Chapter 139

"Boom!" A deafening explosion reverberated through the main entrance of Impel Down as Doffy and I unleashed the full extent of our powers. Alarms blared, alerting the entire prison to the attack.

"Doffy, let's create as much chaos as we can on the first floor. The generator room that controls the Gates of Justice is here, so it'll make Wolf's mission easier," I shouted over the cacophony, turning to Doffy, who had just incinerated a guard who tried to stop us.

Doffy nodded, and his blue flames danced, burning everything in their path. The air was thick with smoke and the acrid smell of burning debris as we tore through the guards and prisoners alike, spreading chaos and confusion.

"Contact Marine HQ and the World Government immediately! Let them know that Impel Down is under siege by unknown assailants!" roared the Chief warden, Kazan Ryujin, an old man with graying hair and a steely gaze. His quarters were on the fourth level, and he had just received news of the attack on the first floor.

Kazan turned to his subordinates, his expression a mix of anger and determination. "Mobilize all available guards. We must contain this threat before it spreads any further."

Meanwhile, Wolf and Miyamoto had stealthily made their way to the control room. Wolf activated the black transponder snail, jamming communications and throwing the prison's defenses into further disarray. Miyamoto, his blade glinting in the dim light, dispatched any guards who crossed their path with lethal precision.

"Remember, we need to secure the control room and take out the Gates of Justice," Wolf reminded Miyamoto. "Once we have control, reinforcements will be delayed, giving Ross and Doffy the time they need."

Miyamoto nodded, his grip tightening on his sword. "Understood. Let's move."

On the first floor, Doffy and I continued our assault, our combined powers wreaking havoc. Guards fell before us, unable to withstand our onslaught. I conjured lightning, the crackling energy arcing from my hands and striking down anyone who dared oppose us.

"Time is of the essence," I reminded Doffy, who was reveling in the destruction we were creating. "We need to reach the lower levels and free our targets before reinforcements arrive."

Doffy grinned, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Lead the way, little brother. Let's show them what happens when they cross the Donquixote family."

"Balrog's Wrath!!!" roared Doffy as a massive beast made entirely of flames charged into the thick steel doors sealing the lower levels. Despite the thickness of the vault-like door, the blue flames of the massive beast bit into the metal, melting it. After a dozen seconds, a gaping hole formed in the steel door.

"Let's go, little brother! At last, I can go all out without holding anything back," Doffy bellowed, his laughter setting an eerie tone that sent a chill down everyone's spine.

"Bang...Bang....Bang!" Gunshots rang out as the guards tried to stop us using seastone bullets. But with our Observation Haki, these guns were no threat.

"Doffy, I'm going ahead. Stay here and let loose to your heart's content. Burn down the whole of Impel Down if you want to," I chuckled and transformed into lightning, whizzing towards the lower floors.

"You don't have to tell me twice! Hahahaha," Doffy replied, continuing his rampage on the first floor.

"Sir, it seems that all our communications are down. Whoever is attacking us has come prepared. They seem to have planned everything beforehand," one of Kazan Ryujin's subordinates reported, his tone betraying a hint of amusement. He failed to notice the old man's eyes turning red with anger.

Kazan grabbed the subordinate by the neck. "Do you think this is a joke? If you cannot do your job properly, then there is no need for such a subordinate," he said cruelly. As he spoke, the subordinate's body started draining, as if all the fluids within him were being sucked out. Within moments, he was reduced to a mere husk, like a mummy. The chief warden tossed away the husk and turned to another subordinate.

"Have Vice Warden Magellan check the situation on the first level. I will go down to Level 6 and make sure everything is in order. I don't want any mishaps. If any prisoners cause trouble, kill them all," he commanded, his towering figure making his way toward the deepest part of the infamous prison.

Meanwhile, on the first floor, Doffy continued his chaotic rampage. "Go on, you bastards! Your freedom has finally come. Go out there and cause as much chaos as you can!" He cackled like a madman, burning through cell doors and letting prisoners escape. He wanted to make a statement—a declaration.

