Chapter 215: My... Undead Legion
"Hah?! What kind of stupid nonsense are you spewing, you porcupine who died over a decade ago?!"
"I'm saying you shouldn't even be here, you idiotic gorilla! You should be pairing up with that moron Garp!"
"Who are you calling an idiotic gorilla?!"
"Whoever answers! Isn't it obvious enough?!"
The two of them pressed their foreheads together, glaring furiously at one another, neither willing to yield an inch.
If this were over a decade ago, before Shakky's "succubus aura" had radiated across Hachinosu, the two of them would have undoubtedly started a deathmatch the moment they crossed paths.
But right now, Roger was fully aware that he was dead.
As for Rocks, it had been years since a new acquaintance had arrived here. While someone dying wasn't exactly a good thing, as an "experienced senior," this was the perfect opportunity for him to flex his seniority.
The God Valley Incident had somewhat resolved the deep-seated grudge between them, so in the end, they merely resorted to shouting.
"Is the Underworld empty or something?! I used to hear old folks in my town talk about ferrymen for the dead. Can a bastard like you even do that kind of job?"
"Which idiot told you this is the Underworld?! Did you really think you just go straight to the Underworld when you die?!"
"If dead people don't go to the Underworld, where else would they go?!"
Hearing Roger say this, Rocks suddenly froze. He abruptly realized that arguing with Roger was entirely pointless.
Men of their caliber inherently shared a common trait: once they firmly believed in something, they absolutely would not change their minds based on the opinions of others.
Even if their endeavors ultimately failed, they wouldn't believe their path was wrong from the start; they would merely conclude that they made a mistake in the execution.
Playing the riddler in front of Roger would only result in a one-sided mockery.
"It seems I've been stuck here far too long..."
Within the River of Death, time was a concept of nothingness. Fundamentally, time did not exist here. The souls residing within relied entirely on the permissions granted by Nereus to perceive the outside world.
Occasionally, Rocks would be let out to act as Nereus's black glove. Sometimes, when Nereus allowed it, he could watch the changes in the outside world through Nereus's shadow. The rest of his time was spent "enlightening himself."
Roger's arrival had simply triggered a bout of talkativeness in Rocks, brought on by prolonged isolation and the sudden appearance of a familiar face.
"Nereus! Where the hell are you?! This bastard Roger has already come in! Are you still not going to show your face?!"
Rocks glanced around and suddenly shouted into the sky.
It was this very shout that caused Roger, who had just been arguing with him, to freeze.
"Nereus? What does he have to do with this?"
"You'll know soon enough. Assuming the main host actually decides to show up, that is."
Seeing that there was finally something Roger didn't understand, a smug expression crept onto Rocks's face. He had no intention of explaining anything. Watching Roger hopelessly confused about this place was quite entertaining.
However, this state of affairs didn't last long. Soon after, Nereus's figure manifested within the space of the River of Death.
"Normally, the dead are indeed supposed to enter the Underworld. But unfortunately, I intercepted you. This is a space formed by my Devil Fruit ability, and it serves as a temporary residence for souls."
"Aren't you a Vampire? The Mythical Zoan Bat-Bat Fruit... possesses an ability like this? Why have I never heard of such a thing?"
"There are plenty of things you've never heard of. Did you know that the Paramecia Gum-Gum Fruit is, in its true essence, the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Model: Nika?"
Nereus casually waved his arm, and several chairs materialized out of thin air, clearly indicating his intention to sit down and have a chat.
"Wait! Have you been to Laugh Tale?! No, wait... what exactly is the situation here?!"
Nereus's words weren't complicated, but the sheer volume of information they contained was staggering. The last time Roger had received such a massive influx of world-shattering information was when he reached Laugh Tale.
Right now, Roger was utterly bewildered and had absolutely no desire to sit down. He was desperate to get answers from Nereus.
"Wahahaha! Roger, that look on your face makes you so much more pleasing to the eye!"
Rocks burst into roaring laughter; this was exactly what he had been waiting to see.
"I haven't been to Laugh Tale. Naturally, I have my own channels for obtaining information," Nereus replied calmly. "Why? Are there records regarding Nika on Laugh Tale as well?"
"Pretty much... But that island is like a massive time capsule. Landing there is only meaningful if it's done at a specific point in time..."
After the initial exchange of riddles ended, Nereus stopped joking around and clearly explained the true nature of the River of Death to Roger.
"What is your ultimate goal?" Roger asked.
"What else could it be? To increase my combat power, of course. Those bastards from the God's Knights chased right on your heels for so long. Are you telling me you still haven't figured out what they truly are?"
"An ability of immortality," Roger replied grimly. "But Conqueror's Haki can suppress their regeneration. As long as you coat your attacks with sufficiently powerful Conqueror's Haki and kill them repeatedly, their regeneration and resurrection speed will grow slower and slower...
"However, before they reach their absolute limit, those guys always retreat. I don't know where the actual limit to killing them lies."
Because of Shanks, Roger's crew had fought prolonged battles with the God's Knights tailing them. It was safe to say that, aside from the Celestial Dragons themselves, the Roger Pirates understood those monsters better than anyone else in the world.
"The number of people capable of proficiently mastering Conqueror's Coating is extremely limited, and there are many troublesome abilities among those guys," Nereus explained.
"Their characteristic of immortality makes them incredibly difficult to deal with. That is why I require an Undead Legion of my own to counter their immortal bodies.
"Perhaps I should issue you a certificate to notify you of your glorious induction?
"Didn't you ask me what the price for the Road Poneglyph was back then? This is what I want.
"Once everything is over, I will no longer restrict your souls. But until then... I'm going to have to trouble you for a while."
Within the River of Death, Nereus possessed absolute control. However, a soul that was genuinely willing to fight could output far greater combat power than a mindless puppet.
Whenever possible, Nereus was more than willing to sit down and have a proper conversation with these people.
"It seems... I have plenty of time to wait for that day to arrive."
Roger suddenly recalled the days just before the Roger Pirates disbanded. The news of his terminal illness was no longer a secret on the ship. Even his Vice-Captain, Rayleigh, was utterly devastated by it.
A person might die, but their will would be passed down forever. Roger firmly believed that what he wanted to convey would be inherited.
Coupled with his desire to comfort his partner, Roger had said those words to Rayleigh:
"Partner... I am not going to die."
Thinking back on it now, those words spoken in comfort... had seemingly become a genuine prophecy.
Roger knew that a Vampire could plunder lifespans.
As long as Nereus remained alive, this River of Death world would not dissipate. That meant that within this space... he had genuinely become an "immortal" being.
"You never said this was what you wanted back then..."
"This is the added interest."
"Hey, hey, hey! I told you to name your price back then! You're the one who refused to say what you wanted!"
"Everyone has their own motives, don't they?" Nereus replied smoothly. "Just like your choice... What was the true purpose behind your declaration of ONE PIECE?"
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