novelhk Chapter 218 A Mad Ambition: Conquering Impel Down
Chapter 218 A Mad Ambition: Conquering Impel Down
Chapter 218 A Mad Ambition: Conquering Impel Down
On the ruins of the Gate of Justice, the smoke and poisonous fog have not yet completely dissipated.
However, the offensive and defensive momentum at the city gates had already reversed.
Under the relentless onslaught of the drunken Captain John, Commissioner Magellan was already struggling to defend himself.
Captain John's swordsmanship may seem chaotic, but it is extremely ruthless and skilled, with each strike containing savagery and a murderous intent.
His seemingly unsteady, drunken gait actually concealed a secret: each step was precisely placed between the gaps where the venom was penetrating.
The bloody longsword, as it was swung, not only tore through the air but also seemed to erode one's spirit.
The purple poisonous dragon roared and pounced, but he always managed to dodge it by the slightest margin, or block it with the blood-red longsword that seemed to absorb energy impacts.
The venom splattered on the surrounding ground and walls, corroding and producing plumes of white smoke, but it could not reach his body.
"Tsk—kid, your poison skills aren't as good as the previous one; it's just for show."
Captain John, while dodging, leisurely gulped down a shot of wine, his drunken eyes gleaming with a cruel light.
"Nothing beats my aged rum! You should try my hangover soup!"
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly darted forward, closing the distance like a ghost. His blood-stained longsword transformed into a streak of purplish-red lightning, piercing straight for Magellan's heart!
Magellan's pupils contracted, and he crossed his arms, instantly conjuring a thick shield of venom in front of him.
"Poison Cloud Wall!"
Sword and shield clashed, producing a dull, resounding crash.
The poison shield fluctuated violently, and was actually pierced inward by the violent power contained in the sword tip, with cracks even appearing at the edges!
Magellan grunted, feeling a powerful impact through the poison shield that made his arm go numb.
He was horrified; the opponent's strength and grasp of timing in battle far surpassed any pirate he had ever encountered!
"puff!"
Magellan was caught off guard, and the blade slashed his shoulder blade, leaving a deep gash that exposed the bone. Purple poisonous blood gushed out along with bright red blood. He groaned and staggered backward.
"Hehehehe—kid, you can't hold on already? Looks like your poison is still too weak for us who've died once."
The smuggling pirate Ganzi's chilling voice, like a venomous snake, rang out from the shadows behind Magellan.
He had stealthily arrived here without anyone noticing, and the longsword in his hand, gleaming with a ghostly green poisonous light, exuded a deadly aura.
This move was silent and deadly, striking Magellan directly in the back!
Magellan was besieged on all sides! He was surrounded by tigers in front and venomous snakes behind!
"Chief!!" Hannibal cried out in horror, wanting to rush forward to help.
Unexpectedly, he was violently blasted away by the shockwave from Gilbasda's casual axe swing, crashing into the wall, spitting blood, and unable to move.
Magellan struggled to condense a poison shield behind him, but with a crack, the shield was easily pierced by Ganzi!
The longsword contained a more insidious and treacherous corrosive energy.
"It's over!" Captain John grinned maliciously, his blood-stained longsword darting out like a venomous snake, aiming straight for Magellan's heart!
At this critical moment, a resolute glint flashed in Magellan's eyes.
He knew that he could no longer hold back at this moment!
These two terrifying devils of the old era, these two wicked pirates, must never be allowed to point their fangs at their colleagues and civilians!
He roared furiously, his body churning with venom, ready to detonate all the toxins at any cost, even if it meant mutual destruction, to leave these two terrifying undead behind!
That's enough.
A calm yet imbued voice rang out. It was the Earl.
As he spoke, a force field that seemed to freeze time and space instantly enveloped the center of the battlefield.
Captain John's sword, Ganzi's sword, and even the restless venom within Magellan's body all froze for an extremely brief moment!
In that moment of stillness, a faint ray of darkness struck first, precisely landing on Magellan's forehead.
Magellan's body stiffened abruptly, the light in his eyes dimmed rapidly, and the condensed venom spread uncontrollably across his body, only to be forcibly devoured by that dark power.
He opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something.
But in the end, he could only collapse to the ground with endless resentment and humiliation, his massive body rapidly weakening, his life hanging in the balance.
"Warden!!!" The remaining prison guards of Impel Down cried out in despair.
That last line of psychological defense collapsed completely with Magellan's fall.
The sound of faith collapsing is more deafening than the crashing of the gates of justice shattering.
Their last pillar has fallen.
