Chương 85: 85. Do you know what bullying is?
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"Stop!"
Magellan and Hannyabal hurried to the upper floor, leading all the jailers. What they saw instantly enraged Magellan.
In his line of sight, many familiar prison guards and fellow jailers were sporting bruised faces, with some even lying on the ground, bleeding. At the very front, a man was holding the ooze-like warden, demanding an explanation.
"Venom Road!"
Magellan had no time to assess the situation or think about why this was happening. Filled with fury, he unleashed his Venom-Venom Fruit powers with all his might. His entire body transformed into a toxic being, and he charged forward, spewing a barrage of poison balls aimed directly at the man in front.
But to his surprise, the man showed no intention of dodging the attack. He didn't even flinch.
"Dark Hound."
Suddenly, a deep, solemn voice echoed through the room. A swift and powerful blast of magma appeared from behind the man, shooting straight towards the poison balls and Magellan.
Sizzle!
The poison balls were instantly devoured and evaporated by the magma, creating a mix of red and green fumes. Just as Magellan prepared to launch another attack, Sakazuki's figure tore through the toxic fog, charging directly at him.
With a loud "bang," the two clashed, standing their ground.
"How could I let you attack the Fleet Admiral right in front of me?" Sakazuki said in a cold, serious tone, his eyes showing no trace of mercy.
Fleet Admiral?
Magellan was taken aback and quickly scanned the area. Sure enough, all the "enemies" in sight were high-ranking Marine officers and elite soldiers wearing the cloak of justice.
"What's going on? Why are you attacking us?" Magellan asked, confused. "We're all on the same side."
In his mind, such a bizarre scenario was unthinkable. The Marines and Impel Down both served the same World Government, both dedicated to justice and maintaining order in the world. The only difference was that the Marines were on the front lines, directly confronting pirates, while Impel Down was responsible for containing the captured pirates.
"Didn't you summon me here?" Akira casually tossed the warden aside, dusting off his hands as he walked towards Magellan. "Now that I'm here, tell me, where's that old Desmond?"
Impel Down has six floors. Although Akira remembered the warden's office was on the fourth floor, he wasn't sure if that was still the case. After all, with each new director, things could change over time. Magellan lived in the Blazing Hell on the fourth floor because his Venom-Venom Fruit made it more comfortable for him, but that was just one person's preference. Most normal humans wouldn't enjoy living in a sea of fire.
Moreover, the Marines who had followed Akira weren't familiar with Impel Down's layout. They usually had no reason to stay in such a place, so they never bothered to learn about it.
Frustrated, Akira had no choice but to ask the jailers. But these jailers were stubborn, refusing to give any information even when beaten half to death, gritting their teeth and enduring the pain.
Just in time, Deputy Warden Magellan arrived.
"Bastard, you're here to invade," Magellan snarled, his breath heavy as poison began to boil across his body.
Sakazuki frowned slightly, the intense heat of his magma reacting in kind.
"Think what you want," Sakazuki replied, "just tell me, what floor is that bastard Desmond on?"
"Hydra!"
Instead of answering, Magellan responded with his ability. Three massive, venomous dragons erupted from his body, blocking their path and releasing a corrosive mist that filled the area. The walls began to melt and sizzle upon contact with the toxins.
Caught off guard, several Marine soldiers inhaled the poison, their faces turning a sickly blue and purple as they collapsed, clutching their throats.
"Say what you will, but I have to admit I respect Desmond's resolve," Akira remarked. "Since none of you are talking, I'll just have to find him floor by floor."
"Sakazuki, clear a path," Akira ordered coldly, his expression darkening.
He hadn't anticipated that Impel Down would be so impenetrable from within as well. It was clear there was no point in trying to get information from the jailers now. The best course of action was to take them down one level at a time and force Desmond to show himself.
Magellan, on the other hand, was in a tough spot. He knew Akira was trying to confront Desmond directly and might not even want to stop him. But given the situation, with all the jailers defeated, he, as the deputy warden, couldn't just let them pass without a fight. No matter how the negotiations between Akira and Desmond ended, Magellan knew he wouldn't escape punishment. His own warden's tormenting methods were infamous, and the thought of facing them terrified even him.
Magellan steeled himself. Either he stopped them all here, or he would have to take them on. There was no third option.
But Sakazuki wasn't interested in Magellan's internal struggle. Without a word, he unleashed his full power.
"Great Eruption!"
A torrent of magma as tall as a warship blasted forward, incinerating one of the venomous dragons in an instant.
