In the dimly lit corridor, the candlelight flickered unsteadily.
"Pū chī!"
Suddenly, the sound of a sharp blade piercing flesh rang out. Blood splattered and spread across the hallway in several dark-red stains.
"Huff... huff... huff..."
Heavy breathing echoed. A pair of blood-red eyes lifted abruptly, and a savage grin curled between clenched teeth.
"Jihahahaha!"
The next second, the prison gate collapsed with a loud bang. A figure shot out, soaring through the air and sweeping down the corridor at extreme speed toward the higher levels of Impel Down.
"How could I ever be someone willing to remain trapped?"
Blood dripped from where his legs had been severed. The golden-haired man, with long hair hanging to his waist, burst into wild laughter. His crimson eyes were filled with boundless killing intent.
"Kojin!"
"Just you wait!"
"When I get out... I'll settle everything with you!"
Maniacal laughter echoed from Impel Down's sixth level.
Soon, however, the figure had rushed up to the Fifth Level, and then the Fourth.
"G-Golden Lion Shiki!"
"Ahhh! Help!"
"Shiki has escaped!"
"How did he break out of the Sixth Level, Eternal Hell?"
"He cut off his own legs!"
..."
Terrified cries echoed throughout Impel Down. An invisible wave of fear spread everywhere.
Golden Lion Shiki:
One of the world's Three Legendary Pirates.
Two years ago, Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral Kojin had personally captured and imprisoned him.
No one expected a pirate already sent to the Sixth Level to escape. The conditions there were enough to break even the strongest will, forcing a person to watch helplessly as their life slowly drained away.
What kind of temperament and indomitable will would it take to escape such a place?
Since Impel Down was founded, this had been almost unprecedented. When the news first spread, many simply couldn't believe it.
However, in the blink of an eye, the jailers of the First Level saw a man in prison garb floating in midair and speeding toward them.
"It's him! It really is him!" A jailer screamed in terror.
Moments later, corpses were strewn across the corridor. Golden Lion Shiki sat on a beam above, looking down at the trembling Hannyabal. His lips stretched into a vicious grin.
"Jihahahaha! Do you know where my two swords are?"
"They're famous blades, you know."
"Kogarashi and Oto!"
Hannyabal trembled all over as he stared up at the figure. Blood still dripped from where Shiki's legs had been cut off.
"S-S-S..."
"I want to get promoted! No, that's not what I meant!"
"Shiki!"
The next second, Hannyabal let out a shrill scream.
Golden Lion Shiki gazed down at him with mocking amusement. After Hannyabal pointed in a direction, his eyes turned cold once more.
"Where is Kojin now?"
Hannyabal shuddered.
"V-Vice Admiral Kojin?"
"He's in West Blue!"
Shiki's pupils contracted, and then he burst into loud laughter.
He moved swiftly, darting away in an instant.
"Kojin... We'll meet again soon! This time, I won't lose to you again!"
With that, the savage laughter echoed in the air as Hannyabal watched helplessly as the terrifying Great Pirate vanished from sight.
—
Moments later, at Marine Headquarters in Marineford,
Sengoku, his neck and body wrapped in bandages, was half-reclining in a chair, resting. Suddenly, he sprang to his feet.
"What did you say?"
"Golden Lion escaped?"
"How is that possible?!"
Such news was nothing short of seismic for Marine Headquarters. In all its years, Impel Down had never experienced an incident like this.
"Yes, Golden Lion Shiki cut off his own feet, which were bound by Seastone shackles, and escaped. He also reclaimed his twin swords and declared that he would go after Vice Admiral Kojin." The Marine before him reported quickly.
"He's decisive to a terrifying degree..." Sengoku said in a deep voice.
Then he frowned.
"And Kojin..."
Just thinking about that brat made his wounds ache even more. The impact of that battle on the Marine Headquarters was immense.
Even now, after Golden Lion Shiki escaped, they were unable to send enough soldiers to pursue him. After a long silence, Sengoku let out a soft sigh; his expression was complicated.
"That boy...he must have already taken the entire West Blue by now."
The officer hesitated before replying quietly.
"The officers in the various island branches of West Blue are all from G-18 Fortress... they are all Vice Admiral Kojin's subordinates."
Sengoku fell silent again.
After a while, he slowly rose and walked to the office window, letting the sea breeze blow against his face.
"Are you trying to build a military force that embodies your own sense of justice?"
"Let's see just how far you can go."
With the World Government's decision finalized, Marine Headquarters adopted a deliberately ambiguous stance toward West Blue.
Completely severing ties and becoming enemies was inappropriate. However, continuing to maintain close relations and pour vast funds into it was equally impossible.
