"We're almost at Zone C," Pitas said.
Along the way, they occasionally encountered some zombies, which Rosen swiftly eliminated. As long as they didn't stir up a horde like before, Rosen's strength allowed him to move effortlessly through this land of the undead.
However, he had no intention of exploring the underground. While there might be rare metals buried there, that wasn't his goal on this journey.
"There are so many types of zombies," Rosen frowned. Though most were ordinary, the number of mutated variations was surprisingly high—at least ten different kinds, by his estimate.
Among them, some were strong, tireless, and almost immune to non-fatal damage. Even a bounty hunter worth sixty or seventy million might struggle against them. As for the blue-skinned one with a Devil Fruit ability, it would be nearly impossible to defeat without a bounty of at least a hundred million.
This realization put Rosen on high alert. With such a vast number of zombies, combined with this world's peculiarities, the emergence of an even stronger mutation was entirely possible…
Rosen and Pitas moved past Zone B. From a high vantage point, they could see into the distance—there, a massive rift split the land. The rift was at least two thousand meters wide and stretched endlessly across Lantis Island. Rosen couldn't begin to guess how it had formed.
The problem was, no matter which route they chose—whether following Pitas's suggestion or selecting a path from the map—they would have to cross this enormous chasm.
On the map, the rift was marked in an alarming red, and a faint crimson mist hovered above it. Swarms of zombies lingered along its edges.
"Looks like we have no choice but to take a risk," Rosen muttered. Unfamiliar with the terrain and with few alternatives, he had no option but to press forward. At the very least, he was confident in his abilities.
But just as they approached, Rosen suddenly halted.
"What's wrong?" Pitas asked, puzzled. Truthfully, traveling with a Shichibukai like Rosen gave him a strong sense of security. Rosen's power was beyond monstrous.
"If we go any further, we're in for a tough fight. I don't know what lurks within that rift, but its presence is powerful and deeply sinister—like an icy wind sweeping unchecked across this world," Rosen said, furrowing his brow.
They were still far away, yet the presence made no effort to conceal itself. Or perhaps, it simply didn't know how. It was strong enough to make Rosen feel genuine danger.
Stronger than facing Onigumo, Bam, or even Moris. This chilling aura reeked of evil and slaughter.
If they clashed with whatever was inside, survival was uncertain. Rosen wasn't here to pick fights—his priority was reaching Zone E and finding any leads on Law.
Now was not the time for unnecessary battles.
"You can't go there."
A soft, cautious voice suddenly rang out, startling both of them.
Click—
Pitas instinctively drew his pistol. Living on this island was a constant state of peril, and his nerves were always on edge.
"Don't shoot—it's a child," Rosen said.
Following the voice, he saw a small figure disappear into the entrance of a dirt-covered cave.
He hadn't sensed her presence at all.
That puzzled Rosen. His Observation Haki had only recently awakened, and while it had flaws, there was no way a living person could get this close to him unnoticed.
"Follow her."
Seeing a survivor was rare, and Rosen wasn't about to let the opportunity slip.
If it was a child, she was likely a native rather than an outsider. And if she had managed to survive in this world, she probably wasn't alone.
"Are we really going in? What if it's a trap?" Pitas hesitated, eyeing the cave entrance warily.
Rosen focused, extending his Observation Haki. The cave's pathways were incredibly intricate, like a labyrinth.
In one of the tunnels, he detected a small figure moving swiftly, nimble as a rabbit.
After a brief thought, he stepped inside. The entrance split into three sloping paths leading downward.
One path carried the distant roars of zombies, while the other two seemed safe—for now.
The child had taken one of the safer routes.
Seeing Rosen move forward, Pitas had no choice but to follow. Without a strong ally, survival in this zombie-infested wasteland was impossible.
"This place is a maze," Pitas muttered.
The tunnels twisted and turned, their narrow paths shrouded in darkness, stirring unease. By Rosen's estimation, they had already descended fifty or sixty meters underground.
As they moved deeper, following the ominous presence, the network of tunnels only became more complex.
Some passages held decayed corpses and wandering zombies—no real threat to Rosen, who dispatched them with ease.
But the sheer vastness and complexity of this underground world were beyond anything he had imagined.
"Can you stop following me? I just want to go home."
A helpless voice echoed from one of the tunnels.
"How do you know we're following you?!" Pitas was stunned.
There were so many paths—how could she be certain?
"Do you have Observation Haki?" Rosen asked in surprise. That was the only explanation. Some people were born with extraordinary abilities, like that little girl from Skypiea.
"We won't hurt you. But tell me—why can't we go near the rift?"
Originally, Rosen had planned to follow her to a village or settlement.
But this girl was too cautious. Too smart. She had been deliberately leading them in circles.
"Are you outsiders?"
From the shadows ahead, a small girl emerged.
She was dirty, dressed in animal pelts, holding a dagger in one hand and a small round wooden shield in the other. She eyed Rosen and Pitas warily.
"Yes, but we're not bad people…" Pitas quickly added.
In the current chaotic state of Lantis, finding a local was incredibly valuable. He wanted to appear as non-threatening as possible.
"Outsiders are all bad."
Swish—
Without warning, the girl lunged like a wild beast, swift and deadly.
Her dagger streaked toward Pitas's waist.
So fast!
For a split second, Pitas felt as if he was staring into the eyes of a demon. He couldn't even react before she was already upon him, her razor-sharp blade slashing toward his side.
Clap—
But just before she struck, Rosen's large hand caught her wrist.
"The prank ends here, little girl. How about we make a deal? What do you want? Tell me what I need to know, and I'll do my best to get you what you want. Sound fair?"
(End of Chapter)
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