~ Support & Read 12 Advanced Chapters on Patreon
❁❁❁❁
Arthur fell silent, walking into the dim light of the great prison without a second glance at Hannyabal or Magellan.
He hadn't forgotten his purpose here: to retrieve Shiryu and recruit a worthy crew.
How come Roger isn't in Impel Down at a time like this?
He could perceive the auras of countless individuals, and having clashed with Roger before, he knew the man's aura intimately.
Yet, no matter how he searched, he couldn't find it.
After a moment's thought, he understood. Roger was likely being held under heavy guard, already transported by warship to Loguetown in the East Blue.
To save time, Arthur didn't bother with the established pathways. He stopped where he stood, lifted his right leg high, and a violent torrent of lightning erupted from the tip of his foot...
"BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!"
The hard floor, forged from some unknown material, was shattered by his kick. Rubble flew everywhere. Through the newly formed hole, Arthur leaped directly down to the second level—the Beast Hell.
He didn't linger. Before the hordes of beasts on this level could even react, Arthur, repeating the process with even greater force, once again smashed through the thicker floor, dropping into the third level—the Starvation Hell.
The entire underwater prison trembled slightly. The violent shaking instantly woke the prisoners who were merely waiting for death.
"Impel Down is under attack??"
"Who is it..."
"SAVE US!!"
A sharp-eyed prisoner spotted Arthur amidst the dust and frantically used all his strength to shout.
On this level, the Starvation Hell, there was no food. The starving pirates would pay any price to get out.
Arthur turned a deaf ear, his expression cold and indifferent.
Even if there were strong individuals on the first five levels, they couldn't be that powerful. They weren't qualified to be saved by him. Only the most heinous criminals from the sixth level were fit to follow him and gain a foothold in the New World.
————————
Ignoring the roars and screams of the prisoners in the Starvation Hell, Arthur descended without pause into the fourth level—the Blazing Hell.
"ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!!"
The moment he landed, the roar of wild beasts echoed in his ears. Arthur turned to see several monsters, standing upright like men, lunging at him with heavy weapons and blood-stained jaws wide open. The putrid stench was so strong it forced one to hold their breath.
"Jailer Beasts?" Arthur's brow furrowed.
There were several of these monsters on the fourth level: Minozebra, Minokoala, Minotaurus, and Minorhinoceros.
They were all awakened Zoan-type Devil Fruit users, monsters who had almost completely lost their human emotions and reverted to beasts.
An awakened Zoan Devil Fruit has such terrifying consequences...
This was why, aside from the Mythical Zoans, Arthur had a strong dislike for them.
The only exception would be if an awakened Zoan user's humanity could overpower their bestial nature.
However, if "Hundred Beasts" Kaido knew about these monsters in Impel Down, he would probably make a special trip to recruit them.
"You had the choice to be men, but you chose to be beasts..." Arthur sneered, and a brilliant light erupted from his entire body.
"Zzzzzzzzzzzzz!"
A sharp, piercing screech filled the air, like the mournful cries of a thousand birds. In a flash, purple lightning completely engulfed the charging, inhuman Jailer Beasts.
A few seconds later, the lightning dissipated. Arthur walked away, step by step, and where he had stood... only a few pieces of smoking charcoal remained.
To the prisoners of the Blazing Hell, these monsters possessed unrivaled, terrifying power. In Arthur's eyes, however, they were nothing more than a single discharge of lightning.
————————
Passing through the unbearably hot Blazing Hell, he arrived at the fifth level—the Freezing Hell.
This level, much like some of the perpetually winter-bound islands in the New World, was filled with an unbearable, low temperature. From the frozen forest in the distance, the howls of military wolves could be heard from time to time.
The prisoners here faced the constant danger of either freezing to death or being eaten by the wolves.
"Someone's here..."
"Was that tremor just now caused by him?"
"Are you kidding me?? How could a brat this young beat the poison-man Magellan!"
"Hey, you over there, kid! Are you a new guard?"
In the cells, a group of people, huddled in a corner and shivering from the cold, asked, their breath turning to white mist.
Some had witnessed Arthur's escape a year and a half ago, but now, not only were his clothes different, but his entire aura had changed, so they didn't recognize him at first glance.
And in a cell near the passage to the sixth level, a figure in a black-and-white striped prison uniform, wearing a clown hat, with his tongue hanging out and a nose like a sausage, woke from his energy-conserving state.
"Heavy Drinker" Vasco Shot—the same unlucky fool who had met Arthur in the City of Wine, and was subsequently captured by Kizaru, Tsuru, and Sado Nath.
Vasco Shot's huddled body stirred. Hearing the prisoners' excited voices, he subconsciously turned his head for a look.
That one glance nearly made his eyes pop out of his head.
"It's you... Seabury D. Arthur??" he screamed in horror, leaping to his feet.
"Hm?" Arthur glanced at Shot's theatrical face. A face so distinctive was impossible to forget.
"Vasco Shot?"
"It's me! Seabury D. Arthur, if it's possible, could you let me out??" Shot gripped the icy iron bars with both hands, his expression one of pure excitement.
He couldn't stand this hellish place for another second. He was desperate to leave.
However, during the breakout a year and a half ago, Arthur seemingly hadn't released the prisoners on the fifth level, not even giving them a glimmer of hope...
"What?? It's that brat who was the only one to ever escape from Impel Down??"
"Kid, let us out!!"
All the prisoners in the Freezing Hell heard the conversation between Vasco Shot and Arthur. They all stood up, their shouts shaking the heavens.
"Letting you out isn't out of the question... Shot," Arthur said, ignoring the deafening shouts of the pirates beside him. His posture was proud, his gaze looking down upon Vasco Shot.
"I'm preparing to advance into the New World, and I'm short on manpower. As long as you submit to me, you can leave with me immediately."
"Choose. Die in Impel Down... or follow me and run wild in the New World!"
"Submit to you and advance into the New World..." A flicker of struggle appeared in Shot's eyes, but then he saw the countless corpses buried in the snow, and his gaze instantly became firm. If he didn't get out now, he would face the same fate as those numberless prisoners.
Who gives a damn about dreams and ambitions when you're about to die?
"Then let me ask, Captain Arthur... if I follow you, will there be wine to drink?" He calmed down completely, his previous urgency gone. His serious face and eyes met Arthur's levelly.
"Hahahaha!" The smile on Arthur's lips spread wider and wider. "That depends on whether you have the skill to go out and take it for yourself!"
❁❁❁❁
~ 12 Advanced Chapters Available on my Patreon
https://p-atreon.com/dragonnx
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)