Inside Ace's cell, Jinbei was experiencing the terrifying pressure for the first time.

His eyes widened as he turned to Ace, who was drenched in cold sweat.

"What the hell is that thing doing now?!"

"That monster's out of his mind!"

Ace gritted his teeth and glared toward the massive sealed cage in the distance.

Since being thrown into Level Six, Jinbei had noticed the massive, frost-covered structure surrounded by cold mist.

Seeing Ace staring at it again — and recalling his mutterings — Jinbei finally asked:

"That thing... What exactly is it?"

"Tch. I don't know the full story," Ace replied through clenched teeth.

"But it calls itself 'Ghidorah.' Could be some kind of monster, for all I know."

Even speaking was difficult under the crushing pressure. Ace spat on the ground.

Eventually, the sheer weight of the presence became unbearable.

He roared, face twisted in pain.

"DAMN MONSTER! THAT'S ENOUGH!!"

Jinbei watched in disbelief as, in response to the scream, a terrifying wave of red energy recoiled inward, sweeping through the cavernous floor.

A gust of invisible, violent force blew the white fog away — and for the first time, the massive sealed cage was fully exposed.

---

Everyone still conscious on Level Six — prisoner and guard alike — looked up and saw the truth.

What they saw…

Terrified them beyond reason.

How… how could something like this even exist in the world?!

A hulking, frozen beast.

More accurately — three colossal heads, sealed in crystalline ice.

They looked dragon-like, but not quite.

Covered in blue-green scales, massive jaws locked in frozen snarls, each head radiated a silent, overwhelming threat — even with their eyes closed.

Just looking at them sent shivers down every spine.

---

"So… this is what you really look like?"

Ace's voice trembled as he gazed at the monstrous heads.

"Hahaha! HAHAHA!!

To think I, Douglas Bullet, would get to see your true form in this lifetime!"

"Looks like I finally surpassed you… Roger!"

Bullet laughed maniacally, then his expression sobered.

"The Deathless Beast... Ghidorah."

"I wonder… Are you really as powerful as the legends say?"

---

As the entire floor fell into stunned silence, the elevator doors suddenly opened.

Magellan stormed in with a team of guards.

"Wha— What the hell is that?!"

"No… The mist is gone?!"

"Damn it! Why now?!"

Seeing the exposed cage, Magellan's face darkened with dread.

A cold wave of fear gripped him — a feeling he hadn't had in years.

This is bad. Really bad.

Without hesitation, he barked orders:

"Take Fire Fist Ace to Vice Admiral Onigumo immediately!"

Then he ran toward the giant cage.

---

Ghidorah…

Standing before the monstrous heads, Magellan's heart pounded.

The beast hadn't moved, but standing this close…

He could feel it.

It was waking up.

The legends passed down through generations of prison wardens — the warnings, the secrets…

All of it was real.

Every prison warden had shared one goal: don't let anything go wrong during your tenure.

And Magellan was no different.

Face pale, he muttered:

"Ghidorah… What are you planning?"

"Heh… Magellan," came a chilling voice inside his mind.

"I told you. This place can't hold me."

"Damn it! Can't you ever stay quiet?!"

They had spoken before — brief mental contacts through the seal — but this time, Magellan could feel it.

The monster was almost free.

"It's been centuries… I wonder what the world looks like now?" Ghidorah mused.

"Whatever it looks like, you're not leaving on my watch," Magellan replied coldly — the words echoed the hopes of every warden before him.

"Heh…"

Ghidorah let out a low, devilish laugh.

"I've told you before…

None of you can stop me."

---

"A demon trying to destroy the world…"

Magellan stared up at the beast, eyes narrowed.

"Destroy the world?"

"What a ridiculous, ignorant notion."

Ghidorah's chuckle turned cold — almost insane — like he was mocking Magellan's naivety.

---

Buru buru buru… Buru buru buru…

Just then, the Den Den Mushi in Magellan's coat buzzed.

Click.

"Warden! It's bad!

Someone else just invaded Impel Down!"

"What?! Who?!"

Magellan's face twisted into a snarl.

"It—It's a Warlord!

**Blackbeard—**AAGGHH!!"

The line cut off with a scream — and the unmistakable sound of wild, maniacal laughter.

"Zehahaha!!"

Blackbeard…

Magellan's eyes flashed with alarm as memories surged — files from Marine HQ, warnings about a man dangerous enough to capture Ace.

This wasn't someone ordinary guards could stop.

Without another word, he gave Ghidorah one last glance, then ran toward the elevator.

---

As he passed Shiryu of the Rain's cell, Magellan hesitated.

Then made his decision.

"I'll have them release you.

I need your help putting down this riot."

Inside the cell, Shiryu gave a slow, sinister smile.

"A riot, huh?"

"Sounds like fun."

His eyes gleamed red with bloodlust.

Magellan stared at him for a long moment, then turned and left without another word.

He knew this was risky.

Before, he could handle intruders like Luffy on his own.

But now…

With Blackbeard in the mix, even he couldn't guarantee anything.

What Magellan didn't realize was this:

He wasn't releasing an ally — but another monster.

---

Moments later, a team of guards arrived with Shiryu's sword, trembling as they unlocked the cell.

The man stepped out without a word, a cruel grin on his face.

He lit a cigar and took a deep drag — smoke swirling into the cold air of Eternal Hell.

His long-dormant bloodlust stirred awake again.

---

"So, Shiryu.

How's it feel to be out?" came Magellan's voice through a Den Den Mushi.

"Ugh.

Endless boredom — I thought I'd die of it," Shiryu muttered.

"But once I do my part, I'm not going back in, right?"

He grinned coldly.

He didn't believe Magellan for a second.

He asked the question on instinct — not trust.

"You're still on death row.

This is a stay of execution.

There won't be another."

"Heh… I'll remember that."

Shiryu took the blade from the guard, gripping it tightly.

"Blackbeard's crew is yours to handle," Magellan said.

"I'm sealing off Level 2."

"Understood…"

As he tightened his grip, a gleam of bloodthirst flashed in his eyes.

"It's been a while…

since I felt this alive."

Suddenly — without warning — he drew his sword in a swift, clean motion.

A single slash tore through every guard in front of him.

"No survivors."

---

Heh… How delightfully savage.

From deep inside the giant cage, Ghidorah chuckled coldly, having witnessed it all.

Then, sensing something, he stretched his awareness across the entire frozen prison.

His attention fixed on the melting ice crystals — the droplets forming at the edges of his cage.

Thin trails of water trickled down the massive block.

He laughed softly.

The seal…

Is almost undone.

---

PS: For narrative pacing, Luffy and Shiryu's arrival on Level Six have been slightly adjusted. Please don't flame me.

PS: Access advance chapters at

https://www.patreon.com/c/NanamiTL