"You had this kind of preparation too, Sengoku?"
Whitebeard watched the scene, raising an eyebrow. "Gurararara! Then let's try it. Let's see how long these guys can hold us back!"
Whitebeard finally moved. With a loud laugh, his massive body leaped down from the ship's bow like a meteor, crashing into the densest concentration of Marines on the ice plain!
The surrounding Marines turned pale with fright.
This was intense?
The moment he landed, he slammed Murakumogiri down with a heavy thud!
Whitebeard's fists, wrapped in white orbs, hammered into the air on either side of him.
Thud!
Crack.
The sound of space shattering followed. A terrifying shockwave spread outward from Whitebeard.
"Aaaaargh!"
Hundreds of elite Marines in the surrounding area—along with their weapons and even the ice beneath their feet—were sent flying by this irresistible force. A huge area was cleared in an instant.
Sengoku gritted his teeth. "He's finally moving, isn't he?"
Sengoku watched the figure, like a war god ravaging the Marine ranks, grinding his teeth.
He had never underestimated this man—the world's strongest—so he had prepared every possible contingency.
"Don't get too arrogant, Whitebeard!"
Akainu's roar came from a distance.
Whitebeard turned his head.
In the distance, a massive dark red magma fist, larger than a house, came flying straight at Whitebeard!
The fist exploded in midair, splitting into countless smaller magma bullets that covered a vast area around Whitebeard, burning many pirates who couldn't dodge in time to charcoal. The largest core magma fist, however, was aimed directly at Whitebeard himself.
Whitebeard narrowed his eyes. The blade of Murakumogiri was instantly covered in a white shockwave orb. He swung his blade to meet the giant magma fist.
Boom!
Blade and magma collided. Whitebeard's arm muscles bulged as he slammed the remnants of the magma fist into the ice beside him, producing a violent sizzling sound of evaporation.
He gently blew on the residual flames on his blade. The flames extinguished.
"Setting fires on such a grand scale,"
Whitebeard looked up at the red figure walking toward him, his tone dripping with undisguised mockery, "keep them for lighting birthday candles, magma brat."
"Hmph. You don't like the lavish funeral I've prepared for you, Whitebeard?" Akainu sneered.
Magma flowed around his body.
Their gazes clashed in the air, filled with killing intent.
The next second, Akainu's figure vanished from where he stood.
"Mogu!"
"Shockwave Fist!"
The fist covered in searing magma and pitch-black Armament Haki collided with Whitebeard's Murakumogiri, wrapped in shockwave force.
Boom, crash!
A terrifying collision sound rang out.
Waves of force rolled out from the two of them.
The crimson magma and the white shockwave ripples turned everything around them into a vortex of destruction.
Just the dissipated energy from the clash sent dozens of nearby Marines and pirates flying like rag dolls—their fates unknown.
"An Admiral and Whitebeard are fighting!" someone shouted.
"Get away from there!"
The outcome of this war would always be determined by only a handful of people.
The rest were cannon fodder.
That was the cruelty of war.
"This situation doesn't look good."
Marco, in his phoenix form, hovered in midair.
Pops's battle with Akainu wouldn't end so simply.
Even with the powerful reinforcements from Luffy and the Impel Down escapees, the Whitebeard Pirates were still at a clear disadvantage.
This was obvious.
The Whitebeard Pirates' strategy from the very beginning had not been to fight the Marines to the death here.
That was unrealistic, and the cost would be unbearable.
Rescuing Ace and then using their fleet's advantage and coating technology to quickly escape was the best course of action.
Now, although Ace had been miraculously rescued by Luffy, the path home was still arduous.
Ace was being tightly wrapped by Aokiji, unable to break free.
"We need to do something to break the stalemate." Marco looked around and immediately locked on the figure on the Marines' flagship.
Sengoku the Buddha!
Even if he hadn't directly joined the battlefield, his role in overall planning was even more significant.
He needed to figure out a way to take out the commander-in-chief.
Scree!
