Kurohige

In the fiery Level Four, known as the Burning Hell, the heat was suffocating, and the air was filled with the essence of fire and smoke emanating from deep cracks filled with magma. The walls trembled occasionally, and the ground was covered in ashes and volcanic dust. Luffy, with his signature straw hat, moved forward determinedly, his face drenched in sweat and his body tense in anticipation of battle.

Behind him, his diverse group of allies, including Ivankov, Inazuma, Jimbe, Crocodile, and others, cautiously observed the infernal environment. However, as their eyes were fixed on the exit leading to Level Three, a giant figure blocked their path.

Hannyabal, the feared chief of guards of Impel Down, stood before them, his colossal body covered in golden armor and a headdress reminiscent of ancient Egyptian pharaohs. His face was stern, with a square jaw and sharp eyes that shone with determination. He wore a collar of large golden rings, and in his right hand, he held a long naginata adorned with Egyptian motifs. The blade of the naginata gleamed with a deadly edge, and its size matched that of its gigantic bearer, almost as large as Hannyabal himself. Despite the sweat pouring down his forehead from the heat, his stance remained unwavering.

"I won't let you pass, Mugiwara no Luffy," Hannyabal growled, slamming the naginata into the ground with force, sparking a shower of sparks. "As the chief of guards, it's my duty to stop prisoners seeking to escape. For the honor of Impel Down, I won't allow your escape!"

Luffy clenched his fists, his eyes filled with determination as he stepped closer to his opponent.

"I have to rescue Ace! I'm not stopping here!" he shouted, keeping his gaze locked on the imposing giant before him.

Hannyabal raised his naginata with surprising skill for his size and pointed it at Luffy. He was a proud man, committed to his duty, but also filled with ambition. He knew that if he could stop Luffy and his group, he could ascend to the position of director, replacing Magellan.

"You don't understand what's at stake here, Mugiwara. The balance of the world depends on maintaining order in Impel Down! I won't let you destroy that balance."

Without another word, Luffy charged forward, his arms stretching with the power of his Gomu Gomu no Mi.

"Gomu Gomu no Pistol!" he shouted, launching his fist at Hannyabal with speed and force.

Hannyabal, with a swift movement, deflected the blow with his naginata, blocking the attack with surprising ease. The blade of the naginata clashed with Luffy's fist, creating a shockwave that reverberated in the fiery air.

"You can't defeat me that easily, Mugiwara!" Hannyabal roared, counterattacking with a diagonal slash that forced Luffy to leap backward.

Luffy frowned but wasn't willing to give up. He launched himself again, this time increasing the speed of his attacks.

"Gomu Gomu no Gatling!" he shouted, unleashing a flurry of punches at Hannyabal.

Luffy's fists moved so fast they became a blur, impacting against the naginata and Hannyabal's armor. However, the pharaonic giant held firm, blocking and deflecting the blows with precision. Despite his size, Hannyabal was a formidable warrior. His movements, though heavy, were calculated. Every swing of his naginata was designed to stop Luffy in his tracks. Sparks flew every time the metal of his weapon collided with the pirate's elastic fists.

"Don't underestimate my determination!" Hannyabal shouted, sweeping his naginata in a move that forced Luffy to dodge and roll on the ground.

Meanwhile, Alaric observed the scene from a nearby rock, arms crossed and a calm expression on his face. He had just defeated Sadi and driven away the Okamas moments before but had no rush to intervene in this battle. Despite his playful and arrogant nature, Alaric knew when it was best to stay back and watch. He wanted to see Luffy's true potential.

"This kid… has guts," he murmured to himself, watching as Luffy dodged and countered relentlessly, despite Hannyabal's fierce resistance.

Ivankov and the others also watched intently, ready to intervene if things became too dangerous, but they trusted Luffy. 

Gasping for breath, Luffy leaped forward once more, spinning in the air.

"Gomu Gomu no Rifle!" he exclaimed, delivering a spinning punch that struck Hannyabal in the chest.

The blow was strong enough to push the giant back a few steps, but Hannyabal did not fall. Breathing heavily, he straightened up, pain and pride etched on his face.

"You… don't understand what justice means. I… will protect this prison with my life!" he shouted, raising his naginata once more.

However, before he could attack again, a foreboding shadow loomed over the battlefield. The ground trembled slightly, and a deep, mocking laugh echoed in the air.

"Zehahahaha…"

Luffy stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes widening as he recognized that laugh. He turned his head toward the source of the sound, and there, walking calmly through the heat and ashes of Level Four, appeared Marshall D. Teach, better known as Kurohige. Close behind him followed his fearsome crewmates: Laffitte, Van Augur, and others.

"Finally, we meet again, Mugiwara," Kurohige said, his smile wide and filled with malice.

Luffy, his heart racing, felt a wave of fury rise within him at the sight of the man responsible for his brother's capture.

