marathon to gauge stamina.
4. Final Battle Phase – The top 1,000 competitors from previous rounds would enter direct combat.
Their overall rankings would determine the final thirty who would receive Devil Fruits.
Barrett nodded, absorbing the plan.
"Understood, Captain!"
This tournament would not only select the strongest warriors but also ignite a competitive spirit among the troops.
More than just a simple contest—this was the birth of an army of monsters.
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