The second great pirate era!

Level Six, Infinite Hell.

In one isolated, dark cell after another.

Prisoners, bound in chains and emanating a powerful aura, suddenly opened their eyes.

The faint tremors coming from the walls and surroundings caused a flicker of unusual light in many eyes.

"Is there a battle outside?"

In the empty cells, whispers echoed among the prisoners.

The tremors reaching the sixth level indicated that Impel Down might be under attack, and by a terrifying invader at that.

Upon considering this possibility, many prisoners smiled, eager to act.

The next day.

As the sun rose, newspapers were delivered all over the world.

"The newspaper gulls seem urgent today. Is something big happening?"

On the Sabaody Archipelago, near the Red Line, a man working at the dock took a newspaper from a gull's beak.

He muttered to himself as he opened the paper.

The first thing that caught his eye was a bold, red headline: "Impel Down Breached!"

"Impel Down? What's that?"

To most people on the sea, Impel Down was an unfamiliar name, but its other name, the hell Prison, was well-known.

The man instinctively read further and then widened his eyes in shock.

He finally realized that the breached Impel Down was indeed the hell Prison!

It was known for its tight security and formidable defenses, housing the most dangerous criminals of the sea.

But this impenetrable fortress had been breached!?

By whom?!

The man quickly read on, and the next second, a name jumped out at him.

"Emperor of the Sea, Kaido..."

He swallowed hard. After reading the article, he was stunned.

"Damn, something big is happening!"

This thought wasn't just in his mind; almost everyone who read the newspaper thought the same.

After all, Impel Down housed countless notorious sea criminals. Their escape meant chaos for the world.

Even World Government member nations or some nobles might be powerless against these criminals, not to mention unarmed civilians.

What kind of madness could lead to such an event?

"This..."

Looking at the list of escapees from Impel Down, the man trembled, barely able to hold the newspaper.

Similar scenes played out worldwide.

The news of Kaido's sudden attack on Impel Down and the release of almost all the criminals spread globally in less than half a day.

The world was shocked...

Such news should have been suppressed by the World Government, but the potential for widespread chaos made it impossible to hide.

After all—

The criminals from Impel Down were not the type to stay quiet. They would surely vent their years of anger and desire once free. Unless the World Government could destroy them all before they caused trouble, there was no way to keep the news under wraps.

Unable to suppress the news, the World Government had to endure another slap in the face from Kaido, following Nicholas and Roger.

The World Government's reputation took another hit.

Roger and Nicholas were bad enough, but now even Kaido dared to challenge them.

The World Government would not let this slide easily. Meanwhile, the Beasts Pirates, who recruited in the underwater prison, rapidly grew into a terrifying force that even the World Government had to reckon with.

"Kaido is truly crazy."

"The seas are more turbulent than ever. When will it end?"

"Kaido's crimes have far surpassed Roger's and Nicholas's!"

People around the world who saw the newspaper were all anxiously reading its contents.

Roger and Nicholas, although depicted by the World Government as threats to world peace, were generally considered unlikely to affect the lives of ordinary people. But Kaido's situation was entirely different. The idea that those criminals who escaped from Impel Down could invade their lives at any moment and wreak havoc was terrifying.

"This is so frightening. I hope the World Government can quickly capture all those who escaped from Impel Down."

"Sigh, I'm planning to return to my hometown in the countryside. The seas are getting more chaotic, and cities of any size will surely be targeted."

"Damn it, butler, put out a notice that I'm willing to pay a hefty sum to hire powerful individuals to bolster our security."

From powerless civilians who could only pray, to pampered nobles, everyone was taking their own measures.

"Ha ha ha, the Navy failed again..."

"The seas are about to get even more exciting. It's time for us to make a name for ourselves!"

"Now this truly feels like the era of the great pirates, ha ha ha!"

"I'm going to join the Beasts Pirates!"

"Idiot, they won't even look at you with your weak skills."

"You're the idiot! It's clear Kaido is recruiting, and he'll take in even ordinary pirates!"

Pirates had different concerns than civilians. What ordinary people wanted to avoid at all costs, pirates saw as a rare opportunity.

Some pirates hoped to seize this chance to join Kaido's ranks, enabling them to do as they pleased in the New World. Others, filled with ambition, aimed to exploit the chaos to realize their own dreams. Yet some pirates were having second thoughts, knowing that with so many criminals now on the loose, their own survival space was shrinking.

On an island in the Grand Line.

Bullet, wrapped in bandages, sat on a rock on the edge of a cliff, with numerous seabirds flying overhead and calling out. Below the cliff were weathered rocks and crashing waves.

Bullet looked up slightly, staring expressionlessly at the distant horizon. He remembered Kaido's words: a storm was brewing on the sea, and only those who stood at the end would be winners.

Kaido had invited him, but he refused.

He was a contender in this storm, not a follower!

The chilly sea breeze whistled from afar, making Bullet's clothes flutter.

...

"I am the one who will become the Pirate King!"

Somewhere on the outskirts of the storm, a young boy stood on a cliff, gazing at the calm sea and loudly declaring his ambition.

Unbeknownst to him, something that would once again change his life was about to happen.