Chapter 351: LEVEL 5.5

Impel Down, Level 4 – Warden's Office.

"Warden Magellan! Vice Warden Hannyabal has sent an urgent report—The Beast Guards on Levels 1 through 3 have suffered heavy losses! Many prisoners have escaped!"

"Someone impersonated Vice Warden Hannyabal and unlocked all the doors from Level 1 to Level 3!"

"Moreover… numerous surveillance Den Den Mushi have been compromised, and communications have been completely cut off! Even our link to Marine Headquarters has been severed!"

Domino's report made Magellan frown.

"Quite the commotion... Has that bastard Shiryu still not shown up? Tell Hannyabal to stabilize the situation. If the prisoners cannot be recaptured—execute them on the spot! I will head there shortly!"

"Understood, Warden!"

"Ze~hahaha! Warden Magellan, you sure sound confident!"

"Seems like I was a bit rough when coming down here, but you really are ruthless, aren't you? So many prisoners, and you just decide to kill them outright?"

Standing beside Magellan was none other than Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach, and his crew!

"That's none of your concern—just a bunch of scum and degenerates. That includes you too, Blackbeard, Teach!"

"Ze~hahaha… No need to be so tense! Aren't we on the same side? After all, I am working for the World Government, right?"

"Look, I've already made it to Level 4—how about letting me visit Level 6 for a little sightseeing?"

"At this point, you're still cracking jokes, Blackbeard…"

Toxic sludge dripped from Magellan's hand, corroding the floor and leaving a gaping hole.

"Breaking into Impel Down with clear hostility—Blackbeard, even if you're a Warlord of the Sea, this is a grave offense! I have the authority to execute you on the spot!"

Blackbeard smirked as Magellan hung up the Den Den Mushi, his expression turning sinister.

"Still issuing commands so calmly… Seems like Warden Magellan doesn't even see us as a threat!"

"Ze~hahaha…"

Darkness surged around Blackbeard's body as his crewmates scattered into attack stances.

"Have you lost your fear of the outside world after spending so long locked in here?!"

"Venom Dragon!"

A massive venomous dragon surged from behind Magellan, lunging viciously toward Blackbeard's crew!

"Aaaaahhhh!!!"

"It burns! It hurts so much!"

"AAAAAHHH!"

"Damn it! What is this poison…?!"

The arrogant Blackbeard Pirates were utterly annihilated in a single attack!

This was the power of Impel Down's strongest guardian!

"Idiots… I don't care what you came here for—it's all the same to me. You've come to die."

Magellan turned toward the Level 3 gates, his voice cold.

"Suffer in agony and die slowly from the poison. Once I'm done cleaning up the mess above, I'll come back to collect your corpses."

"Aaaaaaghhh!"

Blackbeard writhed in pain, his vision darkening.

"Damn it… My dream…!"

"Hmph… What a bunch of fools."

"You all underestimated Magellan. If I hadn't brought the antidote, you'd be dead right now!"

"We… just got lucky again!"

The ship's doctor, Doc Q, slowly crawled to his feet, wheezing and coughing up blood.

"Hohoho… I really thought we were done for!"

Laffitte flicked his cane and adjusted his hat, his expression unreadable.

Van Augur exhaled deeply. "It was fate that brought us here."

"Wee~hahaha! But look at us—we're still alive!"

Burgess pounded his chest, laughing heartily.

Blackbeard, regaining his composure, grinned wildly at his crewmates.

"Life and death are up to fate! If you're scared of a little danger, you're doomed to fail at everything!"

"Ze~hahaha! Enjoy the next moment to the fullest!"

Turning toward a man standing nearby, cigar in mouth, Blackbeard's grin widened.

"Oh? So you're Shiryu! Thanks for saving us…"

"Welcome aboard! Looks like you'll make a fine addition to our crew! Ze~hahahaha!"

Shiryu of the Rain, former chief jailer of Impel Down, exhaled a puff of smoke, his lips curling into a grin.

"Blackbeard, Marshall D. Teach… I've heard a lot about you. With Magellan in charge, I had no future here."

"I've been waiting to meet a man like you!"

"Ze~hahaha! Then let's go—onward to Level 6, Eternal Hell!"

...

Impel Down, Level 5.5 – New Kama Land.

The Kingdom of New Kama, hidden within Impel Down's depths, was now a meeting ground for Emporio Ivankov, Revolutionary Army member Inazuma, and their allies—Sabo, Koala, Hack, and Morley.

When Dragon announced his intent to intervene in the Marine-Whitebeard War, Ivankov was baffled.

This war offered no advantages to the Revolutionary Army. Neither Whitebeard nor the Marines were their allies—there was no reason to assist either side.

And if they weren't helping either side, why go to the battlefield at all?

Until—

"What did you just say?! Kuma… They did what to him?!"

Ivankov's massive face contorted in rage, growing even larger.

"How dare they do that to Kuma?!"

"But why?! Why would he let them do this? He could have escaped…"

"That, we don't know either…"

Sabo shook his head, trying to calm the enraged Ivankov.

"And yet, all hope is not lost. I have a feeling there's more to this…"

"Kuma sent Luffy and his crew flying from Sabaody Archipelago…"

"Hmm? Luffy? That 'Straw Hat' kid who punched a Celestial Dragon and forced Kizaru to intervene?"

Ivankov's sharp instincts picked up something unusual.

"What's Kuma's connection to him? 'Sent flying'… Don't tell me—fuhihihi!"

"Exactly."

Sabo nodded gravely.

"Luffy… is my little brother."

"HAAAH?!"

Ivankov's eyes nearly popped out of his head.

"Did you just say Straw Hat Luffy is your brother?! You… you got your memories back, Sabo-boy?!"

Sabo chuckled, scratching his head.

"Yeah, I remembered everything after witnessing the Buster Call at Enies Lobby."

"But Kuma wouldn't have known about your relationship… He became a Warlord years ago—fuhihihi!"

Ivankov ruffled Sabo's hair.

"Memory's a funny thing. That's one area even I can't control!"

"Haha… But that's not the only reason. Luffy has another identity—he's Dragon's son."

"HAAAH?!"

Ivankov flew backward, crashing into a wall.

"Dragon's son?! Dragon has a son?!"

Scrambling back up, she gasped.

"So Straw Hat is Dragon's son, and you're his brother… Does that mean you're Dragon's son too?!"

"No, no—Luffy and I are sworn brothers. Before Dragon saved me, that is… Funny how life works, huh?"

Sabo smiled wryly.

"More importantly, if Kuma still had his consciousness back then, could there still be hope for him now?"

His gaze met Ivankov's.

"That's why we have to go to Marineford. If we don't, Kuma might be lost forever—and become nothing more than the World Government's 'Human Weapon.'"

"…I understand!"

Ivankov nodded firmly.

"Inazuma, prepare to leave Impel Down!"

"Yes!"

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