Chapter 21: Magellan Approaches
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Level 4 was dense in the air, with the sound of footsteps echoing down stone corridors. Magellan strode forward, the large body towering over the blood-soaked battlefield. His dripping poison oozed to the ground menacingly as he glared down at Blackbeard, crumpled at his feet and not moving. The pirate's body steamed, his skin ruined by Magellan's lethal venom. It cleaned the wide grin that had once been so infamous on his face and left it lifeless, slack-jawed.
But he didn't even so much as cast a second glance at him. "I'll deal with you later, Trash." he grumbled, continued onward and sharp-as-ever focus remained unchanged. He had no time to squander on Blackbeard.the real threat was Straw Hat Luffy.
The unconscious form of Hannyabal slumped against the cold wall, his body wounds oozing out specks of blood, while contorted in pain; he was out cold. Magellan approached him and knitted his brows into a frown. Hannyabal was fighting with everything he had, and yet… it hadn't been enough.
Magellan's fists clutched, his venom boiling even harder now, his anger hardly contained. He didn't need words to know what had happened here. They had escaped.
"Straw Hat!!" Magellan's voice exploded through the stone halls, a roar of fury that seemed to shake the entire prison. "I WON'T LET YOU ESCAPE ALIVE!!"
That scream-like shout bellowed across the levels, all the way up to Level 3, where Kai, Luffy, and the rest had been holding down the last few remaining guards and beasts. Kai's eyes puffed with surprise as the scream-like sound was heard in their ears, the shaking of air that made a near-circular wave around.
"Magellan." Kai stated with his hand slacking its grip on his Glintstone Staff, his heart pounding in his chest in an instant. The name alone had come out with a danger inside that could not be turned a blind eye to.
Luffy's fists clenched tightly at his sides, his face hardening with the penetration of the sound of Magellan's voice. "He's coming."
Kai knew they couldn't face Magellan head-on, not in the condition they were in. Luffy was injured, and Kai could feel the fatigue from the constant battles gnawing at him. But they had no time to stop.
Kai's head whipped around frantically, seeking whatever he could use against Magellan and buying some time. His gaze fell on Crocodile, standing with his arms crossed, the glint of gold off his hook flashing dull in the flickering light of the torches. And in that instant, a plan struck Kai.
"Crocodile!" Kai shouted, sharp. "Block the stairway with sand! It may buy us time if we can seal it before Magellan gets here."
Crocodile's gaze flickered to Kai; his lips twisted upwards in an amused smirk. "Heh. You're smarter than you look."
Without further ado, Crocodile thrust his hand out, sending a whirling storm of golden sand forward, charging at the stairwell. It churned with its fierce force through the small corridor and immediately built up, heaping heavily in the way to create a thick wall covering the entrance completely and blocking any view. The few guards and beasts were blown backward by the force and thrown off their feet onto the stone floor.
"That should slow him down," Crocodile said, his grin spreading wider as he looked back at the rest of them. "But don't think that'll hold him forever."
Kai nodded, his pulse still racing. It wasn't going to be this easy to get rid of Magellan, but at least they had bought themselves a little more time. They had to keep going-if they didn't, Magellan would catch up to them, and none were ready for a battle like that.
"Lets' go!" he yelled out loud, the urgency to reach Ace echoing in his voice.
Jinbe gave a determined nod as he gestured to the group to continue on. "There's no time to waste. Magellan is going to break through eventually."
Bowing his head for one last look at the sealed stairwell, Kai followed the exit of the group's. His mind was working even then-the speculation of how much longer they could outrun Magellan, how long their luck could hold out.
With the stairway to Level 2 of Impel Down now in view, one could tell the mood was notably urgent. Iva spoke in a hushed tone to Inazuma as their heads drew in close together in planning the next move while chaos erupted everywhere.
Suddenly, with a quick motion as if to ascend, Inazuma made a decision: he had sealed his and Iva's exit behind them in Level 3 after cutting the stairs. Suddenly, the U-turn of affairs sent shockwaves around the group.