"Hahaha!! Well done, Earl!"
The black-bearded man spread his arms and let out a deafening laugh that echoed through the empty and dilapidated entrance hall, filled with the triumph of a conqueror.
"See that?! This is what happens when you defy me! Those who obey me prosper, those who defy me perish!"
With Magellan's fall, the already crumbling morale of the Impel Down garrison completely collapsed.
The prison guard beasts were easily torn apart by Kilbada's ferocious power, and the prison guards either fled or fell down due to Ganzi's elusive assassinations and Captain John's unbridled slaughter.
The entire Level 1 Crimson Hell and Level 2 Beast Hell were completely eradicated in a very short time.
The spark of resistance was extinguished completely, leaving only the ashes of despair.
Shiryu of the Rain stood beside the black-bearded man, coldly watching everything unfold, a cruel smile playing on his lips.
The thunder and rain in his hands yearn to drink blood, and here, an endless feast will be offered.
He glanced meaningfully at Ryoma beside him, who still had an empty look in his eyes.
Shiryu's lips curled into a smile. Sooner or later, he would kill this guy with his own hands and see what the blood of a Heroic Spirit was really like.
Rider Columbus crouched beside Magellan's fallen body, curiously kicking it with his foot, a playful expression on his face.
"Magellan—tsk tsk, what a fine name."
"It reminds me of that fellow countryman who was the first to circumnavigate the globe. I wonder if using this director's corpse will summon our world's navigator, or this world's poisoner?"
"Admiral, are you interested in giving it a try? Maybe we can open up a new sea route?"
Upon hearing this, a flicker of interest flashed in Blackbeard's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by a greater ambition.
"Hahaha! No rush, Columbus! We should save the best for last! Right now, we have more important things to do!"
He waved his hand dismissively: "Men! Open all the doors on the lower floors! Bring out everyone who's still breathing!"
In LEVEL 3, the Hunger Hell; LEVEL 4, the Scorching Hell; and even LEVEL 5, the Extreme Cold Hell.
When the imprisoned pirates first sensed the violent tremors and sounds of battle above, most of them were dismissive and mocking.
"Hmph, which fool is coming to their death again?"
"I heard it's Blackbeard. That guy participated in the Holy Grail War and has Heroic Spirits. He might actually be able to break through."
"What nonsense! Magellan, that monster, isn't so easy to deal with."
They had long been accustomed to despair and did not believe that anyone could truly shake this impregnable fortress.
However, as the tremors grew more intense, and the faint sounds of prison guards running and screaming could be heard, a ripple began to stir in the hearts of some prisoners.
"This time—it seems a little different?"
"This commotion is huge! What on earth happened up there?"
When the heavy gates of Level 4, the scorching hell, were cleaved open by Gilbass's axe, and when the frozen gates of Level 5, the frigid hell, were violently smashed by Captain John.
When the members of the Blackbeard Pirates and those heroic spirits exuding a terrifying aura appeared before them, the prisoners went from surprise and doubt to unbelievable ecstasy!
"The door—the door is open?!"
"It's Blackbeard! Blackbeard, a participant in the Holy Grail War!!"
"He really broke in! Yes, he has heroic spirits! We—we have a chance to get out!!"
Hope, like wildfire, spread through the abyss of despair.
The prisoners poured out of their cells in a frenzy, some even weeping with joy.
The atmosphere reached its climax when Blackbeard and his group arrived at Level 6, the Infinite Hell, and released the monsters bound by Seastone chains.
"Waaaaah!! I'm free! I'm finally free!"
The colossal warship San Juan Wolf roared deafeningly, its massive body almost filling the passageway.
"Blackbeard—you did a good job. I didn't expect there would actually be an idiot who managed to breach Impel Down."
The tyrannical king, Abaro Pizarro, stretched his limbs, his narrow eyes scrutinizing the black-bearded man and the heroic spirits behind him, a hint of apprehension and assessment flashing in his eyes.
"Liquor—give me liquor! The best rum!" Basque Chote, the big barrel-sized liquor maker, yelled.
Captain John's gaze, resting beneath his tousled purple hair, suddenly became interested.
"Hey kid, try this. What do you think of it?"
The two drunkards hit it off immediately, and their laughter never stopped.
The Moon Hunter, Katrin Dermei, let out a charming yet dangerous laugh.
"Wow, wow, wow~ We really have some very important gentlemen here~"
Her gaze swept over the male members of the Blackbeard Pirates, finally settling on the Earl, whose aura was unfathomable, and she licked her lips.
