Chapter 148: The Painful Drama of Impel Down
The scarlet flames crackled madly, illuminating the dark corridors of Impel Down. The once indomitable Shiryu of the Rain knelt on the floor, coughing blood, his sword clattering beside him. His body trembled as he glared at the young man before him, who was completely unharmed.
"Who the hell… are you?" Shiryu gasped hoarsely.
The figure stepped forward slowly, a red cape fluttering behind him. Ace's piercing gaze locked with Shiryu's as he raised one hand—flames danced in his palm like a living beast.
"I'm Portgas D. Ace," he said, his voice low and cold. "Commander of the Whitebeard Pirates' Second Division… and the man who's going to break someone out of this hell."
Shiryu's pupils constricted.
Portgas D. Ace? Wasn't he supposed to be the one imprisoned?
How was he here, standing tall, full of fury and fire?
Before Shiryu could form another thought, Ace stepped past him and looked down the hallway of Level 6—Eternal Hell.
There, amidst the chaos and smoke, stood Bentham, better known as Bon Clay, beaten and bloodied, but still standing guard in front of a massive steel door. Behind it was the person Ace came for.
"I held the line," Bon Clay said weakly, grinning through broken teeth. "But I'm not gonna last much longer, buddy…"
"You've done more than enough," Ace said, catching Bon Clay as he collapsed. "Leave the rest to me."
Without another word, Ace turned toward the reinforced door. His body glowed with rising heat as flames surged around his arm.
"Fire Fist!"
With a thunderous roar, a massive jet of flame exploded from his fist, smashing the thick steel door apart. It shrieked under the heat, twisting and melting like paper.
The flames dissipated. Behind the broken remnants of the door sat a man shackled in thick sea-stone chains—Jinbei, the Knight of the Sea. He slowly raised his head, his eyes widening.
"…Ace?"
Ace strode forward and knelt beside him, quickly examining the chains. "Hang on. I'm getting you out of here."
Jinbei coughed weakly. "Why are you here? They said you were being held above…"
Ace gave a dry chuckle. "Long story. Turns out plans have changed. Whitebeard is moving, and I'm not going to sit still any longer."
He placed his flaming hands on the sea-stone cuffs, careful not to burn Jinbei. A moment later, a precise blast of flame severed the chains.
"Can you walk?" Ace asked.
Jinbei stood shakily. "Barely. But I'll manage."
Behind them, alarms blared, and the prison shook with the sound of approaching reinforcements.
Ace turned to Bon Clay, who was slumped against the wall, semi-conscious.
"Bon Clay. I'm not leaving without you."
"You idiot…" Bon Clay chuckled weakly. "You better not."
Just then, an enormous figure stomped down the hall. Magellan, the Warden of Impel Down, loomed into view, his body leaking a noxious purple gas—the Doku Doku no Mi at full activation.
"You've caused enough trouble, Ace!" Magellan bellowed, venom spilling from his mouth. "You're not leaving this place alive!"
Ace's expression hardened.
He stood, body blazing with intensity.
"I'm not here to die, Warden," he said, flames spiraling around him. "I'm here to take my people back—and burn down anyone who stands in my way."
With a deafening roar, Ace lunged forward, flame meeting poison in a violent clash that shook the very foundations of Impel Down.
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