"Dammit!"
Sadie gritted her teeth and straightened up, then declared, "This time, I won't let you capture me again."
But Meiser ignored her, instead turning his attention to the Zebra Warden Beast.
Rubbing his chin, Meiser remarked, "These Jailer Beasts have pretty strong recovery abilities."
He had previously knocked this Zebra Warden Beast unconscious, yet here it was, alive and kicking, blocking their path again. It was truly absurd.
"I heard these guys are Failed Zoan Awakening Devil Fruit Users," Ivankov said. "Not sure if it's true or not."
"Failed Awakening?" Meiser asked curiously. "What's Awakening?"
This was the first time he had heard such a term. Could Devil Fruit abilities really awaken?
"When a Devil Fruit ability is developed to its extreme, it can awaken," Ivankov explained. "After awakening, the user's power increases exponentially."
After a pause, Ivankov continued, "For example, Zoan types gain unparalleled endurance and recovery abilities after awakening."
"You could say that as long as they aren't instantly killed, they have the potential to get back up."
After hearing Ivankov's words, Meiser thought for a moment and said, "In that case, these guys really do seem to fit the description."
They hadn't held back when fighting these Jailer Beasts before, almost always knocking them out cold.
Yet after some time, the beasts regained their fighting strength.
It seemed... they might truly be awakened ability users.
"Anyway, they're just really tough to take down," Ivan said.
Watching the two chat casually among themselves, veins bulged on Sadie's forehead.
Was... was she being ignored?
"You scum!" Hannyabal shouted. "I won't let you pass through here!"
At Hannyabal's yell, everyone turned their attention to him.
"You're not enough to stop us~" Meiser grinned. "It'd take Magellan to do that!"
"Don't underestimate me!" Hannyabal roared. "I'm the man who will become the warden!"
With that, Hannyabal swung his long blade and shouted, "Sadie, let's go!"
"Right!"
Crack!
Sadie cracked her whip and yelled, "Children, take them down!"
"Roar!!"
The three Jailer Beasts roared, brandishing their weapons as they charged at the group.
"Stay out of the way!!"
Crocodile shouted, his body rapidly transforming into sand as he surged forward.
"Sandstorm!"
As he spoke, a small sandstorm formed in his hand.
He then hurled it forward, striking the Rhino Warden Beast squarely and sending it flying away with a scream!
Whoosh~
Boom!!
Finally, the massive beast crashed heavily onto the ground, rolling its eyes and losing consciousness.
"Fish-Man Karate: Five Thousand Tile Seiken!"
The moment the Rhino Warden Beast hit the ground, Jimbei appeared beside the Zebra Warden Beast and delivered a powerful blow to its body!
"BAM!!"
The incredibly heavy attack shattered its ribs outright.
"Whoosh~"
"BOOM!"
Like a cannonball, the Zebra Warden Beast smashed into the distant wall, embedding itself within it.
"Dammit, how dare—"
Before Sadie could finish her sentence, she saw Luffy charging out from beside Ivankov, his arm swelling to enormous size.
"Rubber Giant Pistol!"
"BOOM!!"
The gigantic fist hammered into the Koala Jailer Beast, making it vomit blood and sending it flying with a pained shriek.
Witnessing this, the guards were utterly dumbfounded.
"All three Jailer Beasts defeated?!"
"How... how are we supposed to fight this?!"
Even the incredibly powerful Jailer Beasts were taken down in a single move—how could they possibly stop them?
"Straw Hat Boy... How is this guy still alive?"
Hannyabal's face darkened as he watched Luffy shrink his arm back to normal size. "How did he survive?"
Warden Magellan had stated clearly that Straw Hat Boy had been hit with several lethal toxins—survival should have been impossible.
Yet now... why was he fully recovered?
Could it be that the Blood-Eyed Ninja found an antidote? Hannyabal wondered silently.
But he quickly dismissed the thought.
After all... Warden Magellan's mixed toxin had no cure!
Not even their Impel Down could develop such an antidote!
So the question remained: how had Straw Hat Boy recovered?
