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"Clang, clang…"
The sounds of seastone shackles clashing echoed as Shiki the Golden Lion and Donquixote Doflamingo, clad in prisoner garb, were escorted onto the warship by Marine soldiers.
"Don't push your luck, loser! Isn't it embarrassing to be defeated by a rookie Vice Admiral?" Doflamingo taunted Shiki the moment they appeared.
"Aren't you a loser too, Kid? Even Kaido and Big Mom were once apprentices! How dare you ridicule me? Why don't you try escaping this prison?" Shiki retorted.
Ian was unsure how their argument had started. Powerful individuals valued their reputations, with the exception of figures like Roger, Whitebeard, and Shanks, who prioritized family and freedom above all else. Marines, driven by justice, were no different.
They were willing to sacrifice everything, even their lives, for their beliefs.
A life without purpose held little meaning for them.
"Shut up, old man. It's just prison break. I'll show you how it's done. Too bad you don't have anything left to escape with, do you? Hands or head, it makes no difference. Without your life, you don't even need to bother escaping." Doflamingo sneered.
Shiki was taken aback. He truly had nothing left to aid in an escape. Their exchange caught Hannyabal's attention, prompting him to glance at Magellan.
"Warden, should I remove his legs? We can't risk another escape."
"..." Doflamingo instantly regretted his words, while Shiki burst into laughter.
"Serves you right, Kid! Now you're just like me!" He then turned to Magellan, whose imposing, demonic figure loomed over them. "Well, well, if it isn't Magellan. Long time no see. I haven't forgotten your… hospitality."
"Of course not. It's my duty, after all. And you can expect the same level of care this time around, considering your… history." Magellan replied dryly.
"I think I'll pass." This time, it was Shiki's turn to feel embarrassed, while Doflamingo reveled in his discomfort.
Magellan then addressed them both. "Shiki, welcome back. And you too, Doflamingo. Welcome to Impel Down."
"What kind of welcome is this?!" They grumbled. While the Warlords had the privilege of visiting Impel Down, they were currently prisoners.
They were likely to spend the rest of their lives within its walls. Doflamingo, however, showed no signs of fear. He glared at Ian, his expression twisting into a menacing grin.
"Black Winged Devil, you'll regret capturing me. No, you won't. Because I'll kill you when I get out. You and everyone you care about."
Ian remained unfazed, his cold, demonic face hardening slightly. "Are you referring to your Celestial Dragon heritage, or the secrets you know about those old geezers in Mariejois? You used those secrets to blackmail your way into the Warlords. You should know they're just as eager to get rid of you."
"Attacking Marines and Celestial Dragons was just an excuse. They don't even want to keep you around as a pawn."
Ian's words, devoid of emotion, struck a chord with Doflamingo. Coupled with his demonic appearance, they exerted an immense pressure on the former Warlord. Doflamingo was stunned. Ian's insight was unnervingly accurate.
It was as if nothing could be hidden from him. Aside from Tsuru, he was likely the only one who could outmaneuver Doflamingo in a battle of words.
"As for your executives, they're probably on their way here as well. Though, I doubt they truly matter to you. You put on a facade of caring about your family, but you don't value them as much as you claim. They're simply less likely to betray you than your subordinates."
"But in the end, it will be your family who strikes the final blow. They only follow you because their lives aren't in danger and the benefits are substantial. You should learn from Mihawk. Keep those you can control close, not those who might surpass you."
After all, Doflamingo had shown no mercy to his own subordinates in the original story.
"Or perhaps you're waiting for Kaido to rescue you… Did you think I didn't plan for that? Moria had no backing. Crocodile I killed directly. I had no quarrel with Mihawk, and I honestly wasn't strong enough to defeat him at the time."
"So, I ask you, how strong am I now?" He whispered the last two sentences into Doflamingo's ear, his voice so low that even the escorting Marines couldn't hear. Doflamingo's eyes narrowed.
How much did this man know? In the original story, when Doflamingo was captured, Kaido was preoccupied with Shanks, Kid, and the others. He had sent Jack, but the Drought, under the watchful eyes of Sengoku, Fujitora, and Tsuru, had been defeated and sunk to the bottom of the sea.
Then, Luffy and his crew had immediately targeted Doflamingo, fulfilling the twenty-year prophecy of Kozuki Toki. Kaido had no time to personally rescue his subordinate.
"And you, Shiki, anything you'd like to say?" Ian shifted his gaze to the Golden Lion, who remained silent, fearing another devastating attack like the "Kirin," a lightning-based technique that perfectly countered his lion-lion fruit powers.
...
Hannyabal, Sadi-chan, and the other guards escorted Shiki and Doflamingo through a separate passage towards Level 6, the Eternal Hell.
Their notoriety and power warranted this placement.
Sadi-chan, her voice laced with a mixture of reluctance and excitement, called out, "Ian-sama, I'll see you later…"
"..." Ian inwardly cringed. While he appreciated beauty, Sadi-chan's… unique… preferences for bondage and whips were not to his taste.
