"Thump. Thump-thump…"
Teach's crisp footsteps echoed through Infinite Hell.
"How pathetic. Hahaha." His gaze swept across the prisoners, a faint curl of disdain tugging at his lips.
The criminals frowned but said nothing.
The Conqueror's Haki from earlier had made one thing clear. They were not on the same level as this intruder.
At the same time, confusion gnawed at them. When had such a monster appeared on the seas? This young man was unfamiliar.
Imprisoned in Infinite Hell, cut off from the outside world, they knew nothing of recent events. They were not like Donquixote Doflamingo, who had once received newspapers even while locked away.
"Teach. It's you? Why are you in Infinite Hell?" a voice rang out in shock.
The speaker was a pirate with a bounty nearing three hundred million Berries.
Impel Down constantly received new inmates. Even though the Marines had been pushed back from much of the New World, formidable pirates still roamed the Grand Line.
This particular pirate had been unlucky enough to encounter the Marine Admiral candidate Borsalino, known in some circles as the Shining Man. He had not even managed to escape before being captured and thrown into Impel Down.
Even in Infinite Hell, he ranked near the bottom.
In this world, strength dictated status. Even in prison.
"Newcomer, who is he?" someone in a neighboring cell asked.
"He's Dark Emperor Teach, captain of the Nightfall Pirates. I told you about him. He was already recognized as an overlord before even entering the New World."
The explanation carried unmistakable admiration.
Whenever new prisoners arrived, they were interrogated by the veterans of Infinite Hell. News from the outside world was currency. It helped them pass the endless time.
The others quickly pieced it together.
Marshall D. Teach.
Former member of the Whitebeard Pirates.
Before the Great Pirate Era had even fully ignited, he left Whitebeard to form the Nightfall Pirates. Starting from East Blue, he carved a path across multiple seas.
He annihilated a powerful nation for a Devil Fruit.
He defeated Marine Vice Admiral Brom, a Crush-Crush Fruit user.
After a year of silence, he resurfaced and crushed the combined forces of three Admiral candidates.
His Conqueror's Haki alone was proof of his ambition.
Teach ignored the whispers.
He had already sensed a powerful presence surging upward from below. It was like a volcano preparing to erupt.
The Warden.
It would have been strange if Impel Down had not reacted.
"Teach. Let me out. I'll tell you where my treasure is hidden!" someone shouted.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Hope flickered in countless eyes.
Teach was likely their only chance. No one in all these years had entered Infinite Hell undetected.
They understood the commotion above must have triggered a response. Time was limited.
Dignity meant nothing in this moment.
"Let me out. I'll join your crew!"
"Me too. I'll kill for you!"
"You need strength like mine!"
The entire level descended into chaos. Voices overlapped as prisoners desperately recommended themselves.
Teach frowned.
"Hmph."
The cold snort silenced everything.
His aura surged. Conqueror's Haki condensed into his eyes, forming a razor-sharp mental assault.
His gaze swept across the cells.
The impact struck like invisible needles piercing directly into their minds.
Many clutched their heads instinctively. Their eyes were fine. It was their brains that screamed in agony.
Some collapsed outright, rolling on the ground as chains clanked violently.
Even the stronger ones paled.
They had already known he was dangerous. This level of precision with Conqueror's Haki was something else entirely.
Releasing it broadly was one thing.
Condensing it through the eyes was another.
Different realms.
Satisfied with the silence, Teach rolled his neck, producing a series of sharp cracks.
"Sorry. I have no intention of letting you join."
He rejected them flatly.
The Nightfall Pirates were already stable. Adding this chaotic assortment would only ruin the atmosphere.
Their strength was decent.
But only decent.
True monsters would not beg like this. And those without such pride did not interest him.
Teach preferred cultivating his own cadres. He had time. He had Devil Fruits. Several rare ones remained in his possession, waiting for the right hands.
Or perhaps he would let his crew compete for them later.
As for these criminals, aside from a handful at the very top, he had no interest.
Their loyalty was nonexistent. They would betray without hesitation.
"If you truly want to join, come find us after you escape."
His smile turned sharp.
"However, let's make this lively. Escape if you can. Don't disappoint me."
His tone carried deep malice and amusement.
"The sea is more interesting when it's chaotic."
He turned.
"Nelson. Release them."
Nelson nodded, unable to suppress his excitement.
He understood perfectly.
Redfield was the primary objective.
But coming all this way and not stirring the world would be dull.
"Domain: Steal."
A spherical field spread outward from him, hundreds of meters wide.
Within the domain, everything was under his control.
With a flick of his wrist, shackles vanished.
Seastone cuffs disappeared.
Entire cages dissolved into nothingness, absorbed into his space.
Infinite Hell was vast. Nelson's figure flickered from point to point in dazzling succession.
Within minutes, every prisoner was free.
Devil Fruit users felt their powers return.
Limbs that had long been suppressed tingled with familiar energy.
Nelson reappeared beside Teach.
The prisoners stretched stiff muscles, disbelief etched across their faces.
Freedom.
So sudden.
So unreal.
But they were still in the lowest level of Impel Down.
Their gazes instinctively returned to Teach.
If he could enter, he must have a way out.
"Don't look at me," Teach said coldly.
"I won't babysit you. Warden Acel is already on his way. You may meet him the moment you step out. Whether you live or die depends on your own ability."
He shattered their unspoken hope.
Releasing them was already generosity.
If necessary, he would not hesitate to kill them himself.
They understood.
If they wanted freedom, they would have to seize it.
Infinite Hell was too confined. Their best option was to reach Freezing Hell. The open snowfields offered room to maneuver.
The elevator passage was located above.
The traditional route.
And the only official one.
Yet among them, there were always those who believed themselves clever.
An invisible mental force crept toward Teach and Nelson.
Subtle.
Fluid.
It left no trace.
Even Observation Haki failed to detect it.
But Teach's instinct flared.
Future sight flickered.
The power was aimed at Nelson.
Perhaps the user knew it would be ineffective against Teach in his current state. So he chose the weaker target.
Control Nelson.
Use his spatial ability.
Escape easily.
It was a logical plan.
For someone desperate for freedom.
"Courting death."
Teach's eyes sharpened.
His aura erupted like a tidal wave, slamming backward and shattering the mental intrusion.
Nelson had already been affected. His eyes had dulled for a split second.
Under Teach's overwhelming presence, the control snapped.
Nelson blinked, clarity returning, a chill running down his spine.
Silent mind control.
Terrifying.
Teach's gaze locked onto a figure in the corner.
A small man with graying hair.
His body looked unimpressive.
His eyes gleamed with unsettling intelligence.
Teach did not underestimate him.
That eerie mental ability had almost seized Nelson instantly.
And this man was one of the few top-tier presences Teach had sensed earlier.
Though weakened now, in his prime he had undoubtedly possessed Admiral-level combat power.
Infinite Hell was truly full of monsters.