A grand battle that had captured the world's attention was about to unfold at Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Out at sea—
The only place still untouched by the chaos was Impel Down, the massive underwater prison built within the Calm Belt, completely isolated from the world.
For centuries, nothing had changed.
Dozens of warships remained motionless outside the prison, standing guard for countless years.
The massive gates of Impel Down were tightly shut, only opening when new prisoners were brought in.
The enormous Gates of Justice remained sealed, completely cutting off the prison from the outside world.
A pirate ship soared through the skies above the Calm Belt.
The Sun and Moon Pirates had arrived.
"They're making their move. Let them go ahead and play first," Kuke remarked. Through Violet's abilities, he had a clear understanding of the current situation at Marine Headquarters.
He had no interest in teaming up.
A partnership would only reduce the number of achievements he could claim.
This brief window of opportunity was perfect for harvesting the Devil Fruits stored within Impel Down.
The prison was a goldmine—
The number and quality of Devil Fruits it contained could rival, if not surpass, those in the hands of any Yonko crew.
"Stussy."
Kuke glanced at Stussy, who nodded in response.
Electricity crackled around her as bolts of lightning surged into the thick clouds above.
Charlotte Linlin's Zeus and Thunder Mother—
Both clouds expanded, merging into an immense storm that fused with the thunderous sky.
A vast, ominous thundercloud shrouded Impel Down, covering the surrounding sea for dozens of miles.
Outside the prison, the marines stationed on the warships looked up in shock at the sudden darkening sky.
Before they could process their confusion—
They saw the Tomorrow soar toward them at high speed from the horizon.
"A ship? Flying in the sky? It's the Sun and Moon Pirates!! Alarm! Alert!! Contact Impel Down! Notify Marine Headquarters immediately!"
The vice admirals aboard the warships roared in panic, scrambling for their Den Den Mushi.
But all they heard was static.
The thunderclouds had disrupted the entire area's electrical field, rendering communication with the outside world impossible.
Kuke had no intention of turning Impel Down into an isolated battlefield between the Sun and Moon Pirates and the Marines.
"Be quiet."
Shakky leaped from the Tomorrow and landed below.
"Ice Age."
Her hands extended, sending ice racing across the sea, freezing the ocean in an instant.
The waters outside Impel Down turned into an unbroken sheet of ice.
The marines on the frozen warships shivered as the cold crept into their bodies, coating them in frost until they were frozen solid like statues.
The chaos fell into an eerie silence.
The Tomorrow landed on the wooden platform outside the great doors of Impel Down.
"Open it for me."
Yamato charged forward, swinging her kanabo with immense force, smashing through the thick gates.
The legendary impenetrable prison of the sea—
Had been breached with ease by the Sun and Moon Pirates.
"That was… too easy?"
Carina and the others stared in disbelief.
This was supposed to be the most feared prison for pirates in the entire world.
Why did it feel so effortless?
"Shakky, Stussy, take a team to the archives. Find the records of all Devil Fruit users imprisoned here, their identities, and the locations of their cells," Kuke ordered.
He knew that Impel Down housed several incredibly powerful Devil Fruits.
But there were undoubtedly many more that had never been revealed.
Some prisoners might not have been particularly strong, but that didn't mean their Devil Fruits were weak.
"Carina, Koala, Nami, Reiju, Galette—you're coming with us."
Stussy and Shakky selected a team—
All members skilled in intelligence gathering and information management.
The rest—
Followed Kuke as he stepped into the depths of the pirates' hell—Impel Down!
The prison guards were powerless to stop them.
Yamato led the charge, carving a path straight through the facility.
No matter who stood in their way, nothing could slow down the Sun and Moon Pirates.
"They really broke into Impel Down?"
"And they're all women? Are you kidding me?"
Pirates locked in the cells on either side of the corridors stared in stunned disbelief.
Their expressions were as if they had just seen ghosts.
"It's the Sun and Moon Pirates! Help us escape!"
Some prisoners recognized them and pleaded for freedom, but their cries were ignored.
The Sun and Moon Pirates pressed onward, descending from level to level—
From Crimson Hell to Beast Hell…
Leaving behind a trail of groaning, defeated guards.
And countless pirates frozen in shock.
By the time they reached Level Three—Starvation Hell.
The dry, barren land stretched endlessly.
"La-la-la, this is fun!"
Perona floated above, sending out waves of her Negative Hollows, effortlessly incapacitating the guards.
"I never expected Impel Down, the legendary prison, to be so weak. Even I can take a stroll here."
Baccarat muttered in disbelief.
Then she caught herself—
It had been less than a month.
And yet, she had already grown so accustomed to this overwhelming power.
She was startled by her own reaction.
Then, the Director of Impel Down, Magellan, finally appeared—
Bringing the Sun and Moon Pirates' rampage to a temporary halt.
"The infamous Magellan, the strongest man in Impel Down."
Pudding and Flampe shuddered.
They had heard of him.
As children, their older siblings used to scare them with his name—
"If you misbehave, Magellan from Impel Down will come and take you away!"
For pirates across the sea, Magellan was a terrifying figure—his presence sometimes more fearsome than an admiral's.
"Intruders—Sun and Moon Pirates."
Magellan stared at Kuke's crew with a heavy gaze. "How fitting. Impel Down is exactly where criminals like you belong."
Behind him, waves of purple venom surged.
Several enormous venomous dragons rose from the toxic sea—
Their jaws wide open, ready to devour the entire crew.
"I'll leave this to you all."
Crack!
Gion's sword shimmered with the power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit.
She swung.
The very air shattered.
The venomous dragons crashed against the ruptured space—unable to advance a single step toward the crew.
"Yama Orochi!" Yamato roared, swinging her kanabo.
"Wei Guo!" Charlotte Linlin swung her massive blade.
Belo Betty infused her cursed sword, Nidai Kitetsu, with her awakened Ope Ope no Mi powers, extending its blade to a hundred meters.
Smoothie transformed into a radiant "Bodhisattva."
She struck—
A massive shockwave erupted.
Kuina sheathed her blade—
Then, in a single flash, unleashed a precise silver line of sword energy that sliced through everything in its path.
"This… this level of strength?"
Magellan was in complete disbelief.
Each of these attacks was something he could barely withstand alone—
But combined?
No Yonko-level warrior could take that and remain standing.
"The Sun and Moon Pirates… are even more terrifying than the rumors."
Magellan felt a deep, creeping fear.
RUMBLE—
The entire prison trembled.
For a moment, it seemed as if Impel Down itself would collapse into history.
After the dust settled—
Magellan was no longer standing.
Bloodied and embedded in the shattered walls—
He could not move.
"So this is the so-called legendary Magellan?"
Pudding and Flampe stomped their feet in frustration.
As children, they had lost sleep over the stories of this man.
"Never in my life did I think I'd see this day—"
Vivi, Baccarat, and the newer recruits were frozen in awe.
They had heard the stories, but seeing it in person—
The most terrifying prison in the world had crumbled before them like tofu.
They turned their eyes to Kuke.
And to think—
He hadn't even needed to lift a finger.