Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford, Plaza of Oris.
Under the gaze of the world, Fire Fist Ace, the 2nd Division Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates, walked with heavy steps, escorted onto the final execution platform.
One hundred thousand Marine soldiers stood in neat, solemn squares. Today, Marine Headquarters had been transformed into a dragon's den, a tiger's lair, waiting for the Whitebeard Pirates to plunge headlong into the trap.
Everything was proceeding according to the Marines' plan, orderly and methodical. All personnel were in their assigned positions.
Except for two.
Two absent Warlords of the Sea.
Tyrant Kuma and Blackbeard Teach.
Now, only four remained in the Warlords' stand: the World's Greatest Swordsman, Dracule Mihawk; the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock; Gecko Moria; and the Heavenly Yaksha, Donquixote Doflamingo.
But with events already in motion, Sengoku had no time to worry about the two missing Warlords. He would hold them accountable after the war.
"Everyone!" On the execution platform, Fleet Admiral Sengoku looked down upon the 100,000 elite Marines below, his expression grave.
"Before the execution begins, there is one more matter of the utmost importance I must tell you. It concerns the profound significance of publicly executing Ace today!"
Sengoku's powerful voice, amplified by Den Den Mushis, reverberated across the entire Plaza of Oris and echoed from the live broadcast screens on Sabaody Archipelago.
The 100,000 Marines and countless citizens waited with bated breath. While most were just there for the spectacle, a large portion had long sensed something amiss. Now, would it finally be revealed?
Under the weight of everyone's anticipation, Sengoku glanced sidelong at the despondent Ace beside him and declared loudly, "Ace! Tell them your father's name!"
Ace flinched. He looked at Sengoku, his voice hoarse. "My father is Whitebeard!"
"Wrong!" Sengoku refuted immediately.
"There's nothing wrong! My father is Whitebeard!!" Ace repeated with stubborn certainty.
Sengoku shook his head, his gaze shifting away from Ace.
"Back then, with the pitifully few clues we had, we expended vast amounts of manpower and time investigating your mother. We left no stone unturned, but in the end, we found nothing."
"Because all of it was bought with your mother's life! Your mother, Portgas D. Rouge, deceived us! She deceived the entire world!"
"She defied the natural order of this world, carrying you in her womb for a full twenty months! It was precisely because of this that you managed to survive."
"More than a year after that man's death, Portgas D. Rouge gave birth to the world's most wicked child. That child is you!"
"Ace! Don't you know whose blood flows in your veins?!"
At this point, Sengoku glared at Ace once more and roared:
"Your biological father is... the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger!!!"
As Sengoku's words fell, a profound silence enveloped the entire Plaza of Oris and Sabaody Archipelago.
After a brief, dead calm, an uproar erupted.
"What?! Ace is Roger's son?!"
"Bastard! The Pirate King's bloodline still exists in this world?!"
"Damn it! The world's most evil bloodline hasn't been eradicated?!"
"I knew there was something off about this! I never imagined the truth would be so shocking!"
"Thank goodness the Marines captured Ace! If he were allowed to grow up, he'd just become the next Roger!"
"HAHAHAHA! Well done, Marines! A vile person like Ace deserves to be executed!"
"Heh... How ironic. Roger was publicly executed over twenty years ago, and now it's his son's turn."
Marines and civilians alike were astounded,议论纷纷 (buzzing with discussion).
Sengoku raised a hand, waiting for the crowd to quiet down before continuing.
"It is precisely because of Fire Fist Ace's special identity that executing him here today holds immense significance for the Marines, and for the entire world!"
"Even if it means all-out war with the Whitebeard Pirates, it is a price we are willing to pay!!"
His impassioned speech resonated throughout Marine Headquarters.
"OHHHH!!!"
The Plaza of Oris erupted. The 100,000 Marines roared, their morale and fighting spirit soaring. Before this, they had thought it a routine execution. But now? Whoever came would die!
"HAHAHA! Roger's bloodline must not continue! Ace must die!" a Marine Vice Admiral bellowed, crossing his arms. Roger's final words had thrown the seas into chaos for decades. If Ace were allowed to grow up, the world would be turned upside down, and countless innocent people would suffer.
"HAHAHA! Well said! If Whitebeard dares to show his face today, I'll wring his neck myself!" The hardline Vice Admiral Doberman gripped the hilt of his sword, a murderous aura radiating from him.
"No need to worry. Whitebeard has grown old. I will seize the opportunity to find his weak point!" The giant Vice Admiral Lonz clenched his fists, his voice firm.
"Everyone, listen up! The moment the Whitebeard Pirates attack, fight with everything you've got! Show no mercy! Kill them all!!" Another hardline Vice Admiral raised his long sword, rallying the troops.
Tens of thousands of Marine soldiers responded with fervent cries:
"YES, SIR!"
