Free

The escape plan was in full motion as Luffy, Crocodile, Jinbei, Gaku, and Ivankov fought their way through the hordes of Impel Down guards. With Magellan nowhere in sight, the group seized the opportunity to overwhelm their captors using their combined strength, creating an unstoppable force.

As the guards swarmed, each member of the group showcased their unique abilities.

Crocodile was the first to step forward, casually taking multiple bullets that left clean holes in his sandy form. "You'll have to try harder than that," he sneered, his hand forming a sharp swirl of sand. "Barchan!" he roared, the blade of sand slicing through a group of guards and draining them of moisture in an instant.

Luffy leapt into the air, his fists clenched. "Gomu Gomu no... Rain!" A barrage of punches rained down from above, knocking out a massive wave of guards as they collapsed under the relentless assault.

Jinbei then stepped forward, his towering presence intimidating the remaining guards. With a deep breath, he performed a Fish-Man Karate move, punching the air before him. For a moment, it seemed like nothing happened, but then guards began stumbling backward, their bodies twisting unnaturally before being blasted away by a delayed shockwave of water vapor.

Meanwhile, Gaku was surrounded. He cracked his neck, a faint smirk on his face. "Let's test this out." Planting his left hand on the ground, he spun on his palm, using his right leg to perform a spinning Rankyaku variation. The slicing wind tore through the closest guards, severing them cleanly, leaving the survivors trembling in terror.

"This is impossible!" one guard stammered. "How do we fight them? A rookie with a 300-million bounty, two Warlords, a Revolutionary commander, and the Reaper himself?"

The group pushed forward, their strength and determination unrelenting. They reached the scorching heat of Level 4, the air heavy and suffocating. Gaku frowned, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Honestly, Level 6 was starting to feel cozy compared to this." He tried to enlighten the mood but was met with nothing but silence.

Their ranks grew as Ivankov and his forces joined them, having freed prisoners along the way, including the ever-cheerful Mr. 2. And the ever-serious Mr. 1. But their progress was halted when high-ranking guards ambushed them.

"Strawhat-boy!" Ivankov called out. "You and the others go ahead! We'll take care of this!"

Luffy nodded, trusting Ivankov's decision. With Gaku and Inazuma by his side, they carved a path forward, using Inazuma's scissors to slice through obstacles

At the exit to Level 4, they were met by Vice Director Hannyabal, standing tall and serious. "None of you will get past me!" he declared, his usual goofy demeanor replaced by rare resolve.

The guards behind him murmured nervously. "Is this another disguise by Mr. 2? He's acting so... competent."

Luffy didn't wait for an explanation and launched a punch, but to his surprise, Hannyabal blocked it. "I'm not going to let you escape!"

Before Hannyabal could press his counter, Gaku blitzed forward, his speed overwhelming. With a sharp kick, he stomped Hannyabal's face into the ground, rendering him unconscious instantly.

The guards froze in terror as Gaku straightened. "I'm not wasting my time on small fry."

The guards instinctively backed away, leaving the path clear—until a dark laugh echoed through the air.

"Zehahaha!" The ominous laugh filled the chamber as the remaining guards were pulled into a swirling black void, only to be flung away by a dark tornado. Emerging from the shadows was Blackbeard, his massive figure flanked by his crew: Van Augur, Burgess, Lafitte, and Doc Q.

"Cruel, don't you think, Reaper?" Teach said, his grin wide as he addressed Gaku, who narrowed his eyes at the unexpected arrival.

Jinbei's expression darkened. "Teach... Or should I call you Blackbeard?"

Luffy's fists clenched as he recognized the man from Jaya. "Blackbeard... You're the one who captured Ace!"

Teach laughed. "Ah, so you know! I was wondering when the brother of Ace would show up. Zehahaha!" He stepped forward. "Strawhat, you've been lucky so far, you know that? I was gonna use you to claim Crocodile's spot as a Warlord. But fate saved you when Ace came looking for me instead."

The members of Blackbeard's crew chimed in. Van Augur coolly commented, "Fate has peculiar designs, doesn't it?"

Doc Q smirked, his sickly voice dripping with irony. "Luck seems to follow you, boy. But luck runs out."

Burgess let out a booming laugh. "Your brother fought well, but it's thanks to him that you're still alive."

Blackbeard's grin widened. "You should be thanking Ace. If it weren't for him, you'd be the one heading to execution."

