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...
Magellan's face was a mask of fury.
They had been unable to hold Dragon... and Kizaru, passing right by him, had offered no assistance whatsoever.
Impel Down had suffered catastrophic losses. Not only had a large number of prisoners escaped, To top it all off, he hadn't been able to stall Kaido long enough for an Admiral to arrive. Kaido had simply left as he pleased. Each of these failures fueled Magellan's rage. The escape of Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army, was frustrating enough.
As Warden of Impel Down, Magellan was bound to the World Government. Even so, he held a deep-seated loathing for the Celestial Dragons. He knew countless prisoners became unwilling participants in their twisted experiments.
However, they were criminals, so he had ignored it.
Kizaru's ambiguous "justice," swaying with the wind like a reed, was even more infuriating. He'd rather deal with Aokiji's lazy justice any day.
At least Aokiji was also passive about those World Government scumbags and had a firmer grasp on what mattered. Kizaru and Dragon were former comrades; it wasn't out of the domain of possibility that he let Dragon go on purpose. But Kaido... there was no excuse for letting him escape.
"There, there, Magellan. The priority now is to report the situation."
Kizaru's words interrupted Magellan's furious thoughts. He wanted a detailed report, and Magellan knew what he had to do.
So, Magellan recounted the events, meticulously detailing the entire battle, even including Ian's actions within Impel Down.
"How frightening. To single-handedly compromise Level Four... Such rapid growth is astonishing. It's fortunate they didn't all escape."
As Magellan spoke, Kizaru's usual languid expression vanished, replaced by a look of grave concern. Magellan's report gave him a much clearer understanding of Ian's power, and it was unsettling. He had initially considered Ian a promising young Marine, worthy of note but not a serious threat.
Now, however, Kizaru realized the severity of the situation. This wasn't just a powerful Marine; he was a righteous fanatic, a force of nature unbound by convention. He had indiscriminately slaughtered pirates on multiple levels. A figure suddenly came to Kizaru's mind: Douglas Bullet, the descendant of the Devil.
After Gol D. Roger's execution, Bullet had gone on a rampage, plunging the world into chaos. It had taken a significant mobilization of Marine forces to subdue and imprison him in Impel Down's Level Six, the Eternal Hell. His strength was legendary.
And true to form, in the original storyline, amidst the chaos caused by Blackbeard, Bullet had escaped, becoming known as the "Worst Escapee in History" by Marine Headquarters. This highlighted the severity of the threat Bullet posed, a force capable of challenging Marine Headquarters alone.
His power was on par with Shiki, the Golden Lion, who had also challenged Marine Headquarters and was the first to break out of Impel Down. If Bullet had remained free, he would have become another Emperor without a doubt. But now, Bullet, along with other legendary pirates like Redfield, the Red Count, were dead by Ian's hand.
This meant that Ian's power and ruthlessness surpassed even these legendary figures..
Kizaru had a premonition. This young man was a future Emperor in the making. Those corrupt Celestial Dragons would never tolerate someone they couldn't control. They would undoubtedly try to eliminate him.
This wouldn't be the first time they'd resorted to such measures. Even Z, a decorated veteran who had trained generations of Marines, including the current Admirals, had been slandered and ultimately eliminated.
Unless Ian's power stagnated or he became a figure beyond even the Five Elders' influence, a veritable god, he was doomed.
"Magellan, the situation is precarious. You have an important duty. You are the cornerstone of Impel Down, and its reconstruction relies on you. As for the prisoners… Marine Headquarters and the World Government will handle it."
With a few words of encouragement, a hint of worry in his voice, Kizaru transformed into a flash of light and vanished towards Marine Headquarters. He didn't have time to waste.
He sensed a storm approaching, a massive upheaval in the world order, and the Marines needed to be ready.
Magellan, further incensed by Kizaru's sudden urgency after the fact, could only sigh and begin organizing the remaining guards. They began escorting the captured remnants of the Donquixote Family, brought by Kizaru, to their designated cells.
This battle, a shameful blemish on the Marines and the World Government, would never be officially documented. The invasion of Impel Down was a humiliation they were eager to bury.
But for the Impel Down guards, including Deputy Warden Domino, the memory of Ian single-handedly suppressing the riot on Level Four and systematically eliminating countless prisoners would forever be etched in their minds. Even the legendary pirates locked away in Level Six, the Eternal Hell, had been slain by his hand.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku had dispatched Kizaru to summon all Vice Admirals and above to Headquarters. He himself returned to his office and picked up a secure Den Den Mushi.
This one connected directly to the Five Elders. The Impel Down incident was too significant for him to handle alone. He had to report to the highest echelons of the World Government.
Brrrring… Brrrring… The Den Den Mushi was answered. "This is Fleet Admiral Sengoku reporting. I have a serious matter to discuss."
"Sengoku, you're calling about Impel Down, aren't you?" One of the Five Elders, his voice raspy with age, responded.
Clearly, they were already aware of the incident. As the highest authorities in the World Government, they were always kept informed of critical situations.
"Yes. I need guidance on how to proceed. Should we launch an offensive against Kaido?" Sengoku inquired.
"Absolutely not, Sengoku. Impel Down is known as an impenetrable fortress, a symbol of the World Government's authority. News of this breach must be contained." Another Elder's voice, sharp and commanding, cut through.
Sengoku paused, then replied, "I'm afraid containment may be impossible. Many of the prisoners' Vivre Cards are in the possession of their crews and allies."
Most notorious pirates had loyal followers outside Impel Down holding their Vivre Cards. If a prisoner died, their crew would know instantly. For instance, Byrnndi World, the World Destroyer, imprisoned in Impel Down for thirty years in a state of suspended animation, had a Vivre Card held by his brother and subordinates.