The phoenix let out a clear, resonant cry. Its wings flapped, and it turned into a blue flame meteor, racing across the sky at an astonishing speed, heading straight for Sengoku's warship!
"Hey! That's the Whitebeard Pirates' First Division Commander, Marco the Phoenix!"
"What does he think he's doing?!"
"His target is Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Stop him!"
The Marines immediately spotted Marco's intention. Countless guns and cannons fired into the air at the blue firebird like a storm.
All those attacks were useless.
Marco's phoenix form had a nearly Bug-like regeneration ability. Bullets passed through his body, and the holes they left were instantly filled by blue flames.
"Keep going, Marco!"
"Take out Sengoku!"
"That's a Mythical Zoan!"
Mythical Zoan—a Devil Fruit type even rarer than Logia.
The Whitebeard Pirates' crew, seeing their division commander display such power, let out thunderous cheers, their morale lifting.
"Hmph. A brat from the Whitebeard Pirates."
Sengoku looked up. His Admiral's coat billowed without wind.
His hand, which he had just raised, lowered again. He looked ahead.
A imposing figure appeared in front of Sengoku. A fist covered in Armament Haki punched Marco down.
"Boom, crash!"
Seeing this, Sengoku's expression was complicated.
"Hey, Garp. I didn't ask you to step in."
At a time like this, if he had just stayed down, Sengoku wouldn't have said anything.
"Vice Admiral Garp!"
A group of Marines shouted.
"The Hero of the Marines, Garp?"
The pirates broke out in a cold sweat.
Marco stood up from the ice, wiping a trace of blood from his mouth. "That punch really hurt."
This man's Haki was terrifying.
"Hmph. This is my own decision. It has nothing to do with you." Garp's expression was dark. "Don't forget. I'm a Marine too."
Garp, who had been sent flying by Luffy's punch earlier, had still made his move.
He might hesitate or hold back against Luffy, but against other pirates, his fist would not hesitate.
"Gurararara. Boys, he's just an old soldier about to retire." Whitebeard laughed.
"Then let's give it a try, Whitebeard." Garp grinned.
"Don't underestimate people, Whitebeard!"
The ignored Akainu let out a roar.
This was not the era of old men anymore!
Meanwhile, outside the main battlefield.
Impel Down seemed to have been forgotten.
Level Four, Blazing Hell.
A strange fog of seawater and venom filled the air.
"Gyojin Jujutsu: Mizugokoro · Umi Ryūdō!" Jinbe roared.
He violently stirred his arms, using the seawater that Luffy had previously brought in by breaking the walls, manipulating a surging current like a giant serpent, slamming it into Magellan.
"Venom Dragon!"
Magellan's expression was grave.
The venom coalesced into a giant dragon and charged forward, while his body rapidly retreated.
Facing Jinbe, who had the support of water currents, even he did not dare to take the attack head-on.
Boom!
The water current collided with the venom shield, exploding into a shower of venomous water that corroded the surrounding rock walls into a pitted mess.
This fight had been going on for quite some time. Magellan had truly been stalled here by Jinbe.
"This is bad, Warden!"
A badly wounded guard came crawling over, his face full of terror. "Level Five and Level Six still have prisoners escaping nonstop! We can't hold them back anymore!"
"What?!"
Magellan's pupils contracted. "What's happening?"
Hadn't the seawater completely flooded the lower levels?
There were indeed many non-ability users among the prisoners.
Magellan seemed to understand Jinbe's intention. He gritted his teeth. "You're keeping me here to let those prisoners escape in the chaos?"
"This old man's mission is simply to keep you here."
Jinbe relaxed his stance and said, "You're too dangerous."
He was telling the truth.
Entering Impel Down, opening the Gate of Justice to support Pops—the mission was already complete.
He could now return to the main battlefield to help.
But Magellan—this master of poison—if he appeared on the main battlefield, would be far too great a threat to the ability-user-heavy Whitebeard Pirates and Luffy's group.
And this environment suited him perfectly. He could keep Magellan occupied.
