"Red-Haired Shanks, captain of the Red Hair Pirates, former apprentice of the Roger Pirates."
"By the highest order of the World Government, you are to be escorted to Marineford immediately. This is your final journey."
Magellan's voice was low and authoritative, paired with his legendary demon-like physique, creating an overwhelming presence.
Those familiar with him knew that this seemingly terrifying man actually suffered from autism.
He could only work for four hours a day; the rest of the time was spent sleeping, eating, or staying in the bathroom for at least ten hours.
This made him dislike bright, open spaces, preferring dark, enclosed ones.
...
This time, his superiors had ordered him to personally escort Shanks to Marineford, and he felt somewhat uneasy inside.
It had been too long since he had seen sunlight... He would set off early and try to deliver him before the sun rose.
...
The locations of Marine Headquarters, Impel Down, and Enies Lobby formed the three vertices of an undersea vortex.
Traveling normally by sea would take weeks or even longer, but by utilizing special currents, a one-way trip could be completed in just a few hours.
This positioning was chosen so that if one location were attacked, forces from the other two could quickly provide support, achieving a "trinity" defense.
...
...
Shanks did not respond, calmly watching as the trembling hands of the prison guards unlocked the intricate series of prison doors.
Once all the doors were opened, Magellan stepped forward personally to take hold of the chains.
Just as his hand was about to touch the chain's clasp—
Crack!
A snapping sound echoed as broken chains flew in all directions!
Shanks's figure shot forward like a bullet, a black-red electric flash bursting from his fingertips, shooting toward an unknown destination.
However... his figure came to an abrupt halt just before the prison door.
Above the door was a deep purple Poison Net, dripping venom that emitted a strong odor.
"Paramecia-type—Poison-Poison Fruit—Poison Net!"
...
Magellan turned slowly. "I told you, since I became the warden, no one has ever escaped from Impel Down."
"Red-Haired Shanks..."
"You wouldn't like dying from poison. It's excruciating."
...
Shanks turned back with a faint smile. "I can't handle your poison, but there is someone who can."
"Bullet!!"
What!
Upon hearing this name, Magellan's pupils contracted sharply, his expression changing drastically.
...
"Don't use that tone as if you're calling a subordinate, you brat!"
Boom!!
A nearby cell exploded violently, and a figure like a steel giant crashed through the dust.
How... how is this possible?!
Did Shanks use some method just now to break Bullet's Sea Stone chains?!
Magellan had no time to think further, raising his hand toward Bullet.
"Poison Dragon!!"
A massive purple Poison Dragon instantly took shape, roaring as it lunged at Bullet.
...
Bullet's muscles bulged all over his body, a wild and excited smile on his face.
During his years in prison, he had endured the weakness induced by Sea Stone while undergoing intense training every day, far from being as frail and powerless as the other prisoners.
The moment he regained his Devil Fruit ability, he was certain he was stronger than ever before!
Crackle—
Debris scattered on the ground rapidly adhered to Bullet, forming a thick layer of black armor.
Paramecia-type - Merge Fruit.
The ability to arrange and combine all inorganic matter, merging them together.
As a child, Bullet used this ability on the battlefield, creating endless weapons from rubble and iron.
...
Boom!!
The Poison Dragon crashed into him, the violent impact shaking the prison intensely.
Crack—
A corner of the thick black armor shattered, revealing half of Bullet's face.
"Hehehe… poison is ineffective against inorganic matter, Magellan…"
Magellan took a deep breath, poison surging around him as more Poison Dragons began to coalesce.
"Bullet… none of you will leave today. You'll be executed right here!"
Whoosh—
A Poison Dragon lunged toward Shanks. With nowhere to escape in such a narrow space, he let out a low shout and unleashed a Conqueror's Haki Shockwave against the Poison Dragon.
It temporarily prevented the Poison Dragon from approaching, but the poisonous gas permeating the air had already seeped into his nostrils.
"Bullet!!"
...
"Shut up… stop shouting my name so carelessly!"
The stone slabs in the prison passageway lifted, merging into a massive fist that shattered the Poison Net on the prison door.