Luffy's fury boiled over as he stepped forward. Steam began to rise from his body as he activated Gear Second. "Shut up! If you're gonna kill me, do it now!" he shouted, slamming his left palm into his right fist and crouching into a striking pose.

Blackbeard raised a curious brow, his grin faltering. "What are you—"

"Gomu Gomu no... Jet Pistol!" Luffy vanished in an instant, reappearing before Teach and slamming a powerful punch into his chest. The force sent Blackbeard flying back, crashing into the stone wall behind him.

Gaku let out a huge whistle, impressed by the quick reaction of Luffy's part, he gazed at the paining Blackbeard who was rolling around trying to ease the pain he felt from Luffy's punch.

Gaku was a observant enough to see that Teach was a weird man. From what I sensed Ace's leagues above Luffy, so how did he managed to beat and capture Ace with a body like this?  He quickly realized that it was weird of the man who beat up Ace to not only be unable to react to an attack like that but showcasing a huge amount of pain from it as well.

Well, not that I really care.

Blackbeard staggered back to his feet, blood trickling down his forehead, but his grin remained unwavering. The dark aura of his Yami Yami no Mi swirled around him, covering his body in a pitch-black vortex. "You're good, Strawhat," he said, his voice booming. "But you're about to see why this power is feared."

Luffy, still in Gear Second, launched himself into the air, preparing another Jet Pistol. But before he could land the blow, Blackbeard countered with Black Vortex. The gravitational pull was irresistible—Luffy was yanked out of his attack mid-air and dragged straight into Teach's waiting grasp.

"Luffy!" Mr. 2 cried out in alarm as Blackbeard slammed Luffy into the ground with brutal force. Dust erupted around them, and a pained gasp escaped Luffy as blood spilled from his mouth.

Crocodile narrowed his eyes, his tone sharp with disbelief. "Rubber doesn't bleed. What kind of power is this?"

Luffy coughed and pushed himself up, his body trembling slightly. Activating Gear Second again, he wiped the blood from his mouth, but his hand froze when he saw it. "I'm bleeding?" he muttered in shock.

Teach's deep laugh echoed through the chamber. "Zehahaha! You still don't get it, do you? That's right—Ace made the same face when he realized the truth."

Luffy glared at him, his fists clenched. "What truth?"

"That Devil Fruit powers are useless against me!" Teach bellowed, his grin wide. "Your rubber body? It's just skin and bones when I touch you. You can't escape my darkness!"

Luffy gritted his teeth and prepared to charge, his rage boiling over. But before he could act, Jinbei stepped between them, holding Luffy back with a firm grip. "Stop this, Strawhat. Now is not the time for this fight."

"Let me go, Jinbei!" Luffy roared, struggling against him like a cornered animal. His voice was raw with emotion. "Move! I'm going to finish him!"

Jinbei didn't budge, his voice calm but commanding. "And what will that accomplish? What is your priority, Luffy? Think clearly!"

Luffy froze at the question, his breath ragged. Slowly, Jinbei eased his grip, his steady gaze keeping Luffy grounded. "This man, even when he was part of Whitebeard's crew, was a mystery. He's dangerous, and he wields a power that overpowered Ace. Don't let your anger cloud your judgment."

Luffy took a deep breath, his Gear Second dissipating as his body relaxed. Blackbeard smirked, releasing his dark power as well. "You've grown stronger, Strawhat," Teach said. "Your Haki's improved since the last time I saw you."

Before the tension could escalate again, an explosion erupted behind them. Dust and debris filled the air, and Ivankov cursed. "Magellan's here!"

Gaku immediately assessed the situation. "We're out of time," he said grimly, his expression unchanging. "We need to move."

Ivankov turned to Luffy and the others. "Go! I'll stay and hold him off. If you take another dose of his poison, you're done for!"

The prisoners panicked, shouting for everyone to head to the staircase. Blackbeard casually stepped aside, letting the chaos unfold. "You've caused quite the ruckus, Strawhat," he said with a grin. "Made my job a lot easier."

As the group ran toward the staircase, they encountered the Minotaur, standing menacingly in their path. Mr. 2 froze, his face pale. "That thing again! Last time, I threw everything at it and couldn't bring it down!"

The prisoners groaned in despair. "We're doomed! We can't get past him!"

Luffy stepped forward, his face calm and determined. "Get back," he ordered.

