Despite how bitterly cold Level 5, Freezing Hell was, more than a decade ago, Impel Down's Director's Office, Guard Room, and Jailers' Room, which were now located on Level 4, had all been here. The only reason this place had been abandoned was Nicholas's order.
Fifteen years ago, after Nicholas accidentally discovered that there was such an enormous space beneath the Director's Office, he ordered everything moved to Level 4. Naturally, this place was left deserted.
When he passed through the passage connected to the Director's Office and arrived at the laboratory he had spent nearly five years building, the light shining through the cracks made his expression turn ugly.
Before he left, he had clearly sealed this place completely, just in case.
"Why… How did that pirate… know this place existed…?"
When he pushed open the door and stepped inside, he immediately saw Dr. Furumi, who should have disappeared, busy working at the control console.
That only confused Nicholas even more.
Dr. Furumi seemed surprised to see Nicholas come in as well, but he did not panic. He simply said, "Mr. Nicholas, you're here. Unfortunately, you're too late…"
"Too late!"
Those three words instantly made Nicholas realize something. Following Dr. Furumi's gaze, he saw the light glowing inside the massive test tube, and through the glass, the red-haired boy with his eyes half-open.
"So, you chose to betray me?"
"…"
Dr. Furumi paused at the control console, then said somewhat apologetically, "I'm very grateful that you released me from prison and spared me from that fate. But I have already worked for you for fifteen years. And as a scientist, it's very hard for me to reject a miracle placed right in front of me…"
"A miracle?"
Nicholas frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Dr. Furumi pointed at Yemu inside the test tube and said, "This young man. Yemu, captain of the Sky Pirates. You should know him…"
Of course Nicholas knew Yemu.
Although the two had never met, the death of Saint Mjosgard had caused quite a stir among the Celestial Dragons back then. Even Nicholas, who had effectively been placed under house arrest in Impel Down, had heard about it.
And that was not even mentioning the major incidents Yemu had caused.
Yet despite all the trouble this pirate had stirred up across the sea, the Marines and the World Government had been powerless against him.
And now, he had even secretly infiltrated Impel Down.
He truly was reckless beyond belief.
But…
"What does that have to do with you betraying me?"
Then Nicholas heard words that made his pupils widen.
"It's simple. I can't be certain, but he may possess the power to change the world, as well as the answers to every question. That naturally includes the one you want…"
"You mean…"
Before Nicholas could react, Dr. Furumi noticed the changes on the screen of the control console. A look of shock appeared on his face as he said to Nicholas, "Has it succeeded…?"
"???"
Boom.
A terrifying aura swept across heaven and earth.
...
Impel Down, LV1, Red Lotus Hell.
Shiryu, who had been sent flying by a single slash, stared grimly at Shiki floating in the air with a cigar between his teeth, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"He's absurdly strong. So this is a legendary great pirate? One of the strongest monsters in the world?"
He truly lived up to his name as a legendary pirate and great swordsman.
Shiryu could clearly feel that the gap between him and Shiki was not even on the same level.
Even a casual slash from Shiki carried the force to cut through anything.
Compared to Shiki's slashes, Shiryu felt as if his own attacks were nothing more than a child's swings.
If Shiki had not needed to be wary of Magellan's Doku Doku no Mi ability, then right now, Shiryu would not have gotten away with just bleeding a little.
On the other side, Magellan was not doing much better.
His Doku Doku no Mi ability was certainly troublesome, but Shiki's Fuwa Fuwa no Mi was not weak in the slightest.
Under Shiki's control, all kinds of floating rubble, debris, and the sword trees and needle grass of Red Lotus Hell were manipulated at will. The corrosive power of the Doku Doku no Mi was indeed powerful, but attrition was the last thing Shiki feared.
By this point in the fight, Magellan and Shiryu were already panting for breath, while Shiki still looked completely at ease.
What humiliated Shiryu even more was that, just moments ago, Shiki had casually snatched the cigar from his cuff.
"Brats, you two are still far too green! Shihahaha!"
Shiki looked at the two young men in front of him with complete indifference.
"That's enough. Now for the final step…"
As he spoke, Shiki slowly floated upward, rising to the ceiling overhead, and stretched out both hands.
Seeing this, Magellan and Shiryu's expressions changed drastically.
Because this sight was far too familiar.
Shiki had already done this twice. The first time, he had broken through the iron wall between LV3 and LV2. The second time was from LV2 to LV1. And now, he was at the barrier between LV1 and the Sea Level.
Was he trying to break all the way through Impel Down?
That would be an utter disgrace.
No matter what, they could not let him succeed.
"Stop…"
Magellan and Shiryu charged forward with everything they had.
But it seemed they were already too late.
Countless broken walls and ruins appeared in their path, forming a massive sphere that enclosed the two of them inside.
"Let this serve as the declaration of my return to this sea. Now, be destroyed…"
"Venom!!!"
In an instant, all of Impel Down began to shake.
This time, Shiki was no longer satisfied with simple destruction. He intended to destroy Impel Down completely.
Cracks appeared in the surrounding walls of Impel Down, visible to the naked eye, and seawater poured in.
Magellan and Shiryu were instantly overcome with rage, their eyes bloodshot.
"Stop it…"
"Shihahaha! Wail, rage, scream. This is the sorrow of the weak!"
But at that very moment, as if time had suddenly stopped, a terrifying aura surged up from the pitch-black hole beneath everyone's feet.
In an instant, everyone felt an unimaginable pressure, as if a mountain had been placed on their backs.
Magellan and Shiryu's faces changed drastically. They struggled to steady themselves as they looked down beneath their feet.
"Conqueror's… Conqueror's Haki… Who is it…?"
Shiki, however, looked utterly stunned, his eyes wide with disbelief.
Because the Conqueror's Haki spreading out at that moment was far too familiar to him.
"This feeling… This Conqueror's Haki…"
"Don't tell me that brat…"
"You've got to be kidding…"
Under the force of that overwhelming Conqueror's Haki, the broken walls and ruins floating in midair instantly fell out of control, crashing down like rain.
Without the slightest hesitation, Shiki, who had already reached LV1, instantly changed direction and dove straight down into the pitch-black hole.
Magellan and Shiryu, who had narrowly escaped disaster, exchanged a glance and followed without hesitation.
At the same time, Sengoku, who had already arrived outside Impel Down and was just about to enter, also sensed that terrifying Conqueror's Haki, and cold sweat poured down his face.
"No… Impossible…"
"This Conqueror's Haki… Rocks…"
"How is that possible…?"
***
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