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The storm caused by Garp's passing had yet to settle when news of the Revolutionary Army's former leader, Dragon, escaping from Impel Down rapidly captured public attention.
That seemingly impregnable Impel Down, regarded by countless pirates and criminals as Hell, finally had its second prison break in twenty years!
Unlike Gold Lion, who amputated his own legs to escape, Dragon emerged completely unharmed, boldly defeating the Warden, the "Poison Human" Magellan, and rescuing a large number of Level 6 prisoners erased from government records and considered extremely wicked.
Among them were also madmen harboring deep grudges against the government, intent on overturning everything.
The news stunned the world.
The Dragon of old wouldn't have stooped this low! As Dragon himself said, he was no longer the leader of the Revolutionary Army, but rather a vengeful spirit risen from Hell.
Marineford, Marine Headquarters.
"What exactly is going on?!"
"My deepest apologies, Fleet Admiral Akainu!"
Magellan replied bitterly over the Den Den Mushi, "I don't know when it started, but prisoners managed to breach a hidden paradise between Levels 5 and 6 of Impel Down. Because of Level 6's special nature, massive security forces can't monitor it daily, and they took advantage of this."
The new Okama Paradise, also known as Level 5.5.
A place of unknown origin, occupied by prisoners.
In fact, most prisoners weren't even aware of Level 5.5's existence in Impel Down; they only knew of a legend about spirits, that anyone who wandered into the spirit's territory would be devoured without mercy.
After the "Okama King" Emporio Ivankov was imprisoned, the place was transformed into the new Okama Paradise, a safe zone where prisoners could avoid Hell's torment.
Impel Down's walls of iron are well-known.
Even if prisoners could find a place to survive inside, escaping was impossible.
Because of the deep Calm Belt, the terrifying strength of Chief Warden Magellan, and the natural barriers formed by the Iron Triangle, escape was pure fantasy. Only with inside and outside cooperation, breaking through these three deadly barriers, would escape be possible.
Akainu could now understand what happened.
Taking advantage of the troops gathered for Garp's funeral, the Revolutionary Army seized control of the Gates of Justice, then used the special geography of Level 5.5 to directly access underground Level 6 to rescue Dragon and create chaos.
Magellan's Venom-Venom Fruit power was terrifying. In the original story, even a slight contact with his poison nearly killed Teach's entire crew. But his poison is countered harshly by fire, ice, and wind, and his most deadly poison smoke, could hardly get close to Dragon's Hurricane-Hurricane Fruit.
More importantly...
Magellan himself was not fully immune to his own toxins!
"Maybe... you were defeated by your own poisonous smoke being blown back at you?" Rowen suddenly spoke, plunging the meeting room into silence.
Magellan: "..."
"I'm sorry! I will resign and take responsibility before the Gorōsei (Five Elder Stars)!"
Everyone: "..."
Got it right, huh?
He really got it right!
A Venom-Venom Fruit user defeated by their own poison, what kind of ridiculous drama is this?
Akainu's face darkened as he gloomily said, "Resignation is your business. Now, I want the full list of all prison breakers in Impel Down, understood?"
"Yes!"
There is no hierarchy between the Iron Triangle; the Supreme Judicial Officer of the Judicial Island, the Marine Headquarters Fleet Admiral, and the Impel Down Warden are peers. However, faced with the formidable Akainu and the powerful Marine Headquarters, the latter two are undoubtedly subordinate.
After hanging up, Akainu sat back down, his face grim.
"We are about to go to war with Orrick, and yet so many problems have arisen…"
Shuā!
Akainu's calm but imposing gaze turned to Rowen. He moved his lips, then sighed after a moment.
"We have no choice. Apply to the Gorōsei for unlocking the Super Electromagnetic Cannon. I want every branch to have the confidence to face any challenge!"
"Gentlemen, the situation is critical. I wish you all great luck in battle!"
Without a doubt, Dragon's escape and the breakout of major criminals from Impel Down would bring highly unstable changes to the coming great war.
But the Marines had little energy to deal with them directly and could only handle it as it came, blocking attack with defense.
Hearing this, all the officers in the office stood up, saluted with their hands to their foreheads, and said respectfully.
"Yes!"
...
Wano Country, Flower Capital.
"Puhahaha, Marines, you've really lost a big one this time!" Kaido, whose muscles looked like molten steel forged and hardened, sat cross-legged in a spacious hall, holding a freshly printed newspaper.
"Now's probably not the time to be so happy, Kaido," Kurozumi Orochi, holding a wine bowl more than half a meter wide, took a sip and then set it down. "If it was just to deal with us, maybe the Marines and the government would still have some cards up their sleeves."
"But if the Revolutionary Army joins the fight, I'm afraid they'll throw caution to the wind and unleash all their unknown powers."
Everyone knew the Revolutionary Army was the most unique force on the seas.
The three of them working together, Orrick's target was the Celestial Dragons, especially the Great Character sitting high in the Room of Flowers, Imu.
Kaido's goal was simply the grandest war the world had ever seen, because he couldn't die and sought thrills through destruction.
He just wanted, through alliance strength, to fully control the New World and all four seas, it was his pure ambition.
But the Revolutionary Army…
Was different.
Their goal from start to finish was direct and fundamental: to strike at the root, at the corrupt World Government, at the wicked and multifaceted Celestial Dragons!
Even legends like Roger and Whitebeard couldn't earn that title, but Dragon became known as "the most wicked criminal in history"; the mere fact that the eight-year-old Nico Robin carried a bounty of 780,000,000 Belly said a lot.
Any threat to the ruling order, the World Government showed no mercy!
They demonstrated what "at any cost" truly meant!
"Guhahaha, isn't that even better?!" At these words, Kaido gulped down the wine in his gourd, exhaled deeply, and wore a wild smile.
"If they didn't show up, I'd feel like something was missing! Hiding sneakily in the shadows before was just annoying to watch!"
"Now it's the same…"
Just as Kurozumi Orochi spoke, suddenly, the door was pushed open.
"No, it's different now."
The two of them narrowed their eyes slightly and looked at the tall figure standing firmly at the doorway, backlit by sunlight.
The man wore a black-and-gold ornate mask that gave off an aura of noble elegance. He stood motionless, radiating a kingly presence that made it hard to raise one's head or meet his gaze.
"What do you mean, Orrick?" Kurozumi Orochi frowned.
"While you were drinking, the Revolutionary Army launched a surprise assault on the Sabaody Archipelago. Although the Marine Scientific Forces stationed there quickly crushed them, they left behind a message."
"Keep in mind, with Garp's funeral imminent, Sabaody was packed with news agencies and media from all over the world."
"Oh? A message bold enough to make them risk everything, attacking the Sabaody Archipelago? Let's hear it then."
[It is time to rise, people suffering under the Allied Kingdoms! This world does not need World Nobles, using that ridiculous Heavenly Tribute to steal the happiness we hold in our hands!]
[It is time to rise, monarchs of the non-Allied Kingdoms! If you do not fight for survival today, who will speak for you tomorrow?]
[From today onward, I hereby, on behalf of the Revolutionary Army, officially declare war on the World Government!]
On the Den Den Mushi screen, Sabo appeared in formal attire, behind him stood a group of Revolutionary Army officers, mysterious to ordinary people: Dragon, the commanders of the Four Seas, and the Chief of Information Forces.
They faced the camera, their voices thunderous.
[Darkness will surely break, dawn is coming!]
(End of Chapter)