While Luffy and Buggy were leading their ragtag alliance in a jailbreak, the Blackbeard Pirates ran into them halfway through.
"Zehahahaha… Didn't expect to see you here, Straw Hat."
Grinning widely, Blackbeard made no effort to hide the truth.
"It was supposed to be you we captured, Straw Hat. You're lucky you survived against an Admiral."
Luffy exploded with rage, instantly activating Gear Second.
Watching Teach roll on the ground in pain after taking the first blow, even Hades felt secondhand embarrassment.
This Blackbeard.
Every time, he had to get beaten up first before turning the tables. Not a shred of dignity befitting a powerhouse.
Of course, Blackbeard struck back.
With a single Dark Water, he nullified Luffy's rubber powers, dragged him in, and smashed him into the ground.
Then came the explanation.
Truth be told, in the world of pirates, people rarely hid their Devil Fruit abilities. They introduced themselves proudly.
"I ate this fruit, I'm this kind of man."
Almost like showing off.
Except the truly strong.
Most of the time, that just handed the enemy your weaknesses.
Ozz, for example, had never once declared himself the man who ate the Teleportation Fruit.
Jinbe intervened before things escalated further.
"This isn't the time to fight!"
Crocodile cast a contemptuous glance at Blackbeard.
"So you're the pirate who replaced me as a Warlord."
"Ozz's standards have been declining ever since he picked Doflamingo."
"Only that axe wielding one looks like he has potential."
"Hey. Want to join me?"
Blackbeard did not expect Crocodile to be so sharp eyed, nor to openly poach in front of him.
"Zehahahaha! Crocodile, Hades is my First Mate. You want a war?"
The two sides locked eyes for a moment.
In the end, Crocodile withdrew.
She had more important matters to attend to.
Blackbeard's crew did not waste time either. They had come to recruit new members.
But before they went far, they ran straight into Magellan.
The venomous Hydra that had once wiped them out was stopped midair, blocked by the barrier of the Telekinesis Fruit.
"Wahaha! Reliable as ever, Vice Captain!"
Seeing Blackbeard's crew unharmed, a dangerous glint flashed in Magellan's eyes.
"Devil Fruit users. And Haki masters."
With Hades' power combined with the cover of the Dark Dark Fruit, Blackbeard's crew slipped away.
Unable to pursue immediately, Magellan turned his focus to the other group attempting to escape.
…
"We did it! We're out!!!"
Cheers erupted. Buggy split into pieces in excitement, arms flailing.
"Tell me, who led you out of Impel Down, my loyal followers?!"
"You did, Captain Buggy!!!"
"Don't celebrate too early."
Jinbe's expression was grave.
"To truly escape Impel Down, we must pass through the Gates of Justice. Otherwise it's only a matter of time before we're caught."
The massive Gates of Justice loomed before them.
A cannon barrage could not breach that barrier.
Despair crept in.
Then suddenly.
"Kahahaha…"
"The Gates of Justice are opening!!!"
The prisoners wept with gratitude.
"This must be Captain Buggy's doing!!!"
"Y yes! Just as planned!!!"
At that moment, a Den Den Mushi call came from the control room.
Minutes earlier.
"Guard the control room at all costs! Do not let those pirates escape!"
The operators stood tense.
Then footsteps approached.
Someone turned and froze.
"Y you are…"
"Open the Gates of Justice."
"But… even for you…"
Facing the tall figure before them, the operator could not utter refusal.
"This is an order. I have my reasons. Do you intend to defy the will of the World Government?"
"No!!!"
The Gates opened.
Moments later, Magellan stormed in, furious.
He stopped dead upon seeing the figure.
"Saint Ozz?!"
Standing there was none other than the most famous figure within the World Government's ranks.
"It was my order to open the Gates. Do you have a problem, Chief Warden Magellan?"
The "Ozz" turned slowly, cold eyes locking onto Magellan.
Magellan's forehead glistened with sweat.
"According to intelligence, you should be at Marine Headquarters. Why are you here in Impel Down?"
"Eh? Really?"
"Ozz" looked genuinely surprised.
Magellan's suspicion sharpened instantly.
"Who are you?!"
"Straw Hat chan! You have to save your brother!!!"
"Keep going! Don't stop!!!"
On the warship beyond the Gates, tears streamed down faces.
Smiling without smiling.
Bon Clay was a true man.
"Bon chan… thank you!!!"
…
"What a grand spectacle."
Ozz lay on the luxurious bed of a Marine warship's finest cabin, eyes half lidded, clearly amused.
Hancock, seated close, noticed the shift in his expression.
"Lord Ozz, what happened?"
He did not answer.
He simply drew her closer by the waist.
"Nothing."
They would reach Marineford soon.
The execution was less than half a day away.
"What a magnificent banquet."
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
The entire base was in full combat readiness.
When Ozz stepped off the warship, his Observation Haki sensed nothing but Marines filling the island.
After years as a pirate, he had never seen so many Marines gathered in one place.
"Saint Ozz!!!"
Hancock followed behind him, ignoring the countless stares.
Her gaze held only one figure.
Ozz, in turn, spotted familiar faces.
"Oh. Gion. It's been a while."
The last time they had crossed paths, he had nearly destroyed half of Marineford during his first invasion.
"… "
Gion's emotions were complicated.
But she still saluted respectfully.
Hancock, meanwhile, bit her sleeve, staring at the beautiful Marine officer who had greeted Ozz.
Who was that woman?
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