"Sabo-boy! If we want to disrupt the Navy's war and throw the world into chaos, then our best bet is to release the inmates of Level 6—Eternal Hell!"
Emporio Ivankov strode alongside Sabo and the others through the passageway that Morley had carved out. Since Morley had only joined the Revolutionary Army after Ivankov was captured, Ivankov was originally unaware that the legendary Level 5.5 had been created by Morley.
When the flamboyant giant finally arrived at Level 5.5 and showcased his abilities, Ivankov immediately understood—
This was truly the legacy of a "comrade," in every sense of the word.
With years of experience exploring and expanding Level 5.5, Ivankov now led Sabo and his group toward Level 6 of Impel Down.
"While that may be true, the prisoners held in Eternal Hell are those deemed too dangerous to exist—monsters erased from history. We can't just unleash them all," Sabo said, deep in thought. "It wouldn't just be the Navy and the World Government that suffer; countless innocent civilians would be caught in the crossfire. That is not our goal."
"Ah, Sabo-kun, still as kind as ever, fufufu—HA!" Ivankov teased, batting his exaggerated eyelashes at him before tilting his massive head in thought. A slow, mischievous grin crept across his face.
"Heh! We don't need all of them, but I do know a few interesting fellows in Level 6 who could be very useful to us."
"If it's just a few individuals, that shouldn't be an issue... Ah, we're here!"
Ivankov slapped the ground before them. "Morley, my dear, open up this section! That should lead us straight into Level 6! There were other pathways before, but since you're here, we might as well create a new one!"
"No problem, Ivankov-chan~" Morley, who shared Ivankov's enthusiasm, happily brandished his massive trident.
"Push—!"
BOOM!
As Morley forced the tunnel open, they were immediately greeted by an unexpected sight.
"Fufufu—HA! What in the world is happening down there?!"
Ivankov's eyes widened in shock at the scene below. Morley's tunnel had opened right above Level 6, allowing them a bird's-eye view of the chaos unfolding.
"This... This can't be possible...!"
Koala covered her mouth in disbelief, while Hack broke into a cold sweat. Sabo's brows furrowed deeply.
"Are those... Level 6 prisoners?! They're already free—and they're fighting each other?!"
Below them, the deepest layer of Impel Down—Eternal Hell—was in utter turmoil. The criminals who had been released were engaged in a brutal, merciless battle. The air was thick with the sounds of laughter, screams, and the clashing of metal.
"Zehahahaha! Keep fighting! Keep slaughtering each other!"
"You scum, rejected by the world! Only the last one standing will have the right to be my crewmate and return to the surface!"
Amidst the carnage, a dark figure loomed, his face twisted into a cruel grin.
"The newly appointed Warlord of the Sea—'Blackbeard' Marshall D. Teach!"
Sabo turned to Ivankov, who was equally dumbfounded. "Wasn't this guy supposed to have encountered Magellan?!"
"This shouldn't be possible... There's no way he walked away from Magellan unscathed! When the surveillance systems cut out, he and his crew had already run into the warden. I refuse to believe they defeated Magellan without suffering any damage!"
Ivankov was just as shaken. Level 5.5 had access to surveillance visuals from the prison, just like the main control room. Whatever the guards could see, so could Ivankov.
When Blackbeard first invaded Impel Down, Ivankov and the others had been amused—after all, a Warlord infiltrating the world's most secure prison was an absurdity in itself.
But they hadn't expected much from him. Even though he was the catalyst for the war between the Navy and Whitebeard, he was still just one Warlord. And in Impel Down, Magellan was invincible.
True enough, they had seen Magellan confront Blackbeard in the Chief Warden's office on Level 4. The surveillance had cut out after that, but there was no logical reason for Blackbeard to have made it to Level Six unscathed!
"Wait! That man over there—" Koala suddenly tugged on Sabo's sleeve. "Sabo-kun! Look! That's Impel Down's Head Jailer—Shiryu!"
Following Koala's pointing finger, Sabo and Ivankov spotted a man clad in the uniform of the prison's chief enforcer, a cigar clenched between his teeth as he casually wiped his long blade.
"That explains it..."
Sabo's expression hardened. "Shiryu, the Head Jailer, has betrayed the prison."
"This Blackbeard... Just who is he really?!"
"Sabo-boy, should we stop them?"
"That bastard came here with the sole purpose of recruiting the most powerful criminals for his crew."
Sabo shut his eyes for a moment before making his decision. "Morley, seal the tunnel. We're heading back up to find Magellan."
"Even in this chaos, Magellan's abilities make him nearly unstoppable, even against these criminals. If Shiryu has defected, then it's likely he was also behind the surveillance failure."
"If that's the case, then the guards are all dead, and Magellan is still unaware of what's happening. We just need to inform him—handling the situation isn't our responsibility."
"More importantly… we need to take control of a Marine warship and head for Marineford!"
"The execution is happening soon… We must reach Marine Headquarters before the war ends!"
"Understood!"
...
Impel Down, Level 3.
Droplets of venom dripped from Magellan's hands as he surveyed the aftermath of his onslaught. Most of the escaped prisoners from the upper levels had already been subdued, with only a few stragglers still attempting to flee—though they wouldn't get far.
"A wax user… a weakling, but still capable of blocking my poison to some extent..."
Magellan glanced at the battered and bruised Hannyabal. "So tell me—how does the real Vice Warden get beaten up by an impostor rallying the Jailer Beasts?"
"I... I just want to be Warden so badly... Ah! I mean—!"
Hannyabal panted heavily, clearly traumatized by the beating he'd received from the Jailer Beasts.
Damn it… I must never admit that I was tricked by that freakish okama's transformation magic…
That would be too humiliating! How would I ever become Warden then?!
"That okama was with Baroque Works! He was working with the wax user!"
"And somehow… that clown Buggy showed up too! Communications were just restored, and we found out that Buggy is actually a big shot!"
"A big shot?"
Magellan made his way toward the second level's gate, unbothered by the few remaining escapees—his fully armed enforcers were already stationed at each exit.
"That ridiculous red-nosed fool? Who is he, exactly?"
"He… he was a crewmember of Gol D. Roger, the Pirate King!"
"And he's a sworn brother to one of the Four Emperors—Red-Haired Shanks!"
"..."
Magellan's steps faltered. "…So he has that kind of background… In that case, we absolutely cannot—"
BOOM!
A chunk of the wall suddenly collapsed, revealing a gaping hole.
Magellan's expression darkened. What in the world was happening in Impel Down today?!
"Magellan! Level 6—Eternal Hell—is in full riot! You need to get down there immediately! Shiryu has defected!"
"The guards are all dead, and your communications are compromised… but don't worry, I just broke them again. You're welcome. Farewell!"
A clear, calm voice echoed from the tunnel—then, before Magellan could act, the hole was abruptly sealed shut again!
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