"Ah!? Victor, aren't you coming with us anymore?"
On the path paved with Masira's corpses, Luffy shouted, his expression disappointed. He really enjoyed fighting alongside Victor.
"We've caused such a big commotion that Impel Down must've already dispatched heavy forces to surround us. Splitting up will confuse them, and your chances of rescuing Fire Fist Ace will be higher!"
Victor said earnestly.
In truth, the system had just issued a notification: within a short period, only one choice could be triggered per person, and it required direct interaction with Victor.
But Victor had no fame in this vast sea. Compared to the Supernova Straw Hat Luffy, with his 300 million bounty, the difference was huge.
Who would the enemy focus on — an unknown small fry, or the world-shocking Luffy?
If Victor continued to stick with him, it would reduce the probability of the system triggering choices, meaning fewer rewards.
And though Victor's current strength wasn't weak, he was still far from powerful. The more rewards he obtained, the better!
"Ah! Why didn't I think of that? Then let's do it!"
Luffy stretched his arms in agreement, then dragged Buggy along, ready to set off.
"Hey, that… kid named Victor. Splitting up is fine, but shouldn't you return the treasure map to me, your great lord!?"
Buggy's tone was awkward. He had already witnessed Victor's frightening skill.
Victor didn't seem much older than Luffy, yet he had mastered the rarest Conqueror's Haki and the Navy Six Styles' Moonwalk.
He used Moonwalk so easily, he probably knew the other techniques as well.
At such a young age, with such strength and talent, even Red-Haired Shanks seemed slightly inferior in Buggy's eyes.
What made Buggy more unsettled was that someone like Victor was completely unknown in the seas.
"Buggy, beg me, and I'll give it to you."
Victor dangled the armband in front of Buggy's eyes.
"What? Me, your great lord, beg you!? I, Lord Buggy, am—! …Alright, I beg you, Victor, give me the treasure map!"
Buggy caved, his greed stronger than his pride.
Victor smirked, casually tossing the armband. Buggy snatched it up immediately, stashing it away.
Victor knew Buggy had schemed against him earlier, but he hadn't harbored true killing intent. If he had, Victor wouldn't have hesitated to eliminate him on the spot.
In this world where the strong ruled, having minimum awareness meant never showing mercy to threats.
After Buggy secured the map, the impatient Luffy dragged him deeper into Crimson Hell until they disappeared.
"Luffy, good luck! Just don't run into Magellan…"
Victor muttered. He remembered from the original events that Luffy had been crushed by Magellan and nearly died from poisoning.
Magellan, the strongest man in the prison, was terrifying — likely not much weaker than the Admirals.
"I should get moving too."
Victor's lips curled into a cold smile, excitement coursing through him. Impel Down was crawling with monsters, and he was looking forward to the rewards.
His first target was Fire Fist Ace on the sixth floor, Infinite Hell.
As the Pirate King's son and Whitebeard's adopted son, Ace was the undeniable fuse of the Marineford War. If the system triggered a choice around him, the reward would be massive.
But Ace was scheduled to be transferred to Marineford soon. Victor had to hurry.
"Warden Magellan, the intruders have been identified as the Supernova, Straw Hat Luffy, bounty 300 million; the pirate Clown Buggy, formerly imprisoned on the first floor; and an unknown man!
Also… Warden, you've been in the restroom too long. A huge mess has broken out, and Impel Down's reputation is at stake."
Vice-Warden Domino reported as Magellan emerged, looking grim.
"A strange man? He must be a pirate too. Whoever they are, they must be crushed!"
Magellan's fury burned hotter. As Domino said, the prison's honor was in tatters — and it was his responsibility.
"It's been confirmed the man has no bounty. We don't know his identity, but according to intelligence, he's mastered the Navy Six Styles and… Conqueror's Haki!"
Domino's tone was excited. Conqueror's Haki — a power only one in a million possessed!
"What!? Conqueror's Haki!?"
Magellan was shaken. He had a sinking feeling this "unknown man" could be a nightmare.
"Notify Hannyabal, Sadi-chan, and Saldeath. Encircle the three intruders completely. I'll personally head to Blazing Hell to resolve this.
Also, send this man's information to Marineford immediately, and accelerate Fire Fist Ace's transfer. He must leave Impel Down earlier than planned!"
Magellan ordered. His instincts screamed at him: Ace's safety was paramount.
The Marines had already summoned every force, even recalling the Seven Warlords, all for Ace's execution. He could not be lost here.
"Yes, Warden Magellan!"
Domino saluted, then hesitated. "Should we release Warden Shiryu?"
"Shiryu, huh? …Not yet. We'll wait until it's absolutely necessary."
Magellan's tone was grim. Shiryu of the Rain, former Warden of Impel Down, was a monstrous swordsman. But his twisted, bloodthirsty nature had led to him indiscriminately butchering prisoners.
For his crimes, he was defeated and imprisoned on the sixth floor, Infinite Hell, awaiting judgment.
While Impel Down mobilized its forces, Victor had already reached the fifth floor — Freezing Hell.
"System, are you bugged or what? Can you trigger a choice now?"
So far, he'd barely needed to use Soru and Moonwalk. Jailers who stood in his way were instantly dealt with using Finger Pistol and Rankyaku. Yet still, no choices had triggered.
"Hey, you! Don't run! Let me savor your screams properly!"
At that moment, Sadi, Chief Guard of Impel Down, arrived with four fearsome Jailer Beasts.
"Ding! Choice triggered!"
Choice One: Defeat Sadi, Chief Guard of Impel Down, within one minute.
Reward: One Power Pill.
Choice Two: Defeat Sadi, Chief Guard of Impel Down, within one minute and hang her up.
Reward: The famous sword, Nidai Kitetsu.
Victor grinned. Finally.
The rewards weren't huge — but better than nothing.