Magellan was frantic with urgency. He wanted nothing more than to finish off Jinbe and suppress the ever-flowing prisoners. But Jinbe's solid Fish-Man Karate, combined with water currents, made it difficult for him to break free.
No good news. Only one piece of bad news after another.
"Buru buru buru..."
An emergency contact Den Den Mushi inside Magellan's pocket rang.
His heart tightened. He quickly retreated a few steps, dodging a water current from Jinbe, and pulled out the Den Den Mushi.
Click.
"This is Magellan. What happened?!" Magellan asked in a deep voice.
"Warden! A massive riot has broken out on Level Six! The Blackbeard pirates who infiltrated earlier—they... aaaargh!"
A hurried report came from the other end, but before it could finish, it was cut off by a blood-curdling scream.
Then, the communication abruptly ended. The Den Den Mushi's simulated expression froze, then it drooped feebly.
"Hello?"
"Hello? Hello?!"
"Damn it!"
Magellan crushed the Den Den Mushi in his hand.
Den Den Mushi: "???"
Does anyone ever speak for us?
"That Blackbeard bastard still hasn't been dealt with?"
Magellan had thought Blackbeard was dead—cut from the ear down by Straw Hat's blade. To survive that... his vitality was simply terrifying.
Not only had he survived, but he had also infiltrated Level Six, Infinite Hell.
Could it be that his target had been Level Six all along?
Who was there that was worth such a risk?Or did that madman just want to release the most vicious prisoners on Level Six?
Either way, this was absolutely a crisis for Impel Down.
Magellan's purple venom surged uncontrollably with his anger.
"You... you just wait!"
Magellan glared at Jinbe, forcing out the words through clenched teeth. "Wait until I've dealt with Blackbeard and his crew!"
Jinbe ignored him.
Magellan turned around in a rage and left. He didn't have the time or stamina to waste on Jinbe anymore.
He had to get to Level Six immediately to suppress Blackbeard and prevent the worst outcome!
If the true monsters of Infinite Hell escaped, the consequences were beyond imagination!
This was Impel Down. This was absolutely not the place for schemers to carry out their plots.
Jinbe watched Magellan transform into a venom dragon and speed down to the lower levels. He did not pursue.
He couldn't stop Magellan if he was determined to leave, and his purpose had already been achieved.
As long as Magellan couldn't return to the main battlefield for a while, that was enough.
As for Blackbeard?
"If that bastard isn't dead, then since Luffy cut him once, he can cut him again!"
Jinbe murmured to himself. "It's time for me to return."
...
Impel Down, Level Six.
Infinite Hell.
The place that should have been flooded with seawater had had most of it drained by some mechanism, leaving only ankle-deep puddles.
The air was filled with the stench of blood and madness.
"Zehahaha! With you joining us, we will surely become the strongest force on this sea!" Teach laughed heartily.
Half of his body was wrapped in thick bandages. He had only one ear left. He spread his arms wide to welcome the five figures who had just been selected.
He wasn't dead!
He was still alive!
That slash had nearly killed him. He had managed to survive through the tenacious vitality of his Yami Yami no Mi awakening.
The consequence was losing an ear.
But as long as he was alive, there was still hope. The most crucial step in his plan was still completed. This was fate!
He was destined to become the Pirate King.
The humiliation Straw Hat had inflicted on him—he would repay it a hundredfold!
Just thinking about Luffy made Blackbeard's ear throb with phantom pain.
His body had nearly been cut in half. Under the overpowered ability of the Yami Yami no Mi, he had somehow recovered. But the ear that had been cut off... it was gone. He didn't care!
Because he had gained powerful subordinates!
Through brutal battles and selections among the prisoners of Level Six, he had successfully recruited five incredibly strong new subordinates!
Plus his original crew members and Shiryu of the Rain, who had volunteered, his Blackbeard Pirates had instantly swelled to a terrifying level of power.
The prisoners who had survived the battles on Level Six were each once great pirates who had driven the World Government to its wit's end:
Avalo Pizarro the Corrupt King!