They hadn't expected Ian's verbal prowess to be so potent, his words striking at the core of their insecurities and fears.
Escorting prisoners of this caliber was not a task for ordinary guards. While escape from Impel Down was practically impossible, Shiki's previous escape had served as a stark reminder of the risks, even with increased security measures.
A single mistake could result in countless lives lost, shattering the Marines' image of justice.
"Impressive… Your interrogation skills are exceptional. You must join my team! I'll put you in charge of the interrogation department. Imagine the secrets we could extract from those pirates!"
Ian politely declined, claiming that he had simply drawn upon his own experiences. He then requested a tour of Impel Down.
While his memories contained numerous images of the prison, nothing compared to experiencing it firsthand.
This was his first time within its walls. His initial impression of Impel Down was its sheer size. It wasn't just a prison; it was an underwater fortress, an island of steel and stone.
"Vice Admiral Ian, below us is Level 1, the Crimson Hell." Domino, the Chief Guard, guided him, her long, golden hair cascading down her back, sunglasses perched on her nose, her figure accentuated by her Marine uniform.
Domino's gaze held a mixture of awe and something… more. Ian's strength, charisma, and eloquence were captivating.
He was the embodiment of a perfect man.
"Quite brutal."
Ian and Tashigi followed Domino and Magellan to a raised platform overlooking the first level.
A crimson landscape stretched before them, a forest of bladed trees and needle-sharp grass.
Countless prisoners screamed in agony, their bodies pierced and bleeding. Domino chuckled softly. "This is only the first level. If you find this brutal, then the lower levels are truly hellish. But you're a Devil, are you not? Surely this doesn't faze you."
Ian's thoughts drifted, his mind wandering from the concept of hell to souls, the afterlife, and his own identity.
Domino and Magellan's voices brought him back to the present. Tashigi had remained silent throughout their descent, her usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a quiet solemnity. Ian assumed she was simply overwhelmed by the gruesome scene before them.
"Let's move on." Ian nodded to Domino and descended to Level 2, the Beasts Hell. This level housed a menagerie of ferocious creatures, some so powerful that even armed humans stood little chance against them.
Ian had been discreetly absorbing the lingering souls with his Soul Absorption ability. With each increase in his fusion rate, he could feel his power growing, now at 55%.
"Just as many souls here as outside." Ian murmured, his eyes flickering open. His Observation Haki and Soul Absorption could now cover half an island, though his spiritual pressure and Conqueror's Haki had a more limited range.
After all, the latter were offensive abilities. Still, their range extended for several kilometers. However, each level of Impel Down was larger than the last, requiring him to proceed more slowly.
His power had reached the level of a high-tier Adjuchas, comparable to a powerful captain or mid-tier Espada, equivalent to a Marine Admiral.
He was evolving, ascending to greater heights. A spark of excitement flickered in his eyes. The power scaling in Bleach far surpassed that of One Piece. A direct comparison was impossible unless the world itself was more durable.
From Gillian to Adjuchas to Vasto Lorde, his power would continue to grow. Perhaps one day, his spiritual pressure would surpass even the True Ulquiorra, reaching the legendary 3rd Resurrección.
A power possibly rivaling that of Aizen and Yamamoto. The thought sent a thrill through him. He continued his descent, driven by his insatiable hunger for power.
Souls continued to flow into him, but the rate of increase had slowed considerably, like a tortoise crawling through mud. The number of souls that had once granted a 10% increase now barely yielded 1-2%.
This was to be expected. Like any leveling system, the experience required for each level grew exponentially.
But Ian wasn't concerned.
His Soul Absorption's range was still limited, unable to cover even a single level of Impel Down, let alone the four levels below.
In other words, countless souls remained unclaimed within the prison's depths, a vast treasure trove waiting to be harnessed and converted into his power. As he descended, the influx of souls increased.
"Vice Admiral Ian, please be careful. While these beasts are trained not to attack the guards, they can become unpredictable if provoked." Despite knowing Ian's strength, Domino couldn't help but offer a word of caution.
"I understand." Ian glanced at Domino and nodded, noticing a subtle shift in her demeanor. A faint smile played on his lips. Ulquiorra's charisma, it seemed, transcended worlds. Strength always commanded respect.
The Beasts Hell on Level 2 resonated with roars and growls, a cacophony of bestial fury that sent shivers down the spines of even the most hardened criminals. Many of the prisoners held here had lost even the will to fear, their days spent in the company of ferocious beasts, their lives hanging by a thread. As Ian and the others passed by, most of the prisoners simply hung their heads.
Their eyes reflected despair and resignation.
"Chief Guard Domino, Warden Magellan… and two Marines… I don't recognize them. Judging by their uniforms..... must be Vice Admiral. But… he's so young. And that girl… she's not bad either."
Some of the pirates noticed Ian's appearance, their eyes widening in surprise. A Marine Vice Admiral so young? It was unheard of.
