bookbashuk Chapter 235 The Battle of Impel Down, On the Eve of the Great War
Chapter 235 The Battle of Impel Down, On the Eve of the Great War
Chapter 235 The Battle of Impel Down, On the Eve of the Great War
The warships sailed on the sea, with the Propulsion City just a stone's throw away.
The air in the top conference room was so heavy it seemed like you could wring water out of it.
On the huge holographic tactical sand table, the three-dimensional model of Impel Down was surrounded by a dense array of naval vessels from all sides.
The red dots symbolizing enemy units are deployed layer by layer inside Impel Down, especially in Levels 4 and 6, where the red light is so intense it's almost impenetrable.
An intelligence officer swallowed hard and reported in a dry voice.
"It has been confirmed that the Blackbeard Pirates have completely overhauled Impel Down's defenses, rendering 90% of external surveillance ineffective."
Another officer responsible for liaising with the technical forces then reported: "The Divine Relics have been deployed to the First and Third Vanguard Fleets as planned, and the Divine Relics have demonstrated a high degree of adaptability to the target environment."
After listening to their report, Sengoku nodded on the other end of the communication line.
His gaze swept over every senior officer on the warship, finally settling on Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji.
"Sakazuki, Borsalino, Kuzan!"
"The three of you will lead the main fleet and be responsible for a frontal assault! The strategic objective is to draw fire and create sufficient pressure to keep Blackbeard and his core officers, including the known Heroic Spirits, occupied."
"I'm not asking you to capture it immediately, but you must prevent them from being able to attend to anything else!"
Then, he looked at Garp, who was sitting in the corner, silently eating senbei, but whose eyes were burning with fighting spirit.
"Garp! You will be operating with the Second Vanguard Unit, not participating in the frontal assault. As a strategic reserve, you are ready to respond to any unforeseen circumstances, especially—if other Heroic Spirits appear, or if an unexpected behemoth appears on the battlefield, then we will need your assistance!"
Then, he looked at Green Bull on the other side of the screen: "Aramaki, you will stay with me at headquarters."
"Not only must we maintain the stability of our base in the New World, but we must also guard against Big Mom, Kaido's remnants, or any other forces that want to take advantage of our misfortune!"
Finally, his gaze fell on the images of the scientific officers in white coats.
"Science Force, the Divine Relic is Dr. Vegapunk's masterpiece and a trump card provided by the World Government. Your mission is to either hold the line on the main battlefield or, once the exact location of the ritual's core is discovered, to break through the core defenses at all costs. Understand?!"
"For justice!" the science unit officer replied expressionlessly.
Sengoku took a deep breath: "In that case, launch a full-scale attack on Impel Down in 24 hours!"
The underwater prison, Pirate Castle.
Within the enormous altar space transformed from LEVEL6, ominous dark red patterns pulsed slightly as if alive, drawing upon the despair and death permeating the entire prison.
The core members of the Blackbeard Pirates gathered here, the atmosphere both frenzied and tense.
Van Oka calmly wiped his 1600-pike, the metallic sheen of the blade appearing particularly cold in the dim light.
"The main naval fleet has completed its assembly and is expected to arrive in our outer waters within 24 hours."
"According to the intelligence gathered through infiltration, the team is led by three admirals: Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji. That old monster Garp may also be accompanying them."
"It is worth noting that the heroic spirits not found in the fleet, namely Jiang Ziya and Yang Jian, did not accompany us."
"However—a special unit codenamed 'God's Remains' is mixed in among them."
"A divine remnant? Humph! Sounds like something crawling out of a grave!" Burgess pounded his muscular chest, making a dull thud.
"Let them come! My fists are itching for a good smash! I'll smash these government lackeys to pieces!"
Pizarro sensed the overall structure of the prison through his Castle-Castle Fruit ability and chuckled sinisterly.
"Muru-ho-ho—The welcoming ceremony on the perimeter is ready. It's a good time to test the power and loyalty of our new partners with the blood of the navy's elite."
In the deep water, the massive, mountain-like body of San Juan Wolf moved slowly, emitting a muffled roar like an underwater volcano about to erupt, stirring up the undercurrents.
From the shadows, the count's deep, hoarse voice rang out, carrying a hint of barely perceptible solemnity.
"Teach, don't let arrogance blind you. The Navy has come out in full force; their determination should not be underestimated."
"The World Government's hidden power is unfathomable—the remains of the gods remind me of some unpleasant memories."
"Hahaha! Don't worry, Earl!"
Blackbeard Teach's single eye gleamed with madness and confidence as he opened his arms as if to embrace the impending war.
"This is our home turf! Impel Down's centuries of accumulation, combined with our power, and the power of you, a Heroic Spirit!"
"Even if the entire navy comes, they'll just be a few appetizers to my feast! Let them come!"
"I'll make sure they never return, and their defeat will herald the start of a new era!"
