In the corridor connecting Level 3 to Level 4 of Impel Down, Mizuchi silently walked past thousands of prison guards armed with prison rocket launchers. Cold frost spread from beneath his feet, freezing everyone in his path solid.
"Move aside!"
"No way!"
Voices—Luffy and Hannyabal's argument—echoed from outside the corridor. Reaching its end, Mizuchi slowly lifted his eyes and looked out.
Outside, Luffy and Hannyabal were locked in a tense standoff. Their heated shouting reverberated throughout Level 4.
"Mizuchi!"
Seeing Mizuchi, Luffy immediately tried to rush forward, eager to greet him.
But standing opposite Luffy, Hannyabal, blood sword in hand, firmly blocked his path.
"Don't underestimate me!"
Sweat drenched Hannyabal's back, yet his gaze remained resolute. Even facing Mizuchi, he did not take a single step back.
"Step aside… I'm not in the mood for this right now!"
Mizuchi extended his ice, sending a piercing cold wave that intensified the already chilling atmosphere of Level 4.
"Take this! Prajna Passion Dance… Scorching Hell Car!"
Hannyabal swung his blood sword in a flurry, igniting both ends before charging at Mizuchi.
"Ice Sphere!"
The searing flames could not ignite the temperature within Mizuchi's heart. With a single shout, Hannyabal—sword and all—was instantly encased in a massive ice sphere.
"Mizuchi, have you seen my brother?"
Luffy, seeing Hannyabal frozen, anxiously approached and asked about Ace.
"I have… but—"
Mizuchi's hands trembled slightly, and his expression darkened.
"But what?"
Luffy pressed, his excitement palpable.
"Nothing. Let's head to Marineford together. This time, I will definitely rescue Ace!"
Taking a deep breath, Mizuchi discarded all distractions.
A temporary setback is not terrifying; permanent despair is.
Since he had failed once, he would let the next success erase the wounds of failure.
Marineford was Mizuchi's last chance, Ace's last chance, and Luffy's last chance.
This time, Mizuchi would not fail.
"Oh! Then let's go quickly!"
Luffy, unaware of the hidden tension in Mizuchi's words, stood, ready to move once the path ahead was clear.
But at that moment, a thick black mist suddenly surged from the corridor.
The guards Mizuchi had frozen were violently thrown aside as the fog spread.
"Oh… oh… quite a gathering of heavy hitters!"
Blackbeard, clad in black, appeared with his crew, clearing the corridor's obstacles and confronting Mizuchi and the others.
"One minute has passed. The Gomu Gomu no Mi has been fully replicated."
Thanks to Blackbeard's intervention, Mizuchi had successfully fulfilled the system's requirement, replicating Luffy's Devil Fruit.
Glancing at the system notification, Mizuchi turned his attention to Blackbeard. Since Blackbeard had come to him, Mizuchi naturally intended to seize the opportunity.
The Yami Yami no Mi, considered one of the most formidable Devil Fruit powers in history, had long been coveted by Mizuchi.
"So, you're the D with a bounty of 600 million berries? Join us!"
Blackbeard's gaze swept the area, and when his eyes landed on Mizuchi, greed shone unmistakably on his face.
Blackbeard had come to Impel Down in search of crew members. Mizuchi, strong and newly rising, was clearly an ideal candidate.
Facing Blackbeard's outstretched hand, Mizuchi's lips curved in a teasing smile.
"Fine! Beat me, and I'll join your crew!"
Mizuchi extended his right hand and firmly grasped Blackbeard's.
"Mizuchi!"
Luffy's face showed clear alarm at Mizuchi's declaration.
"Don't worry! I'm strong!"
Mizuchi smiled faintly and turned his gaze back to Blackbeard.
"Well? Dare you?"
Blackbeard, undaunted by Mizuchi's provocation, nodded immediately. He wanted to test the strength of this newly emerged pirate. Excitedly, he laughed: "Welcome aboard, D!"
"Glint-Glint Fruit (Sweet-Sweet Fruit boost) loaded. Duration: 10 minutes. Cooldown: 30 seconds."
At the system's prompt, Mizuchi slid back gracefully, like a dancer, distancing himself from Blackbeard.
The Yami Yami no Mi favored close-range combat, while the Glint-Glint Fruit specialized in ranged attacks. Mizuchi saw no need to engage Blackbeard in close quarters.
"Laser Beam!"
A dazzling ray shot from Mizuchi's fingers straight at Blackbeard.
"Dark Water!"
Blackbeard exhaled a dense black fog, and a violent suction force pulled Mizuchi toward him.
"Flash Kick!"
Mizuchi, drawn to Blackbeard, struck first before Blackbeard could fully activate his power.
The ferocious attack instantly sent Blackbeard flying, preventing his ability from being nullified.
"This power of yours is… troublesome," Mizuchi muttered, frustration creeping onto his face. Being absorbed by Blackbeard risked nullifying his abilities—a serious problem for someone like him.
"Hahaha… my power is far stronger than you imagine, D! Join me! I am destined to become the Pirate King!"
Blackbeard laughed arrogantly, infuriating Luffy. Ace had been captured, and now Blackbeard had set his sights on Mizuchi. Luffy's anger reached its peak.
If Mizuchi hadn't confronted Blackbeard first, Luffy would have intervened immediately to punish him.
"Pirate King? That offends not only me, but all fans who revere the Pirate King! I claim that title!"
Mizuchi's hands shimmered as he unleashed his ultimate attack:
"Yata Jewel!"
A dense barrage of light bullets rained down like an endless torrent, enveloping all space around Blackbeard.
"Crack! Crack! Crack!"
The light bullets scattered around Blackbeard exploded violently, instantly petrifying everything they touched.
A dense layer of pale stone skin coated the aftermath like countless "plasters" stuck to the wounds.
"Hahaha… it hurts so much!"
Amid the smoke and dust, Blackbeard's injured form emerged, walking slowly across the fully stone-covered ground, shrouded in black mist.
"Captain!"
"Captain!"
"…."
Seeing their captain in such a pitiful state, his crew rushed forward to support him.
"Want to gang up on me?"
Mizuchi, radiating dazzling light, stood coldly against the entire Blackbeard Pirates, unmoved.