บท 147: Escape from Eternal Hell: A Clash of Shadows and Darkness

The air was thick with tension as Luffy's group barreled through the dimly lit corridors of Impel Down, their fierce determination driving them through every obstacle. Their destination was Level 6—Eternal Hell, where the most dangerous and infamous criminals were kept under extreme isolation. As they reached the floor's main area, Luffy's heart pounded as he called out in desperation, "ACE! Where are you?"

The response was only a haunting silence, and dread started to settle within Luffy. His eyes darted through the darkness until they caught sight of a lone figure in a cell—Jinbe, the former Warlord of the Sea.

"He's already been taken, Straw Hat," Jinbe informed Luffy solemnly. "But if you hurry, there's still a chance to catch him."

Luffy clenched his fists in frustration, his eyes blazing with renewed determination. The group turned toward the lift, only to find it firmly locked.

"I'll climb up!" Luffy yelled, gripping the wall to scale it. But as he did, sharp spikes shot out, nearly impaling him. It was a trap.

Ivankov grimaced, glancing around. "They're watching us through the Den Den Mushis! Every move we make is tracked!" she muttered, her brows furrowed. Escape was going to be more challenging than anticipated.

Before the group could regroup, a gate slammed shut behind them, sealing off their path to Level 5. They were trapped, and with a chilling hiss, a dense cloud of sleeping gas began flooding the level. It was clear the prison guards were trying to buy time, to slow them down until reinforcements could arrive.

Inazuma, quick to react, raised his arms and activated his Choki Choki no Mi abilities. With deft movements, he sliced the floor into massive sheets and sealed the vents, blocking the flow of gas. Despite his efforts, the reality hit hard when Luffy's Vivre Card shifted direction, drifting away from the prison. Ace was already on his way to Marineford.

Among the prisoners, a familiar voice echoed from the shadows. "If you want to get out of here, I can make that happen," came Crocodile's low, dangerous drawl. But Luffy's eyes narrowed in anger.

"No way," Luffy snapped, his voice laced with disgust. Memories of Alabasta and the terror Crocodile had inflicted on his friends flashed through his mind.

But Ivankov stepped in, reasoning with him. "Listen, Straw Hat boy! If we're to have any chance at stopping Ace's execution, we need every resource. And I know how to keep Crocodile in line."

Nearby, Jinbe knelt, desperation flashing in his eyes as he pleaded, "I'll go with you too, Straw Hat. Whitebeard would do the same for Ace, and I owe him my loyalty." His sincerity struck a chord with Luffy, who finally relented, and together they released both Jinbe and Crocodile.

A sudden gust swept through the darkness, and from within the shadows, Raja materialized, his intense gaze fixed on Luffy. Without hesitation, he gave Luffy a resounding Iron Fist of Love. "You reckless fool!" he chided. "Did you forget we're in the middle of a high-security prison break?"

Raja barely paused before tapping Luffy's forehead, murmuring a spell that instantly put him into a deep sleep. With a sigh, he handed Luffy's unconscious form to Iva.

"Carry him. I'll lead the way," Raja instructed, his tone brooking no argument. He turned to the others using his King's Haki . "Listen up, pirates! I'll take care of any obstacles. You focus on getting to Ace."

The group nodded in unified resolve by Shaking with fear . This was it—there was no turning back.

As they moved forward, alarms blared through the prison, signaling the breach. Impel Down's security forces quickly donned gas masks and prepared for the coming assault. In a nearby chamber, Shiryu, the former Impel Down officer imprisoned for excessive violence, observed the chaos with cold amusement.

"This is quite the spectacle," he sneered, offering his assistance to Magellan in exchange for a chance at freedom. Sensing the mounting pressure, Magellan reluctantly agreed, releasing Shiryu to join the fray.

Meanwhile, Ivankov rallied the prisoners in Newkama Land, urging them to rise in rebellion and create a diversion. As chaos spread throughout Impel Down, the guards found themselves stretched thin.

Raja, Crocodile, and Jinbe stormed into Level 4, cutting down guards left and right. With Crocodile's powerful Barchan slicing through opponents, Raja unleashing devastating wind blasts, and Jinbe's masterful Fish-Man Karate, the guards quickly realized they were hopelessly outmatched. But their loyalty to Impel Down kept them pressing on.

Elsewhere, Buggy and Mr. 3 took advantage of the disorder, using their wax keys to unlock cells and rally more prisoners to their cause. Unaware of Luffy's survival, they assumed he had perished and sought to make their own escape amidst the riot.

