Impel Down.
Level 3, Starvation Hell.
In the vast underground world that stretched out like a desert, light as dazzling as the sun poured over everything. The scorching air shimmered and rose, creating mirage-like illusions. As far as the eye could see, dried corpses in prison uniforms stood everywhere, starved and thirsted to death.
Normally, no one ever came here, just as its name implied.
This was the hell called starvation. Not even the guards or jailers came to deliver water or food.
But today, it was unusually lively. Countless fully armed guards and jailers endured the sweltering heat and the sweat pouring down their faces as they chased the terrifying prisoner flying through the sky.
They raised their weapons and fired into the air again and again.
What shot from their guns were not bullets, but iron nets forged from Seastone.
Yet they could not even get close to Shiki.
"Shihahahahaha... This place is actually perfect for the next battlefield."
Since he had agreed to cause chaos here for an entire day, he had to choose a suitable battlefield.
Looking at the guards and jailers pursuing him from behind, Shiki descended from the sky and landed on the desert beneath his feet. He stared coldly at them, and that alone made the guards and jailers freeze, not daring to step forward.
Shiki looked at them with utter contempt and roared.
"Normally, weaklings like you aren't even worth killing. But... since I have to make a mess of things today, come on, then."
With that, Shiki pressed his right hand against the ground.
"Shishi Odoshi: Chimaki!"
In an instant, every guard and jailer felt the ground beneath their feet begin to shake. None of them could stand steadily.
Visible to the naked eye, the sand and stone underfoot gathered at Shiki's feet.
As a lion as huge as a mountain took shape, Shiki stood atop its head and waved his hand.
"Go. Die in despair."
With a roar that shook the air, the stone lion lunged at everyone.
It raised a lion's claw and slammed it down from above. The guards and jailers, unable to dodge in time, were instantly sent flying and cut down.
Miserable screams rang throughout all of Level 3.
Some prisoners who had managed to escape thanks to Shiki's attack seized the opportunity as well, picking up weapons and charging at the guards and jailers.
Only Shiki floated in midair, affectionately stroking Oto and Kogarashi, which had just returned to his side.
"It's been a long time. Once I kill that kid, it'll be time for us to rule these seas again! Shihahahahaha!"
Of course, Shiki was no fool.
He did not know who that kid really was, but anyone with the nerve to infiltrate Impel Down and release him was already far from ordinary. On top of that, the kid had dared to say to his face that he would kill him and take his Devil Fruit.
But it did not matter.
As a former ruler of the sea, Shiki had seen countless young men make bold claims like that.
So what?
On these seas, only four people had ever truly caught his eye.
Rocks, Roger, Garp, and Whitebeard.
At that moment, the agonized screams of the guards and jailers beneath him were the most pleasing music in Shiki's ears.
But just then...
"Venom Demon: Jigoku no Shinpan!"
A giant skeleton formed from thick purple liquid appeared in everyone's sight.
"Stop right there!"
"Boom!"
The purple Venom Demon swung its huge arm and punched out, instantly knocking the rampaging stone lion to the ground. Inside the Venom Demon, Magellan appeared, breathing heavily.
"Vice Warden!"
Seeing Magellan appear and knock the giant lion down with one punch, the guards and jailers who had been fleeing in panic shouted in excitement, as if they had seen their savior.
Shiki the Golden Lion, however, did not care in the slightest.
"Oh? Looks like you took care of my two little pets. No matter. The game has only just begun."
As the Venom Demon continued forward, thick venom dripped from its body onto the ground, constantly corroding everything it touched. Magellan focused himself and roared at the arrogant Shiki.
"I won't let you do as you please anymore, Shiki. Get back to your cell."
"Hm?"
Shiki looked at Magellan in confusion.
"I know you. You're the Vice Warden of this prison, aren't you? Daring to speak to me like that. Do you think you're Garp?"
Magellan ignored him and spoke to the jailers around them.
"This no longer concerns you. Leave this place."
"Y-yes, sir!"
Only after the guards and jailers had left did Magellan look back at Shiki.
"No matter who I am, I will never allow you to run wild here."
"Hydra."
The moment his words fell, without the slightest hesitation, five poisonous dragons flew out from the Venom Demon and shot straight toward Shiki. But Shiki did not move at all. A massive lion's claw stretched out and grabbed all five poisonous dragons, crushing them to pieces.
At the same time, the stone lion Magellan had knocked down climbed back up and lunged straight at him.
In an instant, the stone lion and the Venom Demon clashed head-on, blow after blow landing with heavy force.
Although Magellan's poison was highly corrosive, Shiki's lion was made entirely of sand and stone, so it did not fear corrosion at all.
And even now, as he watched the stone lion fight Magellan, Shiki still had not personally made a move.
Shiki truly did not feel like acting.
Taking someone this weak too seriously would be rather embarrassing.
However, to make the game a little more entertaining...
Shiki raised his head, looked toward the ceiling, and slowly floated upward.
Seeing that, Magellan thought Shiki was trying to escape. He immediately dodged the stone lion's attack and rushed after him.
"Don't run, Shiki!"
"Run?"
Hearing Magellan's shout, Shiki, who had already floated up to the ceiling, revealed an arrogant grin.
"This old man never had any intention of running. After being locked up here for so long, I'm already sick of this place. Now, let me collect a little interest first."
Magellan froze. But when he saw Shiki suddenly raise both hands, he immediately understood, and his expression changed drastically.
"Stop!"
"Too late."
"Shishi Odoshi: Gosho Chimaki!"
...
Level 2, Wild Beast Hell.
The prisoners in the cells were unusually alert today, all watching the changes outside.
Because they had just heard that the legendary Great Pirate Shiki, who had been imprisoned in Impel Down, had escaped.
That gave them hope again.
Maybe they could take advantage of the chaos and escape too.
Just then, a violent tremor came from beneath their feet.
"Huh!? What's going on?"
Before they could react, the entire floor of Level 2 began collapsing. Countless cracks appeared, swallowing all the prisoners and prison beasts.
At that moment, the barrier between Level 2, Wild Beast Hell, and LV3, Starvation Hell, was completely shattered.
Panicked screams echoed throughout Impel Down.
...
On the above-sea first level, the guards watching this scene through the surveillance Den Den Mushi were all stunned.
"S-so terrifying... That kind of power... Is this what a legendary Great Pirate is like?"
"Why? He's clearly been locked up for more than half a year. How is he still this strong...?"
"What do we do now...?"
"A monster at this level isn't something we can stop anymore..."
Everyone looked toward Warden Nicholas.
However, no one could read anything from Nicholas's goat-like head. Fortunately, Nicholas spoke on his own.
"Inform Shiryu and have him go down to help Magellan. And... it seems we have no choice. Notify the Marines and request support."