"To reach the rank of Vice Admiral at a young age, he must have powerful connections. His strength is probably nothing special… If I had encountered him instead, I wouldn't be stuck here."
A pirate leaned against the bars of his cell, chuckling bitterly. His words resonated with the other prisoners, their faces etched with resentment. None of them wanted to be imprisoned in Impel Down, their freedom snatched away, their days filled with suffering.
"A dog? I haven't had meat in ages. I'm tired of those damn Jailer Beasts, and I've had my fill of my cellmates' corpses. Come here, mutt, let me have a taste. Even raw, you'll be a welcome change."
"..."
One particularly desperate pirate eyed Ian's dog. Suddenly, the seemingly harmless canine transformed, its body swelling to monstrous proportions, its eyes glowing with power. The pirate recoiled in terror. Another Devil Fruit user? But why give a powerful ability to a dog? What a waste! Perhaps it had eaten the fruit by accident?
No one would be foolish enough to willingly give a Devil Fruit to a dog. It could be sold for billions, a fortune even the wealthiest pirates wouldn't scoff at. Only the Emperors, perhaps, would be so careless, using valuable items as prizes for their subordinates.
Unwittingly, Ian had been insulted. He continued his tour with Domino, his expression unreadable, showing no pity for the imprisoned pirates. They were murderers, rapists, and pillagers, the worst of the worst. In the vast world of One Piece, pirates like Luffy and Roger, driven by dreams and a sense of adventure, were rare exceptions.
Roar!! Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed through the prison. A pack of blood-soaked beasts charged towards them, their eyes bloodshot, their bodies radiating a savage fury.
"Damn it! What's going on?" Domino's eyes widened in alarm. Magellan summoned his venomous Hydra, droplets of poison sizzling and smoking as they hit the ground.
He was prepared to subdue the beasts with brute force before administering the antidote.
But the beasts weren't deterred. The prisoners, however, scrambled back, their memories of Magellan's "hospitality" still fresh in their minds.
"Damn you, Magellan! Take your fight somewhere else! Don't drag us into this! We'll die!"
Beasts were beasts, even those trained and domesticated by humans. Their primal instincts remained, and many of the creatures in Impel Down had tasted the flesh of imprisoned pirates.
"Hahaha! It's the Blugoris! They must have just eaten someone! Rip those Marines and guards to shreds!"
Some of the pirates cheered, their faces alight with malicious glee as they watched the guards flee from the enraged beasts. It was a rare spectacle, a welcome distraction from the monotony of their imprisonment.
Every incident brought them a fleeting moment of satisfaction. It was perhaps the only form of entertainment they had left.
Roar!! The roars of the beasts mingled with the jeers and taunts of the prisoners.
As the pack of bull-like creatures charged towards them, their eyes bloodshot and their bodies radiating a savage hunger, Ian stood his ground, his gaze calm and unwavering. A powerful aura emanated from him, enveloping the entire level.
An Enormous pressure descended upon the prison, silencing the cacophony of noise. Some of the weaker-willed prisoners fainted outright. The charging beasts skidded to a halt, their momentum abruptly broken. The pirates who witnessed this scene stared in disbelief.
The bloodlust vanished from the beasts' eyes, replaced by pure terror. They trembled before Ian, as if facing a primordial force of nature, their instincts screaming at them to flee.
After a few hesitant steps back, the beasts turned tail and ran, their tails tucked between their legs, their fear so overwhelming that they didn't even look back.
"What happened? What did that Vice Admiral do? He scared the Blugoris witless!"
The pirates stared at Ian in astonishment. He had done nothing but stand there, yet his presence alone had been enough to quell the beasts' fury and send them fleeing in terror. Even from a distance, they could sense the sheer power emanating from him.
The pirates who had previously dismissed Ian as a weakling, a product of nepotism, gulped nervously, their eyes meeting in silent acknowledgment of his true strength. He was no ordinary Vice Admiral. His power was monstrous, almost unfathomable. Confined within the isolated walls of Impel Down, they had been unaware of the rumors circulating outside.
They hadn't heard of the "Black Winged Devil" the man who had defeated Gecko Moria in his first battle, slain Crocodile, and fought Mihawk to a standstill.
Some, however, recognized him, their faces paling as they scrambled back.
"It's… Conqueror's Haki! How can a Marine possess It?"
Their eyes widened in disbelief. The Marines' strict discipline might forge powerful warriors, but they were driven by justice, not ambition. Conqueror's Haki, the power of a king, was unheard of among their ranks. Perhaps Garp, the man who had chased after Roger, possessed it.
Voices filled with surprise and disbelief echoed from the depths of the Beasts Hell. Those who hadn't witnessed the scene firsthand couldn't comprehend it. They too believed that Conqueror's Haki was exclusive to pirates, a manifestation of their ambition and desire for power.
"Of course he has Conqueror's Haki. He's the Black Winged Devil, the man who defeated Gecko Moria, killed Crocodile, and fought Mihawk to a draw. His name is known throughout the Grand Line."
"..."
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