Mr. 2 started to protest, but Jinbei cut him off. "Don't interfere. Let him handle this."

"But—"

Jinbei's tone was firm. "Trust him."

The Minotaur recognized Luffy immediately, snarling as he raised his massive hammer. Luffy's eyes sharpened. As the hammer came down, he activated Gear Second once more, his body steaming as he vanished in a blur of speed.

"Gomu Gomu no... Jet Pistol!" Luffy shouted, slamming his fist into the Minotaur's torso. The impact sent the hulking beast crashing into the wall, rendering it unconscious in a single blow.

The prisoners gaped in shock, their fear momentarily forgotten. "He took it down in one hit..." someone whispered.

Gaku didn't wait for the awe to settle. "Let's go," he said, his tone matter-of-fact. "Magellan's on his way, and I'd rather not meet him."

The group surged forward, racing up the stairs. Blackbeard called after them, his grin as wide as ever. "Strawhat! You'd better keep going if you want to save Ace. And remember—everything in this world is possible! Zehahaha!"

Luffy paused for a moment, looking back. Teach's voice grew louder as he added, "The One Piece is real! Open your eyes, because we're about to show the world something it'll never forget!"

As Blackbeard and his crew walked away, Teach glanced at Gaku. "Reaper, if you ever feel like making history, you know where to find me."

Gaku shrugged, his voice dry. "Sounds troublesome. I'll pass."

Teach chuckled as he disappeared into the chaos. Jinbei placed a hand on Luffy's shoulder. "Ignore him. Focus on what matters."

Luffy nodded, his resolve stronger than ever. "I'm going to save Ace. No matter what."

While climbing the stairs to the next level, the group suddenly heard Magellan's furious voice echoing through the corridors:

"Straw Hat! I won't let you escape!"

His menacing yell sent shivers through some of the prisoners. Before they could process it, two massive poison dragons materialized behind them, roaring as they surged forward. The group ran frantically, not daring to look back.

Even though not all of them were fast enough to outrun Magellan's relentless pursuit, they managed to reach the cleared path leading to Level 3. Racing up the stairs toward Level 2, they realized something was wrong. Ivankov and Inazuma had stayed behind to buy time, but soon, a deafening crash echoed behind them.

Magellan's voice rang out again, his words dripping with venomous resolve. He had broken through their defenses. Gaku, sharp-eyed as ever, was the first to realize what had happened. He turned to the group and barked, "Keep moving if you want to stay alive!"

As they neared Level 2, they coincidentally ran into Buggy and Mr. 3's group, who had also been fleeing Magellan. Quickly joining forces, they moved toward their shared goal of escape.

But their relief was short-lived. Magellan's chilling yell came again, "Hydra!" His two-headed poison dragon lashed out, barreling toward the group.

Luffy's face darkened as he pieced things together. "Ivankov and Inazuma didn't stop him..." he muttered, anger building in his voice.

Gaku, ever pragmatic, tried to ground him. "Don't waste their sacrifice. Keep moving!"

Luffy wasn't hearing it. His fists clenched in rage, and he began to slow, ready to confront Magellan. Mr. 2, panicked, tried to reason with him. "Do you even remember what happened last time you faced him? You nearly died!"

Luffy glared back, yelling, "I'm still alive, aren't I?!"

Jinbei, overhearing the argument, stepped in with urgency. "Straw Hat! There's no time for this. If we don't keep going now, none of us are escaping. Your brother is waiting!" His words, backed by Gaku, finally struck a chord with Luffy.

But just as Luffy began to move forward again, Magellan unleashed his Hydra attack at the group. Everyone braced for the worst. To their shock, Mr. 3 created a massive wax wall, blocking the Hydra's advance.

Magellan, visibly irritated, muttered, "Wax... Of course. A perfect counter to my poison."

Mr. 3, straining under the effort, yelled, "I can't hold this for long! Go! All of you!"

Luffy quickly asked Jinbei if the plan to escape was still to take a Marine ship. Jinbei confirmed it with a nod. Luffy made a decision. "Go ahead, Jinbei. I've got a plan!"

Jinbei hesitated for a moment but trusted Luffy's resolve. "Don't take too long!" He turned and led the prisoners toward Level 0.

Meanwhile, Gaku stayed behind, sensing something in Luffy's demeanor. Luffy grabbed Mr. 3 and whispered his plan. Gaku interrupted Luffy mid-plan with a firm voice, "It won't be necessary."