Akira stepped forward, moving slowly toward the next floor.
Magellan, determined, started to rush after him to stop him, but Sakazuki quickly blocked his path.
"Your opponent is me."
"One of the three Marine monsters, Sakazuki! I've heard of you."
"Then you should know that it's best you stay down. I don't want to have to fight you."
"Not a chance! Chloro Ball!"
"Then you've chosen death!"
A red and a purple figure clashed fiercely as the two powers collided, the battle intensifying.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
"Brother, I think it's best if you don't move," Kuzan advised calmly, standing beside Hannyabal.
Hannyabal's legs trembled uncontrollably, cold sweat dripping down his brow. Even though Kuzan wasn't making any aggressive moves, Hannyabal knew just how fast and strong he was.
'Just a moment ago, he was a few hundred meters away... how did he get here so fast?'
'This guy is way too strong, damn it!' Hannyabal screamed internally, fully aware that if Kuzan wanted to kill him, it would take no effort at all.
Thump thump!
His heart pounded like a drum, and his face turned pale.
Ahead, Akira's figure appeared, slowly approaching with his hands in his pockets, heading towards the back stairs.
As Akira drew nearer, the struggle on Hannyabal's face became more and more evident.
Just as Akira's shoulders aligned with Hannyabal, about to pass him, Hannyabal gripped his weapon tightly and prepared to strike. But in the next instant, a cold wind swept through, freezing him into a solid block of ice. His determined expression remained frozen on his face.
"Really, why bother?" Kuzan sighed, exhaling a puff of cold air as he shook his head, clearly unimpressed. Akira didn't even acknowledge the scene, continuing his slow, deliberate steps down the stairs.
"Execution Slash!"
Suddenly, a bloody slash burst forth from the shadows, the sword energy sharp and drenched in murderous intent. It sliced through the air, heading straight for Akira.
Boom!
The stairway crumbled under the impact, and a cloud of dust filled the air. Out of the darkness stepped Shiryu of the Rain, a wicked smile on his face, a cigar clenched between his teeth.
"Impel Down isn't your Marine's playground where you can just wander freely," Shiryu sneered, caressing his sword, Raiu. "Consider this a lesson, Fleet Admiral."
But before he could revel in his triumph, a voice cut through the smoke.
"Oh, is that so? But what I felt from that move was more than just a simple lesson."
Borsalino's distinct voice echoed, and Shiryu's smile vanished. His eyes widened in shock as Borsalino appeared from the smoke, a photon sword in hand. Meanwhile, Akira continued his descent, unfazed.
"You tried to kill our Fleet Admiral, a grave mistake," Borsalino intoned, his voice low and serious.
In an instant, Borsalino disappeared, reappearing behind Shiryu. Before Shiryu could react, a searing pain erupted in his back, and blood sprayed out like a fountain.
Boom.
Shiryu's eyes widened in disbelief before he collapsed to the ground.
"Hey, I didn't want to take things this far, but why'd you have to try and kill him?" Borsalino muttered, kneeling beside the unconscious Shiryu, poking him lightly with his finger, a look of helplessness on his face.
The Marines' mission today was clear—find Desmond, the warden of Impel Down. Everyone else, including the defeated jailers, the beaten Magellan, and the frozen Hannyabal, were not in mortal danger. But Shiryu had crossed the line by genuinely attempting to kill Akira. For someone like that, Borsalino couldn't afford to hold back. Even if Akira didn't take issue with it, Borsalino knew Zephyr-sensei wouldn't let him off easy if he did.
"Really, such a troublesome guy," Borsalino sighed, standing up as the other Marines hurried to catch up with Akira. Gathering photons in his leg, he aimed a burst shot at Shiryu's chest.
Whoosh!
Shiryu's body flew off into the distance like a bullet, disappearing from sight, leaving a trail of blood in his wake.
As Akira continued his steady march forward, the Marines and soldiers behind him dealt with the remaining jailers, beasts, and guards. Gradually, the number of people around him dwindled until Akira was the last one standing. Even Garp and Sengoku had chosen not to follow.
Everyone knew that the final confrontation between Akira and Desmond was inevitable, and they preferred to stay out of the way.
Impel Down was no weakling. Whether in the future as seen in the original story or in the present, it was always strong. The prisoners held in its depths were formidable. The likes of "Buggy the Clown," who could blow up buildings and subdue strong locals, was only kept in the first level of Hell. Mr. 3, who had taken down two giant heroes, was imprisoned in the second level. Bentham, who could fight off the deadly army wolves on the fifth level, was confined to the third floor.