He turned toward the remnants of the Lox era who stood solemnly on one side of the altar.
"Captain John! You and your former crew were in charge of defending Level 4, the Scorching Hell, using the environment there to add fuel to the fire for the Navy!"
Captain John, dressed in a magnificent pirate outfit, with greedy and cruel eyes, grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.
"Leave it to me, Teach. I'll take both the treasure and the souls of the Navy's darlings!"
Beside him stood the taciturn dragon-slaying swordsman Ryuma, the smuggling pirate Ganzi, and the composed Gilbasda.
These four are the Servants that Blackbeard can currently reliably summon and control, and they are truly powerful in combat.
"As for LEVEL 1 Crimson Lotus Hell and LEVEL 2 Beast Hell —"
Blackbeard looked at the pseudo-heroic spirits and some of the former Impel Down jailer beasts and blue gorillas who had surrendered or were under control.
"Let our new friends and the original residents have some fun! Hahaha!!"
Impel Down has been transformed into a massive war fortress by the Blackbeard Pirates.
Most of the original surveillance Den Den Mushi were destroyed or interfered with, and were replaced by surveillance fortresses set up by Pizarro using his abilities.
The passageways on each floor were deliberately modified to be more complex and narrow, and filled with traps.
LEVEL 3, the Hunger Hell, was injected with special poisonous gas, while LEVEL 4, the Scorching Hell, had its blood pools and seas of fire guided by energy, becoming even more violent.
The extreme cold of LEVEL5 is partially gathered, forming a natural low-temperature barrier.
The core of Level 6 was completely enveloped by the power of the altar, clearly indicating that Blackbeard did not believe the Navy could reach this point.
Twenty-four hours later, advance into the sea area surrounding the city.
The once turbulent sea was now covered by steel warships.
The main naval fleet spread out in a fan shape, with countless cannons aimed at the Impel Down city in the distance, which lay dormant like a giant sea monster.
Sunlight shone on the cold hull and the billowing cloak of justice, reflecting a chilling light.
On a flagship with exceptionally heavy armor, Akainu Sakazuki stood at the bow, holding a Den Den Mushi (a type of electric telephone snail).
His voice, like rolling lava, traveled through the radio waves, reaching the entire naval fleet and attempting to penetrate the thick walls of Impel Down.
"Marshall D. Teach! And all the wicked lurking within Impel Down! You desecrate the dead, trample on order, and attempt to overthrow the world with evil power!"
"Today, the Navy, upholding absolute justice, will utterly purify you! Surrender now, hand over all the souls and spirits you have enslaved, and accept judgment—this is your only way out!"
"Otherwise—only utter destruction awaits you!"
The voice that answered him was not that of the man with the black beard.
Instead, it was countless dark red dots that suddenly lit up on the top platform of the Propulsion City.
Those were pseudo-heroic spirits that surged forth like a tidal wave, emitting inhuman roars!
They swarmed like locusts, densely covering the outer platforms and walls of Impel Down, silently taunting the naval fleet.
Immediately afterwards, all of Impel Down's external broadcasting systems were forcibly activated, and Blackbeard's signature maniacal laughter echoed across the sea.
"Hahaha!! Akainu! Sengoku! And all the Navy's lackeys!"
"I'm right here waiting for you! You want to judge me? You want to purify this place? Then pay with your lives!"
"Let's see if your navy's firepower is stronger, or if my heroic spirits are more ferocious! Come on! Let this feast officially begin! Zhehahaha!!!"
"Stubborn to the end!" Akainu's eyes turned cold, and he suddenly waved his hand to give the order.
"First salvo! Target: the outer platform of the impregnable fortress, those twisted monsters! Open fire!"
boom-!!!!
Hundreds of heavy cannons roared simultaneously, and scorching shells, like meteors raining down, streaked across the sky with a fierce whistling sound as they hurtled toward Impel Down!
At almost the same time, they advanced outside the city.
The watchtower that Pizarro had set up suddenly transformed, extending a thick cannon barrel and a protective shield made of hardened rock and negative energy.
Some of the pseudo-heroic spirits even leaped up fearlessly, using their bodies or the energy they released to intercept the cannonballs!
Rumble, rumble, rumble—!
Deafening explosions rang out one after another, and flames and smoke instantly engulfed one side of Impel Down.
False heroic spirits were constantly torn apart by the artillery fire, turning into black smoke and dissipating. Shells were also constantly intercepted or exploded on the protective shields, failing to damage the Impel Down itself.
The first round of shelling was more like a prelude to a mutual probing.
The navy displayed formidable firepower, while Blackbeard's side demonstrated its uncanny defensive capabilities and ruthless willingness to sacrifice cannon fodder.
"As expected, they were prepared." Kizaru smirked, and his body began to transform into photons.
"Looks like we won't be able to crack this turtle shell without using something tough."