Seizing the opportunity, Shanks dashed out of the cell.
"Don't even think about escaping!!"
A Poison Dragon roared as it charged toward Shanks.
Bullet's figure instantly appeared, standing between the two.
Facing the oncoming Poison Dragon without dodging, he covered his rubble-combined gauntlet with Armament Haki and fiercely punched out!!
Boom boom————!!
Poison splattered everywhere, the shockwave causing the sturdy stone floor to crack.
...
"Thanks."
Before Shanks could finish speaking, his figure turned into a blur as he sped away.
Bullet stood blocking the center of the passage, laughing maniacally at Magellan's livid face: "Hahahahaha!!!! Warden, warm me up a bit, will you? I've been locked up for so long, my bones are practically rusting!!"
...
"If they're rusting… let them melt."
Different from the purple poison earlier, a blood-red poison surged from Magellan's body, forming a skeletal giant.
"Poison Giant: Hell's Judgment!"
A few drops of the crimson poison flowed into the cells, immediately eliciting agonized, heart-wrenching screams.
Soon, about two seconds later, the screams stopped.
Not because the pain ceased—they were dead.
...
Those imprisoned here were the most vicious and ruthless of the great Pirates. For them to die so quickly…
Bullet raised his head, grinning widely: "Awakening, huh… This is the first time I've seen you use this. As my first opponent after getting out, you've passed the test, Magellan."
"I don't have time for your games…"
Magellan waved his hand, and the crimson skeletal giant behind him raised its arm simultaneously, unleashing a torrent of poison.
Crrrrack—
More and more rubble and iron converged toward Bullet, layering into armor.
The destructive battle between two monsters had begun.
——
——
Even from a great distance, Shanks could sense the rumbling and massive energy fluctuations coming from behind.
Hope Bullet's alright…
Shanks was sprinting toward the exit of the sixth level when suddenly, the wall beside him twisted, and two figures crashed through it.
Thud— thud—
"Couldn't you pick a better spot? We always end up crashing to the ground!!"
A cool, clear woman's voice rang out.
"Heeheehee, the sweetheart who built this paradise didn't leave a map, so cut me some slack, Beckman dear~"
Beckman!?
...
Shanks hadn't intended to get involved, but hearing that name, he stopped and looked back.
His gaze met the two who had just risen.
One was the Queen of Okama from the Revolutionary Army, whom Shanks had seen on bounty posters. The other...
Silver-gray hair slicked back, a cross-shaped scar on the forehead, wheat-colored skin.
A tall, captivating, stunningly beautiful woman.
...
"Beck... Beckman?"
Shanks stared into those familiar eyes and quickly recognized the soul's essence, but...
Beckman, a woman?!
...
"Shanks!!"
Beckman (gender-swapped) exclaimed: "Did you escape by yourself?!"
Then what was the sacrifice I... I made?!
...
"Let's talk while running, we need to rescue the others!!"
Ivankov led them through the space between Level 6 and Level 5.
A century ago, a giant imprisoned here had used the Push-Push Fruit's ability to create an ant-nest-like prisoner paradise between the two levels.
Now, Ivankov had transformed it into 'Newkama Land,' recruiting prisoners willing to join the Revolutionary Army.
...
"Really..."
After learning what had happened, Shanks didn't know what to say, forcing a smile and nodding to Ivankov: "Anyway... thank you, Ivankov."
Ivankov blinked: "Would Shanks dear like to try? You'll love this feeling!"
"No, no, no, no!!" Shanks waved his hands frantically.
...
"I found this, but Yasopp and the others aren't in Impel Down." Beckman tossed over a sword.
Though her gender had changed, her personality showed no obvious shift—still calm and intelligent.
Snap—
Shanks caught his beloved sword Gryphon as Beckman continued.
Beckman, cigarette in mouth, looked grim: "Besides us, everyone else is imprisoned at Marine Headquarters, execution today!"
Shanks' pupils contracted, but his smile returned within a second.
"Is that so... Seems we still have to go to Marineford."
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