"Kawa D. Mizuchi! Luffy! You've grown so much! With such powerful allies supporting you, I… I… I can finally be at ease!"
Tears poured from Ace's eyes like a raging spring. The one person he had always worried about most was his younger brother, Luffy. Now, seeing someone as formidable as Mizuchi at Luffy's side, he felt—for the first time—that even if he were to leave this world, he could rest in peace.
"Ace! I came to rescue you, Luffy! He's waiting for you down there! You can't give up on yourself!"
Mizuchi knew what Ace was thinking. Pointing toward the elevator, he shouted at Ace with all the intensity in his chest.
"Stay alive! Only by staying alive can you make Luffy… and your own dreams come true!"
Mizuchi's heart overflowed with words he wanted to tell Ace. But he had to lock them inside, for before him stood a formidable enemy—Admiral Aokiji.
"Boom!"
Mizuchi casually tossed aside Magellan, completely encased in stone. The dull thud echoed through the chamber, making the already tense atmosphere feel even more sinister.
"Huff! Huff! Huff!"
Freed from Mizuchi's petrification, Magellan gasped for air as his body slowly returned from stone. He did not fear Mizuchi's petrification ability—but the man himself filled him with sheer terror.
Such a young man, yet so powerful. So charismatic. If he were to enter the Grand Line… what kind of terrifying storm would he unleash?
Even thinking about it made Magellan's scalp tingle.
"Chief Magellan, escort Ace to the ship. Leave the rest to me."
Aokiji's face was cold as he looked at Mizuchi. His hands radiated chilling air, and his eyes carried an unshakable gravity.
"No one leaves today!"
Mizuchi faced Aokiji, raising his right hand to strike the wall behind him. Piercing cold erupted from his palm, freezing the entire room in an instant.
Thick blocks of ice rapidly formed behind him, sealing the open gates of Impel Down.
"What's happening? Why are the gates frozen?"
The warships stationed outside Impel Down quickly contacted the prison via Den Den Mushi upon seeing the gates sealed.
"Situation unknown at the moment. But… before the surveillance Den Den Mushi was frozen, we observed the rookie pirate D, valued at 600,100,000 Berries, rush up the elevator shaft to the top floor. After subduing Chief Magellan, he froze the entire chamber."
As soon as the Den Den Mushi connection was established, the Marines outside felt a shiver down their spines, their limbs turning cold with dread.
"Ace was intercepted?"
This thought shattered all composure among the waiting Marines. Under orders from the Vice Admirals, the cannons aimed at the Impel Down exit opened fire.
"Once the target is confirmed, fire immediately!"
Vice Admiral Onigumo stood on the deck, his expression grave as he issued the command.
While the Marines outside prepared for battle, Mizuchi and Aokiji exchanged a glance before rushing to the right, their target clear: Ace.
The key target of this fight was not Magellan or the outside Marines—it was Fire Fist Ace, whose powers were still restricted by Sea-Prism Stone.
"Ice-Ice Fruit (augmented by Doku Doku no Mi, Mero Mero no Mi, and Pika Pika no Mi) fully loaded. Duration: 10 minutes. Cooldown: 30 seconds."
The system's voice marked the official start of combat.
Mizuchi pressed one hand to the ground, sending an ice wall surging forward. Yellow light and purple liquid coated its surface, spreading like radiant ice—or like a venomous ice serpent—corroding everything in its path.
As Aokiji took his first step forward, the anomalous ice wall surged toward him. Its speed was clearly beyond supersonic.
"Haki!"
Facing the perilous ice wall, even Aokiji dared not touch it directly. He wrapped both hands in Armament Haki and bent to strike a fist into the ice.
"Boom!"
The deafening impact and cracking ice shook the entire top floor.
"Ace! Let's go!"
With Aokiji temporarily halted, Mizuchi dashed to Ace's side, helping him up from a half-kneeling position. They were ready to break free.
But at that moment, Magellan, who had been observing silently, made his move.
"Poison Cloud!"
A faint purple mist erupted from Magellan, quickly filling the room.
"Ah… ah… ah!"
Affected by the poison, Ace fell to one knee in agony.
"Magellan! You're truly despicable!"
Mizuchi spun to face the Impel Down exit, now blocked by ice, where Magellan stood resolute, continuously releasing thick poison into the chamber.
"D! You can't take him. He's already poisoned. Even if you carry him away, he won't survive!"
Mizuchi slowly released his grip on Ace, realizing he had been trapped by Magellan's strategy. He also knew that Magellan's words were not deceitful.
"You really are despicable!"
A chill emanated from Mizuchi as he glared at Magellan. The freezing air struck Magellan's body, encasing him in ice. As the ice spread upward, the unknown creature above him was frozen as well, solidifying toward the exit.
"Kid! You can't take him! Hand him over, and he might live!"
Aokiji watched Mizuchi coldly. He knew the severity of Magellan's poison. If Mizuchi insisted on taking Ace, death would be the only destiny awaiting him.
"Ace!"
Mizuchi looked at Ace, who knelt in pain. His heart twisted. Only one step stood between them and freedom. If he could carry Ace across a few meters to the exit, they would be free.
Yet, if he did, Ace would almost certainly die from the poison. Without an antidote, survival outside Impel Down was nearly impossible.
"Does that mean I have to take Ace back? That's not an option either!"
Mizuchi considered taking Ace to Level 6, where Emporio Ivankov awaited. There, Ace could receive treatment and survive the poison.
But even if he could descend the stairs to Level 6, the delay might be fatal. Time was not on their side.
"Have you decided? He can't wait forever!"
Aokiji's voice rang out again. He was not eager to attack; as long as Mizuchi valued Ace's life, he would willingly hand him over.
"I… I…"
Mizuchi's lips trembled, unable to utter a word.
"I'll go with you. Mizuchi… tell my brother… to never… ever come to Marineford!"
Ace stood stubbornly, his body ravaged by poison, yet his eyes remained as clear as ever. His hoarse shout drew tears from Mizuchi's eyes, unstoppable now.