The Donquixote family hadn't retaliated yet for the Marines' attack on Dressrosa, and if left unanswered, they wouldn't be able to establish themselves as the hegemon in the New World. As it stood, the World Government would sooner or later gain control, but as per Ross, the earlier the balance returned, the less time they would have to grow.

So the already chaotic sea needed to become even more chaotic, and releasing the prisoners from Impel Down would cause the World Government a massive headache. It would also serve as a warning about the consequences of reaching out to Dressrosa, because Dressrosa was his, and anyone who tried to covet what was his would know his wrath.

"Ahahaha! You did well, you dumb bastard! Although you are not worthy, I will let you serve under me. You are fit to become my Vice Captain," bellowed a pirate who had just escaped Level Two with Doffy's help. He was drenched in blood, having just stabbed a guard to death.

Doffy's back was turned to the man, so he had no idea how angry Doffy was. Doffy's veins popped in anger. He had shown mercy by letting these ants crawl out, and this guy had the audacity to want Donquixote Doflamingo to serve under him. However, a few other prisoners who were recently imprisoned in Impel Down recognized the pirate, known by the moniker "Heavenly Yaksha," and consciously stepped back in fear. This was a pirate with a bounty of more than 700 million berries.

"Fufufufu, you want me to serve under you, do you?" Doffy chuckled, his anger barely contained, as he turned and casually walked toward the audacious pirate.

"Why, do you have a problem with that, you dumb brat?" The pirate chuckled, placing his blood-stained knife on Doffy's shoulder as a way to threaten him. However, before the pirate could react, Doffy grabbed his wrist. The pirate's eyes narrowed in warning, but the next second, a heart-wrenching pain shot through his arm as blue flames began consuming it.

"Aaaargh!" the pirate screamed, but Doffy used his other hand to grab him by the face. Blue flames danced from Doffy's palm, engulfing the pirate despite his pleas for mercy.

"If there is an afterlife, make sure to know your place, for the devil will not be as merciful as I am," Doffy cackled as the flames consumed the pirate. The sight made the other pirates, who had considered challenging Doffy for authority, back down, turning their attention to the prison guards instead.

As the prisoners flooded the lower floors, the guards were overwhelmed, their attempts to organize a defense faltering in the face of the relentless onslaught. Those who had initially thought of fleeing upward soon realized their mistake and turned back, joining the throngs and heading deeper into the prison.

"Make your way down to the lower levels. Anyone who tries to escape without releasing all the prisoners, I will personally hunt them down," Doffy warned, resuming his rampage through the cells on the second floor. Many of the prisoners wanted to just escape from this hell, but the monster standing at the only exit leading to the upper level left them no choice. Their only chance for freedom lay in delving deeper into the lower floors.

Meanwhile, the alarms blared throughout Impel Down, the red lights flashing in a rhythmic, urgent pulse. The guards scrambled, trying to contain the chaos. The intercom crackled to life with frantic orders from higher-ups, but it was clear that the prison was descending into madness.

********

A massive fleet of Marines, accompanied by two Shichibukai ships, was closing in on Wano. No one could recall the last time the Marines had mobilized such a formidable force. Their original plan was to intercept and reach Wano before Moria's sentencing, but the New World was neither the World Government's nor the Marines' domain. Their journey took longer than anticipated as countless pirates hindered their progress, caring little for the Marines' vast armada.

The fleet included the ten great battleships designated for a Buster Call. Admiral Sengoku had a sinking feeling as they neared Wano. Just then, a marine officer stepped closer with the latest report. "Admiral Sengoku, we have reports that the Big Mom Pirates have mobilized in force and are nearby. They have sunk both the scout ships monitoring them," he reported.

Sengoku's mood turned sour as he narrowed his gaze toward the flagship, the only World Government ship among the fleet. Unlike other World Government vessels, this ship was a behemoth, a true floating fortress. It had a massive eagle figurehead and, surprisingly, did not sport the World Government's emblem on its sails, which was a mandate for all such ships.

