Hidden deep within the windless zone lay Impel Down, the most formidable prison in the world of One Piece.
The entire complex was divided into six levels, and among them stood the Kamabakka Kingdom, nestled within Level Five.
To the outside world, only five levels were known. Very few even whispered of the sixth. The layers were as follows:
LV1 – The Crimson Hell
LV2 – The Beast Hell
LV3 – The Starvation Hell
LV4 – The Blazing Hell
LV5 – The Freezing Hell
LV6 – The Eternal Hell
Countless prisoners were confined within Impel Down's monstrous walls.
But the most terrifying of all was the sixth level — the Eternal Hell. Every soul imprisoned there had once been a pirate whose very name shook the seas.
Some were monsters who could rival legends such as the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, and the Four Emperors, including Whitebeard.
With criminals of such caliber sealed away, Impel Down's defenses were naturally impregnable.
Otherwise, how could it earn its reputation as an iron fortress — the greatest prison in the world?
Not only that, Impel Down was built right within the windless zone, the breeding ground of the colossal Sea Kings.
Anyone daring to enter or flee would find themselves devoured by those monstrous leviathans.
And beyond that, Impel Down, Marineford, and Enies Lobby formed a perfect triangular stronghold — their distances close, their coordination flawless.
At the very first sign of a breakout, the Marines could immediately mobilize through the Gates of Justice.
Since its founding, only one man — the legendary pirate Golden Lion Shiki — had ever escaped Impel Down alive.
But even he paid the price with both his legs.
That alone was enough to show what it meant to be cast into this hell.
Deep in the lowest part of the Eternal Hell, inside a cell colder than death itself, lay a man dressed in a white prison uniform.
If not for the faint, rhythmic thump of his heartbeat, one would think he was long dead.
No one knew how much time had passed before a powerful, echoing heartbeat shattered the silence. The man's eyelids trembled and slowly opened.
"How long have I been asleep?" Lucian Vale murmured faintly to himself.
"Ding! System upgrade completed."
"Ding! Congratulations, Host, on fully integrating the inheritance of Aizen Sōsuke from the Bleach world."
"Ding! The Strongest Hueco Mundo System is now at your service."
Three cold, mechanical voices rang inside Lucian's mind, yet his expression remained calm, as if he had expected this moment all along.
"System, what era is it now? How long have I been asleep?" he asked silently.
"Ding! Reporting to Host: It is currently Year 21 of the Great Pirate Era. Host has been asleep for a total of forty years."
"Forty years?" Lucian froze.
That's right — Lucian Vale was not of this world.
Forty years ago, by a twist of fate, he had crossed into the world of One Piece and joined the Rocks Pirates.
It was then that he received his golden cheat — the Strongest Hueco Mundo System, born from the world of Bleach.
Through it, Lucian gained access to Aizen's inheritance — the Hōgyoku and Zanpakutō, among other forbidden powers.
Even without complete mastery, that power alone was enough for him to rise among the monsters of the Rocks Pirates, earning the title Illusionary Blade and the personal acknowledgment of Rocks himself.
But fortune is fickle.
Not long after, due to clashing ideals between Rocks and Roger, the two pirate crews engaged in a cataclysmic battle.
That conflict handed the World Government a perfect opportunity. Former Fleet Admiral Kong, along with Garp, Sengoku, and the old generation of Marines, launched an all-out assault against the Rocks Pirates.
In the end, the Rocks Pirates were annihilated.
Only a handful managed to escape. The rest were dragged to the iron depths of Impel Down.
Though Lucian's strength was immense, he had yet to control the Hōgyoku or his Zanpakutō fully. Overwhelmed by the combined might of Zephyr and Sengoku, he was defeated and sealed within the Eternal Hell.
Then came the deep slumber — the result of the system's upgrade and the fusion of Aizen's inheritance.
The past replayed before his eyes like an endless film reel.
As the memories washed over him, Lucian's expression softened — part nostalgia, part regret.
He had once believed that the upgrade and fusion would take a year or two at most.
Who could have guessed it would take forty long years?
"Forget it. System, tell me what new features you gained from this upgrade," Lucian said calmly.
"Yes, esteemed Host…"
The mechanical voice began its lengthy report, echoing endlessly in his mind.
Despite the monotone explanation, Lucian showed no impatience.
After half an hour of listening, he finally grasped everything.
Simply put, before the upgrade, the system only allowed Lucian to fuse with powers from the Hueco Mundo world.
Now, however, he could summon its characters to fight alongside him.
Of course, such summoning wasn't free — it required Reputation Points, earned through his own actions.
Whenever he achieved something world-shaking, something that left his name echoing across the seas, he would gain those points.
In essence, the system was telling him to go make chaos.
In addition, the system now featured a Shop, though it only displayed ten items at a time. It would refresh every seven days.
"Not bad," Lucian mused, a faint smile playing on his lips. "These new functions suit me perfectly. After sleeping for decades, I think it's time to stretch a little."
"Ding! A new inheritance has been unlocked. Would Host like to begin fusion now?"
"Hm? System, if I fuse again, I won't fall asleep this time, right?" he asked warily.
"Reporting: The previous slumber occurred due to the system upgrade and Aizen's overwhelming inheritance. This fusion will not require deep sleep."
"I see… then begin." His eyes gleamed faintly. "Which inheritance is it this time? And what kind of Zanpakutō will I obtain? I'm starting to feel excited again."
"Ding! Beginning fusion of Ichimaru Gin's inheritance. Estimated completion: three months. Please be patient, Host."
The system's voice faded into silence.
"Ichimaru Gin, huh?" Lucian chuckled. "If I recall, his Zanpakutō, Kamishini no Yari, is a long-range blade. Its Bankai is fearsome. Not quite on Aizen's level, but still… a beautiful weapon."
He leaned back against the cold stone wall, a glint of anticipation flickering in his eyes.
"Still, I'm getting restless. I want to see the world again… to witness this grand age of pirates with my own eyes."
He grinned, his voice echoing softly in the empty cell.
"Sengoku… Garp… I truly look forward to meeting you again."
"I wonder," he said, eyes gleaming with mischief, "what expressions will you wear when that day comes?"
A low, eerie laugh escaped his lips.
"Hahahahaha…"
The laughter reverberated through the Eternal Hell — sharp, unbroken, and full of promise.
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