Eighteen years!
Eighteen years have passed since the Navy launched the Buster Call, with Sengoku and Garp joining forces to imprison Douglas Barrett here!
Unlike those old relics who are gradually weakening, even in prison, Barrett has never stopped training and cultivating himself.
So his strength hasn't declined in the slightest!
But there's one thing that's always troubled him...
Back then, he was always striving desperately to defeat Roger, to surpass Roger.
But Roger is already dead.
He lost his goal, becoming confused and obsessed, indifferent to everything outside, not caring at all.
But now, it's different...
It's different!
Just now, that junior named Shano displayed terrifying strength, undoubtedly igniting his long-dormant fighting spirit!
"Shano, huh..."
Barrett muttered this name softly, a fierce battle intent burning in his eyes.
This man is definitely worth a fight!
But not now, it must wait until he becomes stronger, and it must be entirely by his own means, after escaping this prison!
If even an old cripple like the Golden Lion could do it, why couldn't he?!
"When the time comes, let us see who truly is the strongest in the world!"
Barrett clenched his fists tightly and laughed wantonly, his voice echoing in the empty 6th Floor.
Hey!
Roger, did you see that?
Today, I finally confirmed a new path and found a new goal!
Starting with this Shano...
Kill all Four Emperors, kill all Grand Admirals, kill the Admiral! Become the all-encompassing Pirate King who surpasses you, the strongest in history!!!
...
Meanwhile.
Lv 4, Scorching Hell.
In the deputy chief's office, Prison Warden Little Sadi and Deputy Prison Chief Domino huddled together in a corner, shivering in fear.
The reason being nothing other than the fact that, currently, sitting on the couch in the office, a young man draped in a black cloak, legs crossed, was leisurely flipping through the prison's internal newspaper.
Clearly handsome in appearance, with a gentle and kind demeanor, like a friendly big brother from next door.
But when thinking about his identity and the situation Impel Down was currently facing, the two of them were so scared that they were close to tears, not daring to take a single deep breath.
"Mundane and unremarkable."
Casually tossing the newspaper aside, Shano turned to look at the bedroom door, "Are you done, Shiryu?"
"Already done, sir."
The bedroom door was pushed open, Shiryu, with a cigar in his mouth, strode out. At this moment, he had already changed out of the deputy chief's uniform and casually picked up a black package, placing it on his shoulder.
Inside was all his personal belongings he deemed worthy to bring.
"Pretty fast pace."
Seeing the size of this package, Shano was momentarily speechless, "Isn't the stuff you're bringing a bit too much?"
Shiryu's height was a staggering three meters and four, even taller than the Navy Grand Admirals, and the black package was a bit taller than he was, so one could imagine its scale.
"It's just my years of private collection."
Shiryu grinned, patting the bulging package, "When pirates were escorted in and turned into prisoners, they naturally didn't need their weapons anymore. The decent ones are pretty much all with me."
"Over a hundred different kinds of weapons, several Skillful Grade Blades level famous swords among them; once we're at your territory, these can be given to the Endgame members as my little gifts."
Ah, the middle-aged man who lost his rank is already contemplating how to integrate quickly, huh?
Shano chuckled and didn't mind:
"Then, let's go, it's time to leave. This cage can't hold you anymore."
"Yes, sir."
Shiryu followed Shano to the office doorway, taking one last look around the place he had stayed for half his life, a complex emotion flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced with determination.
As their figures disappeared at the end of the corridor, Domino and Little Sadi exchanged a glance and tightly hugged each other, bursting into tears.
The disaster is finally over!
Speaking of which.
Clearly, in the first moments of the invasion of Impel Down, the two of them urgently contacted Navy Headquarters, so why hasn't the reinforcements arrived yet after so long?!!!
...
Lv1, Red Lotus Hell.
This is the uppermost level of the underwater section, beyond this is leaving Impel Down.
At this moment, the two arrived at the center, the noon sun hanging high, intense sunlight poured through a large hole blasted by Shano, forming a dazzling beam of light on the ground.
Shiryu squinted a bit uncomfortably, using a hand to shield his forehead, gazing up at this hole with a diameter of several dozen meters, unable to help but sigh:
"What a rough entry method."
Across the entire world.
To come alone and dare to brazenly attack Impel Down like this, probably only two or three people could do it, right?
Ahead, Shano's figure flickered, already leaped out of the hole.
Shiryu hastily clutched his package and followed.
Stepping on Moonwalk with several leaps, standing atop the central tower of Impel Down on the surface, the sea breeze hit his face, and the long-lost feeling of freedom made him involuntarily spread open his left arm and take a deep breath.
Hmm?
Suddenly Shiryu's gaze focused, noticing something unusual in the distance.
Outside the circular walls of Impel Down, that huge Gate of Justice was already open, and in front of it, seven large main force warships from Headquarters could be seen.
This wasn't unexpected.
After all, between Navy Headquarters, Judicial Island, and Impel Down, the three institutions of the World Government, there's a triangular ocean vortex, opening the Gate of Justice allows for mutual support within a very short time.