The sky above was as dark and heavy as ink, with lightning serpents weaving through the thunderclouds.

Fierce winds whipped across the sea's surface, as crashing waves slammed into the walls of Impel Down.

This chaotic, apocalyptic weather—normally the domain of the New World—had somehow manifested here, in the typically still and windless Calm Belt.

The escaped prisoners, having fled up from below, stared blankly at the scene in front of them, their minds numb with terror.

They couldn't believe their eyes.

"Is… is this really the Calm Belt?"

"I… I think so?"

BOOM! BOOM!

The ground trembled violently beneath them. Faces turned ashen. All of them looked toward the roiling sea with utter despair.

As the tremors intensified, two figures shot out of the prison.

"A-Admiral Kizaru!"

"M-Magellan!"

The fugitives who recognized the two immediately cried out in dread.

But the two figures didn't even glance at them.

Magellan turned around and stared at the central tower of Impel Down, his gaze dark and terrifying.

Kizaru pulled out a Den Den Mushi, attempting to contact Marine Headquarters.

Buru buru… buru buru…

The Den Den Mushi looked half-asleep—its calls weak and lifeless. Over and over it rang, but received no response.

"Scary stuff. Even the Den Den Mushi isn't working..." Kizaru muttered grimly, putting it away.

BOOOOOOM!

Suddenly, the ground beneath everyone's feet trembled like a massive earthquake.

A second later, a violent explosion tore through the top of the central tower. A massive golden beast, trailing smoke and crackling with lightning, soared into the sky.

In the next instant, bolts of thunder rained down from the ink-black heavens, striking the giant creature in rapid succession.

CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!

All eyes widened in sheer horror as they gazed upon the beast now bathed in lightning.

Unaffected by poison.

Unaffected by magma.

Now even lightning doesn't faze it?!

What does this thing fear?!

ROAAAAARRR!!

A thunderous roar, like the combined cry of a dragon and tiger, erupted from the beast's throat and echoed across the heavens.

Whoosh… whoosh… whoosh…

Each flap of its massive wings summoned stronger gales, whipping into hurricane-force winds. Several weaker prisoners were blown straight off the island and into the sea.

"AAHH! HELP—!"

"SAVE ME!!"

But before they could swim back, dark shadows surged from beneath the sea. With a monstrous splash, a colossal sea creature breached the surface, jaws wide—

And with a "CHOMP!", it swallowed them whole—men and water together—then dove back into the depths with a heavy splash.

The prisoners on the dock, having witnessed this horrific sight, were frozen stiff. Their faces were pale, overcome with hopelessness.

The raging sea… the ruined Impel Down...

Looking at the disaster-stricken prison, Magellan felt his heart burn with fury. At the same time, he realized—

His time as Chief Warden was probably over.

He stared at the sky, at the true culprit behind it all. His eyes began to redden as toxic liquid bubbled around his body with a heavy glorp.

The purple venom began to turn crimson, swelling and spreading like multiplying cells.

"H-Hey, Warden! Calm down!"

From behind, Hannyabal's eyes widened as he tried to intervene.

But Magellan, lost in fury, had already surrendered to rage. He couldn't hear a thing.

In a flash, a fifty-meter-tall Poison Giant took shape.

"Ghidorah..."

The massive red figure let out Magellan's voice—low and cold.

Whoosh… whoosh…

Soaring in the skies, Ghidorah turned his gaze toward Impel Down. When he spotted the red Poison Giant, his golden eyes narrowed with disdain.

"So you want to die? Fine—I'll grant your wish."

"Also, those three venom dragons of yours really pissed me off."

Having been dormant for so long, Ghidorah gave his body a stretch—then, with a flap of his wings, dived toward the main tower of Impel Down.

"AHHHH! We're all gonna die!"

"Magellan, you bastard! If you want to die, don't drag the rest of us with you!"

"RUN FOR IT!!"

Seeing the massive beast blocking out the sky as it dove, the prisoners below screamed in rage and terror.

But panic gave them nowhere to run.

The sea was full of deadly Sea Kings.

Impel Down itself, now cracked and crumbling, could collapse at any moment...

Why?!

Why is even escaping so damn hard?!

This had to be what it meant when people said:

"Despair just opened the door for Despair's mom—

And they both came in together."

As Ghidorah approached, the violent winds beneath his wings grew even more savage.

Within the storm, blades of air—razor-sharp wind edges—sliced through the chaos.

This wasn't just wind anymore. It was a living shredder.

The weaker prisoners did all they could to resist, while even the stronger ones struggled to hold their ground.

What the hell kind of nightmare is this?!

"Ghidorah! You destroyed Impel Down! You destroyed my life!!"

"Even if I die today—I won't let you walk away unscathed!"

The red Poison Giant—Magellan—raised a massive red fist and hurled crimson poison orbs at the descending Ghidorah.

SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT!

As soon as they hit the wind blades, the poison orbs exploded like water balloons, turning into a toxic red rain that poured from the sky.

"Aaaahh!! MAGELLAN, YOU MADMAN!!"

The prisoners screamed, their panic worsening.

Now they had to fend off wind blades and dodge poison rain—caught between the chaos and their unhinged ally.

BOOM!

Ghidorah slammed into the top of the main tower like a thunderbolt.

With a single stomp, his powerful legs crushed the rooftop beneath him to rubble.

Then—six golden eyes looked down at the people below. He inhaled.

"ROAR!! ROAR!! ROAAAAARRR!!"

His savage breath kicked up a storm of debris, sending prisoners tumbling and flying in all directions.

"DIE!!"

Magellan, fully consumed by madness, raised his poisonous fist and swung it hard toward the tower.

Kevin, his mind still as goofy as ever, saw the dripping red poison on the giant fist and licked his lips like a hungry child.

As the punch approached, he slithered forward, forked tongue out, ready to taste it.

"IDIOT!!"

Jiro, nearby, cursed loudly.

A second later, the red poison fist slammed straight into Kevin.

But Jiro's massive dragon head struck right after. With a SNAP!, he bit clean through the arm attached to the red fist.

BOOM!

The poisoned arm exploded violently.

Toxic liquid sprayed in every direction, hissing and burning the surrounding stonework.

"Stop thinking about food all the time!"

Jiro barked at Kevin, his mouth dripping with red poison.

If he hadn't intervened just now, that idiot would've probably gulped down the poison like soup.

Sure, it wouldn't kill them—but no one wanted a belly full of toxic sludge.

He wasn't a poison dragon, dammit!

"Oh…"

Kevin muttered sheepishly.

"Magellan!!"

Unlike the carefree Kevin, Jiro's golden eyes gleamed with wrath. He lunged forward and sank his teeth into the Poison Giant's body.

Meanwhile, Ghidorah—who had remained silent until now—stood motionless, golden eyes fixed coldly on the battlefield.

More precisely… on Kizaru, who stood awkwardly among the ruins.

Ignoring Kevin and Jiro entirely, Ghidorah spoke in a deep, curious tone:

"Admiral Kizaru… What brings you here, instead of Marineford?

Are you here… to stop me?"

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