"YES, SIR!"
Whipped into a frenzy by Sengoku and the hardline officers, the morale of the 100,000 elite Marines had reached its peak.
In the Admiral's Section.
Watching the scene below, Akainu nodded in satisfaction. This was the Marine force he envisioned. When dealing with pirates, there was no need for words. There was only one directive: Kill!
Kizaru maintained his usual lazy demeanor, though his eyes occasionally flickered elsewhere.
Aokiji, however, had a face like a thundercloud. Gone was his usual nonchalance. The killing intent emanating from him was, if anything, even thicker than Akainu's. He sat as if on pins and needles. From the moment he appeared, countless strange, "curious" glances had been directed at him—or more precisely, at his severed arm. The mere thought of what Leo had done to him made his blood boil. If Whitebeard dared to come today, he would be the first to charge!
The Second Level of the Execution Platform.
If anyone was angrier than Aokiji, it wasn't Akainu, but Garp. Three days prior, Sengoku and the three Admirals had joined forces to successfully subdue him. Afterwards, Sengoku had promised him that once the matter with Ace was concluded, they would immediately launch a thunderous operation against Leo. No matter the cost, Leo would be executed! This wasn't just his own wish, but the will of the Five Elders as well. Having received Sengoku's guarantee, Garp had finally calmed down.
But now, watching the battle-hungry Marines below, Garp's face was as black as coal. Luffy was just killed, and now he had to witness the death of his last grandson with his own eyes?!
"Leo... This is all because of you!!" Garp gritted his teeth, his killing intent leaking out uncontrollably.
"Garp, calm down! This is an execution site!" Vice Admiral Tsuru immediately grabbed his arm, whispering a sharp reprimand.
Hearing this, Garp took a deep breath and slowly reined in his aura.
The Warlords' Platform.
The four remaining Warlords each had their own thoughts.
Mihawk watched the scene calmly, his gaze deep and profound, unreadable.
"Fufufufufufu~ Fight! Start fighting already!" Donquixote Doflamingo, dressed in his flamingo coat, let out a strange laugh, delighting in the chaos.
Gecko Moria shot an almost imperceptible glance at Doflamingo, a cold smirk playing on his lips. Ever since Leo's warning, he had been on guard against Doflamingo. With his current strength, even if he wasn't Doflamingo's match, it wouldn't be easy for the other to kill him.
Boa Hancock rested her cheek on her hand, somewhat distracted, her thoughts already wandering far away. Leo should have reached Impel Down by now, right? I wonder how he's doing.
Just then, urgent alarm bells began to blare throughout Marine Headquarters.
"They're here!" Sengoku's eyes sharpened!
Through the thick fog, the silhouettes of massive pirate ships began to appear. The pirate fleet drew closer, the image becoming clearer. Squard, the "Great White Shark," "Ice Witch" Whitey Bay, "Thunder Lord" McGuy, Elmy, the Decalvan Brothers... One famous figure after another stood proudly on the prows of their ships. All 43 captains of the Whitebeard Pirates' allied fleets had answered Whitebeard's call to rescue Fire Fist Ace.
Their arrival put the entire bay on high alert. The 100,000 Marines tightened their grips on their weapons, highly vigilant!
Just as everyone's attention was captured by these notable figures, a sudden change occurred in the center of the bay! The previously calm sea surface began to ripple.
"Damn it! We were still careless!" Sengoku's face changed as he understood in an instant.
The Marine officers watched warily as a colossal shape began to surface, revealing just the tip of the iceberg.
The next second.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Led by the Whitebeard Pirates' flagship, the Moby Dick, four massive whale-shaped ships erupted from the sea one after another. With this, the full force of the Whitebeard Pirates had officially landed at Marine Headquarters!
It was a direct confrontation, a clash of titans. An intangible wave of fighting spirit shot into the sky, enveloping all of Marineford!
The great war between the two sides was about to begin!
Meanwhile, Impel Down.
"So this is Impel Down? It feels... creepy." Nami looked down at the entrance to the massive underwater prison, a disdainful pout on her lips.
"It's a prison. What did you expect, a resort?" Leo replied casually as he piloted the Maxim to a gentle descent.
"Who goes there?!" Leo made no attempt to conceal their approach, and they were quickly spotted by the guards outside the entrance. However, the moment the two guards saw the flying ship and recognized Leo at its prow, they immediately identified him.
"It's Leo! It's Leo! Sound the alarm—!"
Swish!!
Swish!!
Before they could finish, two sharp sword slashes flashed through the air, cutting across the guards' throats. With a thud, they collapsed.
"Tashigi, your swordsmanship has improved again," Robin said with a light laugh, watching as Tashigi smoothly sheathed her sword. Her movements were clean and efficient.
Tashigi gave a bright smile and nodded in acknowledgment.