Could there be a Devil Fruit Ability User with some special ability among them? Or perhaps this ninja possesses some unique power? Hannyabal frowned at the thought.
"Dammit, you bastards, how dare you bully these three children!" Sadie shouted furiously. "I won't forgive you!"
"Crimson Demon Whip!"
"Whoosh~"
"CRACK!"
"BOOM!!"
The Haki-infused whip lashed violently against the ground, carving out a massive crater.
"Eh?!"
"She's that strong?"
The okama stared at Sadie in shock.
"She's the Chief Guard of Impel Down, isn't she?"
"No wonder she's so powerful."
"Who cares who she is? Let's take her down!"
"Bastards, it's Sadie!"
Enraged by the okama charging toward her, Sadie swung her whip fiercely, sending them flying backward.
"Ah!!"
"That hurts!"
"How dare you bully the adorable Candy Boys! I won't let you get away with this!" Ivankov raised both hands. "I'll be your opponent!"
"Emporio Female Hormone!"
"Pfft~"
His finger, transformed into a needle, pricked his face, rapidly turning Ivankov into a woman.
"Heh heh heh~"
"Now I'm as light as a swallow~"
"He-Haw!"
After a hearty laugh, Ivankov charged toward Sadie, and the two immediately engaged in a fierce battle.
"You were turned into a woman like this, weren't you?" Meiser glanced at Inazuma beside him and remarked.
"Yes."
"Truly a miraculous ability," Meiser marveled.
"Gahahaha! That's why Ivankov is called the Miracle Woman!" Bon Clay laughed heartily.
Miracle Woman, Ivankov!
At that moment, Hannyabal moved.
Wielding his double-bladed spear, he dashed toward Luffy at incredible speed.
"Die!" Hannyabal roared.
A Haki-infused slash viciously aimed for Luffy's head!
Clang!
"Damn it, it's not that easy after all."
Seeing his attack blocked by a massive skeletal arm, Hannyabal's expression instantly darkened.
He had intended to take advantage of the others watching Sadie's fight to eliminate the Straw Hat Boy, one of the main culprits.
But the Blood-Eyed Ninja had blocked it—how infuriating!
"You think I didn't notice you?" sneered Meiser, manipulating Susanoo to block the blade. "Now lie down!"
As he spoke, another skeletal fist clenched and struck Hannyabal's body.
"Take this!!"
Bam!!
A terrifying force slammed into Hannyabal, causing him to vomit blood and sending him flying backward. He crashed through the large gate behind him, shattering it completely.
Whoosh~
Boom!!
Creak~
With the lock broken, the gate slowly swung open, revealing a spiral staircase behind it.
"Great, the gate is open!"
"Brothers, charge!"
"Whoo!"
The nearby Okama roared and rushed toward the gate.
But the moment they charged in, they were sent flying back out.
"Hmm?"
Watching Hannyabal stand up again, Meiser halted and said, "Your ribs are broken. Do you still plan to stand?"
Cough... Pfft!
Hannyabal spat a mouthful of blood, his legs nearly giving way.
But at the last moment, he gripped his weapon tightly, using it to prop himself up.
Then, he glared at Meiser and said, "Do you expect me to give up?"
"Brat... Don't underestimate my justice!" Hannyabal roared, forcing himself to stand straight. "I am the Deputy Warden of Impel Down! How could I let scum like you escape?"
"Bastards! If you want to leave, you'll have to step over my corpse!"
With that, the man strode out from the gate, his eyes filled with unwavering resolve.
"Deputy Warden!"
"Follow the Deputy Warden! Take them down!"
"Whoo!"
At that moment, the guards' morale soared to its peak.
The guards then charged toward Meiser and the others, determined to stop them at any cost.
"Go! Don't let them interfere with Ninja Boy!" the Okama shouted.
"Whoo!"
The Okama roared, brandishing their weapons as they clashed with the guards, plunging into a brutal and bloody battle.
Meiser paid no attention to the others' battles, instead fixing his gaze on Hannyabal as he said, "Since you refuse to give up, I have no choice but to eliminate you."
"Then bring it on!"
