"Eight Gates Release Formation—Third Gate, Gate of Life—Open!"
As Qin Chuan activated the technique, his veins bulged, his skin flushed red, and a surge of overwhelming power exploded from his body, amplifying both his speed and destructive force.
Seeing Qin Chuan transform so suddenly, Hannibal instinctively gripped his trident with both hands, readying himself for a brutal clash.
"This ends now—Leaf Lotus!"
With a furious roar, Qin Chuan vanished. Hannibal barely saw the blur before Qin Chuan's uppercut slammed into his chin, launching him like a missile into the air. His face twisted grotesquely under the force.
But Qin Chuan wasn't finished. Still grounded, he coiled like a spring and then propelled himself upward at high velocity. Catching Hannibal mid-air, he spun, lifted his leg, and brought it down in a crushing aerial dropkick.
Boom!
The impact drove Hannibal straight into the stone floor, which shattered and cratered around him.
Ding. Congratulations, Host. You have defeated the enemy and earned 15,000 reputation points.
The system alert confirmed what Qin Chuan already sensed—Hannibal was down for good.
From the surveillance room on Level Four, Magellan sighed heavily. He calmly straightened his black uniform, then strode silently from his office.
With Hannibal defeated, the morale of the jailers collapsed. They fell in waves, beaten or killed by furious prisoners. Meanwhile, the infamous killer, Nursery Rhyme, left trails of bodies throughout the passageways.
The inmates surged forward like a tidal wave, racing toward Level Four.
Level Four—Blazing Hell—was the strategic heart of Impel Down. Magellan's office, the prison's granary, and a high-temperature kitchen were all located here. At its center bubbled a massive pit of boiling blood, seething like a cursed cauldron.
As Qin Chuan reached the entrance to Level Four, his steps halted.
Dozens of prisoners lay scattered across the floor, motionless.
The air was thick with a deep purple haze.
Qin Chuan's eyes narrowed—he immediately retreated to Level Three.
This was no ordinary mist—it was the venomous miasma released by the Doku Doku no Mi, Magellan's Paramecia-class Poison Poison Fruit. The Warden's body constantly emitted lethal toxins—sweat, breath, saliva, even his sighs—all weaponized.
His poison paralyzed nerves, induced agony or hallucinations, and in many cases, killed instantly. The venom could even melt solid stone. Only Magellan's antidote could neutralize it. Yet, excessive use of his ability left him suffering chronic diarrhea—a trade-off he accepted without hesitation.
This fearsome power is precisely what allowed him to subdue even legendary pirates within Impel Down.
"Haha! Brat, no matter how strong you are, you can't overcome my venom!" Magellan's mocking laughter echoed from the fourth floor as he witnessed Qin Chuan's retreat.
Back on Level Three, Qin Chuan was already deep in thought. He opened the system store, sifting through options.
To face Magellan, he needed more than raw power—he needed resistance to poison. Mite Guy, despite his explosive strength, offered no such defense.
At first, he considered Hanzo of the Salamander—the legendary shinobi dubbed "Half-God" by the ninja world. Hanzo's very breath exuded paralyzing poison, so he wore a gas mask to protect allies and enemies alike. But Magellan's toxin could also invade via direct contact. Hanzo wouldn't last.
Just then, faint footsteps echoed from the fourth floor—descending.
Only one man could walk out of that poisoned level alive—Magellan.
Qin Chuan tensed, nerves coiling. But then, something in the system caught his eye—hope sparked.
A new character card appeared.
Sasori of the Red Sand, puppet master of Akatsuki.
Sasori, in his puppet form, lacked human vulnerabilities. Poison gas was meaningless to him.
But the cost—
50,000 reputation points.
Qin Chuan gritted his teeth. "Damn profiteers," he muttered.
Still, this gave him an idea. Sasori wasn't the only puppeteer.
His thoughts turned to Chiyo, elder of Sunagakure and Sasori's grandmother.
A new card lit up in the shop.
Chiyo (Puppet Master) — Exchange cost: 30,000 reputation points.
Perhaps due to her advanced age, her price was more accessible.
Qin Chuan quickly checked his panel. After defeating high-tier enemies like Saludes and Hannibal, he had just enough.
Without hesitation, he tapped exchange.
Ding. [Chiyo] character card successfully exchanged. 30,000 reputation points deducted.
Power surged through him again—but differently. His core shifted, adapting to the essence of a master puppeteer.
And not a moment too soon.
Magellan descended from Level Four, the very air around him cloaked in noxious purple fog. His every breath exhaled death.
"You still think you can resist me, boy?" he sneered, stepping closer. "This time, there's no escape. You'll die slow and screaming."
But Qin Chuan didn't step back.
He stood firm, calm, and ready—with the puppeteer of legends now guiding his hands.