One Piece: I'm not Roger

Four days later, inside the underwater prison Impel Down.

The sixth level held a group of infamous and powerful pirates, often referred to as the Silver Medalists of the sea. To prevent riots, food rations were deliberately kept at the bare minimum needed for survival.

This was not an act of mercy. Many prisoners possessed dangerous Devil Fruit abilities, and the World Government could not risk their deaths, as that would allow those powers to return to the sea and potentially create new threats.

Level Six was damp and completely shrouded in darkness, without a single light source.

Inside one of the cells, a young man sat cross-legged with his hands bound by Sea Prism Stone. He was twenty-one years old, with black hair, freckles on both cheeks, and a lean yet muscular build. His bare upper body revealed the emblem of the Whitebeard Pirates tattooed across his back, and he wore only a pair of black shorts.

He was the fuse that ignited the coming war, the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, Portgas D. Ace.

Sitting outside the cell across from him was the legendary Marine hero, Monkey D. Garp, the man who had raised him.

Garp, with his short white hair and imposing Marine uniform, radiated immense pressure even in stillness. Yet at this moment, his face was filled with strain as he clenched his teeth.

"The war can no longer be stopped. We have angered the rulers of the sea."

He sighed deeply, thinking about both of his grandsons.

"I wanted you and Luffy to become Marines. Instead, both of you have become notorious pirates. Luffy stormed Enies Lobby and declared war on the World Government. Then he even struck a Celestial Dragon at Sabaody Archipelago. You two really know how to give this old man a headache."

Garp let out a short laugh before continuing.

"And when I told Luffy about his father, that fool was shocked. He actually asked if he even had one."

Ace, who had been silent with his head lowered, finally spoke.

"Knowing about that is nothing but trouble. Both Luffy and I carry the blood of dangerous criminals. How could we ever become Marines? Even if I use my mother's name, Portgas…"

His voice hardened.

"The blood I inherited from that man only brings me shame. He never gave me anything, not even a single memory."

Garp frowned, trying to speak on behalf of his old friend.

"Even so, he…"

"That's why," Ace cut him off firmly, his eyes distant as he recalled the past, "on this sea, the only man I acknowledge as my father is Edward Newgate. No one else."

Garp fell silent.

Whitebeard, the strongest man in the world and one of the Four Emperors, had given Ace something no one else could, a place to belong.

The heavy silence between them was soon broken by approaching footsteps.

It was time. Ace would be escorted to Marineford.

Far above, a Marine warship approached the Gate of Justice, the massive structure used to control the powerful sea currents connecting the three great strongholds of the Marines, Enies Lobby, Marineford, and Impel Down. With these currents, journeys that would take days could be completed in under an hour.

On the deck of the warship, a Marine soldier reported.

"Vice Admiral Momonga, a pirate ship has been spotted ahead."

Momonga frowned slightly and raised his telescope. What he saw surprised him.

A medium sized pirate ship sailed nearby, flying a flag with a clown face and a large red nose.

"Ignore them," Momonga said calmly. "Inform Impel Down. If they come any closer, sink them."

"Yes, Vice Admiral."

The ship belonged to the Buggy Pirates.

Ever since their captain, Buggy, had been imprisoned, his crew had insisted on rescuing him. However, their acting captain, Alvida, had no intention of throwing her life away.

She leaned on her massive iron club and spoke bluntly.

"I'm not going to die for that clown. If you want to save him, take a small boat and go yourselves."

The crew fell into despair.

In the Calm Belt, sailing in a small boat meant certain death by Sea Kings.

Faced with reality, their resolve crumbled. One by one, they abandoned the rescue and sailed away.

Meanwhile, at the port of Impel Down, Momonga's warship docked. Five Vice Admirals and ten warships stood guard, forming a tight defense against any potential attack from the Whitebeard Pirates.

Upon arrival, the Warden of Impel Down, Magellan, personally received the Shichibukai, Boa Hancock.

Dressed elegantly, Hancock's beauty immediately stunned the surrounding Marines. Several weak willed soldiers turned to stone on the spot, leaving Momonga visibly exasperated.

"Please restrain yourself," he muttered. "We've already lost enough dignity."

Even Magellan felt a slight stir, though he quickly suppressed it.

"Welcome to Impel Down," he said calmly. "The Vice Warden and I will accompany you."

Not long after Hancock entered, a figure quietly stepped off the ship behind her.

It was Monkey D. Luffy, hidden beneath an invisibility cloak.

Remembering Aether's warning, he carefully avoided getting close to Magellan, knowing he would be discovered instantly. Waiting for the gates to open again, Luffy slipped inside unnoticed.

The prison's interior was cold and oppressive.

Taking the elevator down, he reached the first level, Crimson Hell. It was a labyrinth of cells filled with prisoners, most of them minor criminals.

The deeper levels held increasingly dangerous pirates. Beast Hell, Starvation Hell, Blazing Hell, and beyond, each reserved for stronger enemies.

As Luffy moved through a narrow corridor, traps suddenly activated above him.

Heavy mechanisms dropped from the ceiling, but he barely managed to dodge them. Before he could relax, spears shot out from the walls.

Panicking, he avoided them again.

Confused, Luffy scratched his head. He was invisible, so why was he still being attacked?

In the distance, a commotion erupted.

A red nosed prisoner ran frantically through the corridor, chased by large gorilla like jailers in blue uniforms. As he ran, he pressed random buttons along the walls, triggering more traps.

"It's Buggy!" Luffy grinned. "I'll ask him where Ace is."

Forgetting everything else, he rushed after him.

"Buggy! Buggy!"

The fleeing Buggy froze, looking around in terror.

"Who said that? Show yourself!"

Suddenly, a floating head wearing a straw hat appeared in front of him.

"Buggy, you found me already? That's amazing!"

Buggy's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"Straw Hat! What are you doing here? I didn't hear you got captured!"

Luffy pulled off the cloak as he ran alongside him.

"I came here on my own."

Buggy's expression changed instantly. Misunderstanding the situation, he assumed Luffy had come to rescue him.

"How stupid can you be?" Buggy scoffed. "Coming all the way here just to save me."

Luffy shook his head.

"No, I'm here to save Ace."

Buggy froze.

For once, the great Captain Buggy had completely overestimated himself.

Meanwhile, far from the chaos of Impel Down, another figure stepped onto the shores of Sabaody Archipelago.

Arriving aboard the Kuja Pirates' ship, Aether placed his foot on the dock and looked ahead calmly.

"Sabaody...I'm back."

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