How long had Kojin been confined within this dark, damp, decaying great prison?
Ten years? Or perhaps eleven?
After such a long passage of time, many people had already lost track of it, and some had even forgotten this man who was once the foremost among the four Admirals.
Nowadays, people only know that the Marines had three Admirals.
So why had Admiral Kojin entered Impel Down?
On Hannyabal's fearful face appeared all the speculations people had made back then.
Had he offended some powerful figure within the World Government? Or had he experienced an unimaginable battle and then been imprisoned in Impel Down?
Fleet Admiral Sengoku had personally escorted him into prison, yet in the rumors, that story had gradually become Sengoku personally capturing him.
It could be said that Kojin, once the most dazzling figure among the four Admirals and also the strongest of them, should never have been reduced to remaining in a rotten, dark place like Impel Down.
Because of this, among all the various theories surrounding the incident, the claim that he had committed some grave crime and was imprisoned in Impel Down had gained the support and belief of many.
But now, he actually intended to walk out of Impel Down.
Just the thought of such a thing filled Hannyabal with terror.
"Escape from prison?!"
Subconsciously, those two words surfaced in Hannyabal's mind, causing him to tremble even harder.
"What is it, Hannyabal?"
"As an Admiral, is there any problem with me leaving Impel Down?"
Kojin's eyes shifted toward him.
His gaze was bright, as though it had already seen through Hannyabal's heart.
"O-Of course not!" Hannyabal shuddered and hurriedly replied.
"Or perhaps, after all these years, my position as Admiral has already been revoked?" Kojin asked calmly again.
That was not impossible.
The reason he had entered Impel Down was complicated. Back then, Sengoku had only been able to withstand the pressure from the World Government because of Kojin's almost undying body and overwhelmingly powerful combat strength.
But after so many years, the outside world had already changed beyond recognition. Even his name might have been forgotten.
With pressure from the World Government, combined with Sengoku gradually growing older, it was entirely possible that such a thing could happen.
"N-No! Although your name is rarely mentioned anymore… Your position as Admiral has never been revoked!" Hannyabal immediately answered with certainty.
This was also the greatest mystery shared by him and many of the Impel Down staff over the years.
Despite wearing Seastone shackles and being escorted into Impel Down, this man had still retained the rank of Admiral. Without question, he was a figure wrapped in mystery and strangeness.
Kojin's eyes narrowed slightly before a faint smile appeared.
"Is that so?"
"That's actually pretty good news."
He slowly turned around, presenting his back to everyone.
In an instant, a savage and terrifying back was revealed before their eyes. Sharp contours and crisscrossing ridges made the muscles appear almost demonic, forming a scene so shocking that it left everyone speechless.
Hannyabal swallowed hard, unable to imagine just how much torment and training one would need to endure to forge such a body.
His gaze unconsciously traveled from Kojin's back to his waist, then toward his arms and legs.
The incomparably solid muscle lines formed mysterious patterns across his body.
This man could practically be called the God of Muscles!
His physical body had already been tempered to the point where even his muscles seemed to embody natural laws.
Just how powerful was he?
"I'll be taking Fisher Tiger and Buggy with me. They are my subordinates."
The indifferent voice made Hannyabal's body tremble, yet he did not dare voice any objection.
As an Admiral, Kojin possessed immense authority. And with that terrifying strength of his, Impel Down simply had no way of stopping him.
Fisher Tiger and Buggy were both shaken as well, excitement appearing in their eyes.
Being able to leave this prison was naturally the best possible outcome. But what excited them even more was that the man before them was finally no longer lying dormant. He was about to step out from this place and descend upon the world once again.
Kuina tightened her grip on the sword hilt at her waist, determination flashing through her eyes.
Following Sensei back into the world this time, she would definitely seize the throne of the World's Greatest Swordsman!
It was the conviction she had carried for many years, and also the promise she once made with that green-haired boy.
"Zoro! Even now, you're still no match for me!" A smile appeared in Kuina's eyes as confidence filled her heart.
'Who said women could not become the world's greatest swordsman?'
"Let's go!"
A soft call rang out. Everyone looked up, only to realize that the tall, powerful figure had already begun striding away, leaving behind only his back.
Fisher Tiger, Buggy, and Kuina immediately followed after him.
Hannyabal remained standing where he was, his expression shifting constantly as sweat dripped down his forehead. At that moment, he felt tension, fear, and even a trace of excitement.
"A world-shaking incident!" He suddenly raised his head and shouted toward the distance.
"Admiral Kojin, are you really leaving Impel Down?!"
His voice echoed through the vast corridor, carrying far into the distance.
"Of course! There's no reason for me to remain here any longer!"
The distant reply drifted back, ethereal and almost unreal.
Hannyabal stood there blankly.
He did not know what Kojin's choice truly represented, nor what impact it would have upon the world.
But he knew that from this moment onward, the future itself might begin changing in ways no one could possibly predict.
