The World's Most Feared Fortress
The sea ahead boiled with currents that no ordinary ship could cross. Waves slammed into jagged black rock, and beyond them rose Impel Down — the great underwater prison of the World Government.
It loomed like a dagger in the ocean, its massive iron gates glinting with menace. The visible part of the structure was only the tip; the real fortress descended into the depths, floor after floor of escalating horrors.
Bell-mère crossed her arms. "So, Captain… we just sailing up to the front door?"
Vegito grinned. "Yep."
Kuina raised an eyebrow. "No infiltration? No sneaking?"
"Kuina, if I wanted to sneak in," Vegito said, "I wouldn't bring me."
Why They Were Here
Jinbe.
The fish-man warrior who had stood beside Fisher Tiger, who had fought for the rights of his people long before the world noticed. Vegito had met him years ago during his island training, a chance encounter when Jinbe was still free. They'd shared sake, traded stories, and fought side by side against a pod of Sea Kings for fun.
And now Jinbe was in chains for defying the Government's orders during the Whitebeard–Ace conflict.
Vegito wasn't having it.
Approach
As Heaven's Embrace neared the prison, sirens wailed from the watchtowers. Cannons swiveled toward them, dozens of Marine snipers taking aim.
A voice boomed from a Den Den Mushi, deep and commanding. "This is Warden Magellan! Turn back now, or face the full force of Impel Down!"
Vegito cupped his hands to his mouth. "Magellan! I'll make you a deal — I take my friend, I don't level your prison."
The silence on the line was brief, then broken by the sound of Magellan barking orders. Cannons fired.
The First Strike
The first volley never reached them. Vegito's ki flared gold, forming a dome that absorbed the shells midair.
Then he tapped two fingers to his forehead and vanished.
He reappeared directly in front of the main gate, one hand pressed against it.
"Nice door," Vegito said. "Shame about the hinges."
With a flick of his wrist, the entire gate tore free and splashed into the ocean.
Level One – The Crimson Hell
The inside of Impel Down was worse than its reputation. Screams echoed from barred cells, heat radiated from the iron walls, and the stench of blood and fear was everywhere.
Beast guards charged first — massive creatures with axes and teeth like knives.
Bell-mère, Kuina, and Zala dropped in behind Vegito, cutting a path through the guards. Perona floated above, sending her negative ghosts into the largest beasts, leaving them sobbing on the floor.
Prisoners pressed against their bars, some shouting encouragement, others too shocked to speak.
Level Two – The Wild Beast Hell
Massive creatures — man-eating lions, giant scorpions, spiked boars — roamed freely in a burning wasteland of stone. The second the crew landed, a basilisk lunged for Vegito.
He caught it by the snout, lifted it over his head, and threw it into the far wall so hard the impact shook the level.
Mikita, now armed with her Slow-Slow powers, turned charging beasts into sluggish moving targets, letting Nojiko and Nami pick them off.
Level Three – The Starvation Hell
Here the air was heavy, the heat oppressive, and prisoners were nothing but skin and bone. Vegito slowed, his usual smirk fading.
Robin looked at him knowingly. "You're going to do it, aren't you?"
He raised a hand. Golden ki washed over the cells, restoring the strength of those too weak to stand.
"You're free to go when the place comes down," Vegito said simply, before teleporting the crew to the next floor.
Level Four – The Blazing Hell
Here, Vegito walked straight through walls of flame. The guards barely slowed him down. This was Magellan's domain — rivers of boiling blood, heat that could melt steel.
And there he was: Magellan, towering, horns curling, his body leaking purple venom that hissed when it touched the ground.
"You shouldn't have come here," Magellan growled. "Even you can't fight poison."
Vegito chuckled. "Buddy, I've eaten curry hotter than you."
Magellan vs. Vegito
Magellan lunged, his venom forming massive hydra heads that snapped at the crew. Vegito danced through them, his movements lazy, almost teasing.
One clean strike to Magellan's gut sent the warden sprawling. His venom hydras dissolved into steam.
Vegito crouched beside him. "You're not a bad guy. You're just working for the wrong people."
Magellan groaned but didn't get up.
Level Six – The Eternal Hell
They didn't waste time on the rest of the levels. One instant they were on Four, the next they stood before the gates of Level Six — the prison for the world's most dangerous.
The guards here froze at the sight of Vegito.
And then they saw Jinbe.
The fish-man stood tall despite his shackles, eyes widening in recognition. "Vegito?"
"In the flesh," Vegito said. "Let's get you out of here."
The shackles shattered under a casual squeeze.
Old Debts
Jinbe flexed his freed wrists. "You didn't need to come all this way, my friend."
Vegito's grin softened. "You helped me once. This is me paying you back."
Around them, other prisoners murmured — some hopeful, some terrified. Vegito looked over his shoulder.
"I'm feeling generous," he said. "Anyone here who's not a complete piece of trash… follow us."
The Escape
They didn't sneak out. They didn't hide. They walked right through every level on the way back up, Jinbe at Vegito's side, freed prisoners trailing behind like a parade.
By the time they reached the surface, the entire prison was in chaos.
Vegito paused at the main gate, turned back toward the fortress, and with one final blast of ki, blew the upper levels into the sea.
Back Aboard Heaven's Embrace
The crew welcomed Jinbe like family, and before long the deck was alive with music, food, and laughter.
Brook played a lively tune, Cindry served drinks, and Perona floated over the rail with a parasol, looking bored but smiling faintly.
Jinbe sat beside Vegito, sake cup in hand. "I am in your debt."
Vegito shook his head. "Nah. Just stick around. You'll find it's more fun here than in a cell."
[Crew Roster Updated]
Vegito (Captain)
Bell-mère (Crew Mother / Fighter)
Nami (Navigator)
Nojiko (Support Fighter)
Kaya (Doctor – Heal-Heal Fruit User)
Kuina (Swordswoman)
Reiju (Combat Medic / Poison Specialist)
Nico Robin (Archaeologist / Poneglyph Reader)
Vivi (Princess of Alabasta)
Zala (Miss Doublefinger – Martial Artist)
Mikita (Miss Valentine – Aerial Combat, Slow-Slow Fruit)
Kalifa (Martial Artist – Bubble-Bubble Fruit)
Brook (Musician / Swordsman)
Perona (Ghost Princess)
Victoria Cindry (Revived – Combat Maid)
Jinbe (Helmsman / Fish-Man Karate Master)
Next Destination: Sabaody Archipelago — where Vegito will burn the Celestial Dragons' world to the ground… literally.