Just as Taro was hesitating, San Juan Wolf's wound-covered body ballooned to a height of a hundred meters once again. His massive palm scooped up the Blackbeard Pirates, lifting them over his head and sending them up through the hole.
Immediately afterward, he grabbed the edges of the hole with both hands, his body suddenly shrinking. With a leisurely swing in the air, he leaped up as well.
Taro watched with a dark expression as the Blackbeard Pirates escaped, making no further move to stop them.
Behind him, the exit to the Sixth Level had already been damaged when Luffy's group escaped; now, after the intense battle, it was completely buried under rubble.
Taro moved a few steps to check on Magellan's condition. Fortunately, although Magellan could neither move nor speak, the light in his eyes remained; he wouldn't die just yet.
"Magellan, I'm sorry for letting them go. But don't worry, I won't let them off easily."
Magellan's lips moved slightly, but no sound came out. He only managed a difficult blink.
Taro sighed again. "Focus on healing for now. There will be a chance for revenge."
After saying that, he grabbed one of Magellan's legs and, dragging his massive body, prepared to fly out with him through the hole in the ceiling.
Boom!
Right then, a violent explosion erupted from the rubble-buried exit behind him. Shards of rock flew everywhere, kicking up clouds of dust.
Taro looked back. From within the thick dust, a woman's voice drifted out.
"Mmm You guys are so slow, only opening the passage now. Mmm Warden Magellan, are you there? Mmm~"
Within the complaining and questioning tone were suggestive vocal tics that invited wild imagination.
These kinds of vocal tics were something Taro had often heard while watching Japanese adult films in his previous life, causing his body to shudder involuntarily.
As the dust cleared, a squad of Impel Down guards rushed in, followed by the Vice Head Guard of Impel Down, Domino.
Behind her was a tall, sexy woman with long curly hair and bangs covering her eyes. She wore candle earrings, a peach-pink tight leather suit, and held a whip.
It was none other than Impel Down's Chief Jailer, Sadi!
"Mmm~ Warden Magellan, what happened to you? Mmm Who did this? Mmm"
Sadi bypassed Domino and walked quickly toward them. Spotting Magellan lying on the ground, she cried out and ran over to check on him, completely ignoring Taro nearby.
Hearing Sadi's voice, Taro's body felt as if it had been struck by electricity, shuddering several times in succession.
"Ah, Vice Admiral Taro, how could you...?"
Finally, Domino noticed Taro, who was wearing a Marine Vice Admiral uniform. His uniform was covered in blood, making for a terrifying sight.
Coupled with Taro's uncontrollable shuddering, she assumed his injuries were also severe.
"Domino, you'd better call a doctor over as soon as possible." Taro's lips twitched.
The exhaustion following the intense battle finally set in. He let go of Magellan's leg and sat down, beginning to regulate his breathing.
Domino gave Taro a solemn salute and then ordered the jailers to fetch a doctor.
While the doctor treated Magellan, Taro—his chest and abdomen now wrapped in bandages—gave Domino a brief account of what had happened on the Sixth Level.
"That's about it. For the specifics, you can ask Magellan once he wakes up!"
After finishing, Taro asked, "By the way, what time is it now?"
"Half past twelve, Vice Admiral!"
Taro stood up in shock and started walking toward the passage.
"Vice Admiral, your injuries..." Domino hesitated.
Taro waved his hand and said as he walked, "It's fine. It feels much better after being bandaged like this."
Before he could take many steps, Domino caught up to him, holding a sword which she handed over.
"Vice Admiral, this is the Head Guard... This is Shiryu's sword. It's your trophy of war!"
Taro nodded and took the famous blade "thunderstorm" that originally belonged to Shiryu. He did indeed need a good sword.
Although he didn't know which Rank of famous blades "thunderstorm" specifically belonged to, it was clearly much better than his standard-issue saber.
He unsheathed it slightly, revealing a bloodthirsty, dark-red blade. "You were wasted in Shiryu's hands. From now on, you're with me!"
Taro felt a wave of emotion, then nodded to Domino once more.
"Mhm, thanks, Domino! I'm in a hurry, so I'll be going now."
Taro sprinted all the way. Upon reaching the passage to the Fourth Level, he transformed into a Falcon and flew out through a ventilation duct.
Meanwhile, at Marineford.
In the Fleet Admiral's Office.
Garp slammed his fist onto Sengoku's desk, staring at him as he growled, "Is this really necessary? I cannot accept this!"
Sengoku crossed his arms, his expression blank. "He isn't just a simple pirate. You know very well, Garp, how significant the execution of a pirate with his status is for the future world order!"
Garp gritted his teeth, let out a few heavy breaths, and turned to leave.
Sengoku's voice rang out again. "Regarding this matter, you are also involved and bear a heavy responsibility! Garp, don't you forget that!"
Garp paused for a moment, his face darkening further. Ultimately, he said nothing and continued walking out.
"It's been half an hour. If we wait any longer, the Marine Soldiers in the plaza will start getting restless."
Sengoku stood up, looking at Vice Admiral Tsuru and the Three Admirals in the room. "It seems Taro won't make it in time. Let's go!"
The Oris Plaza.
The Marine Soldiers standing in formation were beginning to grow restless. It was past 12 o'clock, yet the Marine top brass had still not appeared, leaving everyone wondering what was happening.
The Vice Admirals could only restrain their troops while looking back toward the Main Headquarters Fortress.
"Hina, looks like something really has happened!" Smoker muttered, a cigar in his mouth. "Didn't they say Ace had already been escorted to Marineford?"
Hina ignored Smoker; she looked deeply worried. According to the plan, Ace should have been brought to the Execution Platform at exactly 12 o'clock, but there was still no movement.
Currently, nothing was amiss at Marineford. For something to cause the Marine top brass to delay the execution time, it had to be a major incident. She only hoped it wasn't something at Impel Down.
Just then, the three Marine Admirals appeared below the Execution Platform, stabilizing the troops' morale. Akainu took the center seat, with Kizaru and Aokiji sitting on either side.
Immediately following them, Navy Grand Staff Officer Vice Admiral Tsuru and the marine hero Vice Admiral Garp also appeared below the Execution Platform.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku stepped onto the Execution Platform, followed closely by two guards escorting Ace.
Upon seeing the appearance of the Marine big shots, the morale of the 100,000 Marine Soldiers soared, and they cheered in unison!
"There is something I must first convey to all of you: the significance of Portgas D. Ace dying here today..." Sengoku spoke into a loudspeaker den den mushi.
Below the Execution Platform, Vice Admiral Tsuru said to Garp, "It's not your fault."
Garp's face was dark, then he suddenly burst into laughter. "Women can be so gentle at times like this, Tsuru!"
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