While Marineford and the New World were on the brink of war, something was brewing at Impel Down.
“I’m here to save you… Ace!”
This was the sixth level of the underwater prison, Impel Down, where inmates far surpassed ordinary criminals in both strength and threat. These were the most vicious villains, perpetrators of the most heinous crimes, or monsters so dangerous that history itself sought to erase them.
At this moment, this secret prison, which was said to not even exist, had three unexpected visitors: “Queen of the Okamas” Emporio Ivankov, revolutionary Lightning, and the source of the current Impel Down riot, Monkey D. Luffy.
The one shouting was, of course, the reckless Straw Hat boy.
However, their target had already been taken away.
“Not here…” Luffy, having barely recovered his strength and sprinted all the way, stood before the massive cell, murmuring in disbelief.
Inside the cell, a whale shark fishman recognized the intruders and hurriedly shouted, “You’re Straw Hat Luffy, right? They just left. Hurry, chase them! Ace has been taken to the elevator!”
With the fishman’s guidance, Luffy barely had time to thank him before rushing with Ivankov and Lightning to the elevator that ran through Impel Down.
But the riot in the prison had already been noticed by the guards and the warden, who wouldn’t give them a chance.
Magellan, who had taken Ace, quickly sealed the elevator and staircase exits, cutting off their pursuit.
Moreover, purple gas began to spew from above!
“Whether it’s poison gas or not…” Luffy, desperate to save Ace, charged forward but instantly fell to the ground.
“There’s a limit to recklessness!” Ivankov yelled, eyes bulging.
Lightning, observing Luffy’s reaction, identified the gas and analyzed, “It seems to be a sleeping gas. They want us and the prisoners here to fall asleep so they can deal with us!”
In this dire situation, Lightning temporarily set aside the rescue mission for Ace, using his scissor fruit ability to slice the floor open like a thin cloth, tightly sealing the elevator entrance and another staircase exit, preventing the spread of the sleeping gas.
“Hey, I need to get upstairs, Crab Brother!” Luffy, awakened by Ivankov, said, struggling to keep his eyes open. “If the stairs are sealed, I can’t save Ace!”
It was true, but Lightning made the best choice given the circumstances: “Sealing the stairs is the only way to stop the gas. If we lose consciousness, how can we save anyone?”
“Even if I lose consciousness, I’ll still go to save him!” Luffy shouted. “Ace is going to be executed!”
But shouting couldn’t solve the problem. Lightning, calm yet firm, said, “Stop talking nonsense! Recklessness will only get us all killed. The enemy’s tactics are simple but effective. We’re trapped on LEVEL 6, unable to escape!”
The three fell silent. After a brief pause, Ivankov spoke to Luffy, “Get a grip. I will do everything I can to help you escape this prison. But Ace has already been handed over to Marine Headquarters. Give up… Oh no, the only hope now lies with Whitebeard.”
Ivankov tried to reason with Luffy, preparing to find a way to escape, but Luffy, with a determined face, said, “If that’s the case, then I’ll go to Marine Headquarters!”
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
Ivankov immediately scolded him, “That’s the world’s top-level war! Do you know Whitebeard’s strength? Do you know the power of the Marine Admirals and Vice Admirals? And the Warlords of the Sea? How many lives do you think you have?”
“Admirals… Warlords…” Ivankov’s shouting brought two people to Luffy’s mind, ones he couldn’t possibly defeat.
Yet he shouted unwaveringly, “If I give up, I’ll never forgive myself! I must go!”
“…” Ivankov was stunned by Luffy’s resolute words, unable to find a retort.
Because he felt the spirit of a revolutionary leader in this boy!
“Ku hahaha…”
As the three were in a bind, a laughter echoed, low and dangerous.
“If you want to get out of here, release me.” A tall man in a nearby cell stood up, saying, “I can make a hole in this ceiling. What do you say, Straw Hat?”
“It’s you!” Luffy turned, surprised. “You’re imprisoned here too, Crocodile!”
It was indeed the former Warlord of the Sea, “Crocodile.”
With a wicked smile, Crocodile said, “I thought there was no point in escaping. But hearing about Whitebeard fighting the Navy… Ku hahaha, the chance to take him down has come.”
“Don’t joke around!” Luffy rushed to the bars, yelling, “You almost destroyed Vivi’s country! I won’t let you out!”
As Luffy and Crocodile began to argue, Ivankov intervened, “Release him, Straw Hat. Having him will indeed boost our strength. If you’re going to Marine Headquarters, we’ll need it.”
Luffy wanted to object, but Ivankov, already at the cell door, smiled confidently at Crocodile, “Long time no see, Crocodile.”
Crocodile’s expression soured as Ivankov explained to Luffy, “I’ve known him since he was a rookie. Don’t worry, even if he betrays us, I can handle him. He’s not trustworthy, but I know his weakness!”
Luffy remained silent but seemed persuaded by Ivankov.
Then, the whale shark fishman they first met shouted from behind, “Please, take me with you! I’ll be of help!”
And not just him.
“Hey, Straw Hat!” Another voice came from a nearby cell, “I don’t know how you escaped last time or how you got here, but if you need people, count me in.”
Turning towards the voice, Luffy found it was a red-haired, spiky-headed man. It was Eustass Kid!
“Getting caught and thrown into Impel Down was just my bad luck,” Kid grinned against the bars. “But since you’re here… let me out! I can’t end my journey to find One Piece here! In return, I’ll join you in wreaking havoc at Marineford!”
With Jinbei and Kid both eager to join, the trio began to discuss among themselves.
“Who’s this big fishman?”
“Who’s this spiky-headed guy?”
Their questions left Jinbei and Kid with awkward expressions.
“I’m Jinbei,” Ivankov explained first. “Whale Shark Fishman ‘Knight of the Sea’ Jinbei, also a Warlord of the Sea!”
“Ah!”
Luffy was surprised, but before he could speak, Ivankov continued to Jinbei, “Being imprisoned here means you’re no longer a Warlord. Is it because of Whitebeard?”
“Yes,” Jinbei replied. “I opposed this war, but my power was too weak to stop it. So the Navy stripped me of my title and imprisoned me here.”
“Is he a good guy?” Luffy asked Ivankov simply. Receiving a positive answer, he laughed and said, “That guy is named Kid. He arrived at the Sabaody Archipelago at the same time as me. We fought together.”
“Though he got beaten up pretty badly,” Luffy laughed.
Luffy’s introduction made Ivankov and Lightning stiff, while Kid gritted his teeth in anger.
“It’s Kid! You bastard!” Kid shouted, “Show some respect. My bounty is higher than yours!”
“What?” Luffy got angry. “Only by a little bit! I’ll surpass you soon!”
“What?”
Their argument was too much for Ivankov and Lightning to bear.
Jinbei and Crocodile even questioned whether they should escape with these people.
Of course, this hesitation lasted only a moment.
With Lightning’s ability, they quickly unlocked the cells and cut the chains binding Jinbei, Crocodile, and Kid. The six powerful individuals were ready for their jailbreak!
“With this lineup, the guards must be trembling,” Ivankov laughed. “Let’s break out of this prison at full power!”
Jinbei: “Don’t harm Whitebeard, Crocodile!”
Crocodile: “Say what you will, but first think about how to get out. I have a subordinate on the fifth floor. He’s quite capable, and we can bring him along.”
Kid: “Is that so? A sand manipulator, huh? I also have someone above.”
Lightning: “Two more Warlords at once, huh?”
Luffy: “Target, Marine Headquarters!”
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