"Warden, are we really just letting them leave like this!?"
Inside Impel Down's fourth floor, the scorching inferno, Hannyabal's face was pale with urgency as he looked at Magellan.
Magellan leaned against the wall, slowly reabsorbing the poison he had released. At Hannyabal's words, he let out a weary sigh.
"Then tell me—what else do you want me to do!?"
Hannyabal froze.
Even before, Impel Down had been unable to resist Uzumaki Naruto's invasion. And now? With so many other monsters released?
These weren't just ordinary pirates—they were the worst of the worst, demons of the sixth level of Infinite Hell. Not a single one of them could be dealt with easily.
"But… if we just let them escape… and they reach Marineford…"
Hannyabal's voice trembled, unwilling to accept it.
Magellan shook his head helplessly. "It can't be helped. I've already done everything I can… Even ordered all the surrounding battleships to withdraw. Right now, Impel Down is nothing but an isolated island. Whether it traps them or not… I don't know."
Hannyabal's eyes suddenly lit up. "The battleships around Impel Down have all been moved!?"
"That's perfect!"
"This means they can't escape Impel Down. Once reinforcements from Marineford arrive, they'll all be captured!"
But Magellan only shook his head again.
Hannyabal might not fully understand Naruto's intel—but Magellan did.
He was a shinobi. He could run across the sea itself. Impel Down couldn't possibly contain him. The only uncertainty was… could Naruto take all the others with him?
"But at least," Magellan muttered under his breath, "the pirates Naruto took are under his control. He didn't just release them into the seas…"
That was what Magellan feared most—that countless pirates would escape Impel Down and wreak havoc across the Grand Line. Civilian lives would be slaughtered in the chaos.
But with Naruto holding their reins… while still dangerous, at least they wouldn't be scattered across the seas to cause random massacres.
"…The ships!?"
At the prison's entrance, pirates widened their eyes in shock.
The vast blue ocean stretched endlessly before them. But there wasn't a single ship in sight.
As if they had truly been marooned on an island.
"They moved all the ships!?"
Crocodile took a drag from his cigar, brows furrowing at the development.
Barrett's expression was equally grim.
If he hadn't eaten a Devil Fruit, he could've simply swum to freedom. His body was more than strong enough.
But as a Devil Fruit user… the sea was death.
All eyes turned, almost instinctively, toward the golden-haired youth.
Their true captain.
Naruto walked to the edge of Impel Down, bit into his thumb, and slammed his bloodied hand onto the waves.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu… Sanbi! (Summoning Jutsu: Three-Tails!)"
BOOM!
A huge white cloud of smoke exploded outward.
The sea trembled as a beast's roar shook the air.
From the smoke emerged a colossal turtle-like beast, large enough to rival an island itself.
"That turtle… it's strong…" Barrett's eyes narrowed, a rare solemnity flashing across his face. He could sense the monstrous energy radiating from the Sanbi, Isobu.
"Let's go!"
Naruto leapt high, landing firmly atop Isobu's massive head.
The other pirates scrambled aboard the giant turtle's shell, their gazes full of awe and respect as they looked at the golden-haired youth.
This captain of theirs… was too strong.
At the same time—
Marineford, Marine Headquarters.
Under the eyes of more than a hundred thousand marines standing at full alert, three Marine Admirals strode onto the high platform and sat in their seats.
At first, the sight ignited cheers. But soon… confusion spread through the ranks.
"Wait… why are the Admirals all injured?"
"Their faces are covered in bruises! Akainu's face looks like a pig's head…"
"Aokiji and Kizaru both have black eyes… who in the world could've beaten them up like that!?"
"No… it's not just the Admirals. Look at Fleet Admiral Sengoku! His face is swollen too—his eyes even look bruised…"
Whispers broke out among the ranks of marines.
And the Admirals, with senses sharper than any Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki), heard every word clearly.
Their faces darkened even further.
Aokiji let out a dry laugh. "That old man Garp… still as strong as ever. Almost broke my ribs…"
Kizaru twitched as he spoke. "You think you had it bad? At least you're on decent terms with him… I got one of my molars knocked out…"
Akainu glared at them both, face stormy. "You two think you have the right to complain!?"
They only suffered flesh wounds. He, on the other hand, had taken serious internal damage. He'd nearly been killed outright by Garp's fury.
Aokiji shot him a sharp glance. "If you hadn't said those words, would Garp have flown into such a rage?"
Akainu snorted coldly. "I wasn't wrong. As marines, we can't let a single pirate escape—especially not Ace. He's the son of the Pirate King, Roger."
"Shut that mouth of yours already!" Kizaru's lips curled in pain. "If you push Garp any further, you'll be dead. Those two boys are his grandsons. If both of them die, Garp will tear you apart!"
Akainu opened his mouth, but no words came. He didn't dare.
The thought of Garp pounding him bloody again, in front of the entire navy, was too much to bear.
And yet… he still trembled at the memory.
Even when he had fought with all his strength—without using his Magu Magu no Mi (Magma-Magma Fruit), yes, but still—he had been completely crushed.
Two of his ribs broken in a single exchange with Garp's iron fists.
Elsewhere—
Sengoku had his arms locked tightly around Garp's, sweat pouring down his forehead.
"Garp, calm down. You must calm down. This is a live broadcast to the entire world! Don't you dare cause a scene here!"
But Garp's face was black as thunder, his fists trembling violently.
"I know… but you'd better hold me down. Because I don't know what I'll do otherwise…"
Soon after, the execution platform welcomed its prisoners.
Dragged forward in chains—yet still full of wide-eyed curiosity—was Luffy.
Cold-faced, his eyes burning with fury, was Izo of the Whitebeard Pirates.
And with them, a handful of the Worst Generation's captains.
When Garp's eyes fell on his grandson—and saw Luffy still looking around with that childlike, clueless expression—his entire body tensed.
His eyes bulged. His muscles swelled.
CRACK! CRACK!
Sengoku could hear the snapping of Garp's bones as he tried to hold him down.
"Damn it, this guy's strength is insane!" Sengoku cursed inwardly, sweat dripping down his neck.
He hated Blackbeard and Akainu both at this moment.
Why the hell did they have to bring the Straw Hat boy here!?
Sengoku's arms trembled, straining to contain him.
Just before he lost control, he leaned down and whispered frantically into Garp's ear.
"Garp, listen to me. Calm yourself. When Whitebeard's forces arrive… I'll promise you this—we can let the Straw Hat boy escape."
(End of Chapter)
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