"Ace! I… I…!"
Tears blurred Mizuchi's vision. Ever since he was reborn into the world of pirates, the one thing he had wanted more than anything was to save Ace. And now, Ace was right in front of him. The warmth of Ace's hand still lingered on his own, yet he could not choose to take him away.
The grief and despair were suffocating.
"Mizuchi… if this is my fate, then I accept it! You're strong, and with you beside Luffy, I feel reassured. Go on… go!"
Ace spoke to Mizuchi, then without looking back, he walked toward the door. His back radiated determination, and each step carried unwavering resolve.
"Mizuchi, please respect Ace's choice!"
After Ace began moving, Aokiji stepped past Mizuchi, whose face was twisted with unwillingness, and approached Magellan.
"Shh…"
As the thick white mist dispersed, the gate that Mizuchi had frozen and Magellan himself were all liberated by Aokiji.
"Let's go!"
Magellan, now freed from the ice, retracted his poisonous mist, glanced at Mizuchi's receding figure, and then grabbed the Sea-Prism Stone handcuffs on Ace's wrists, leading him toward the exit.
"Wait!"
Just as Ace was about to step out, Mizuchi's deep voice rang out from behind.
"D! Don't you want to save Ace?"
Magellan's voice, tinged with anger and a hint of fear, came from beside Ace.
"D! I don't want you to gamble with Ace's life!"
Aokiji's hands exhaled thick white mist. Both he and Magellan were now flanking Ace; if Mizuchi made any sudden move, Ace would be the first to suffer.
"I just want to say one thing…" Mizuchi's ice path gleamed like light beneath his feet, carrying his body in an instant to Ace's side.
"Ace! I won't help you tell Luffy that line. I will lead everyone to save you—right at… Marineford!"
Mizuchi reached out, turning Ace's body, and pressed his forehead against Ace's, speaking stubbornly.
"Mizuchi! Luffy… he…"
Tears streaked Ace's face. His stubbornness, his strength—all of it was just a mask for Mizuchi. Deep inside, Ace wanted to see the people he longed for, yet feared facing them. So he buried everything silently within himself.
Mizuchi's words shattered Ace's final pretense.
"Don't worry! I know what you're worried about. I'll take responsibility for his safety. Nothing like today will happen again. You know Luffy's nature—no matter what you say, he will still go to Marineford."
Mizuchi turned toward Magellan as he spoke, his gaze brimming with boundless anger. Magellan trembled, unable to suppress it.
"Thank you!"
Ace said nothing more. Silently, he turned, faced the sunlight, and walked out of Impel Down's gates.
"Attention! Prepare to fire!"
Outside Impel Down, Vice Admiral Onigumo stood alone at the ship's bow, coldly observing the exit below. Behind him, all Marine soldiers gripped their weapons, waiting for his command.
"Prepare the antidote immediately. And do not provoke that man before handing Ace over."
Magellan followed Ace, still wary, instructing the prison guards to fetch the antidote while keeping a careful eye on Mizuchi.
Not long after Ace and his escort exited Impel Down, Mizuchi stepped out slowly. His presence made the hairs on the necks of all nearby sailors stand on end.
"A bounty of 601 million Berries… D. How is he here? Is he here to save Ace? But he hasn't acted—why?"
Vice Admiral Onigumo looked down at the entrance with suspicion. Seeing Mizuchi had no hostile intentions, he descended the stairs with his men, approaching Ace and his companions.
"If D. shows any unusual moves, fire immediately!"
Onigumo's order was lethal, given as he left the ship.
"Thud… thud… thud…"
Ace walked slowly along the wooden corridor, the rhythmic steps barely audible. Reaching Vice Admiral Onigumo, he quietly lifted his gaze toward the sky.
A pure white seagull flew freely over Impel Down, crying softly as it passed.
"Late by a bit, huh?"
Onigumo checked his pocket watch and found his eyes drifting to the rear. There, Mizuchi watched silently, observing every detail.
"We've lost some time. Now, we'll hand over the criminal Portgas D. Ace to the Marines."
Magellan stepped aside, letting Ace proceed.
"Thud… thud…"
Ace trudged forward, glancing back once. Near the gates, Mizuchi leaned against the wall, eyes fixed on Ace's position.
Their gazes met, as if silently promising each other something.
"Hurry… the antidote… must hurry…"
A prison guard carrying the antidote ran toward Impel Down's upper levels. Just as he was about to exit the gate, Mizuchi appeared from the side, face grim.
"Pirate… D!"
The guard's hands trembled as he gripped the antidote, fear and anxiety in his eyes.
"D! Are you going to watch Ace die?"
Seeing the guard blocked, Aokiji formed four ice spears, aiming them at Ace's back.
"I… really want to save him… but you won't stop me!"
Mizuchi snatched the antidote from the guard and dashed to Ace at nearly light speed.
"Inject!"
As Mizuchi approached, Onigumo's ship crew fired. Dozens of dark cannonballs flew from the ship, hurtling toward the corridor.
"Such recklessness!"
Magellan glanced at the incoming cannonballs and rushed toward Impel Down. As a Devil Fruit user, falling into the water would be disastrous.
The other guards did the same, seeking safety from the barrage.
Under the relentless fire, only Mizuchi, Ace, Aokiji, and Onigumo remained.
"Ace! This is your last chance before going to Marineford!"
Ignoring the cannon fire, Mizuchi raised Ace's arm and slowly injected the antidote into his veins.
"Now!"
Ace scanned the surroundings. The Marine ships surrounding Impel Down were rapidly closing in.
"Attack! Attack now!"
Shouts and cannon fire turned the Impel Down perimeter into a sea of explosions.
"I said… you're all way too loud! Can't you see people are… having a serious conversation?!"
Mizuchi's angry voice rang out over the corridor. Ice spread rapidly from him, freezing everything it touched.
"Ice Age!"
With a single command, the chaos around Impel Down abruptly ceased.