One Piece: Hashirama Template

"Ding! You've slain an enemy. +0.3% EXP!"

"Ding! You've slain an enemy. +0.1% EXP!"

"Ding! You've slain an enemy. +0.6% EXP!"

…

"Ding! You've slain an enemy. +0.71% EXP!"

"Ding! You've slain an enemy. +0.45% EXP!"

"Ding! You've slain an enemy. +0.55% EXP!"

…

Even after hitting the 10% mark, the EXP stockpile didn't stop—it kept climbing.

So fast, in fact, that it almost hit 20% in a flash, pushing the difficulty into Stage Six.

From Stage Four to Five, then Five to Six, only a few dozen seconds passed. The elevator hadn't even reached Level Six yet.

The reason was simple: the wood clones on Levels Four and Five had started their own slaughter.

At Stage Five difficulty, Level Four inmates yielded about what Level Three had just given—peanuts.

Level Five inmates averaged around 0.50% per kill.

Everyone on Level Five had a bounty of at least 100 million—pirates who, in the first half of the Grand Line, would count as baseline Supernova-tier.

Which meant even members of the "16 Supernovas" like Trafalgar Law and Eustass Kid would only be worth around 1% now.

A Warlord-of-the-Sea-level opponent? Roughly 3%—and that's still only at Stage Five.

Once Stage Six kicked in, the grind spiked again.

EXP from Level Five inmates immediately dropped by about 0.05% per kill.

Which implied that by Stage Seven, your average 100-million-berry pirate wouldn't give Link any EXP at all.

In the Four Seas or the first half of the Grand Line, only true standouts like Luffy, Kid, and Law—Supernova-caliber fighters—would still be worth something.

By Stage Eight, only several-hundred-million up to billion-berry elite mobs would register.

By Stage Nine, probably Boss-class targets only.

Just like late-game levels in an RPG—Link was closing in on endgame.

The Level Five inmates were lambs to the slaughter. Even if the returns were meager, the wood clones followed the "no scrap left behind" rule and reaped them all.

By the time the elevator reached Level Six, Link's EXP stockpile had climbed to a stunning 28%.

Just 2% more to enter Stage Seven.

Above, the upper floors were a total mess—Magellan's arrogance had a price.

If he hadn't decided to take a bathroom break, there's no way Link's group would've gotten in this easily.

"Zehahaha… Titans who once ruled the seas, legends erased by time—perfect!"

As the elevator doors slid open, Teach strode out to put on a show, laughing wickedly. "I am Marshall D. Teach—the man who saves saviors!"

"I need a few strong hands. Who's coming out of here with me?"

At his words, the eternal night of Infinite Hell lit up with countless crimson gleams.

They were eyes—eyes of monsters.

"I'm in! Make me your man, Captain—let me out!"

"Marshall D. Teach, free me and every treasure I've buried is yours!"

"Hahaha! Finally—our jailbreak! Kid, open this cell and I'll carve a path through Impel Down with you!"

…

Infinite Hell erupted.

The prisoners closest to Link's party shouted the loudest.

They didn't realize that the moment they opened their mouths, they were already disqualified.

Even Infinite Hell has… dilution.

Not every 100-million-berry pirate here was stronger than those on Level Five—many were placed by crime type and body count, not pure combat power.

Those small fry would be worth about the same EXP as Level Five chaff.

Teach's smile widened at the madness. He was just about to incite them into killing each other and pick the strongest survivors as his crew—

—when Link stepped up beside him and said, calm as ever, "Let me finish my business first. Then you can take your time choosing."

"…Fine."

Teach's grin hitched, then he nodded. Before he seized the Devil Fruit he wanted, he knew Link wouldn't let him recruit freely.

At such a critical moment, he definitely wasn't going to turn on Link.

Besides, after recruiting, he'd still need Link's ability.

So Teach fell in behind Link, ignoring the pleading and the curses echoing from the cells.

With sensory arts and Observation Haki, Link quickly found his target.

He stopped before a cell, formed a one-handed seal, and a surge of branches erupted inside—binding a frail, shackled prisoner and draining his strength in an instant.

"The Forest-Forest Fruit!"

"This brat's a top-tier Logia!"

Those with sharp Observation Haki recognized the power at once.

Creak—

A door made of air unfolded beside Link, and a short blue-haired girl stepped out.

Nojiko used her Fruit ability to open the cell.

Link didn't step inside; he walked into the pocket dimension instead. His arm stretched into a branch, snared the trussed-up "bundle" from the cell, and yanked him through.

Teach's eyes lit up at the sight, and he followed.

The air door closed. No one outside knew what would happen within.

"…Karina, bring the Devil Fruit we prepared."

Inside the pocket space, Link took a Devil Fruit from Teach and handed it to Karina with a smile.

"Rarer than most Logias—an Animal-type, Mythical Zoan: Dog-Dog Fruit, Model: Nine-Tailed Fox."

"Mythical Zoan?"

Karina blinked. "There's a category like that?"

"The Nine-Tailed Fox is a legendary beast," Robin explained softly. "Once eaten, a Mythical Zoan lets you become a being from myths or legends—vampires, azure dragons, great buddhas, eight-headed serpents… and wield the powers those legends speak of."

"So strong?" Karina's eyes sparkled.

"Zehahaha… Mythical Zoans are the rarest of all," Teach laughed. "They're Devil Fruits that can change your fate! Kaido of the Four Emperors—the Azure Dragon. Marco—the Phoenix. The Navy's former Fleet Admiral—Great Buddha."

"Become a Mythical Zoan user and you gain supernatural abilities and a monstrous physique. Your Haki training flies after that."

Karina's smile turned playful. "Ufufufu… then I won't be shy."

She sank her teeth into the Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit.

Link didn't wait for her to acclimate. He had Nojiko open another air door, stepped out with Teach, and continued the hunt—for their second target.

(End of Chapter)

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