In short, Headquarters chose to treat Kojin's West Blue with cold indifference.
Perhaps, as time passed, the relationship between the two sides would improve. For now, however, it remained in a state of cold war.
"Each governing their own affairs"...those words perfectly described the relationship between Headquarters and West Blue.
In a sense, Kojin had become the largest warlord faction within the Marines.
"Kuzan and the others, how are those three brats doing?" Sengoku asked again.
"Vice Admirals Kuzan and Borsalino are recovering well. Sakazuki still can't move for the time being," The officer replied.
"Those three have great potential. After experiencing this setback, perhaps they will truly have a chance to battle Kojin in the future." Sengoku spoke softly.
Of course, this was contingent on the boy's strength not growing any further.
If he became stronger...
Then...
Ten or twenty years from now, who in the world could stop him?
If Kojin still clung to his beliefs and established his so-called Marine of Justice at that time, what kind of world would that create?
The more Sengoku thought about it, the more he found himself feeling a strange sense of anticipation and excitement.
"If it's that brat... Maybe he really can!"
...
Marine Hospital, Room 306.
A man wrapped head to toe in white bandages with both legs encased in plaster with only his eyes exposed clenched his teeth tightly.
"Kojin!!! And Bullet!"
"Just you wait! When we meet again, I'll be even stronger!"
His low roar echoed through the hospital corridor, sending a chilling aura throughout.
Outside, in the garden, two bandaged figures sat quietly on a bench.
"Hey, Borsalino," One of them suddenly spoke lazily.
"Hmm?" Borsalino turned to look at Kuzan.
"Do you think the Marines were right this time?"
"Was everything Kojin did truly justice?"
Kuzan asked, his voice betraying his confusion. He seemed to have an answer in his heart, yet it felt slightly off.
"Well, trying to find an answer to that kind of question is, in my view, a mistake in itself. But if we must discuss it, I'd say Kojin was right. Of course, that doesn't mean we can follow his example. After all, that guy's a monster," Borsalino said lazily.
Kuzan fell silent.
After a long while, he let out a sigh.
"If I could, I'd really like to be like him, doing what I believe is right without hesitation."
Borsalino chuckled softly.
...…
West Blue, Troia Island.
"Chi..."
In a dimly lit room, a flame flared up and lit a cigar. White smoke slowly drifted into the air.
"Ohara was destroyed. Yet Troia, this island known to the world as the Capital of Art, still prospers." A low voice echoed in the darkness.
"Boss Capone, are those rumors true?" A cautious voice asked from the front.
Even mentioning the rumors seemed to fill the speaker with fear.
"Whether the rumors are true or not... does it matter?"
"You only need to remember one thing: as long as that man remains in the sea, every underground force in West Blue survives by relying on him."
After a pause, Capone Bege glanced at the man and sneered.
"For two years, he's been stationed at G-18 Fortress without making a move. But that doesn't mean he'll never turn his attention to us. Especially with the recent news that his subordinate officers have taken complete control of West Blue."
At this point, Capone Bege's expression turned grave, and fine beads of sweat formed on his forehead.
"That undoubtedly means... that he's about to make a move on West Blue! And our spies inside the Marines have confirmed something. The Marine Headquarters has cut off resource supplies to the West Blue branches."
Capone Bege licked his lips, a flicker of fear flashing through his eyes.
"What that means is obvious."
The subordinate still looked confused.
"Boss, what does that mean?"
"Idiot! It means he's about to act! He's coming!" Capone Bege shouted.
"Then what should we do?" The subordinate asked in panic.
Since that man arrived in West Blue, the number of pirates setting sail has plummeted. Even the Five Great Mafia Families had become much more low-key.
Two years ago, it was said that Boss Capone had personally delivered a batch of gifts to him. The man accepted them but gave no response.
He didn't even grant an audience to Capone Bege.
Capone Bege took a deep drag of his cigar, his gaze flickering uncertainly.
'What should he do?'
'He didn't know.'
The man had personally captured Pirate King Roger and Golden Lion Shiki. Not long ago, he defeated two Admirals and crushed a Buster Call fleet from headquarters. To Capone Bege, such a man was like a god, resistance wasn't even a consideration.
"I heard he recently left G-18 Fortress. Could he be heading our way?" The subordinate added.
At those words, Capone Bege's body trembled. His right hand moved to the pistol at his waist. The next second, his hand snapped up, and he abruptly pulled the trigger.
"Bang!"
Blood splattered as the subordinate slowly collapsed, his eyes filled with confusion and disbelief.
"Jinx."
A cold voice echoed in the room.
(End of Chapter)
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