Gasping for breath and already nearly exhausted, Aokiji forced his head up once more, his dazed eyes scanning Luffy, poised and ready ahead.
He had long anticipated the outcome and never expected a miracle to occur.
Yet still… he couldn't quite comprehend it.
He couldn't understand what Luffy was trying to accomplish with all of this!
Despite having immense power, he wandered aimlessly through the first half of the Grand Line.
Despite being hailed as the "New Emperor" of the seas, he showed no ambition to challenge the Four Emperors.
If he shared the same grand ideals as his father, Monkey D. Dragon…
Then why had the Starry Sky Pirates done nothing publicly remarkable besides founding an academy that only performed good deeds and never meddled in politics?
For most of the world, the Starry Sky Pirates were just a name people had heard of—nothing more.
Watching Luffy gather fire in his hand, Aokiji couldn't help but ask, voice trembling:
"Monkey D. Luffy… what secret is the Starry Sky Pirates hiding!?"
"Why… are you doing all of this!?"
"Huh?"
"What are you talking about?"
Luffy slightly relaxed his hands, the flames dimming as he looked at Aokiji, puzzled.
Gasping heavily, Aokiji pressed on:
"In these extraordinary times, what are you plotting!?"
"Why destroy Judicial Island, why head to Impel Down!?"
"Because…"
Luffy pointed his palm at Aokiji, flames roaring with terrifying power.
Above, the blazing dragon opened its massive jaws and swallowed the ice bird whole.
"All of this… is the choice of the Gate of Fate!"
BOOM!!!
A tidal wave of scorching fire surged toward Aokiji!
The infernal heat seared him, and the towering flames lit up the entire ocean.
The wide-open Gate of Justice temporarily calmed the chaotic currents near Judicial Island. The sea was no longer a violent tempest.
This allowed the already remarkable Going Merry to slip effortlessly through the heavy metal gates.
Within the triangular zone enclosed by the Gate, the currents were even more stable than any other part of the surrounding sea.
Because it was a calm belt, these fixed currents had never shifted since records began.
The Golden Merry, guided by these currents, sped straight toward their destination: Impel Down.
With the currents guiding it, the ship sailed confidently, without hesitation, in a straight line.
The only nuisance was the occasional giant Sea King leaping out—but with Lab underneath the hull, the number of careless Sea Kings dwindled.
…
Impel Down.
A massive tower sunk deep into the ocean, its foundation buried in the seabed—hence its nickname: the Underwater Prison.
Built in the calm belt, the enormous tower was constantly surrounded by giant Sea Kings.
Prisoner assignments were based on bounty and threat to the World Government.
Each floor contained unique methods of torture, earning hellish nicknames. Descending a level meant suffering more intensely.
Crimson Hell, Wild Beast Hell, Starvation Hell, Blazing Hell, Freezing Hell…
…And the Eternal Hell, housing the most infamous criminals of the sea.
Not long after Luffy and his crew entered the Gate of Justice, an unexpected set of visitors arrived.
Level 4: Blazing Hell.
The entire floor was like a massive iron pot, filled with boiling blood pools and raging fire seas.
Hot air screamed incessantly.
Every prisoner entering this level would be disinfected by the extreme heat.
Those unlucky enough to be boiled alive? Who cared…
Blazing Hell also housed administrative offices, kitchens, and storerooms for Impel Down.
Even the Warden's office was on this floor.
…
"Fire!!! Blackbeard's rebellion is confirmed!!!"
"They're no longer our people!!"
An officer wearing orange sunglasses suddenly raised his gun at Blackbeard, who had just entered Blazing Hell, shouting loudly.
BANG!
The officer's forehead split open in a gruesome gash.
A bullet, traveling faster than the human eye could follow, pierced his skull and continued flying backward.
It pierced three more soldiers before finally embedding in the walls of Impel Down.
"BAHAHAHAHA…"
Blackbeard laughed recklessly at the hundred or so guards pointing guns at him.
With five of his crew behind him, he advanced without restraint.
This small floor could never hope to contain him!
A wave of darkness surged from Blackbeard's feet toward the hundreds of soldiers.
Blackbeard's fingers pointed downward.
A strange darkness flowed instantly to the soldiers' feet.
"Ah!? What is this!?"
"Damn it!!! Help!!"
"We're being sucked in!!!"
Hundreds of soldiers were swallowed as if trapped in quicksand, their bodies sinking uncontrollably into the floor.
Their struggling ceased, leaving the area empty—no trace of them remained.
"BAHAHAHAHA…"
Blackbeard laughed again, raising his arm to his crew:
"Let's go! On to the next floor!!!"
"BLACKBEARD!!!!"
Just as Blackbeard cleared the guards and advanced toward the fifth floor, a quake-like roar echoed beside them.
Step!… Step!…
Sss…
A towering figure appeared from the depths of Blazing Hell.
With every step, dark purple venom dripped from his body, corroding the floor of Impel Down with deadly precision.
"BAHAHAHA…!"
"The great fish finally appears! You must be the Warden, Magellan!!?"
Blackbeard raised his hand, signaling his crew to pause, laughing at the figure.
Magellan inhaled sharply, face dark:
"Blackbeard of the Seven Warlords!!"
"Hahaha… That's right! It's me!!"
No need for words—Magellan, from his monitoring room, had witnessed every atrocity committed by Blackbeard and his crew.
Against enemies in Impel Down, he cared not for rank, unleashing the full power of his Venom-Venom Fruit.
A massive purple-black dragon surged from his body, jaws wide, rushing toward Blackbeard's crew!