"Warden, Vice Warden, we truly cannot hold on any longer. Reinforcements are urgently needed."
On the far side of the massive gate, the surviving jailers shouted desperately into their Den Den Mushi, their eyes filled with terror as they stared at the once impregnable entrance.
"Our manpower is extremely limited. If we rely only on ourselves, I fear that we..."
Before the report could finish, piercing screams abruptly shattered the line.
"No, what is happening? We are sinking. The ground is collapsing beneath us. It has turned into a bottomless black quagmire. We are being dragged into the void."
The transmission ended instantly.
Silence followed.
Then laughter echoed.
"Gyahahahaha!"
Marshall D. Teach withdrew the swirling darkness beneath his feet, his grin stretching wide.
"You actually believed defenses like this could stop me?"
The enormous iron gate reinforced with Sea Stone had vanished entirely. Jagged stone fragments littered the broken walls, a clear testament to the overwhelming gravitational force of the Dark Dark Fruit.
"My little ones, come on. It is time to pick out some new partners. Gyahahahaha!"
Teach strode forward proudly, leading his four crewmates straight into Impel Down, a prison meant to be a graveyard for pirates.
"Wehahaha! What a creepy place. This looks fun!"
Jesus Burgess laughed wildly, swinging his fist down without hesitation. The skull of a wounded jailer trying to crawl away shattered instantly.
Blood and fragments sprayed across the stone floor.
Van Augur glanced coldly at the groaning prisoners scattered across the ground.
"Fate led us here," he muttered.
Doc Q rode atop his sickly horse, Stronger, breathing heavily and saying nothing.
Laffitte spread his white wings slightly as he tapped his cane against the floor.
"Captain, if we want a smooth exit later, some preparations should be made."
"Gyahahahaha, do it. Do whatever you need."
Teach waved his hand lazily, releasing a flood of pitch-black darkness that swallowed the charging jailers whole.
Their screams were cut short.
"I trust you, my partners."
Sixth Floor, Infinite Hell
"Hmm? Something is happening above."
One by one, pairs of cold, ferocious eyes opened in the darkness.
These monsters, each capable of shaking the world, sensed something wrong. The prison that had never faltered felt unstable.
Distant screams and roars drifted down like hallucinations.
"Has Null arrived?"
Inside one of the cells, crocodile slowly opened his eyes, his expression darkening as he stared toward the stairway.
"Hey, crocodile."
A hoarse voice echoed from a nearby cell.
"Why do you look like a miserable abandoned spouse? It is disgusting."
"Shut up."
Crocodile turned his cold gaze toward the opposite cell.
"Bullet, seeing someone finally leave this floor, have you lost your composure?"
"Hmph."
Douglas Bullet rose to his feet, chains rattling as he glared back.
"I have waited long enough."
His eyes burned with blood-red intensity.
"When will that so-called monster finally dare to stand before me?"
Bullet had endured too long.
Especially after crocodile had repeatedly spoken of Shirogai with such rare admiration.
The day he sensed Shirogai's overwhelming Haki, Bullet had not slept since.
He wanted one thing.
A decisive battle.
To crush that monster and prove himself the strongest pirate alive.
"Calm yourself, you oversized lunatic," crocodile sneered.
"When you meet him, I guarantee you will die satisfied."
Their gazes clashed violently.
If not for the Sea Stone restraints, blood would have already spilled.
Thump. Thump. Thump
The elevator descended.
With a heavy impact, the doors opened.
A dozen armed jailers marched out.
Every conscious prisoner turned their attention toward them.
One jailer carried a sword with a red hilt, golden pommel, and square golden guard.
"Warden Shiryu."
The jailers approached a solitary cell where a man leaned casually against the bars, cigar in hand.
"The Warden has something to say to you."
Inside the cell, the man's lips curved slightly.
Interesting.
What kind of threat had appeared that Magellan would consider releasing him?
Shiryu rose slowly.
His gaze locked onto his beloved blade, Raiu.
Magellan, are you truly foolish enough to think I would obey you?
Click.
The cell door opened.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Shiryu stepped forward, his smile sharp and predatory.
Several veteran jailers instinctively retreated.
"Warden Shiryu, we are your former subordinates..."
"Hehehe."
Shiryu's eyes flicked to the Den Den Mushi.
"Impel Down is in critical condition," Magellan's voice said coldly. "You will be released to atone through service. Control your urge to kill."
Shiryu ignored him, lighting a fresh cigar.
"Phew. This taste, now that is pleasure."
"Do not disappoint me."
"I hope you understand," Shiryu replied lazily. "Once I leave, you will never cage me again."
The call ended.
Shiryu had already decided.
Everything would die.
"This prison will never hold me."
"Warden Shiryu, your sword."
The jailer presented Raiu with trembling hands.
"Oh, thank you."
Shiryu accepted it gently.
Then he drew the blade.
Swish.
In an instant, he appeared behind them.
The blade returned to its sheath.
Screams erupted as the jailers collapsed, clutching their stomachs.
Blood pooled across the floor.
"Ah... nothing enhances a cigar like fresh blood."
Shiryu inhaled deeply.
"Kill without mercy."
Clapping echoed.
"As expected of a rabid dog addicted to slaughter."
Douglas Bullet laughed from his cell.
Shiryu approached him, sneering.
"Jealous, caged beast?"
Bullet laughed cruelly.
"I will rip your head off someday and kick it like a ball."
"Then survive long enough to try."
Shiryu turned toward the stairs.
"Straw Hat Luffy? Three hundred million Berries is worth a swing."
Crocodile chuckled.
"If you meet someone you cannot defeat, kneel early."
Shiryu sneered.
"Do you take me for a fool?"
Crocodile smiled knowingly.
"That man is different. Do not push him too far."
Shiryu frowned.
"You mean Shirogai Yamikuro is here?"
"Who knows."
Shiryu ascended.
"If I meet him, I will test my blade."
What Shiryu did not know was that only Magellan and a select few were aware of Shirogai's presence.
____
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