These Level 6 repeat offenders may have been somewhat arrogant at first.
But when they sensed the soul-chilling aura emanating from Captain John, Ganzi, Gilbasda, Longma, and especially the Earl, their arrogance quickly subsided.
Instead, there is a recognition of absolute power and—awe.
Inside the Impel Down control room, Blackbeard watched the chaotic scene on the monitor screens, a scene that was now completely under his control, as his men excitedly reported their gains.
It contains a large number of prisoners, captured weapons, and Impel Down's own vast reserves of supplies.
"Admiral! We've struck it rich! So many powerful subordinates! We'll be sea emperors when we return to the New World!"
Fighting champion Bages excitedly waved his fist.
"Zehahaha! That's right! Burgess, but—" The black-bearded man's laughter stopped, and his eyes flashed with a crazy yet wise light.
"I think simply taking these people away isn't enough!"
He whirled around to the count: "What do you think about us turning this place into our territory?"
Upon hearing this, even the Count, who was used to seeing all sorts of things, showed a barely perceptible surprise in his eyes, which quickly turned into admiration.
Captain John, Ganzi, and other heroic spirits also glanced sideways, their gazes towards the black-bearded man becoming less casual and more scrutinizing.
Impel Down, which occupies one of the three major strongholds of the World Government?
This madness and boldness do indeed bear some resemblance to their old captain back in the day.
"Admiral—you mean?" Lafit seemed to understand something, his voice trembling with excitement.
"That's right!" Blackbeard walked up to the radio Den Den Mushi and took a deep breath.
Then, his ambitious and inflammatory voice was broadcast throughout every corner of Impel Down.
It was also transmitted to all channels that the outside world might be able to listen to.
"Listen up! All you guys who have just gained your freedom! And my crew!"
"From this day forward! This underwater prison is no longer some worthless Impel Down, it's called—Pirate Castle!"
From this day forward, this is my territory! This is a gift from the World Government to me!
His voice boomed like thunder, exploding in the ears of all the prisoners and the black-bearded crew, and immediately sparked a frenzied cheer that was like a tsunami!
"Do those arrogant bastards in the World Government think they can keep us locked up in this dark, sunless place forever?"
"Today, I'll tell them! Times have changed! I'll set up camp right under their noses!"
What can they do to me?
"It's time for us to take control of this ocean!"
"Anyone willing to follow me and tear a hole in this place, stay! Build this place into the strongest fortress for me!"
"Those who don't want to can get lost now, but next time we meet, we'll be enemies!"
No prisoner chose to leave. After enduring hellish imprisonment, such a powerful and mad protector, and such a fortified base, were the stuff of dreams they had ever had!
They all knelt down to show their loyalty.
Even the surviving jailers who had chosen to surrender, under the threat of death and the seduction of the black-bearded man, began to serve their new masters with trepidation, their roles completely reversed.
While the villains of LEVEL6 may not be truly submissive, the power and influence Blackbeard has displayed right now undoubtedly make him their best option.
In a secluded corner of LEVEL4, several figures huddled together.
These were Mr. 1 Daz Bonis, Mr. 2 von Clay, Mr. 3 Gardino, and others from the former Baroque Works.
After being touched by Tescatlipoca in Alabasta, they were briefly mutated. Although they have now regained their senses, their power has become somewhat strange and unstable.
They looked at the dramatic changes outside, their feelings were complicated.
"Seriously, Crocodile, where have you been?!" Mr. 1 said in a deep voice.
Meanwhile, at Marineford, the Naval Headquarters.
The Sengoku Marshal's Den Den Mushi receiver creaked under his grip, his face was ashen, and his body trembled slightly with extreme anger.
He had just received the devastating news that Impel Down had been completely captured, Magellan's fate was unknown, and Blackbeard had openly declared that he had taken over Impel Down and renamed it Pirate Castle!
"Black—beard—!!!" Sengoku's roar almost lifted the roof off the marshal's office.
The entire Marineford was deathly silent, and all the generals looked horrified.
To occupy Impel Down?!
This is no longer a simple prison break or robbery; it is a blatant provocation and trampling on the foundations of the world government's rule!
This is an act of madness never before seen since the beginning of the Great Pirate Era!
The news spread like wildfire throughout the world, leaving all powers reeling from this bombshell.
Deep within that cursed sea, now under different ownership, Blackbeard stood on the platform that once belonged to the director.
He looked down at the bustling, submissive, or trembling masses at his feet and let out an even more rampant laugh.
"Hahaha!!! Did you see that?! This world will eventually belong to me!!!"