"Me? I'm Galdino, of course."
Shirogai wore the face of the Galdino and smiled calmly as he spoke.
"Hmph, you can't fool me!"
Magellan inhaled sharply before continuing in a low, tense voice.
"The Wax Wax Fruit ability that Galdino possesses cannot produce the healing effect you just demonstrated!"
Shirogai merely chuckled, his expression relaxed and unbothered.
"Heh, Magellan. You know Impel Down better than anyone. You are a very capable Warden."
That praise did not soothe Magellan in the slightest. Instead, it sharpened his vigilance.
"God level technique… What exactly is this 'God's Hand'?" Magellan muttered grimly. "It is far too abnormal."
His gaze locked onto Shirogai, wary and tense.
He had never seen anyone neutralize poison so effortlessly.
In the past, enemies either isolated his venom or avoided direct contact altogether. None had dared to extract poison directly from a victim's body.
Yet this so called Galdino had done exactly that.
In mere moments, Fierce Lion Dunn's corroded arm returned to its original state.
A chill crept into Magellan's heart.
"If my poison is useless against him, then how am I supposed to suppress someone like this?"
That fear was confirmed almost immediately.
"For atonement!"
"For atonement!"
The prisoners who had inhaled the poisonous gas expelled the toxins from their bodies and stood up once more, vitality returning to their faces.
Those who had collapsed earlier rose again, weapons in hand, eyes filled with hostility as they stared at Magellan.
"This is bad…"
Behind Magellan, five even thicker Poison Dragons emerged.
"My venom… it has completely lost its effect."
A bitter smile tugged at his lips.
For years, he had relied almost entirely on the Poison Poison Fruit. His Armament Haki had long gone unused.
The side effects of his fruit left him constantly ill, making prolonged physical training impossible.
But to think Magellan had no other means was a fatal misjudgment.
The venom coating his body rapidly darkened into a black red hue, releasing thick, corrosive fumes into the air.
"Poison Dragon, Corroding Soul!"
With a furious roar, the five dragons surged forward, their fangs bared as they charged the prisoners.
Magellan's killing intent surged.
"If poison won't weaken you, then I'll dissolve you into nothing. Let's see you restore someone whose bones are gone!"
The black red dragon swallowed the first group of prisoners whole.
Hissing sounds filled the air.
In seconds, more than ten prisoners dissolved into foul smoke, leaving behind nothing but corrosive residue.
"So strong…"
Even Fierce Lion Dunn's pupils contracted.
"That venom could corrode even a steel warship."
As the dragon lunged again, Dunn instinctively stepped back.
"My lord is behind me. I can't retreat."
He clenched his teeth.
"I'll fight!"
Dunn began to transform, his massive lion form emerging as he prepared to endure the corrosive venom head on.
"Heh, leave it to me."
A slender hand pressed against Dunn's shoulder, stopping him cold.
"Charging an enemy you cannot defeat is not bravery," Shirogai said lightly. "It is foolishness."
Dunn immediately stepped back, scratching his mane awkwardly.
"Heh heh. I was never a smart man."
Shirogai smiled faintly.
"This world has never lacked people who follow the wind."
Under Magellan's tense gaze, Shirogai stepped forward and calmly placed his hand against the lunging dragon's massive jaws.
Crack.
The dragon froze mid motion.
Ice blue frost spread instantly from its mouth, engulfing its entire body.
In seconds, the remaining four Poison Dragons followed, frozen solid in mid air.
Five ice dragons hovered silently, releasing chilling white mist.
Magellan severed his connection immediately, narrowly avoiding being frozen himself.
His breathing grew ragged as fear surfaced on his face.
"So it really is you…"
Purple red sweat beaded across his brow.
"You escaped Marine surveillance and came here anyway."
His voice trembled.
"You are Shirogai Yamikuro."
The Fifth Emperor.
A monster capable of wielding multiple Devil Fruit abilities, even Aokiji's Ice Ice Fruit.
No one else could inspire such dread.
Before Magellan could speak further, Shirogai raised a finger to his lips.
"Shhh."
He smiled gently.
"I am Galdino, Warden. Wouldn't you agree?"
Magellan stiffened.
He understood immediately.
Expose nothing.
"Poison Mist, Myriad Phenomena!"
A multicolored fog erupted, concealing Magellan's figure.
But his true body had already slipped into the passage, venom coating the walls as he sped toward the Warden's office.
"I must report this to Marineford immediately."
Shirogai Yamikuro appearing in Impel Down was no coincidence.
If something happened here, it could eclipse even the execution of Portgas D. Ace.
---
"What? Shirogai Yamikuro is in Impel Down?"
Sengoku's expression darkened as he listened through the Den Den Mushi.
"He claims to be Galdino?"
There was a brief silence.
"Then he is Galdino," Sengoku said firmly.
"But Fleet Admiral—"
"There are no exceptions. He is Galdino."
The Gates of Justice rumbled open in the distance as the warship carrying Ace passed through.
"We cannot afford to face two legends at once," Sengoku muttered.
"Remember this," he said coldly. "He must remain Galdino."
The call ended.
Magellan stared at the Den Den Mushi.
"So this is Marine justice…"
His expression hardened.
If Shirogai crossed his bottom line, he would fight to the death.
---
Chaos soon erupted again.
"Warden! Something terrible has happened!"
"Second Level, Beast Hell!"
"Straw Hat Luffy has infiltrated Impel Down!"
Magellan's fury exploded.
"That reckless pirate crew again!"
---
Meanwhile, Luffy and Buggy descended recklessly, prisoners cheering Buggy's name in madness.
"Captain Buggy! Captain Buggy!"
Buggy screamed in despair.
---
Below, Shirogai sat calmly on his carried platform.
"Someone else will clear the path."
The ceiling shattered.
A massive figure crashed down.
Dunn frowned.
"I'll investigate."
---
"Mr. 2 Bon Clay!"
"Straw Hat!"
Joyful reunion followed chaos.
But Bon Clay quickly warned them.
"I saw Mr. 3 defeat Magellan."
Something was wrong.
Then silence fell.
A massive golden lion stepped forward.
Atop its head sat a man in a prison uniform.
Galdino.