Aokiji took a deep breath, leaped into the air, and crossed his arms: "Ice Age—!"
A terrifying chill erupted from its center, and the sea surface froze rapidly at a visible speed.
Thick layers of ice spread toward Impel Down, attempting to freeze the underwater prison completely!
However, just as the ice was about to touch the foundation of Impel Down, the cold air stored in LEVEL 5's extreme cold was drawn out and clashed violently with Aokiji's Ice Age!
The collision of the two extremely cold currents did not produce an explosion, but instead created a dead zone filled with ice crystal storms, in which no ship could approach.
"Tsk—troublesome." Aokiji landed back on the deck, his brows furrowed slightly.
The main battlefield reached a brief stalemate.
The Navy needs to find a better breakthrough, while Blackbeard is waiting for something, or rather, brewing a deeper conspiracy.
While the waters around Impel Down were ablaze with gunfire, in other corners of the world, various forces were also closely watching and quietly making their moves.
Off the coast of Water 7, the Thousand Sunny.
Fujitora never left the ship; he stood at the bow of the warship, maintaining communication with the Sunny.
"The battle has begun," Fujitora said in a deep voice.
"The pressure is on, and Blackbeard's attention should be drawn. Straw Hat, now is the perfect time for you to act."
"Based on the intelligence we shared previously, Impel Down has a hidden underwater passage used for emergency sewage disposal and supply import. The coordinates of the entrance have been sent to you."
"That is the most likely known route to bypass the main battlefield and reach the vicinity of LEVEL4."
Luffy tightened his straw hat, his eyes sharp: "Understood! Ace, Sun, Roger! Let's go!"
""
Ace nodded emphatically, flames dancing in his palm.
Karna calmly raised his spear, while Roger laughed heartily, "It's been a while since I've been through these little waterways! Let's go, boys!"
To ensure the success of the infiltration and to deal with potential powerful enemies, the infiltration team consists of Luffy, Ace, Karna, Roger, and King Hassan, who is skilled in reconnaissance and stealth.
Zoro, Sanji, and the others remained on the Sunny, providing support from the perimeter alongside Fujitora's warship and guarding against any other potential enemies.
In the New World, in some unknown sea, the Red Fosse.
"They've already started fighting." Shanks looked at the latest extra edition delivered by the newsbird.
The headline above exaggerated the news of the Navy's all-out attack on Impel Down.
He felt the burning sensation of the Command Seals on the back of his hand becoming increasingly clear.
"Merlin, can you sense the specific situation inside?"
Merlin closed his eyes and concentrated, the tip of his wooden staff shimmering with an illusory light.
"Hmm—it's very chaotic. A large amount of negative energy is surging, and the boundary of death is becoming blurred—moreover, I sense more than one abnormal heroic spirit aura."
"Besides the one with the black beard, it seems there's something else mixed in—is it a divine remnant? But it doesn't quite seem like it—"
Shanks' expression turned grave: "Speed up, we must reunite with Vivi and the others as soon as possible. This war probably won't be confined to Impel Down."
Dressrosa, the King's Heights.
Doflamingo watched the blurry footage of the front lines transmitted via a live Den Den Mushi.
This live stream came from official World Government channels and only showed footage of the navy's heroic shelling.
He chuckled heartily, "It's starting! It's starting! Shakespeare, are our actors ready?"
Shakespeare, brimming with ecstasy, brandished his quill: "I'm already thirsting for more, Master!"
"Lord Mihawk and Lord Kojiro are ready, and Lord Moria is eager to gather new materials!"
Mihawk, holding the Black Blade Night in his arms, said with a sharp look in his eyes, "It's time to go and meet that Dragon Slayer."
He was naturally referring to the dragon horse under the black beard.
Moria chuckled, "That black-bearded guy made me lose so much stuff, but the shadow of those legendary criminals in Level 6—just thinking about it gets me excited!"
The Crusaders' fleet has already assembled in the port of Dressrosa, like sharks smelling blood, about to set sail for that chaotic battlefield. Their goal is both to disrupt the situation and to seize their own interests.
Navy G-1 Branch, Marshal's Office.
Sengoku and Green Bull looked at the huge strategic map, which not only marked the Impel Down battlefield but also monitored the movements in other sea areas of the New World.
"The Big Mom Pirates are making unusual moves; they seem to be in contact with the remnants of Kaido's forces."
"The whereabouts of the Red-Haired Pirates are unknown, but it is certain that they are heading towards the battlefield."
"The Crusaders' fleet has left Dressrosa—"
"And—the Revolutionary Army also seems to be active in secret."
Green Bull Rampage grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth: "Marshal, looks like there are quite a few flies trying to take advantage of the situation. Shall I go out and stretch my legs?"
Sengoku's gaze was deep, and he shook his head: "No rush, Aramaki. Not all of our guests have arrived yet. Let the bullets fly a little longer."