Chapter 111 111: Impel Down (8) — Stalemate!
Just as Luffy and Magellan were locked in a tense standoff, battle erupted in the Blazing Hell of Level 4.
Because of the help from the Newkama, aside from Luffy—who had climbed straight up to Level 2 through the massive hole that pierced all the way through Impel Down—everyone else had no choice but to take the stairs the old-fashioned way.
Hannyabal held his naginata "Ketsueki" in one hand while issuing orders through a Den Den Mushi with the other.
"Recall all soldiers to Level 4 underground!
Sadi! Saldeath! Lead all your subordinates to Level 4!"
"…I'll stake my life to become the next Warden!"
"Ah—no, wait! That's not right!"
"I mean… I'll stake my life and fight with everything I've got!"
Level 4 — Blazing Hell
Sabo, Sir Crocodile, and Jinbe stood side by side.
The prison guards' hands trembled as they gripped their rifles.
"Intruders! Former Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Desert King Crocodile, and Jinbe the Knight of the Sea!"
"…And someone who looks like he's from the Revolutionary Army!"
"—Fire!!"
Gunshots rang out in a storm of bullets, raining down on the three.
Countless holes were blasted through Crocodile's body, but he remained unfazed. Meanwhile, Sabo and Jinbe hardened their defenses with Armament Haki.
Crocodile revealed a sinister smile. A crescent-shaped blade of sand formed at his elbow and swept across the guards.
In an instant, the guards withered into dried corpses.
"Crescent Sand Dune."
Sabo leapt high into the air before crashing down into the crowd. His hands curled into claws as he slammed them into the ground.
"Dragon's Breath!"
Shockwaves burst outward from Sabo's body.
The ground trembled and split apart as the violent impact sent hundreds of guards tumbling straight into the magma below.
Jinbe remained calm.
With a heavy, deliberate punch thrown into the air, an immense shockwave blasted forward, sending guards flying in every direction.
Fish-Man Karate — "Arabesque Brick Fist."
The trio's strength was overwhelming. The prison guards could only rely on sheer numbers to stall them.
Crocodile, draped in a dark green fur coat with a cigar clenched between his teeth, walked slowly toward a prison cell.
Clink.
A key dropped into the cell.
The prisoners immediately scrambled to seize it.
Only one man sitting quietly in the corner—a bald man—did not move.
"I want to leave this place, but I'll need some manpower. So… how about it?"
"Care to come along, Mr. 1?"
The bald man looked up.
Seeing Crocodile smiling outside the bars, he slowly stood.
"If it's you, sir… then I suppose I'll take a trip outside."
"…I was getting bored anyway."
Impel Down — Main Gate
Marshall D. Teach (Blackbeard) stared at the man standing opposite him—Shiryu of the Rain.
"Zehahaha! I don't know who you are…"
"But someone with your strength spending his entire life buried in the darkness of Impel Down…"
"…Is it really worth it?"
Blackbeard spread his arms wide, speaking with grand ambition.
"Join me!"
"I'll take you out to the vast seas!"
"My plan is about to succeed…"
"…Soon, I'll rule the world as its Emperor!"
"Heh."
Shiryu held a cigar between his lips, his right hand resting on the hilt of the famed blade Raiu.
A bloodthirsty glint flickered in his eyes.
Level 2 — Beast Hell
Luffy still sat cross-legged, though now his chin rested on one hand as he looked calmly at the tense Magellan.
"Relax. I'm just waiting for my friends."
Luffy stretched lazily.
"To be honest, I don't really want to fight you. If you just let us go, none of this trouble would be necessary."
"What nonsense are you spouting?! Let you go?"
Magellan's voice rose with anger.
"Do you think this place is some kind of amusement park where you can leave whenever you want?!"
"This is the world's greatest prison!"
Cough—cough!
Magellan suddenly began coughing up blood.
"Is that so?"
Luffy didn't seem concerned. His deep gaze fixed firmly on Magellan.
