Chapter 173: The Impenetrable Impel Down Has Been Breached
Everyone was around level 10.
Even with Arad's Sanda-style physical combat and its explosive power, there was no way it should be strong enough to break through Dragon's Wind Dragon Scale Armor.
That meant his old man was definitely hiding his true strength.
"I'm the sly one? You never asked."
Seeing Dragon take a hit, Garp burst out laughing, preparing to press the attack.
He had, in fact, purchased a level 10 blue armor set from the Game Room: the Troll Strength Set, which granted the user troll-like power, massively boosting strength.
It had cost him ten thousand reward points.
Dragon's Beginner Wind Elf Set was only level 5 and wasn't defense-oriented, so it stood no chance of stopping Garp's overwhelming physical force.
Unlike Dragon and other players who had split their borrowed reward points across equipment, weapons, skills, and accessories, Garp had dumped everything into one thing:
His fists.
He didn't have the wide arsenal of flashy skills like other players—he just had two iron fists, each one devastating.
"That setup leaves you with clear weaknesses. You're easy to counter."
Dragon stood unmoved, face blank.
At that moment, two members of the Revolutionary Army burst forward.
A flash of electricity—half white, half yellow—carried by a figure wielding scissor-like blades, their serrated jaws locking together with mechanical precision.
Meanwhile, Ivankov raised chains of holy light, forming a barrier to intercept Garp's strikes.
Their teamwork didn't rely on brute force. Instead, they restricted Garp's range of movement, leaving his fists with nowhere to land and forcing him to retreat to avoid being caught by the jagged shears.
"Who are those two? They look familiar…"
Sengoku's brow furrowed as he stared at the Revolutionary officers. Something about them struck a chord in his memory.
Then—
A Marine soldier rushed into the meeting room and shouted, "Fleet Admiral Sengoku! There's a breach in the wall of Impel Down's Level 5. Seawater is pouring into the floor!"
The report came from Magellan himself.
He had already gone to the breach with Hannyabal and Domino. Using Level 5's freezing climate to their advantage, they were attempting to seal the gap with ice and snow.
"Level 5… the Freezing Hell… Revolutionary Army… They're…"
A bolt of clarity struck Sengoku as he recalled the prisoners who had mysteriously vanished from Impel Down years ago.
Because the prison's defenses were so tight, there hadn't been any escape incidents apart from the Golden Lion's legendary breakout.
That disappearance had left a deep impression on him.
And among that first group of missing prisoners… one of them had been that purple-haired Revolutionary officer. Sengoku pulled out the records and found a declassified file from long ago.
Emporio Ivankov.
Queen of the Kamabakka Kingdom, a master of unusual techniques, once imprisoned under false charges—only to mysteriously vanish.
Sengoku's face turned grim. "Who's been to Impel Down lately?"
Level 5 had no surveillance Den Den Mushi. That meant someone could've hidden there unnoticed for years.
He still trusted Impel Down's strength—an impenetrable fortress. No one could escape without help.
Did they have a traitor inside the Navy?
"Fleet Admiral, the recent visitors include Vice Admiral Burning Mountain, Vice Admiral Dalmatian, and Warlord of the Sea… Bartholomew Kuma."
"Wait."
Sengoku's expression tensed at the name.
It wasn't unusual for Vice Admirals to escort captured pirates to Impel Down.
But Bartholomew Kuma? Why would a Warlord go to the prison?
Upon inquiry, the Marine reported, "It was at Dr. Vegapunk's request. He needed extremely dangerous criminals as test subjects for the Pacifista project."
And once again, the World Government was involved.
Sengoku took a deep breath, overwhelmed by a suffocating sense of frustration.
He prided himself on being a strategic commander—unlike Garp, who acted on instinct. Though there was no direct evidence yet, Sengoku was now convinced that Bartholomew Kuma had helped the Revolutionary Army escape.
He'd long suspected it.
Kuma was unlike the other Warlords—he had been personally appointed by the Five Elders through a direct deal.
Sengoku had considered informing CP or the Elders themselves. But when he so much as hinted at his suspicions, he was immediately accused of damaging the Celestial Dragons' reputation.
After all—
Kuma's appointment had come from the top.
Sengoku laughed bitterly.
No one liked being manipulated by the World Government and the Five Elders, but he had no choice. He didn't have Garp's rebellious streak. He simply tried to make the most of what little autonomy he had—to strengthen the Navy and protect the Four Seas.
Still… how did Kuma do it?
The Paw-Paw Fruit's powers had been fully researched by the Navy. It could send people flying at high speed, but in a sealed space, it couldn't break through.
Plus, all prisoners entering Impel Down were shackled with Seastone handcuffs.
They couldn't use their Devil Fruit powers at all.
So how—
Sengoku suddenly looked up, eyes locking on the feed showing the East Blue's Trial Tower.
The Contract Fruit!
—
"Looks like you've got no way to stop me, old man. Let's not waste any more time—this ends here."
Dragon's chest, once marked by Garp's fist, was now fully healed by Holy Light magic.
His organs and bones had been restored completely.
Every time Ivankov healed him, she was amazed.
Her Hormone Fruit could also heal to an extent—but it followed strict medical rules. Fractures had to be aligned, debris cleared, etc.
But the healing power of Holy Light ignored all logic.
Just a touch of its glow, and any injury vanished before your eyes.
"You brat! Don't think you can run!"
Garp's uniform was torn, revealing raw wounds. Clearly, he'd been injured—but he still refused to let the Revolutionaries escape.
As Dragon had said, Garp's focused build was extremely powerful in direct combat—but easily countered when targeted from multiple angles.
Bang bang bang.
Gunfire erupted from both sides as Revolutionary and Marine forces exchanged shots. Black smoke and the stench of powder filled the entire street.
All Garp could do was watch as the Revolutionaries slipped away.
—
"Luffy," Dragon suddenly turned and asked solemnly, "To become Pirate King, you'll need allies who share your dream, immense strength, courage to cut through any obstacle, and the will to cross every sea. Can you do that?"
Sanji, who'd been watching from the sidelines, showed a strange expression.
This father and son duo…
Straw Hat Luffy was loudly declaring his goal of becoming Pirate King, and yet his father—the leader of the Revolutionary Army—didn't belittle the dream. On the contrary, he spoke seriously, as if that title could genuinely be within reach.
As if the Pirate King crown… really could rest on Luffy's head.
But could such a title even exist in this era?
Sanji's gaze turned distant.
Not just him—even most Marines, Revolutionaries, and powerhouses like Crocodile, Big Mom, or Kaido…
None had ever declared with such conviction that they would definitely become Pirate King.
This guy—
Sanji looked at the beaming Straw Hat Luffy—he really was something else.
"I already have three strong companions who share my dream. I will become the Pirate King!"
"You idiot! Who said I'm your companion?! I haven't even agreed yet!"
Sanji, who'd been lost in thought, suddenly snapped. He lunged forward, grabbed Luffy by the neck, and shook him furiously.
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