If not for that, they wouldn't have waited thirty long years for him in the original story.
Only the slightest sliver of hope could sustain such unwavering loyalty.
This was a mass extermination of prisoners, impossible to conceal. News of the deaths of numerous infamous pirates was likely already spreading through the underworld. Attempting to cover it up would only compound the World Government's embarrassment. That's why Sengoku hesitated.
After Sengoku's explanation, the Five Elders fell silent. This Ian… he had created an enormous problem for the World Government.
Both Sengoku and the Five Elders were deeply troubled. After a protracted silence, one of the Elders finally spoke.
"Sengoku, for now, focus on mitigating the damage. It's fortunate those prisoners didn't escape. That would have been a true catastrophe."
A palpable wave of relief washed over Sengoku. The Five Elders were entrusting the matter to his judgment.
"In this instance, eliminating the threat was the correct course of action. They chose their fate."
"Marine Headquarters will not fail you." With that assurance, Sengoku ended the call and headed to the meeting room. Kizaru had already gathered the Vice Admirals and above. It was a small group, primarily Vice Admirals, including Chief of Staff Tsuru.
Akainu was stationed at a Marine base, Aokiji was at the science division, and Kizaru, after this errand, would return to his duties in the New World. Each Admiral had their assignments. Even so, several prominent Vice Admirals were present: Momousagi and Chaton, the two candidates for Admiral.
Garp, the Hero of the Marines, was also there, casually munching on senbei crackers.
"I've called you here today because of a serious incident. Impel Down suffered a major breach, far worse than the Golden Lion incident." Sengoku addressed the assembled officers, pointedly ignoring Garp's nonchalant attitude.
He recounted the Impel Down incident. The room was stunned into silence. The Vice Admirals stared at Sengoku in shock. Even Garp put down his senbei, his expression grim.
Gion, however, exhibited the most dramatic reaction. After all, she was the one who had brought Ian into the Marines.
"He's become… that powerful? Yonko, Warlords, legendary pirates… what's his next objective…?"
Her expression shifted from disbelief to worry, tinged with fear. She had always sensed something enigmatic about Ian, but his rapid ascent had far surpassed her expectations. From a near-death experience at the hands of pirates, to rescue and recruitment…
He had achieved this level of power in just over a year.
And with his continued growth, he would inevitably come to understand the true nature of this world, the darkness lurking beneath the veneer of justice, the corruption festering at the heart of the World Government.
It would shatter his worldview.
The Five Elders would never allow such an individual to live. Even as she marveled at his accomplishments, she couldn't help but fear for his future.
...
High above the Red Line, deep within the pristine halls of Pangaea Castle in Mary Geoise, three of the Five Elders sat in heavy silence. The air was thick with tension. A short while ago…
News had arrived of Kaido's assault on Impel Down, culminating in the near-total destruction of the underwater prison and the staggering losses sustained.
Upon hearing the news, the three Elders had been struck dumb, their faces a mixture of shock and rapidly escalating fury. By the time the gravity of the situation had sunk in, and they'd mobilized forces…
It was too late. Impel Down's destruction was a grim reality, beyond repair.
"Damnable! That infernal beast!" The Elder with the curly, aristocratic hair roared, smashing his hand down on the marble tabletop, splintering it into fragments. "Kaido… he abandons his own territory to run rampant in Impel Down…"
"Is this retaliation for Dressrosa? Even in death, that Doflamingo whelp continues to plague us!"
The bald Elder's eyes were wide with rage. Impel Down, the supposedly impenetrable fortress, had been virtually razed by Ian.
Unlike Marine Headquarters, which could be rebuilt anywhere, Impel Down held a unique strategic significance for the World Government. It wasn't simply a prison for the world's most dangerous criminals; it was a vital research facility, a source of test subjects for their inhumane experiments.
They hadn't foreseen Doflamingo, exploiting his former Celestial Dragon connections, securing such a powerful ally. Kaido's obsession with Zoan Devil Fruit users was no secret, and Caesar Clown, the scientist who had stolen Vegapunk's artificial Devil Fruit research, had aligned himself with them. A meeting of twisted minds, indeed.
The Devil Fruit Caesar had stolen was created using Kaido's own genetic material, the source of his Azure Dragon form.
"Still, this could prove advantageous. A large number of Devil Fruits are now in circulation. If we can recover them, we can Enhance new power within the World Government. We will maintain our dominance. We will be the first to acquire these assets."
"After all, these are the fruits that birthed legends. Perhaps constructing Impel Down was a mistake. Those pirates should never have been kept alive." The Elder with the white hair and beard, dressed in a dark blue suit, added.
"While there's a silver lining, our losses are catastrophic. Without Impel Down's… resources, numerous vital experiments are now on hold. The cloning program, in particular, requires extensive testing and stabilization. The current clones are but a shadow, a fraction of the originals' power."
The curly-haired, aristocratic Elder lamented, his voice heavy with frustration.
"We'll have to conserve our remaining samples. We can no longer afford such…expenditures. And we'll allocate increased funding to Vegapunk's Pacifista project. Each unit is a warship unto itself."
The Elder in the dark blue suit sighed, shaking his head.
"Those are secondary concerns. The primary issue is the boy, Ian. His rate of growth, his sheer power… Who's to say this wasn't orchestrated? He eliminated Gecko Moria and Crocodile without a second thought…"
"Yet he spared Donquixote Doflamingo and Shiki the Golden Lion, both connected to Kaido. And then he decimated Impel Down…"
"Could he… be some kind of Devil from hell, growing stronger by devouring souls?"
...
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