As Raja's group advanced, Crocodile spotted Mr. 1 imprisoned within a cell on Level 4. A devious grin spread across his face as he casually unlocked the cell. "Care for some fresh air?" he asked, his tone dripping with irony.

Mr. 1's expression turned sharp, and without hesitation, he joined their charge. Boredom and confinement had made him restless, and he was eager for action.

While the security forces tried to regroup, a sudden, dark presence loomed over the prison's entrance. Blackbeard and his ragtag crew had arrived, forcing their way into Impel Down. A thick, dark void swallowed the guards who tried to stop him, only to spit them out violently at their comrades. Blackbeard's sinister laugh echoed through the prison as he relished the chaos his presence brought.

Hannyabal, watching the monitor screens, broke into a cold sweat. With Raja's group on Level 4, Buggy's riot on Level 2, and now Blackbeard tearing through the entrance, Impel Down was on the verge of collapse. The weight of command felt unbearable, especially with Magellan temporarily absent.

"Get Magellan on the line!" Hannyabal ordered frantically, hoping the Chief Warden could somehow restore order.

As Raja's group advanced, they were confronted by Sadi, the sadistic head jailer, alongside her Jailer Beasts. With her whip and her beasts in tow, she unleashed her fury, determined to end the escape. But Raja wasted no time; with a calm chant, he cast his Gravity Pull spell, rooting Sadi to the ground, rendering her helpless as her beasts struggled.

While Sadi wrestled against the magical bind, Raja, Jinbe, and Crocodile dealt with the Jailer Beasts in a series of swift, punishing attacks, leaving Sadi and her beasts incapacitated.

Hannyabal, resolute in his duty, awaited Raja's approach, wielding a fierce Naginata. He swung the weapon with deadly precision, declaring that he would protect Impel Down. Raja met his fiery attacks with ease, retaliating with a devastating Magic-Magic Thunder Strike that brought Hannyabal to his knees.

Just as Hannyabal gathered his last bit of strength, a black void appeared, swallowing Hannyabal's men and leaving him defenseless. Blackbeard and his crew emerged from the shadows, and Raja's eyes hardened as he recognized the man responsible for the looming war.

"You started all this," Raja spat, his voice filled with contempt.

Blackbeard merely chuckled. "I saw an opportunity, and I took it," he replied, a mocking grin on his face. "The Straw Hats are just another stepping stone."

Raja's patience snapped. Channeling a powerful 10X Wind Blast, he sent Blackbeard hurtling into a nearby wall. Blackbeard coughed, clearly rattled but unfazed. "You've got spirit, kid," he muttered, rising to his feet.

Raja readied his next spell, casting a 10X Gravity Pull that immobilized Blackbeard, pinning him to the floor. Blackbeard struggled, bewildered by Raja's strength. Jinbe called out to Raja, reminding him of their goal—to save Ace, not fight Blackbeard.

"Focus, Raja!" Jinbe urged. "Our priority is the execution!"

Blackbeard sneered, even as he strained against the gravity. "You'll never make it. The Marines are waiting, and the whole world's watching."

Raja tightened his grip on the spell, coldly replying, "We'll see about that."

Raja's determination was unshakable. "Ace isn't going to die," he declared, glaring at Blackbeard. "he has a debt to pay, and I'll see it through."

Blackbeard's gaze was cold, but a smirk twisted his lips. "Then let's see if you can really change the world, kid," he sneered, leaving Raja with a cryptic warning. "Soon, the world will see a spectacle they'll never forget."

As they prepared to press forward, Magellan arrived on the scene, his body shrouded in a deadly, poisonous mist. Without hesitation, he quickly dispatching Sadi, who had already lost her battle with Raja. Turning his gaze toward Blackbeard's crew, he unleashed his Poison Hydra, leaving them writhing and gasping in pain.

Undeterred, Magellan advanced, finding Hannyabal's unconscious form. He placed a hand on Hannyabal's shoulder, commending him for his dedication, and vowed to uphold Impel Down's honor.

As Magellan prepared to pursue Raja's group, he found his path blocked by none other than Shiryu. Smirking, Shiryu brandished his blade, declaring he wouldn't allow Magellan to interfere.

Meanwhile, on Level 2, Buggy and Mr. 3's riot reached a fever pitch as they capitalized on Blackbeard's disruption. Poison still lingered in the air, but Blackbeard's arrival had weakened the guards' defenses.