"You…! You were the one who captured Ace!" Luffy shouted, his fists trembling with rage.

Kurohige smiled even wider, denying nothing.

"Zehahaha… That's right. It was thanks to me that your brother was handed over to the World Government. And now, the whole world is waiting for his execution."

Kurohige's words were like a dagger to Luffy's heart. Without a second thought, Luffy lunged forward, extending his fist with all the fury he felt inside.

"Gomu Gomu no Pistol!" he shouted, throwing a direct punch at Kurohige's face.

The blow was quick and precise, landing squarely on Kurohige's face. Blood burst from Teach's nose as he staggered back a few steps, surprised by the force of the attack.

"Damn brat!" Kurohige growled, wiping the blood from his face with the back of his hand. "It seems you've got guts after all."

Luffy didn't respond. He was blinded by rage, not caring what Kurohige said. He just wanted to hit him, to make him pay for what he had done to Ace.

Kurohige, however, was not someone to underestimate. Despite having taken the hit, his smile remained. Instead of attacking immediately, he raised his hand and, with a quick motion, unleashed the power of his Yami Yami no Mi. A dark shadow began to envelop Kurohige's body, spreading around him as if the very air was being absorbed by the darkness he controlled. The atmosphere changed instantly, and everyone present, including Luffy's allies, felt the overwhelming weight of that energy.

Luffy, with his fists ready to keep attacking, paused for a moment at the sight of that darkness. He had heard about Kurohige's abilities, but facing him and feeling his power was something entirely different. Yet, the fire of anger still burned in his heart.

—Zehahaha... So you're willing to face me, Mugiwara! —Kurohige said, spreading his arms out in a confident manner.

Before Luffy could move, Kurohige thrust his hand forward.

"Kurouzu!" he shouted, and the darkness enveloping his hand twisted and extended towards Luffy as if it had a life of its own.

Luffy felt an invisible force pulling him, drawing him directly towards Kurohige. No matter how hard he tried to resist, it was useless. He was quickly dragged toward Teach's hand, who welcomed him with a triumphant laugh.

"Zehahaha... I've got you, Mugiwara!"

With a swift motion, Kurohige slammed Luffy into the ground with brutal force. The impact resonated throughout the level, and the volcanic stone floor cracked beneath Luffy's body. Despite the pain, Luffy quickly got up, not letting his fury subside.

"I won't let you get away with this!" Luffy shouted, charging at Kurohige again, determined to keep fighting.

Before he could launch another attack, Kurohige raised a hand, stopping him.

"That's enough for now, Mugiwara," he said with a sly smile. "This isn't the time for our real fight. Zehahaha… We'll save that for later. Right now, I have a more important goal to achieve here."

Luffy gritted his teeth, frustrated and furious, but before he could respond, Kurohige turned, showing his back.

"We'll see each other soon, Mugiwara! And then... you'll witness the true power of darkness," Kurohige added, walking calmly towards Level Five of Impel Down, closely followed by his crewmates.

Luffy gasped for breath, watching his enemy's back as he left. Every fiber of his being wanted to follow him, to attack, to make him pay for what he had done to Ace, but he knew it wasn't the time. Ace's fate was closer than ever, and he couldn't waste time with Kurohige now.

Alaric, who had observed the entire scene from his elevated position, let out a light sigh. His expression had changed little during the exchange, but his eyes gleamed with a hint of interest.

"Well, that was interesting," he murmured, more to himself than anyone in particular. "Kurohige is truly a dangerous man... but it seems Mugiwara has more strength than I expected."

Ivankov, who had been watching intently, approached Luffy, still concerned for the young pirate.

"Mugiwara-boy, are you alright? That was a very dangerous fight!" Ivankov said, looking worriedly at the marks on the ground where Kurohige had used his power.

Luffy nodded, though he did not take his eyes off the spot where Kurohige had disappeared.

"Yeah... I'm fine," Luffy replied, his voice tense. "But I can't waste any more time here. I need to get to Ace as soon as possible!"

As Luffy, Ivankov, and the others prepared to continue their advance, Alaric observed Hannyabal, who lay unconscious on the ground after the intense battle. His imposing golden body was covered in sweat, but despite his defeat, his face still reflected pride and determination. Alaric approached slowly, his gaze showing not mockery, but respect.

"This man..." he murmured, crossing his arms as he stood in front of the defeated chief of guards, "could have been an obstacle, but his bravery cannot be denied. He stood firm until the end."

Alaric leaned toward Hannyabal, observing the wounds he had sustained in battle. It was clear that the giant had given his all in his attempt to fulfill his duty. Alaric sighed and turned to Ivankov, who looked at him with curiosity.

"Ivankov," Alaric said in a more serious tone than usual, "this man has a strong will. He doesn't deserve to die here, bleeding and forgotten. Use your hormones and help him recover."