…
The azure sky stretched endlessly overhead as seagulls soared freely above the vast sea, where ripples spread across the water's surface.
Kojin stood at the bow of the ship with a faint smile, his eyes closed.
The air outside was completely different from that of Impel Down, both familiar and strangely unfamiliar. His eyes were even somewhat uncomfortable from suddenly emerging from darkness into the brightness of the outside world.
In truth, he did not need his physical sight to perceive the world.
Even with his eyes shut, after the fusion of Observation Haki and the powers of the Goro Goro no Mi, he could still clearly sense everything around him.
With merely a thought, everything within a range of one hundred thousand meters, two hundred thousand meters, three hundred thousand meters, even five hundred thousand meters, appeared vividly within his mind.
Such a terrifying range was utterly astonishing.
At his current level, his Observation Haki could effortlessly encompass an entire island.
Beside him, Fisher Tiger and Kuina both appeared somewhat excited, while Buggy was desperately racking his brains, trying to explain everything that had happened in the world over the years.
What kind of era was it now?
The Seven Warlords of the Sea stood as one of the world's great powers, joining forces with the Marines in opposition to the Four Emperors of the New World.
The Great Age of Pirates was currently at its fiercest stage.
The Four Emperors ruled the seas. Their overwhelming strength and vast spheres of influence had even begun to surpass the power of the Marines, causing the balance of the seas to tilt ever so slightly.
It could be said that throughout these years, the Marines had been suppressed at every turn.
The sheer might of the Four Emperors made it nearly impossible for the Marines to advance through the New World. Their sphere of influence there was even smaller than it had been during the era of the Pirate King, Roger.
And this was precisely Sengoku's greatest frustration all along.
If even one Emperor could be dismantled or defeated, the entire world would enter a new era of change.
But accomplishing that was undoubtedly the hardest thing imaginable.
"That's all I know."
Buggy said helplessly.
Over the years, the world had indeed undergone countless changes, including events in their own West Blue. But he did not dare say too much, afraid that he might provoke Kojin's anger.
"I found some newspapers."
At that moment, Fisher Tiger emerged from the cabin carrying a stack of newspapers.
Kojin accepted them, opened his eyes, and began reading.
They were all recent news reports, exactly what he needed most right now.
Their ship had naturally been provided by Impel Down. Originally, it had been a supply vessel used for transporting essential goods.
"The Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division Commander, Fire Fist Ace, spotted in the first half of the Grand Line, raising widespread speculation."
The very first headline caused Kojin's eyes to narrow slightly.
His gaze fell upon the photograph on the front page, a freckled young man wearing a cowboy hat, and for a moment, he seemed dazed.
He could hardly connect this mature man with the child from years ago who used to follow him around endlessly shouting about becoming a Marine Hero and boasting that his fists were as hard as steel.
"So many years have already passed?" Kojin murmured softly.
The seas change, and so does the world.
In the blink of an eye, the boy had grown into a mature man and, just like in the original story, become the Second Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates.
"Fire Fist Ace…" Kojin softly repeated the name, his expression complicated.
The Flame-Flame Fruit was often mocked as a useless Devil Fruit, and later on, it seemed like any powerful individual could wield flames with ease.
On the surface, Ace had indeed eaten a rather weak fruit.
But Kojin, who had pushed the Goro Goro no Mi to its absolute limit, naturally understood that even among Logia fruits, the potential remained terrifying.
"I wonder what kind of scene it will be when we meet again."
He sighed softly before his expression returned to calmness.
Back then, he had promised to visit the boy whenever he had time, yet before he realized it, so many years had already passed.
Ace was already an adult now.
'He should be able to visit him, right?'
…Probably.
Then Kojin continued flipping through the newspapers.
Among them, he also discovered the wanted poster of the Straw Hat boy, Luffy.
"Thirty million." Kojin chuckled softly.
From the bounty alone, he could determine that the current point in time was just shortly after the original storyline had begun.
"I met that brat in East Blue. He was incredibly arrogant!"
"Hmph!"
Buggy seemed to recall an unpleasant memory, his expression turning sour.
Kojin glanced at him teasingly.
"You didn't lose to Luffy, did you?"
"How could that be?! If it weren't for Vice Admiral Garp's sake…" Buggy immediately became flustered.
With Marine Vice Admiral Garp involved, along with that terrifying disciple of his, who also happened to be Buggy's superior, how could he possibly dare fight seriously?
"Heh."
Kojin simply laughed and said nothing more.
Slowly, he raised his head and looked toward the distant sea.
"We're about to approach Marineford." Fisher Tiger spoke at that moment.
His expression appeared somewhat unnatural. As the former captain of the Sun Pirates, he instinctively felt fear and tension toward Marine Headquarters.
"There's no need to go to Headquarters. After changing ships, I want to take a look at this world first."
"I want to see this era."
Kojin spoke softly as he gazed toward the sky beyond the Gates of Justice.
(End of Chapter)
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