"You sent Shiryu to deal with Blackbeard, didn't you?"
"Do you even understand what kind of man Shiryu is?"
"If those two join forces…"
"You should be able to imagine what will happen to Impel Down."
Luffy's intentions were obvious.
Even though he had thrown away his stance for Ace's sake, he still didn't want too many uncontrollable monsters escaping if he could help it.
Fortunately…
Most of the prisoners in Level 6 — Eternal Hell were already dead.
Defeating Magellan would be easy.
Cleaning up the aftermath would not.
Magellan stared at Luffy deeply.
Then he turned and headed toward Blackbeard.
More than following orders…
He wanted to protect the world's greatest prison.
Meanwhile — Blazing Hell
At last, Hannyabal arrived with a large force of guards.
But what greeted them was devastation.
The entire floor was covered with corpses, magma, and shattered stone.
Sadi hung from the ceiling in a strangely alluring pose.
Only Sabo's group of five and over a hundred Newkama remained standing.
Sabo stepped forward slowly, his right hand forming a claw. His voice was cold.
"I suggest you step aside."
"My younger brother is waiting for me."
"You've got to be kidding me!"
Hannyabal raised his naginata and charged forward with his round belly bouncing.
But Sabo's Dragon Claw struck his face instantly—
BOOM!
Hannyabal crashed violently into the ground.
Sabo continued walking forward.
Suddenly—
A hand grabbed tightly onto his pant leg.
"I won't let you escape!"
Surprise flickered across Sabo's eyes.
Even without Armament Haki, that attack should not have been something Hannyabal could endure.
Yet…
Sabo looked at the man struggling to stand.
Conviction…?
"What do you mean you're here to save someone?!"
Hannyabal used his blade to prop himself up as blood poured from his wounds. He roared:
"Scum like you shouldn't talk about righteousness!"
"You're nothing but infamous pirates and rebels!"
Facing these terrifying figures head-on, Hannyabal stood firm.
Crocodile's face showed clear impatience.
"As long as you people roam the seas…"
"Ordinary citizens will spend sleepless nights fearing the loss of the people they love!"
"So to give the weak peace of mind…"
"…I will lock vicious criminals like you behind bars!"
Determination filled Hannyabal's face.
But the response he received was Crocodile's golden hook.
His voice was low.
"The weak can only ever see a very narrow part of the world."
Just as the hook was about to strike—
A hand suddenly grabbed Hannyabal's face.
BANG!
With tremendous force, his head was smashed into the ground as blood splattered everywhere.
"Sorry."
Sabo slowly straightened and continued walking forward.
Not a single guard dared to stop him.
"From the moment Ace was sentenced to execution…"
"I abandoned every stance I had."
"So what you're saying…"
"…doesn't matter to me."
Level 1 — Crimson Hell
Blackbeard's group swaggered down the prison corridor.
"Zehahaha! Looks like our luck is incredible!"
"…Now it's time to find some new crewmates!"
The prisoners inside the cells instantly erupted into chaos.
"Let me out! Let me out! I'll do anything you say!"
"I'm the strongest man in my village! I can carry your luggage!"
"M-Me! I've got brains!"
The prisoners desperately tried to sell themselves.
But pirates with bounties of only a few million berries were worthless.
Blackbeard didn't even glance at them as he walked past.
Then—
A massive one-armed figure appeared ahead of them.
He stared calmly at Blackbeard's crew.
"Zehahaha! Isn't that Warden Magellan?"
"Why do you look so miserable?"
Blackbeard mocked him arrogantly.
After gaining the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit, his confidence had swelled enormously.
Magellan responded with only two words.
"Venom Demon."
A massive poison dragon erupted forth.
In an instant—
Blackbeard's entire crew was wiped out.
From the shadows, a hidden figure watched the scene unfold, the corner of his mouth twitching.
Magellan stepped onto the elevator.
"The Straw Hat boy can't be stopped anymore…"
"But the rest…"
"…I'll capture as many of them as I can."
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