"The real challenge is still inside," Leo said, storing the Maxim. He led Nami, Robin, Perona, Tashigi, Doll, Kalifa, and Margaret into the infamous prison.
The moment they stepped inside, they were spotted by the staff in the surveillance room, who immediately notified the Deputy Warden, Hannyabal.
"Leo? Holy shit!! Why is Leo here?!" Hearing the name, Hannyabal felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. This was the ruthless bastard who even dared to kidnap a Celestial Dragon!
Not daring to delay, Hannyabal immediately gathered nearly a thousand guards and hundreds of wild beasts. After making a frantic call to Magellan, who was currently in the restroom, Hannyabal hurriedly led his forces towards Level 1: Crimson Hell.
Leo expanded his Observation Haki and quickly located Sadi and Domino's positions. Two caged birds.
The group walked on calmly. The hellish atmosphere surrounding them didn't frighten Nami and the others in the slightest. With their current strength, the only ones who could pose a threat to them were the inmates of Levels 5 and 6.
"Hey, kid! Who are you?!"
"HAHAHAHA! So many beauties!!"
"I've been locked up here for so many years, I haven't seen such fine women in ages!"
"Kid, you're a lucky man!"
As they walked, the prisoners lining the path stared with greedy eyes, gripping the bars of their cells and practically drooling as they watched Nami and the others. Life in Impel Down was almost like that of an ascetic monk.
Hmm? Leo's steps halted. He cast a cold, sidelong glance their way.
Meeting his gaze was like being plunged into an icy abyss. The prisoners instantly sobered up.
A powerful one!
That was the first thought that sprang into their minds. All the prisoners quickly fell silent, shrinking back into the corners of their cells in fear. This was not someone to provoke!
"Die."
In that instant, lightning ran rampant, striking with precise accuracy.
"AGH!!"
"ARGH!!"
For a moment, the screams of agony rose and fell, echoing throughout Crimson Hell. Over 99% of the prisoners died instantly. Less than 1% remained, trembling in fear, curled up in their cells.
The reason Leo spared them was simple: they were wearing Seastone shackles. That meant they were Devil Fruit users.
There was one thing, however, that puzzled him. It made sense for the Marines to keep Devil Fruit users alive, as the fruit would just reincarnate elsewhere upon the user's death. Keeping them imprisoned prevented unscrupulous individuals from obtaining these powerful fruits and causing more chaos. That was understandable.
But what about the other prisoners?! Those thrown into Impel Down were basically the most vicious and heinous criminals, guilty of countless atrocities. Why keep them alive?!
If he couldn't figure it out, he wouldn't bother. Aside from the Devil Fruit users, he killed them all. Leo wasn't going to make the same mistake as Luffy in the original story, allowing them to escape and wreak havoc upon the seas later.
Since most of the inmates on Crimson Hell were small fries, there weren't many Devil Fruit users. After the lightning strikes, only a scattered few remained alive.
Among them was...
The red-nosed clown, Buggy.
Leo glanced at him briefly before looking away, uninterested. After reincarnating the Nika Fruit, he still had eleven blank fruits left. Rather than wasting one on the uncertain potential of the Chop-Chop Fruit, it was better to save them for known, powerful Devil Fruits.
"Let's go. To the next level." Leo led the women onward.
They had just reached the entrance to the next level when they encountered Hannyabal and his thousand-strong force of guards.
"Leo! What have you done?!" Hannyabal roared, taking in the sight of the dead prisoners strewn about.
"Isn't it obvious? I solved your prisoner problem. You should be thanking me," Leo said mockingly.
"You bastard! This is Impel Down! Don't get too cocky!"
"Everyone, attack! Capture them!"
Hannyabal waved his arm, and the guards and beasts roared in unison, charging at Leo's group.
"Make it quick. We're on a schedule," Leo said to the women, his tone casual.
Hearing this, cruel smiles bloomed on each of their faces simultaneously.
"Thunderbolt Tempo!"
"Mil Fleurs: Gigantesco Mano!"
"Soul Bass Boom!"
"Tempest Kick: Full Moon Slash!"
"Sword of Judgment!"
"Mini Hollow: Ghost Bomb!"
"Viper's Torrent!"
The seven women—Nami, Robin, Perona, Tashigi, Kalifa, Doll, and Margaret—sprang into action, cutting through the enemy ranks as if they were walking through an empty field. The guards and wild beasts of Impel Down were no match for them, falling to a single blow each. Under the wide-area Devil Fruit attacks of Nami and Perona, the enemy's numbers visibly dwindled. They fell in rows, like wheat before the scythe.
In less than a few minutes, every single guard and beast lay dead in pools of their own blood, a gruesome sight. The only one left standing was Hannyabal. A thick, pungent smell of blood rapidly filled the air.
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T/N :
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