The icy currents surrounding Impel Down churned more violently than usual. Fish fled from the gates of the great underwater prison, and even the Sea Kings that roamed nearby kept their distance. Something unnatural was stirring—something ancient and wrathful.
Deep within Level 2, where monstrous beasts roamed in cages and blood stained the floor, chaos erupted. Guards screamed as prisoners rioted, and alarms blared across all levels. It was more than a simple disturbance.
It was a tremor… from below.
On Level 6, the Eternal Hell, Ace raised his head. He felt it again—the same warmth pulsing through his chest.
Across the cell block, Jinbe opened his eyes, sensing the disturbance as well.
"Something's not right," he muttered. "The sea is shifting."
From another cell, Crocodile chuckled dryly. "Took you this long to notice? Something's coming. Something big."
Meanwhile, Buggy the Clown was screaming his lungs out on Level 3, chased by a grotesque beast he accidentally freed. "I KNEW I SHOULDN'T HAVE COME HERE! WHY ME?!"
In the background, Mr. 3 cursed, "If I survive this, I'm going back to being a candle merchant!"
Above the prison, the sky cracked open with thunder. The guards stationed at the entrance looked up, confused.
A bolt of Conqueror's Haki struck like lightning.
Hundreds of guards collapsed instantly, eyes rolled back in unconscious terror.
A silhouette landed on the central bridge with a thunderous crash. Cloaked in shadows, wrapped in a tattered black coat once worn by Gol D. Roger, the figure rose slowly.
"Gol... D... Arkan," one marine whispered in disbelief before collapsing.
With one wave of his arm, the front gates of Impel Down trembled.
Inside the Command Chamber, Magellan stood upright as multiple alarms triggered simultaneously.
"Invader detected at Gate Zero! High-level energy readings!"
Vice-Warden Hannyabal trembled. "Is it Straw Hat Luffy again?!"
Magellan narrowed his eyes. "No… something far worse."
Back in Level 6, the chains rattled ominously. Ace stood, as far as the cuffs allowed. His heart raced.
Jinbe looked toward the ceiling. "He's here… isn't he?"
Ace didn't reply, but his fists clenched.
Meanwhile, Luffy and Ivankov had just descended into Level 5, freezing and shivering.
"WE'RE CLOSE!" Luffy shouted, teeth chattering. "ACE! WAIT FOR ME!"
Above, Arkan walked through the ruined main gate. Flames from his haki burned in trails around him. Every step left the stone scorched.
Beasts from Level 2 burst from the lower cells, trying to attack the intruder.
With a flick of his wrist, Arkan unleashed a shockwave of raw Conqueror's Haki so powerful it split the floor in half and sent monsters flying into the walls, unconscious.
He kept moving, descending.
In Marineford, Sengoku was handed a den den mushi report. His face turned to stone.
"Arkan has entered Impel Down."
Akainu slammed his fist on the war table. "He's coming for Ace. Just like Whitebeard."
Aokiji's breath misted in the cold air. "This just became a war with two legends."
Back inside the prison, chaos consumed every level. Luffy unknowingly followed behind the path Arkan carved through the facility.
Ivankov noticed it. "Strawboy… these guards didn't fall by you."
Luffy blinked. "Then who—"
The walls shook. Another burst of Haki thundered downward.
On Level 6, the walls of Ace's cell exploded outward.
Standing in the dust was a man cloaked in darkness and flame, his eyes glowing gold.
Jinbe stood in stunned silence. Crocodile stepped back, breath caught in his throat.
Ace's eyes widened. "...Arkan?"
For the first time in years, Arkan smiled.
"I'm late," he said, voice calm. "But I'm here."
Ace's lips trembled. "Why now?"
Arkan knelt before him. "Because you were never meant to die in chains."
He crushed the sea-stone cuffs with his haki-enhanced hands. The metal cracked and shattered.
Jinbe stepped forward. "You… you're the brother of—"
"I know who I am," Arkan replied. "And I know what's coming."
He looked around.
"Gather those who want to fight. We're not leaving one soul behind."
Crocodile raised an eyebrow. "And why would we follow you?"
Arkan stared him down. "Because I'm the reason you're still breathing. Every one of you has escaped death once because I willed it. Now I'm calling in the debt."
Silence.
Then Crocodile laughed. "Fine. Let's burn the world, then."
As they rose from the ashes of Level 6, gathering strength and fire, the storm above Marineford intensified.
A war was coming.
But now… the world would face it with two brothers standing side by side.
And the blood of Gol D. Roger would no longer be silent.