Kai's eyes widened in disbelief, and he exclaimed, "What the hell are you doing Inazuma!"
Inazuma turned, face cool as the mayhem erupted around him. "You must focus on the escape first! Go! We'll handle Magellan!" he replied firmly, his voice unshaken.
Luffy, in a daze of shock from the sudden separation, threw his hands up frustratedly. "What are you saying? We can't just leave them behind! We have to go back there!"
"Luffy Stop and listen!" Bon Clay added, suddenly appearing beside Luffy. "We cannot afford to be apprehended! Iva will do that. We must have faith in them!"
Kai nodded in agreement, "We have to see this thing through. Now, if we turn our backs, everyone would be in danger! We will save them later. think of Ace"
Clenching his fists, Luffy was at war with his instincts to save Iva and the reality of their situation. "But they're in danger!"
"I know, but we'll only make things worse if we don't keep moving!" Kai insisted, his gaze matching Luffy's determination. "We gotta escape first!"
Reluctantly, Luffy took a deep breath as frustration churned beneath his surface. "Fine! But I won't forget this! We'll come back for them!"
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In the darkness of Level 4, tattered pieces of Sadi's clothes fluttered while she gains consciousness. The sting of defeat still burns to a dark resolve within her chest. Her eyes flickered open, and with a clenched fist, determination soars through her veins.
"I will have my revenge on that Bedroom Bandit," she growled in a low tone, as the scenes played within her mind in endless succession-a broken record-just fueling her anger. The need for vengeance ran strong, stronger than any pain she may have felt.
Getting to her feet unsteadily, Sadi smoothed her uniform and dusted off the remnants of her past humiliation. She knew just the plan to execute her vengeance. Sadi navigated through the winding corridors of Level 4-the echo of footsteps, a sure precursor to what was to come.
She came upon a unique room at the end, entirely sealed with intricate seals and designs; she pushed it open and stepped inside. It was a chamber of wondrous, magical items, pulsing with life. Sadi made her way over to a huge control panel and her fingers began their dance upon the buttons.
"Listen up, Jailor Beasts!" she ordered, cold firmness etched into her voice. "I want you to go to Level 2 and find that pesky brat named Kai. Give him a good beating! Let him know never to cross me again!"
The huge, menacing Jailor Beasts growled in response, salivating at being let loose to perform her will. They rolled onward, eager to fulfill their mistress's request, as malevolent glints flashed in their eyes.
As they stepped out into the hall, a sly smile curved up on Sadi's lips. "This time, I'll make sure he remembers who he's dealing with,
....
Level 2: the group had just taken the first steps on that level. Yet, the unsettling silence that shrouded them got wary looks between Crocodile and Jinbe. There was dead silence on that level; cells stood wide open, absolutely prisoner-less.
"Where are all the prisoners?" Jinbe asked, furrowing his brow in puzzlement. "It's too quiet. Something's off."
Crocodile nodded, his eyes narrowing critically at the surroundings. "Not a single guard in sight either. It's actually as if they want us to get through."
Kai, impervious to danger, shrugged and chuckled light. "Well, who cares about any prisoners? no guards means no fights! So move along!
With this, he started to jog ahead, confident by the apparent lack of opposition. "This is gonna be a piece of cake—"
Suddenly, the ground shook, and a series of deep roars rumbled through the corridor. The shadows surged towards them, and out of the darkness emerged the Five Jailor Beasts: huge and menacing, their eyes fixed on the group.
Kai stopped laughing, his eyes widening in shock. "Wait, what the—?!"
Before he could utter another word, the beasts attacked him, and he stumbled backward, his bravado gone. "Oh great! Just my luck! What's up with this damn place and wanting me to suffer!!"
.
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Down in Level Three, Magellan Has just defeated Iva and Inazuma
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If you wish to read up to 5 Chapters Ahead! or simply support me just because? then check out my patréon at
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