Luffy and Mr. 3 both turned to him in confusion. "What do you mean?!" Luffy shouted, his fists still clenched.

Gaku stepped forward, his expression calm but resolute. "I'll handle this. You two run. Now."

"That's insane!" Mr. 3 exclaimed. "You saw what Magellan does to the ones he catch!"

Luffy, visibly torn, looked at Gaku. "You can't take him on your own! Let me fight too!"

But Gaku shook his head, his voice steady but commanding. "Listen, Straw Hat. Your goal is Ace. Not Magellan. I can gain you the time you need. Trust me."

Luffy hesitated, his instincts screaming against leaving someone behind. But Gaku's unwavering gaze finally convinced him. "Fine... Don't lose."

Gaku smirked. "I don't plan to."

Mr. 3 looked back nervously before turning to follow Luffy. "I hope you know what you're doing..."

As Luffy and Mr. 3 raced toward the exit, Magellan's menacing presence loomed larger. "So, you're staying behind to face me?" Magellan asked, his voice dripping with contempt.

Gaku rolled his shoulders and cracked his neck, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather. "Yeah, figured someone ought to keep you busy."

Magellan's eyes narrowed as his poison began to swirl around him, forming two massive Hydra heads. "Foolish. You'll regret this decision."

But Gaku didn't flinch. Instead, he shifted into a fighting stance, his calm demeanor masking the intense focus burning within. "You talk too much. Let's see if you're as dangerous as everyone says."

Magellan lunged forward, his poison hydras snapping at Gaku with lethal intent. Gaku moved like a blur, sidestepping the first attack and leaping over the second. With a quick twist, he closed the distance and delivered a powerful Haki-infused kick to Magellan's side, sending the warden staggering back.

Magellan gritted his teeth, surprised by Gaku's speed and strength. "Impressive. But you're still doomed."

"You sure about that?" Gaku replied coolly, keeping his eyes locked on Magellan as the warden readied another attack.

The battle intensified as Gaku skillfully evaded Magellan's poison-based assaults, his movements precise and calculated. Each clash echoed through the halls of Impel Down, the sheer force of their battle shaking the structure.

Magellan's poison hydras lashed out with frightening speed, one of them finally catching Gaku off-guard. The hydra slammed into his left side, coiling around him and releasing its lethal venom.

Gaku grunted in pain as the corrosive liquid sizzled on his skin, the smell of burning flesh filling the air. Magellan smirked, convinced he had gained the upper hand.

"You should've run while you had the chance," Magellan said coldly. "My poison is absolute. No one escapes it alive."

But to his shock, Gaku didn't fall. Instead, he brushed the sizzling poison off his body like dust, his skin burned but his movements unaffected.

Magellan's eyes widened. "What...? How are you still standing?"

Gaku straightened up, his calm demeanor intact. "You think you're the only one who's dangerous? I've been through hell worse than this."

He flexed his muscles, steam rising as his body seemed to adapt to the poison. "Turns out, I've got a little resistance to toxins. Your poison burns, sure, but it won't kill me before I take you down."

Magellan's smirk disappeared, replaced by a look of irritation. "Resistance or not, you'll break eventually. Let's test your limits."

The warden raised both arms, his poison swirling around him like a storm. "If my Hydra isn't enough, then you'll face my true power."

The air grew heavy with a suffocating, noxious miasma as Magellan began to transform. His body expanded, covered in a dense layer of boiling poison that bubbled and oozed like molten lava. The terrifying form loomed over Gaku as the venom demon, "Kinjite," took shape.

"Venom Demon!" Magellan roared, his voice echoing through the prison. The toxic aura spread across the floor, walls, and ceiling, melting everything it touched.

Gaku clicked his tongue, his usual relaxed demeanor giving way to a more serious expression. "You just had to kick it up a notch, huh?"

Magellan advanced, the ground beneath him dissolving with each step. Gaku leapt to higher ground, his mind racing. He could feel the sheer heat of the poison demon even from a distance.

"If this stuff touches me, resistance or not, I'm done for," Gaku muttered.

Magellan's venom demon lashed out with massive tendrils, forcing Gaku to stay on the move. He used his agility and speed to evade, but the poisonous tendrils kept closing in. One strike narrowly missed him, and the wall behind him melted into a gaping hole.

