While the world's attention was fixed on Marine Headquarters at Marineford, a different kind of chaos was unfolding at Impel Down, the "impenetrable fortress."
The shrill wail of sirens echoed through the prison, but there was no one to answer the call. Magellan, the Director of Impel Down and the "strongest man in prison," lay on the steps of Level 5, struggling to stand.
"I didn't expect... you would show up here in person," Magellan rasped.
Standing opposite him was a middle-aged man with a dark green coat and a red square tattoo on his left cheek. This man was Monkey D. Dragon, leader of the Revolutionary Army and the most wanted criminal in the world. He was also Luffy's father. Magellan had been defeated by his hand alone.
"Your internal organs are injured. If you don't want to die, you'd better lie there and don't move," Dragon said calmly. He then led Sabo and several other Revolutionary Army commanders toward Level 6, guided by the "Queen," Ivankov.
"Damn it..." Magellan watched them leave, his heart filled with anger and humiliation. He could only sigh in helpless defeat.
Unlike the original, Luffy had been sent to Impel Down because of Adrian. Although the World Government had tried to keep this a secret, Nico Robin, after a little "inspiration" from Adrian, had "kindly" informed Dragon. Even though Dragon hadn't seen Luffy since he was born, he was still his son. There was no way he would ignore it. Dragon had immediately contacted Ivankov, who had been hiding on Level 5.5, and the two had coordinated an assault from the inside and outside, easily breaching the prison's defenses. Dragon himself had handled the most difficult part: defeating Magellan. Everything had gone according to their plan.
However... when they finally reached Level 6, Luffy's cell was empty.
"Luffy's not here? It seems we're too late," Dragon sighed, frowning.
Suddenly, a rough voice came from an adjacent cell. "Hey! You guys looking for Straw Hat Luffy and Brother Ace? They just left! Hurry and catch up... If you're fast, you can catch them before they reach the Gate of Justice." It was the former Warlord, "Knight of the Sea" Jinbe, who had been imprisoned for refusing the World Government's summons. He and Ace had been in the same cell, so he was familiar with Luffy.
"Damn it, we were so close! Mr. Dragon, let's go after them quickly!" Sabo said, his eyes turning red.
"I have a request," Jinbe said, introducing himself. "Please take me with you. My speed at sea is faster than a normal warship, and I can help you catch them."
Dragon was familiar with Jinbe's reputation and wasn't afraid of it being a trick. He immediately ordered his men to release him.
"Sabo, Lindbergh, Karasu, and Jinbe, go on ahead," Dragon commanded. "You must stop the escort ship before it reaches the Gate of Justice. We will follow on a bigger ship soon."
When the Revolutionary Army had raided Impel Down, only a few elite commanders had come. Now, with the addition of Ivankov's hundreds of followers, they needed a larger ship to carry everyone. Lindbergh and Karasu, with their flying abilities, could scout ahead, Sabo could prepare his attacks, and Jinbe was their guide. Dragon believed that their combined strength would be enough to hold off the Marine escort for a few minutes.
Although this lineup was quite different from the one that had helped Luffy escape in the original timeline, the addition of Dragon and his commanders made them much stronger.
At the same time, on Level 5, Blackbeard, the man Sengoku had been searching for, arrived with his four subordinates. He laughed as he looked at the defeated Magellan. "Xihahahaha! I was still wondering how I was going to deal with you, Director Magellan, but it looks like someone already solved that problem for me!" Blackbeard crowed arrogantly.
"You damned pirate..." If he were at full strength, Magellan wouldn't have even bothered to look at Blackbeard. He could have taken out the entire crew with a single wave of his arm. But now, severely injured, he could only endure the insults of this upstart. It was infuriating.
"Cough... cough... we're lucky again this time."
"Wee-hahaha! The captain's luck is as always amazing!"
"It seems we're blessed by God."
"Xi hahahaha! Of course! My little ones, savor this moment. The instant we walk out of here, the whole world will tremble!" Blackbeard and his crew left with smirks on their faces.
Among them, only the sniper Van Augur remained silent, his face sullen. Ever since the incident in Mock Town, the other members of the Blackbeard Pirates had been intentionally excluding him. Blackbeard had even told him, "I need your talent, not your loyalty." Van Augur was sad and resentful. He was always hoping Adrian would appear in the dead of night to rescue him.