Ivankov raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the request, but nodded in understanding.

"Fufufu... Mugiwara-boy, you have an ally with an interesting heart. Very well, I'll help him, but only because you ask, Alaric-boy."

Alaric watched calmly as Ivankov used his powers, injecting recovery hormones into Hannyabal's body. Gradually, the chief of guards began to breathe more easily, though he remained unconscious. Alaric stood up, crossing his arms once again, with a faint smile on his lips.

"Sometimes, the bravest warriors are not the ones who survive, but the ones who rise to fight again," he murmured, almost to himself. "Let's hope that when he wakes up, he won't cross our path again."

With that, Alaric turned his attention back to Luffy's group, ready to continue their advance.

After Ivankov helped Hannyabal recover, the group wasted no more time. With Luffy's determination leading the way, they quickly progressed through the levels of Impel Down. Each step brought them closer to Level One, where their only exit to freedom awaited.

The infernal atmosphere of Level Four was soon left behind. They ascended to Level Three, where the air felt cooler by comparison, though the threats remained significant. There was no time to stop, as everyone's goal remained clear: escape from this damned prison and attempt to save Ace at Marineford.

As they advanced, the members of the group could feel the tension in the air rising. They knew they were racing against the clock, and any lost second could be the end of their escape. Jinbe, Ivankov, Crocodile, and the others stayed alert, aware that they could face new obstacles at any moment.

Finally, they reached Level One. Alaric, who had maintained his relaxed demeanor throughout the journey, observed from a distance a large crowd of prisoners shouting and causing chaos. At the front of the crowd was Buggy the Clown, who had managed to form a makeshift gang, leading the liberated prisoners.

"Mugiwara! You're alive!" Buggy shouted with a mix of surprise and false confidence as he saw the group approaching. "These prisoners follow me because I'm their savior! Let's conquer the world together!"

Luffy, with the same determination, walked past, ignoring Buggy's exaggerated stance while the other prisoners followed him eagerly. It wasn't the time for discussions or wasting time. Chaos was about to erupt in Impel Down, and escaping was their only option.

Jinbe, with his characteristic calmness, spoke to Luffy. "We need to find a ship quickly if we want to get out of here alive. The Navy must be reinforcing security on the surface."

Alaric watched the situation in silence, but his mind was already working on a plan. He knew someone would have to stay behind to buy time. He crossed his arms and smiled to himself.

"Go ahead," Alaric said in a nonchalant tone, though a hidden seriousness lay behind his playful facade. "I'll stay here and handle any problems that come up. I'll give you the time you need to find a ship."

Luffy looked at him for a moment, hesitant, but then nodded. He knew Alaric's strength and trusted that he could keep any threats at bay.

"See you outside, Alaric!" Luffy said before running with Jinbe, Ivankov, and the rest towards the exit, leaving behind the chaos of prisoners that Buggy was trying to manage.

Meanwhile, in the scorching and devastated Level Four, a new enemy had arrived. Magellan, the imposing warden of Impel Down, moved swiftly through the smoke-filled corridors. His face was hardened with concern, knowing that the prisoners had reached critical levels of the prison.

Upon reaching the center of the level, Magellan encountered a dark figure he recognized immediately: Marshall D. Teach, Kurohige. His crewmates accompanied him, but the atmosphere filled with instant tension at Magellan's presence.

"What are you doing here, Kurohige?" Magellan growled, his voice laden with authority. "You have no right to be in this prison. All of you will be exterminated here and now!"

Kurohige let out a booming laugh, his malicious smile framed by the oppressive atmosphere of the level.

"Zehahaha... Don't be so dramatic, Magellan! I just came to recruit some interesting nakamas, but it looks like things are getting fun."

However, before Kurohige could continue speaking, Magellan acted with the speed of lightning. Without hesitation, he unleashed a burst of purple venom from his hands, the terrifying power of his Doku Doku no Mi. The venom spread like a torrent, filling the air and enveloping Kurohige and his crew before they could react.

"Deadly poison!" Magellan shouted, his face cold and severe.

Kurohige barely had time to scream before the venom covered him completely, his body falling to the ground with a dull thud, while the members of his crew suffered the same fate. The battle ended in an instant, and Magellan did not give them a chance to counterattack. It was not the time for games, and Magellan knew it. Defeating Kurohige was not enough; he had to restore order in Impel Down.

"Presumptuous insects," Magellan murmured as he continued forward, leaving the bodies of Kurohige and his crew behind. "I don't have time to waste with you."

Alaric, who had decided to stay behind to face any threats, remained seated, playing with his spear near the entrance to Level One.

"This is going to be interesting," he said to himself, as he observed the path leading to the lower levels. "Come, Magellan... It's been twelve years since I've had a real fight," he murmured excitedly.