After infusing his double-bladed sword with Armament Haki, Hannyabal declared, "I'll stake my life to stop you scum of the sea right here!"
"One Sword Style - Pinwheel Slash!!"
Hannyabal spun his double-bladed sword into a massive whirlwind and charged swiftly toward Meiser, aiming a fierce slash at his Susanoo!
Clang!!
Clang!!
Clang!!
The enormous pinwheel slashes relentlessly struck the pale golden Susanoo, producing metallic clashing sounds and sending sparks flying everywhere!
"Damn it, why is it so hard?!" Hannyabal gritted his teeth and snarled, "Even Magellan could..."
"Do you think you're Magellan?" Meiser interrupted Hannyabal's words. "To think you can break my defense—what a pipe dream!"
Seeing Meiser standing with his arms crossed, Hannyabal's face bulged with veins in fury.
"Bastard, I refuse to believe I can't break this thing of yours!" Hannyabal roared.
As he spoke, the rotation of his double-bladed sword accelerated even further, generating even more sparks!
"Blazing Pinwheel Slash!"
"Fire?"
Meiser was momentarily stunned—was this friction-induced fire?
What a bizarre technique.
"Just wait, I'll soon—"
Before he could finish his sentence, he noticed the man before him had moved.
"Armament - Super Strength Fist!"
Bam!!
A fist infused with Haki slammed violently into Hannyabal's body, sending him flying through the air!
Whoosh~
Boom!!
Like a cannonball, he crashed into the distant ground, smashing a large crater into the floor.
"Vice Warden Hannyabal!"
Tears welled up in the guards' eyes as they watched Hannyabal lying on the ground, unable to rise.
Sigh~
Meiser let out a long breath, glanced at his gradually fading Susanoo, and said, "Let's go. We need to leave this place quickly."
"Right!"
Without another word, Luffy and the others immediately followed behind Meiser, rushing toward the gate.
Once they reached it, they could ascend to the third level at top speed!
"St...stop..."
Trembling, Hannyabal struggled to his feet, saying, "I won't let you leave."
More than one of his bones were broken, and his body was nearing its limit.
Yet even so, he refused to abandon the justice in his heart!
"Still going?"
Meiser halted and frowned at Hannyabal. "You know you can't stop us."
Although this man was the Vice Warden of Impel Down, his raw combat ability was far too lacking.
One could say there was a chasm-like gap between him and Magellan.
"So what?" Hannyabal gritted his teeth. "As the Vice Warden of Impel Down, I will stop you even if it costs me my life."
With those words, Hannyabal grabbed his double-bladed sword and drove it fiercely into the ground.
Then, he roared, "You evil pirates—don't even think about leaving this place!!"
"In that case, then—"
Before Meiser could finish speaking, he heard a series of screams.
"Ahh!!"
"Hmm?"
The sudden scream immediately caught everyone's attention.
"What happened?"
Hannyabal turned to look at the staircase behind him, frowning as he said, "Why was there a scream?"
Could it be that a prisoner had fought their way down from the third level?
Damn, what terrible timing.
At that moment, something resembling black mist appeared on the staircase, looking utterly terrifying.
"What the hell is this?!" Hannyabal's pupils contracted.
"There's someone inside that," Ivankov said.
His Observation Haki clearly detected the presence within the black mist—a person of formidable strength!!
"Zehahahaha!"
"You Marines are all the same!" Blackbeard emerged from the black mist, sneering at Hannyabal. "Always going on about justice and evil."
"But does that matter?"
"Not at all!"
As he finished speaking, Blackbeard drew the short gun from his waist and simultaneously appeared right beside Hannyabal.
Then, without hesitation, the man aimed at Hannyabal's chest and pulled the trigger.
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Already pushed to his limit, Hannyabal's body shuddered from the gunshots before he coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground.
His head lolled to the side as he lost consciousness.
After doing this, Blackbeard holstered his gun and laughed heartily as he looked at Meiser and the others. "Zehahahaha!"
"Quite a gathering of big shots here~"
"What, are you busy planning a prison break?"
"Zehahahaha!"