Chapter 42: Riot in Eternal Hell
Fleet Admiral Sengoku's orders had arrived, a prudent, precautionary measure delivered via secure Den Den Mushi. Given the disappearance of the Red Hair Pirates and the monumental value of the new prisoners, an Admiral was to remain stationed at Impel Down temporarily.
After a moment's consideration, Levi volunteered. Akainu, his expression still grim from their clash, gave a curt nod of agreement. The logic was sound. Marine Headquarters was now a frenetic hub of activity—issuing global summons to elite forces, coordinating with the Warlords, preparing for a war of unprecedented scale. Akainu's brand of ruthless, hands-on leadership was needed there. Levi, the new variable, was better utilized here, where his terrifying power could act as an immovable deterrent.
Levi's own reasons were more personal. The Reiatsu Analysis ability was a tantalizing new toy, and Impel Down's upper levels offered a diverse range of test subjects. He needed to refine it, to push its limits. Administrative duties held no appeal for him.
He had just followed Domino down to the scorching heat of Level 4: the Burning Hell, the air shimmering with agony, when a panicked jailer came sprinting up, his face pale.
"Admiral! Warden! There's a riot on Level 6! Multiple cell breaches!"
Levi blinked, a flicker of genuine surprise crossing his features. A riot? Now? In his recollection of this world's flow, such an event at this precise moment, with Magellan and an Admiral still on-site, seemed… statistically improbable. Was it a ripple from his own actions? Or was this just the chaotic norm of this hellhole?
"Admiral Black Crow, this is… not uncommon," Domino explained swiftly, though a glint in her eye betrayed her interest. "On 'release days' when the sensory deprivation is lifted, hope is deliberately dangled. It keeps them from total madness, but it also breeds attempts. There are escape attempts frequently. But with Director Magellan present… they should be futile. The fact they've reported it means the scale might be unusual."
"A disturbance…" Levi murmured, then a faint, cold smile touched his lips. "Well, if prisoners are attempting to flee, their status as live specimens becomes null. A perfect opportunity for more… conclusive field testing. Let's observe."
"Yes, Admiral!" Domino said, her excitement barely contained. The prospect of seeing the "Soul Surgeon" work on the legendary monsters of Level 6 was a dark thrill.
On Level 6, chaos reigned. The plan had been desperate and sloppy, born of a smuggled key and a wild gamble. Three adjacent cells had been sprung open, releasing nearly a dozen of Eternal Hell's inmates. They were not the top tier—those like Wang Zhi, Bullet, or the freshly arrived Rayleigh were still securely locked—but they were vicious, hardened veterans with nothing left to lose.
"MAGNELLAN! SAKAZUKI! LET US OUT!" one roared, his voice a raw scrape of hatred, as he and others frantically tried to bash or pick the locks of neighboring cells.
"Again?" Avalo Pizarro, the "Corrupt King," sighed from his own cell, watching the frenzy with bored detachment. "Magellan's little game of cat and mouse. They fall for it every time. Hope truly is a cruel poison."
But then his boredom faded. The number of prisoners loose was higher than usual for a "controlled" riot. Magellan and the red dog weren't sweeping through immediately; they were holding the main staircase exit, their postures defensive. A calculation flickered in Pizarro's eyes. Could this be… genuine disorder?
The thought was a spark in tinder. "DON'T JUST STAND THERE!" Pizarro bellowed at the loose prisoners. "FIND THE KEYS FOR THE BIG FISH! GET RAYLEIGH OUT! GET BULLET OUT! THEY'RE OUR ONLY CHANCE!"
"That's right! Release the legends!"
"FIGHT! LET'S FIGHT! BLOOD! I NEED TO SEE BLOOD AGAIN!"
"We can't escape… but we can take guards with us! KILL THEM ALL!"
The floor, usually a tomb of silent despair, erupted into a roaring, chaotic asylum. The loose prisoners, galvanized by Pizarro's cry, redoubled their efforts, attacking guard stations and searching fallen jailers.
"Which incompetent fool left cells unlocked?!" Magellan roared, his body already transforming, toxic purple venom dripping from his demonic form. A Venom Road shot from his mouth, but a burly escaped convict met it with a Haki-infused punch titled "Tyranny Blow," shattering the venomous construct, though splatters of poison seared his arm.
"Hmph! Vermin seeking a quicker death!" Akainu's voice was a pit of magma. His arm liquefied and shot forward, Great Eruption in a confined, focused blast. It engulfed one escaping prisoner who was trying to free Crocodile. The man didn't even have time to scream before he was reduced to a charred silhouette, then ashes.
"Warden! The prison riot squad is here!" Hannyabal shouted, leading a phalanx of guards in full anti-riot gear and gas masks into the corridor behind them.
"Good! Hannyabal, secure this exit! I will purge this filth one by one!" Magellan commanded, his voice echoing. "And send word to release Shiryu of the Rain from his confinement! We require his blade!"
"Understood!"
The situation was volatile, but not yet out of control. Impel Down's protocols were activating. The sheer, overwhelming power of Magellan and the presence of an Admiral meant a full-scale breakout was still a distant fantasy. But the riot had momentum, fueled by decades of pent-up rage and a sliver of real, unexpected opportunity.
It was into this boiling cauldron of hatred, poison, magma, and desperation that Levi and Domino descended the final staircase. The screams, the smell of burnt flesh and venom, the crashing of stone—it all washed over them.
Levi paused at the entrance, his enhanced perception taking in the scene. His eyes, cool and analytical, scanned the raging prisoners, the defensive line of guards, the towering forms of Magellan and Akainu. He wasn't looking at a battle; he was assessing a new batch of test subjects in a dynamic, high-stress environment.
"Fascinating," he said, his voice barely audible over the din. "The stress response causes fascinating fluctuations in the soul's structure. Notice the auras of those fighting—jagged, inflamed. And those watching… coiled, calculating."
Domino stared at him, then back at the hellscape before them. He was seeing souls, not a riot.
Levi took a step forward, into the edge of the chaos. "Let's begin the next phase of trials. A controlled environment has its uses, but field data under combat conditions is invaluable."
The Soul Surgeon had arrived in Eternal Hell, and his scalpel was made of pure, manipulative spirit.
(End of Chapter)
✨If you're enjoying this story, consider supporting me on Patreon —
Patreon.com/TofuChan
💕Patreon members get early access to chapters, bonus content, and voting power on future ideas.💕
Every bit of support helps me write more and faster. Thank you so much for reading! 🥰
Bonus Chapter For Every 50 Power Stones
Lets hit the goal of 150 Patreon Members now for 5 Extra Chapters 💕
We are at 115 members right now.
Donate me Stoness!!!