Catarina Devon the Crescent Moon Hunter!
Vasco Shot the Heavy Drinker!
Sanjuan Wolf the Giant Battleship!
And Shiryu of the Rain—former Chief Guard of Impel Down, a top-tier great swordsman on par with Magellan!
With these people joining, the capital backing his ambition had become terrifyingly powerful.
This was the purpose of his dangerous infiltration into Impel Down!
There were a few others he regretted.
Douglas Bullet, Redfield the Red Count, Byrnndi World the World Destroyer...
Those guys were monsters too.
But Blackbeard gave up on recruiting them.
Those types of ambitious men would never submit to another.
So he let them leave.
Stir! Stir!
Let them stir!
Let them stir the Marines at the front line into exhaustion.
Let the Marines use all their resources.
Whitebeard was as good as dead.
Then it would be his stage!
"Don't get too excited, Teach."
Avalo Pizarro crossed his arms, his tone cold. "We're only interested in your plan. But it has to succeed."
"Exactly,"
Catarina Devon let out an evil laugh and licked her lips. "If you fail, we're not going to die with you."
The others thought more or less the same.
Blackbeard was strong—but not that strong.
He couldn't decisively suppress these vicious prisoners of Level Six.
If Blackbeard's plan actually succeeded—then that might be different.
At least the idea of one person being able to eat two Devil Fruits was something even the Level Six prisoners were hearing for the first time.
And to think he wanted to eat Whitebeard's Gura Gura no Mi!
"Zehahaha! Don't worry!"
Blackbeard patted his chest, the movement pulling at his wounds and making him grimace, but his smile was still arrogant. "My plan will succeed!"
By his calculations, Whitebeard would surely die at Marine Headquarters this time.
After all, he was already old!
Facing the full combat power of Marine Headquarters, even Whitebeard couldn't leave there alive.
Against the Marines' all-out encirclement, what did a terminally ill, frail World's Strongest matter?
As for releasing the prisoners of Impel Down, that was just a way to stir the pot even more.
Blackbeard knew!
The Marines still held the
power hidden within the World Government.
During the meeting at Mary Geise, he had felt it—the same presence he had sensed as a child!
The pirates on that side could not escape. The more power they displayed, the more determined Sengoku would be to use that power. Whitebeard and his crew would die even faster!
Once that guy died, he would be able to seize his Devil Fruit ability!
With two top-tier abilities, he would become the new Emperor!
And Straw Hat? Let him try to fight again!
At that thought, Blackbeard's smile grew even wider.
"About your ear, though."
Catarina Devon had to mention the sore subject. She stared with interest at the empty space where Blackbeard's left ear had been. "That was from the Straw Hat? That guy is a formidable opponent."
The Corrupt King laughed. "A very strong kid."
At the mention of Luffy, the others also showed varied expressions.
The young pirate who had single-handedly broken into Impel Down and sent Magellan flying had left an indelible impression on them.
If Luffy had extended an invitation at that time, Blackbeard would have been out of the picture.
In this world, strength was absolute.
Strength was reason.
Blackbeard's expression instantly darkened. "Zehahaha! I'll get my revenge sooner or later!"
"We'll see about that, Teach."
Vasco Shot let out a loud belch, his eyes blurry with drunkenness. "But it's really noisy outside. The war between the Marines and Whitebeard is terrifying."
"We'll just wait here."
Sanjuan Wolf, curled up in a relatively spacious corner of the passage, said in a deep, booming voice, "No need to go out so soon."
He wasn't particularly eager to leave the claustrophobic prison.
"But Magellan is still alive."
Shiryu of the Rain wiped his beloved sword, Raiu, and calmly reminded them.
He knew that when Magellan learned of the situation here, he would come back to kill them, no matter what.
"Magellan."
At the mention of the name, Blackbeard felt a headache coming on.
When he had been fighting Straw Hat, Magellan had single-handedly held off two Warlords with ease.
With the Doku Doku no Mi, he was indeed a huge problem.
***
Dive deeper into the story with 30+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!
patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!