"Your speed won't save you forever," Magellan taunted. "This entire level will become a toxic wasteland."

Gaku gritted his teeth, realizing he couldn't just evade forever. He needed a strategy—and fast.

He charged at Magellan, his movements precise and deliberate. Using the melted terrain to his advantage, Gaku kicked a chunk of rubble toward Magellan's face, momentarily disrupting the warden's focus. Seizing the opportunity, he closed the distance and unleashed a powerful flurry of Haki-infused strikes on Magellan's chest.

The impact forced Magellan to stagger, his venom demon form faltering slightly. But Gaku could feel the intense heat of the poison even through his Haki.

"Not bad," Magellan admitted, recovering quickly. "But you'll tire before I do."

Gaku smirked, his breathing heavy but steady. "You'd be surprised how much stamina I've got."

The battle raged on, Gaku pushing himself to his limits to keep Magellan occupied, buying precious time for Luffy and the others. But as the poison-filled air grew thicker and the venom demon's attacks more relentless, Gaku knew he was running out of options.

As the battle raged on, Gaku knew he couldn't keep up with Magellan's relentless assault for much longer. The venom demon's attacks were turning the battlefield into a hellscape, and even with his poison resistance, the heat and toxicity of the environment were starting to wear him down.

Magellan struck again, a massive tendril of boiling poison slamming into the ground just inches away from Gaku. The shockwave sent him sprawling backward, skidding across the melting floor. He coughed, the acrid air burning his lungs.

"Still standing?" Magellan growled, his voice echoing ominously. "You're more stubborn than most. But this is where it ends."

Gaku staggered to his feet, a smirk still on his face despite the dire situation. "Yeah, I don't think so," he said, spitting blood. "I've got better things to do than die in this dump."

With that, Gaku turned and sprinted toward the nearest opening, using his Geppo to leap into the air, kicking off invisible platforms with each step. Magellan's eyes widened in frustration as he watched Gaku ascend.

"Running, are we?" Magellan snarled, launching a barrage of poison tendrils after him. "You won't escape me!"

Gaku twisted and flipped midair, dodging the deadly attacks with precision. "You're welcome to try, big guy," he taunted, his voice carrying over the chaos.

The towering warden followed him, his venom demon trailing a path of destruction as he climbed the stairs and platforms in pursuit. Gaku's sharp eyes scanned the horizon, desperately searching for any sign of Luffy or the others. But he saw no trace of them—no familiar figures, no sounds of battle, nothing.

"They must've gotten ahead," Gaku muttered, his brow furrowing. "Guess it's just me now."

As he soared higher, the open sky of Impel Down's exterior came into view. The cold wind hit his face, a stark contrast to the scorching heat of the poisonous hell he had just escaped. Below, he could hear Magellan's furious roars echoing up the prison.

Gaku's gaze swept across the ocean, and his heart sank. There were no ships in sight—none from the prison, and no sign of Luffy's escape. But then, his keen senses picked up on something in the distance: a Marine ship patrolling near the fortress.

"There we go," Gaku said with a determined grin. He adjusted his trajectory and shot toward the ship, using his Geppo to propel himself through the air like a missile.

Behind him, Magellan emerged from the fortress, his form still cloaked in the venom demon. "You won't get away!" Magellan roared, launching another hydra toward Gaku.

The attack fell short, the tendrils dissipating harmlessly in the ocean. Magellan cursed under his breath, his rage boiling over. "Straw Hat and that bounty hunter... I won't forgive this."

Gaku landed on the Marine ship with a resounding crash, startling the crew onboard. Before they could react, he moved with ruthless efficiency, dispatching the soldiers one by one. The air filled with the sound of steel clashing and bodies hitting the deck as Gaku tore through the resistance, his exhaustion evident but his resolve unwavering.

Within minutes, the ship was his. He stood at the helm, the wind whipping around him as he surveyed the vast ocean.

But as the adrenaline wore off, a new problem presented itself. "Alright," Gaku muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Now what?"

He looked at the horizon, scratching his head in frustration. He had no idea where Marineford was or how to navigate there.

"How the hell am I supposed to find Straw hat now?" he said aloud, slumping against the railing.

For the first time in a while, Gaku felt a pang of uncertainty. He had escaped death, defied Magellan, and stolen a Marine ship—but now, he was in the maelstrom that joined Impel Down, Enies Lobby and Marineford, although he didn't know it.