Chapter 4: From Impregnable to Invaded

"Impel Down is impenetrable! Nothing could possibly go wrong, especially now!"

At this moment, Magellan sprinted with urgency, his expression grave and his heart heavy.

Fire Fist Ace, slated for public execution at Naval Headquarters in just two weeks, had already stirred the undercurrents of the world, particularly in the New World. Naval Headquarters had intel indicating that Whitebeard's pirates were amassing their forces.

The significance of Ace's execution couldn't be overstated, and any mishap was unacceptable.

No one could predict what might transpire; perhaps the Whitebeard Pirates would launch a direct assault on Impel Down, where Ace was currently held.

Magellan, tasked with responsibility, was naturally fraught with worry, but he couldn't fathom the intrusion into the Eternal Hell, where the most dangerous criminals were incarcerated. The appearance of an intruder, who somehow managed to release Bullet, the Devil's Descendant, and one on par with Rayleigh, was unimaginable.

With the release of Shiryu of the Rain and the recently imprisoned Crocodile, Impel Down faced a threat beyond Magellan's imagination.

As a group rushed to the sixth floor, on the other side, Ling Bai and his companions had already left, on a collision course with Magellan and his team.

"I'll reclaim my sword later," Shiryu of the Rain remarked, his Demon Sword Thunderstorm a vital part of his existence.

"Of course," Ling Bai responded, leading the charge. Their mission to escape meant leaving chaos in their wake.

Within ten minutes, as they reached the fifth floor, Ling Bai and his group finally confronted Magellan.

"Shiryu! What's the meaning of this?" Magellan exclaimed, incredulous to find his former ally standing alongside Ling Bai. What shocked him further was the revelation that not only Bullet had been released, but also the Sand Crocodile and Shiryu himself.

How could this have happened?

Shiryu tilted his head, a question hanging heavy in the air. "Magellan, when can I expect the World Government to make their move?" Meanwhile, Crocodile weighed his options - a warrior's death by seppuku, or the swift end of a beheading.

Magellan sputtered, momentarily stunned into silence.

Shiryu sighed, a flicker of regret crossing his features. "I've served faithfully for years. High-ranking officials these days are fickle things, wouldn't you agree? A shame, Magellan, there's a history here we both built."

"Enough, Shiryu!" Magellan roared, his voice laced with fury. "I, Magellan, dedicate my life to keeping scum like you far from Impel Down!" Purple poison swirled around him, coalescing into four menacing dragons.

"Everyone back!" Sadi barked, her voice laced with urgency. "Lord Magellan is about to unleash his venom!"

Hannyabal trembled, a sentiment echoed by the others. The prospect of facing Shiryu and Bullet, the supposed devil's offspring, instilled a cold dread in their hearts.

"Magellan's Paramecia is a nightmare," Shiryu muttered, a hint of unease flickering across his face. "Though it may not be instant death, the suffering it inflicts is a fate worse than-"

"Spare me the theatrics," Bullet scoffed, a sneer twisting his lips. "He's just a glorified walking laxative. Magellan stands no chance against me!"

Before Bullet could charge forward, Ling Bai stepped into his path, a resolute glint in his eyes.

"As captain," Ling Bai declared, his voice ringing with authority, "it falls to me to deal with Magellan." The statement hung in the air, a clear attempt to establish dominance over Bullet and the others.

Magellan narrowed his eyes at Ling Bai, a sliver of apprehension worming its way into his chest. Despite the young man's unassuming appearance, his power rivaled Bullet's, radiating a sense of untapped potential. It felt... Unnatural. Almost as if Ling Bai surpassed even the famed supernovas of the first half of the Grand Line.