These prisoners were only considered weak because they had encountered some of the world's strongest individuals. Against ordinary Marines or pirates, these inmates were true monsters. But most of them were confined to the upper levels, and without the chaos brought by Luffy's arrival, they would have likely remained imprisoned for life.
Impel Down was a formidable fortress, but today, it faced an even stronger force—an entire battalion of high-ranking Marines led by the Fleet Admiral himself. Against such power, no force, aside from perhaps the mysterious Mariejois, could hope to stand.
The corridor was quiet, save for the steady sound of Akira's footsteps echoing through the halls as he pressed on.
"Aunt Tsuru!"
As Akira rounded the corner, he finally spotted the figure of Chief Staff Officer Tsuru.
"Akira!" Tsuru's eyes were filled with a mix of emotions. Though she hadn't been at the forefront, she was well aware of the events unfolding through the reports of the passing jailers.
By now, there was little point in arguing or questioning what had transpired. As the chief staff officer of the Marines, Tsuru knew that when the Fleet Admiral himself took action, it was her duty to support him without hesitation.
"Desmond is inside," Tsuru said, pointing to the director's office. Despite her previous attempts to enter following protocol, she had been unable to gain access.
"Understood. You head back up; I'll handle things from here." Akira's eyes narrowed as he glanced at the door.
Tsuru nodded and promptly left. With Garp and Sengoku opting to stay back, it was clear that even the highest-ranking Marines were giving Akira space to face this confrontation alone.
Boom!
The director's door was kicked open with force, and Akira stepped inside.
Immediately, a massive figure filled his vision. The man before him was as wide as a bedroom, towering over seven meters tall. Even Akira, standing at an impressive 1.95 meters after the system enhancements, looked like a child in comparison.
Perhaps due to his origins on a technological planet, Akira's height, while exceptional, wasn't as monstrous as some of the other powerful figures in the world, like the Beasts Pirates or Big Mom. Instead, he stood at a well-proportioned 1.95 meters—tall enough to command respect, but not so much as to appear inhuman. Akira was quite satisfied with this height, which made him stand out without crossing into the realm of the grotesque.
'As expected, anyone who becomes the director of Impel Down isn't ordinary,' Akira thought, his eyes narrowing as he took in the man before him.
With his heightened senses, Akira could easily feel the formidable aura emanating from Desmond. Despite the gray hair and wrinkles on his face, Desmond lacked the frailty often seen in older Vice Admirals. On the contrary, he exuded a vitality reminiscent of legends like Garp, Sengoku, and Zephyr.
The two devil-like horns on Desmond's head were a striking feature, signaling that he wasn't just an ordinary human. Unlike the decorative horns on Magellan and Hannyabal, Desmond's horns were the real deal, marking him as part of one of the many unique races that existed in the world of pirates. In this world, such anomalies were the norm.
"Fleet Admiral Akira of the Marines," Desmond spoke, his eyes cold and bloodshot as he locked onto Akira. "You've brought your forces to invade Impel Down, and now you stand before me. I assume you're prepared to die. Even if the Five Elders find out, they won't object."
As he spoke, the heavy pressure of his aura began to build, filling the room with an overwhelming sense of menace.
Akira, unfazed, twisted his neck, then casually took off his cloak of justice and tossed it aside. "Do you know what it means to be a bully?"
Desmond's eyes narrowed in confusion. He had expected Akira to deliver some sort of intimidating proclamation or maybe strike first to assert dominance. Instead, Akira asked a seemingly irrelevant question.
"Bully? What are you talking about?" Desmond was puzzled, thinking Akira might be trying to throw him off.
But Akira only smiled, the grin growing wider by the second. "So you don't know how to be a bully? Then let me show you…"
In the blink of an eye, Akira's calf muscles tensed, and in a flash, he was right beside Desmond. The sheer speed was so astonishing that Desmond's face barely had time to register the surprise before his pupils shrank to mere slits.
'What the hell? I can't even react! What kind of speed is this?' Desmond's thoughts raced, panic setting in as he realized he had underestimated his opponent.
Before he could process what was happening, Akira's large hand clamped down on his head, and a mocking voice echoed in Desmond's ears. "It means this"
Boom!
With a thunderous crash, Desmond's massive form was slammed directly into the wall, the impact leaving a deep crater and sending shockwaves through the room.
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