Sea water gushed out from the breach, not only flooding the floor of the third level of the prison but also some of it passing through the hole in the third level and falling down to the fourth level below.
On the fourth level, there was a huge magma furnace, where boiling magma churned year-round. Now, with the sea water pouring down, the furnace couldnât be extinguished in a short time. Instead, it caused a sudden surge of steam, which rose up. Upon reaching the third level, the steam immediately took effect.
Originally, Crocodileâs sandstorm had dispersed much of the poisonous gas pervading the third level, but it couldnât completely clear it. Now, with the steam rising, the remaining poison dissolved into the steam, reverting back to toxic droplets.
As for the poison on the ground, it was directly diluted by the surging sea water!
Originally, this poison was created by Magellanâs ability, so its concentration was high. Even if it touched the skin, it would cause excruciating pain. Now, diluted by the sea water, everyone knew that as long as they didnât foolishly drink this mixture of poisoned water, they would be completely fine.
Upon seeing the sea water rushing in, Crocodile had already turned into sand and flew away. Being a user of the Sand-Sand Fruit, he detested water, so he absolutely refused to touch this sea water.
As for Jinbe, being a Fish-Man, he felt no pressure from the sea water at all. However, he immediately had the prisoners waiting on the fourth level come up. While the sea water on the third level was still relatively shallow, he had everyone wade through it.
Magellanâs feet were now submerged in seawater. As a Devil Fruit user, seawater was his greatest nemesis. Even without being fully immersed, it would drain some of his stamina, leaving Magellan weaker than beforeâŠ
As the prisoners ascended to the third level, this was the scene that greeted them, prompting uncontrollable laughter directed at Magellan.
They thought, âEven you, Magellan, have days like this?â
However, with the third level flooded, Devil Fruit users like Luffy and the others were no better off than Magellan at the moment. So, they paid no attention to him. Non-Devil Fruit users hurriedly carried the Devil Fruit users on their backs, wading through the water towards the staircase leading to the second level.
Read latest chapters at freŃweÉnovel.com Only.
Freedom was just within reach, igniting a fiery passion within the hearts of the prisonersâŠ
Crocodile led the way, having no intention of staying a moment longer on the waterlogged third level. Ian understood his sentiment and let him go.
Once everyone had ascended, only Jinbe, Ian, and Eva stood before Magellan.
At this moment, Magellan lacked the strength to activate his abilities, rendering him powerless even in the presence of the three masterminds.
âWhat do we do?â Eva turned to Ian. âThe seawater will continue to rise, filling up the sixth level, then the fifth, spreading upward floor by floor. Before long, the entire Impel Down will be submerged, except for the layer exposed to the sea surface. Ian, if we leave Magellan here, heâll drown!â
Ian thought for a moment, then said, âBring him along!â
Jinbe didnât hesitate and walked over, lifting Magellanâs massive body onto his back.
Magellan was somewhat bewildered. âDo you⊠do you know what youâre doing?â
âOf course I do!â Ian glanced at him and continued walking. âOne of our comrades might have been captured by Vice-Admiral Gion. Taking you as a hostage exchange is all. Donât overthink it!â
Magellan fell silent, contemplating whether to attack Ian and the others again after leaving the third level.
Being rescued twice in a row, even someone as principled as Magellan didnât know what to do at this momentâŠ
However, just then, Ian suddenly added, âAlso, although Iâve released many prisoners, I still believe that Impel Down has its purpose. Itâs submerged, not destroyed. As the warden, you may still have a role to play in the future. Dying here would be a waste!â
Ian didnât turn back as he spoke, so Magellan couldnât see his expression, unsure if Ianâs words were sincere.
In truth, Ianâs words came from the heart. This time, he forcibly infiltrated Impel Down. The prisoners on the sixth level fell by his hand, and those in the fifth levelâs Freezing Hell probably couldnât escape either. Most of the irredeemable criminals perished. As for the prisoners he took from the first to fourth levels, they werenât as heinous. Ian could manage them, so he decided to take them along. fĐłeeđ€ebÉłoveÉ.cĂžm
But if they lost Impel Down, there would be nowhere to detain the even more dangerous pirates the Marines might capture in the futureâŠ
Ianâs mind was clear, and he wasnât an extremist. He understood that both the Marines and Impel Down, despite their dark sides, also had their positive aspects. Magellan was no exception. Although he was an adversary, he had his principles and could be considered loyal to his duty. Having someone like him as the warden served as a deterrent to the criminals.
âObstruct me, and Iâll take you down.â It was just a matter of differing perspectives. In Ianâs eyes, Magellan wasnât someone beyond redemption, someone who had to be killed. So, he didnât mind saving him again.
Even Marines could turn into pirates one day. Who knew what the future held?
After ascending to the second level, the trio found no guards, which struck them as odd. However, seeing Crocodile and the others heading towards the first level, Ianâs group didnât dwell on it and hurried to catch up.
Yet, upon reaching the first level and finding no guards or prison guards, Ianâs group couldnât help but feel puzzled.
âWerenât they supposed to ambush us?â Trafalgar Law, carrying his nodachi, looked puzzled. âWhy is no one here? And not a single prison guard in sight.â
âGoing up further, weâll reach the entrance to Impel Down!â Nami chimed in. âMaybe theyâre waiting for us there!â
âNo, thatâs not it!â Ian frowned. âTheyâre most likely not on the entrance level!â
Turning his head, Ian looked at Magellan and said, âIf Iâm not mistaken, Magellan, when you were guarding the third level, you werenât trying to stop us but rather to delay us to allow the guards of Impel Down and the Marines to retreat, right?â
ââŠ,â Magellan remained expressionless, unwilling to speak.
âGot it!â Nami clapped her hands. âThere must be Den Den Mushi in the third level. They probably saw that even Magellan couldnât stop us, so they all retreated!â
âHahaha!â Crocodile burst into laughter. âSo, when we step out, weâll probably be greeted by the Navyâs bombardment, huh?â
Ivankov nodded. âThey probably saw the prison damaged and water pouring in, realizing itâs futile to stay, so they simply returned to the warships⊠It seems the Navy intends to abandon Impel Down and destroy it!â
âDestroying it can only mean destroying the entrance layer on the sea surface!â Ian remarked. âBut with water flooding in, weâll eventually have to go to the entrance layer to take cover, which means we canât avoid the bombardment!â
Jinbe asked, âIan, my friend, what about your retreat plan? Are there ships waiting for us? If not, weâll have to figure out a way to seize Navy ships!â
âOf course, there are ships waiting, but it might be crowded!â Ian chuckled. âIn fact, the number of people who ultimately escaped has exceeded my expectations a bitâŠâ
âIn that case, we might have to seize Navy ships after allâŠâ Jinbe suggested.
âNo!â Ian shook his head. âWhy seize Navy ships? Navy ships can only move along the World Governmentâs designated sea routes. Not to mention whether the Gates of Justice will open. Even if they do, are we going to willingly walk into Marine Headquarters?â
This war wasnât taking place at Marineford. Even if Ian and the others went to Marine Headquarters, it would be futile. So, Ian had actually abandoned the idea of seizing Navy ships from the beginning.
This included the ship guarded by Enel, the one Vice-Admiral Gion sunk. Ian had never considered using that ship to escape.
His words piqued the curiosity of Jinbe, Ivankov, and the prisoners, prompting them to inquire about Ianâs evacuation plan.
However, Ian just smiled mysteriously and said, âYouâll find out when the time comesâŠâ