Admiral Sengoku was not the leader of this mission. That position was held by a tall man who wore a white jacket and sat leisurely on the flagship. Despite wearing attire similar to that of other CP0 agents, Sengoku could tell that this man was different. Even Sengoku felt a degree of threat from him.

However, with his face obscured by a mask, Sengoku could not identify him. The reverence with which the other CP0 agents acted around the man indicated he held a high position within the Holy Land.

Sengoku had shared his concerns regarding the dangers of the New World, but the man had ignored all his warnings and simply ordered a siege of Wano once they reached it. However, besieging Wano with ships was a joke. The entire island was surrounded by chaotic waters.

Reckless entry would result in massive losses. Wano was a natural fortress, and if the Samurai were determined to prevent them from reaching the shores, there wasn't much even such a large force could do.

"What about Edward Newgate? Have you received any updates regarding him and his crew?" Sengoku turned to the subordinate and asked.

"None, Sir! We are practically blind after they targeted our scout ships. They could be anywhere in the New World. It has been over a week since we had any information about the main ship of the Whitebeard Pirates. However, there are rumors from within Whitebeard's territories about a massive mobilization," the marine shared, flipping through a folder to find the specific report.

Sengoku's eyes scanned the horizon. "Newgate! Where are you?" he whispered. "Pass on all this new information to the flagship. As much as I would like to proceed with caution, I am not leading this mission. So, go ahead and submit the information," he sighed, turning his attention back to the flagship, where the man lay leisurely on the main deck, toying with a knife.

The sight of the masked figure, so nonchalant amid the growing tension, only deepened Sengoku's unease. The man's calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the high-stakes situation they were in. Sengoku's mind raced through potential scenarios, the impending battle with Wano's samurai, the threat of Big Mom's crew lurking nearby, and the ominous silence from Whitebeard's territory.

As the officer hurried to relay the information, Sengoku couldn't shake the feeling of an impending disaster. The mission's success seemed increasingly precarious, and the absence of solid intelligence only compounded the danger. In the distance, the outline of Wano loomed closer, its turbulent waters a stark reminder of the formidable challenge ahead.

The flagship, a floating fortress, stood as a testament to the World Government's might, yet Sengoku knew all too well that sheer power wasn't enough to conquer Wano. The island was a stronghold of warriors, a place where battles were fought with honor and ferocity unmatched anywhere else. The Marines were venturing into enemy territory, and despite their numbers, victory was far from assured.

Back on the flagship, the masked man remained unfazed, his fingers deftly playing with the knife. His indifference to the unfolding crisis was unsettling, a stark contrast to Sengoku's mounting anxiety. The stage was set for a monumental clash, and as the fleet edged closer to Wano, the tension in the air grew palpable, a silent precursor to the storm of battle that was about to erupt.

Soon enough, the report reached the man's hand, and he just glanced at it and tossed it aside.

"Have the armada speed up," the man commanded, his voice calm but authoritative. "Let the Marines handle the Big Mom Pirates. Have that Marine Admiral deal with the matter and ensure there are no interruptions. Our target is Oden and the Kozuki family."

The CP0 agent standing at attention behind him nodded sharply and left to relay the orders. The man's composure contrasted starkly with the urgency of their mission. His masked face betrayed no emotion, but his words carried the weight of absolute authority.

***************

Dear readers,

Thank you for your continuous support. In the meantime, I request that my readers please spare a few minutes of their precious time if possible and leave their reviews and thoughts about the story so that I can improve upon the story and help it reach more One Piece fans.

For those eager to dive into the next chapters of our One Piece saga before anyone else, I invite you to join me on Patreon. By becoming a patron, you'll not only gain access to exclusive advanced chapters but also play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our narratives and much more.

Currently updated until Chapter 187.

Patreon : www.patreon.com/Silent_stiele