The Shocked Pirates

After adjusting to his newfound power, Sanders didn't suppress it anymore. Surrounded by crackling lightning, he took a step towards the door of his cell. Every footprint he left behind created charred, smoking pits, as if struck by lightning. Using Life Return, he unlocked the cell door just as effortlessly as before and walked out.

The sound of the door opening echoed across Level 6.

Sanders stepped into the hallway. As he moved, thunder flashed, and his tall, muscular figure resembled a god of thunder descending upon the world—mysterious and awe-inspiring!

Every prisoner on Level 6 stared in wide-eyed shock at the sight before them. Many rubbed their eyes, unable to believe what they were seeing. The once-silent Level 6 prison was now filled with stunned gasps.

Boom!

After a brief moment of silence, Impel Down erupted into chaos.

"Am I seeing this right? Did that guy really escape?"

"And he didn't even chop off his limbs! How is that possible?!"

"He wasn't lying when he said he was conserving his strength!"

Douglas Bullet stopped his training, his eyes locked onto Sanders as he walked down the corridor.

So strong!

While others were shocked by Sanders' escape, Bullet was more impressed by his strength. While Sanders had seemed unremarkable inside the cell, now that he was free of the sea stone shackles, his aura was overwhelming—even Barrett found it startling.

"This guy is no weaker than me," Bullet thought to himself. He's a monster!

Previously, Bullet had scoffed at the idea of Sanders being called a "Marine monster." But now, he had changed his mind. Sanders definitely deserved that title. Most importantly, Sanders wasn't even twenty years old yet!

At the same age, Bullet felt like he hadn't been as powerful.

However, Bullet quickly snapped out of his astonishment and resumed training. So what if Sanders was strong? Barrett didn't need comrades. Only making himself stronger mattered.

Unlike Bullet, who quickly calmed down, the Red Count felt a twinge of regret. Earlier, he had thought Sanders was joking and had underestimated him, so he had refused his offer to join him. Now, seeing Sanders' strength, he realized Sanders was already one of the strongest in the world. Given his age, being Sanders' crew member didn't seem so shameful after all.

But the Red Count knew he had missed his chance to escape Impel Down. He wouldn't stoop so low as to beg Sanders for help now, and even if he did, Sanders wouldn't agree to help him.

Strong people have their own pride and way of doing things.

So, despite his regret, the Red Count remained calm, closing his eyes and pretending to sleep.

While Barrett and the Red Count managed to stay composed, the other prisoners couldn't. They didn't care about dignity—they would rather be someone's lackey than rot in the darkness of Impel Down. If Sanders could help them escape, they'd even be willing to call him "Dad" if it meant freedom.

So, once they accepted the reality that Sanders had escaped, they started shouting desperately, hoping Sanders would free them too.

"Damn Marine—I mean, Lord Sanders—help me out of here! Let's break out together!" shouted Avalo Pizarro, the King of Evil Governance.

"We'll be your allies!" he added.

"Take me with you! Take me with you!" yelled Baskerville, the heavy-drinking Superhuman-type alcohol fruit user known as Big Drinker.

"Let me out! Let me out!" demanded SanJuan Wolf, pounding the walls of his cell.

"I can turn into any woman you want! Just say the word! I know all kinds of moves—I can make you very happy! Take me with you!" pleaded Catarina Devon.

If she hadn't been so ugly, Sanders might have actually considered her offer.

All around him, the prisoners begged Sanders to use his powers to free them, promising him treasures, women, and territory in return. One pirate even offered to give Sanders his wife and daughter!

They all sang the same tune: "Let me out, and I'll give you anything you want—even if I don't have it, I'll promise you the world!"

But Sanders had no interest in freeing these scumbags. They weren't even qualified to be his crew members. He wasn't like Blackbeard, who recruited any trash he could find.

"Listen up, you brats!" Sanders shouted. "I'm off to have some fun outside. You can all rot here and wait to die!"

Laughing, Sanders turned and walked away without even glancing at Douglas Barrett or the Red Count. They had rejected him, so he had no reason to keep trying to convince them. There were plenty of strong people out there he could recruit.

Who knew if, after today, the defenses at Impel Down would tighten? Maybe Barrett and the Red Count would never escape after this.

Realizing that Sanders had no intention of freeing them, the pirates either begged louder or cursed him.

"Come back! Come back!"

"Please, I beg you, don't leave! Let me out! Let me out!"

"You damn Marine! You won't get away! Magellan and Shiryu will catch you!"

"Screw you, Sanders! You'll be executed on the spot!"

"You won't escape! You'll be killed!"

But Sanders paid no attention. It was as if he couldn't hear a word they said. Turning into a bolt of lightning, he dashed towards the exit.

Breaking out of Impel Down—the escape begins now!

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T/N:

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