Van Augur:Brother, if you don't come soon, they might kill me!
A few minutes later, Dragon and the Revolutionary Army cadre rushed out of Level 6, just as the Blackbeard Pirates were arriving. The four of them—Sabo and the others—didn't stop, racing past Blackbeard's crew. While the two groups that remained, stopped, and a strange confrontation began.
"Xi hahahaha! I knew Magellan, one of Impel Down's two walls, wouldn't be defeated so easily! A big shot like you was here!" Blackbeard recognized Dragon immediately. After all, Dragon was as famous as a Four Emperors worldwide. After a moment of shock, a crazed look flashed in his eyes. Even if he didn't know that Dragon was Luffy's father, he guessed the intentions that led the World Government's most wanted criminal show up at Marineford. To Blackbeard, the more chaotic and large-scale the battle, the more favorable it would be for his plan. He wasn't sure he could defeat Dragon's army, so...
"Hey, leader of the Revolutionary Army, you and I are here for our own reasons. If we fight here, neither of us will benefit, and we'll miss a great show." Blackbeard surprisingly led his crew in stepping aside to let Dragon pass.
Blackbeard's ability to control a situation was unmatched. He knew exactly when to bow his head and when to take charge. This kind of ambitious schemer was often the most likely to succeed. Even Dragon couldn't help but look at him sideways.
"Let's go." Dragon gave Blackbeard a long, hard look before leading his crew away. Their main objective was to rescue Luffy, and there was no time to waste on a pointless fight. In a sense, the pirates weren't their enemies; they were more like allies. After all enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Ten nautical miles from the Gates of Justice outside Marineford, six Vice Admiral-class escort ships were speeding forward.
"Caw! Caw! Caw!"
Suddenly, a flock of black crows swarmed from the sky and attacked the lead ship, where Ace and Luffy were being held.
"What's happening? Where did these crows come from? Be careful!" Vice Admiral Onigumo shouted, his face alert.
Just as he finished speaking, a loud cry came from the sea's surface. "Fish-Man Karate: Gunbo!"
Jinbe's figure burst from the water, and a long, conical stream of water shot out like a cannonball, hitting the warship's mast.
Boom!
The massive mast toppled, along with the sail, and the warship's speed dropped immediately.
"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!" The marine sailors on deck fell into chaos. Some were busy shooing away the crows, while others tried to put out fires. The rest, under Onigumo's command, were preparing to defend against the incoming enemy.
"Oh, so even Jinbe is here?" Adrian had expected the Revolutionary Army to send people to rescue Luffy, but Jinbe's appearance was a surprise. It seemed that certain events in the world, even under the significant influence of a transmigrator like him, were still correcting themselves to follow the original course. This might be what people call fate. Adrian didn't care, though. He firmly believed, "My fate is my own to command, not God's!"
"Hey, Ace, how many people do you think will die because of you this time?" Adrian's expression suddenly turned thoughtful. He pointed to a spot in the sky, a smirk on his face. "Oh, by the way, I almost forgot to tell you that your's and Luffy's old friend will soon be here, so don't cry... because he'll die because of you soon."
"What do you mean?" Ace asked blankly.
At that exact moment, a loud shout came from above the warship, and a figure descended rapidly.
"Ace... Luffy... I'm here to save you!"
Sabo landed on the deck. He ignored the Marines around him, his face filled with an unspeakable excitement as he stared at his two brothers. This was their first reunion in ten years.
"Sa... Sabo? Is it really you, Sabo? We thought you were killed by a Celestial Dragon!" Ace and Luffy's eyes widened, and their faces were filled with disbelief.
"It's really me! Wait just a second; I'll rescue you now!" Sabo then unleashed a blast of water from a hose, engaging the Marines. In the ten years since they last saw him, Sabo had reached a level of skill in both physical combat and Armament Haki that rivaled a Vice Admiral. This was why, in the original, he was able to fight Admiral Fujitora to a standstill right after eating the Flame-Flame Fruit. Of course, Fujitora was likely holding back, but it showed that Sabo was no pushover.
At the same time, the Revolutionary Army's northern commander, Karasu, and the southern commander, Lindbergh, who were circling in the air, officially launched their attacks. Coupled with Jinbe's constant assaults from underwater, the Marines were so overwhelmed they had no time to respond.
Adrian was in no hurry to make his move. The person he was waiting for had just departed from Impel Down.