Those great pirates imprisoned within the Eternal Hell…
At that moment, they too heard the sound of destruction coming from the deepest chamber. One by one, their faces changed drastically.
"What's happening? Didn't the Marines say that man was already dead?"
"I don't know, but I'm sure of one thing— even if he's alive, his mind must have shattered long ago."
"Hahahaha… after being locked in this place, the only fun left is watching those old legends lose their sanity one after another."
The pirates who had risen to fame in the new era chatted excitedly.
After all, in this dull and hopeless hell, even the slightest disturbance was enough to stir their interest.
But among them, several of the old-era pirates stared silently toward the deepest room, their expressions solemn and grim.
Compared to these loud newcomers, only those from the old generation truly understood what the Rocks Pirates had once been— the overlords of the seas before Roger's age.
Rocks was the only man before Roger who truly possessed the qualifications to become the Pirate King.
If not for the fact that he had never reached the legendary island of Laugh Tale and was therefore not recognized by the world, it would not be an exaggeration to call Rocks the first Pirate King.
"It's been forty years since that battle… and that man still isn't dead?"
That question echoed in the minds of every veteran pirate present.
A thunderous boom split the air.
The so-called indestructible iron door was kicked open as if it were made of paper.
The massive slab slammed into the wall and exploded on impact.
The pirates standing closest were instantly torn apart, their bodies shredded by a storm of razor-sharp fragments. Blood splattered across the floor in scarlet arcs.
Some didn't even realize what had happened before metal shards pierced their throats, leaving their lifeless faces frozen in confusion.
"Hm? Why did everyone suddenly go silent?"
Chains scraped against the icy floor as Lucian Vale stepped out of the darkness.
It was the first time in decades that he had walked beyond the walls of his cell.
And it was also the first time the other prisoners had laid eyes on him.
"Impossible…"
A pirate with curved horns and blue fur stared wide-eyed, his voice trembling with disbelief.
It was as though he were witnessing something that should not exist.
All across the Eternal Hell, the pirates stared at Lucian's face— and then, chaos erupted.
They all knew that this cell had belonged to a pirate from the old era— one of monstrous strength and infamous legend.
Even the World Government had never dared to completely deny that.
But what shocked them most was his appearance.
Bathed in the power of the Hōgyoku for decades, Lucian's strength had grown immeasurable, while his body remained exactly as it had been forty years ago— at the height of his prime. Not a single wrinkle, not a trace of age.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have obtained 66 reputation points."
"Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have obtained 102 reputation points."
"Ding! Congratulations…"
Cold mechanical voices echoed in Lucian's mind, and within three minutes, nearly a thousand reputation points were recorded.
"Heh… earning reputation points doesn't seem difficult at all," Lucian whispered to himself, a faint smile touching his lips.
He began walking toward the legendary pirates who had once ruled the seas.
"Bundy Waldo… after all these years, you still look as pitiful as ever."
Meanwhile, on the first floor of Impel Down, the Marine in charge of surveillance stared at the Den Den Mushi screen showing Level Six— his eyes wide with horror.
Without hesitation, he snatched up the transponder snail and shouted into it.
"Warden! Something terrible's happened! Level Six is in chaos!"
Hearing that, Magellan— who had been wiping away the poison dripping from his chin— froze mid-motion. His expression hardened.
"Calm down. Tell me exactly what's going on."
The Marine forced himself to steady his breathing and quickly described everything he had seen on the monitor.
"What?! The man who hasn't moved for decades… walked out?"
Magellan's voice rose sharply. Purple venom began dripping from his body like rain.
"I understand. Notify Hannyabal. Tell him to bring everyone down to Level Six. Before those pirates have a chance to react, subdue them all."
He slammed the receiver down, then paused. After a brief moment of thought, Magellan reached for another Den Den Mushi— one with a seagull-shaped hat.
"Hello? Sengoku speaking. Magellan, what's happened?"
The calm yet commanding voice of Fleet Admiral Sengoku came from the other end.
"Sengoku-san… the man you asked me to keep watch over in Level Six… something's happened."
Magellan's voice was low and grave.
"What? After all these years— how could anything still happen?"
Even though Sengoku's tone remained steady, Magellan could sense the tension beneath it.
Without leaving out a single detail, he explained everything he had witnessed.
"I understand. So he hasn't attempted to escape yet…"
Sengoku's voice dropped lower. "That man's identity is far from ordinary. Just in case, I'll send an Admiral to back you up."
"Before they arrive, Magellan— no matter what methods you use, you must suppress the prison. Not a single mistake is allowed."
The line went dead.
Magellan's eyes flickered with resolve. He put the Den Den Mushi aside and immediately rushed toward the Eternal Hell.
Marine Headquarters, Marineford— inside the Fleet Admiral's office.
An old man with white hair reclined lazily in his chair, munching on a bag of senbei. Every few seconds, he popped another handful into his mouth, his expression one of pure satisfaction.
Beside him sat a man in a yellow striped suit, trimming his nails with a bored expression while watching Sengoku pace restlessly around the room.
These two men were none other than Marine Hero Garp and Admiral Kizaru.
"Sengoku, this isn't like you at all. What's got you so riled up?" Garp asked casually, crumbs of senbei dusting his chin.
"The man you and I had to work together to throw into Impel Down decades ago… has awakened."
Sengoku's voice was calm, but heavy— the weight of old battles and buried fears hanging behind every word.
Garp froze mid-bite, the crunch of senbei echoing in the silence.
Kizaru glanced up, his lazy demeanor fading just slightly. Without another word, he stood, adjusted his coat, and with a languid sigh, began giving orders.
Within minutes, his fleet set sail for Impel Down.
And somewhere deep beneath the sea, in the heart of Eternal Hell, the laughter of a man forgotten by history continued to echo— steady, mocking, and full of promise.
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T/N:
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