The humid air of Level 2 was thick with the pungent stench of blood and venom, clinging to the skin like a suffocating film.
Magellan's fingers dug into the ground, his knuckles turning bone-white. When he saw the figure suddenly appear at the tunnel entrance, carrying a familiar coat draped over their shoulder, his bloodshot eyes constricted sharply, pupils burning with ghostly flames.
"What have you done to Sadi..." His voice was hoarse, as if scraped by sandpaper, his gaze boiling with shock and fury.
She was the Warden Chief he had personally promoted, one of the symbols of Impel Down's order.
The commotion drew the attention of Blackbeard's crew. The group of pirates in black coats turned in unison, their piercing gazes landing on Bahr like needles, filled with scrutiny and undisguised wariness.
"Oh? Isn't this the 'Blasphemer' Bahr?" Marshall D. Teach, Blackbeard, removed his captain's hat, revealing his stubble-covered face. He threw his head back with a booming "ZEHAHAHA!" that shook loose several rocks from the tunnel ceiling. "I heard you got captured and thrown into Impel Down. What a shame, I thought! Never expected to see you again so soon!"
Bahr's gaze swept calmly over the figures surrounding Blackbeard.
Shiryu of the Rain, newly recruited, puffed on his cigarette, the crackling of burning tobacco unnaturally loud in the silence. The long sword at his waist gleamed ominously. Catarina Devon licked his sharp fangs, his eyes predatory as he raked his nails across his palm, drawing faint trails of blood.
San Juan Wolf's massive frame nearly filled half the tunnel, his nostrils exhaling alcohol-laden breaths. Vasco Shot took a swig from his gourd, his drunken eyes gleaming with undisguised malice. Avalo Pizarro toyed with his cannon, the brass barrel slightly deformed under his grip, his face twisted in defiance.
"Who's this guy?" San Juan Wolf's voice rumbled like thunder, shaking loose more debris from the ceiling.
"Anyone who can break into Impel Down and make it this far can't be some nobody," Avalo Pizarro sneered, subtly adjusting his cannon's aim until its dark muzzle pointed squarely at Bahr, the barrel glinting coldly.
Bahr couldn't be bothered with their scrutiny. He turned to leave—he had no interest in tangling with Blackbeard's band of lunatics.
"Wait!" Blackbeard suddenly called out, his grin fading slightly as his eyes sharpened like blades. "My offer from last time still stands. How about it? Join me. I've got a plan that'll turn the world upside down. Stick with me, and you'll get everything you want!"
Ever since news of Bahr's capture spread, he'd guessed his identity—the masked man he'd encountered before was none other than this "Blasphemer" who'd dared to raise a fist against a Celestial Dragon.
Bahr turned his head slightly, his lips curling into a frosty smirk as he met Blackbeard's gaze with undisguised mockery. "Have you finally decided to become my subordinate?"
"VEHAH!" Jesus Burgess, standing beside Blackbeard, took an aggressive step forward, his old chest wound throbbing at the provocation.
His fists clenched with a series of cracks, muscles bulging like iron. "Captain, this brat's got too much mouth. Let's just take him out while we're at it!"
Bahr's eyes flashed coldly. His fingers twitched slightly at his side.
"SHIIING—"
A silver Dimensional Slash materialized out of thin air, cleaving through the tunnel like lightning through the night. The air itself seemed to distort in its wake as it shot straight for Burgess's face.
"Look out!" Shiryu's eyes narrowed. His blade was already drawn by the time the slash appeared, its black edge meeting the silver light with a piercing metallic shriek, sparks flying.
The sheer force sent him skidding backward several steps, his boots carving deep grooves into the ground, stone fragments scattering.
Shaking his numb arm, Shiryu's cigarette trembled slightly, ash fluttering down. His gaze darkened as he studied Bahr. "No wonder you dared to strike a Celestial Dragon. You're no pushover."
"Damn it!" Vasco Shot smashed his bottle against the ground, the shattering glass piercing the silence. His drunken eyes widened, alcohol and bloodlust mingling in his breath. "You dare attack us here? Think we're just decoration?"
"This brat's ability is interesting. Why not capture him for study?" Catarina Devon licked his fangs, a sick excitement flashing in his eyes as his fingers absently traced the chains at his waist.
Van Auger raised his rifle, its barrel steady as a statue as it aimed unerringly at Bahr's head. His voice was ice-cold. "Captain, orders?"
Blackbeard's expression darkened enough to drip water. He glared at Bahr, about to speak, when Bahr suddenly raised his hand, palm facing them in a grasping motion.
The gesture was as if he meant to seize something—or crush it. The air instantly grew thick with suffocating pressure.
A sense of extreme danger seized Blackbeard!
"Stop!" he bellowed, black smoke erupting from his body like ink, churning violently as if to consume him. "There's no need for us to fight!"
His gaze locked onto Bahr, his tone heavier than ever as the smoke writhed around him. "I apologize for my crew."
"Whatever you're planning, I can drag you down with me!" The words were a naked threat, yet tinged with reluctant compromise.
The tunnel's air froze, as if even breathing had become impossible.
Magellan, watching the standoff, suddenly coughed violently. Black venom splattered the ground, sizzling as it burned acrid white smoke into the stone.
Never had he imagined he'd be caught between two of the most dangerous criminals, reduced to a mere backdrop in this tense farce.
What supreme irony.
Bahr studied the black smoke roiling around Blackbeard, a flicker of wariness in his eyes.
His Spatial ability was indeed unpredictable, but the Dark-Dark Fruit's gravitational pull could lock onto his true body. Once entangled, breaking free wouldn't be easy.
These scum weren't worth dying over. There was no need to clash head-on here and throw his life away—that would be true stupidity.
As he weighed his options, his gaze landed on the furious Burgess. His voice was icy. "Next time we meet, I'll kill you on sight."
Seeing Bahr slowly lower his hand, the suffocating pressure abruptly dissipated. Blackbeard exhaled inwardly in relief, wiping sweat from his brow. "Seems you didn't waste your time in Impel Down. You've gotten stronger."
Then he burst into another round of "ZEHAHAHA!" as if the earlier tension had never existed.
Bahr sneered internally. This guy really had no tact—what did he mean by "didn't waste your time"? As if his growth had anything to do with this hellhole. Making it sound like he'd come to "Impel Down University" for training.
Not bothering to respond, he turned to leave—only to catch sight of a conspicuous figure slumped against the wall: Mr. 2 Bon Clay.
Bahr paused, recalling how this okama had stayed behind to open the Gates of Justice for Straw Hat Boy, after which his fate had been left ambiguous, rumors swirling.
So Magellan had spared his life—perhaps thinking death was too merciful. After all, sometimes living was harder than dying. Death could be a luxury.
Regardless, his successful escape owed something to Straw Hat Boy. Even if the kid had only come to rescue Nico Robin as part of a deal with Hancock, the indirect help was undeniable.
And now... since Nico Robin had joined him, effectively taking a key fighter from Straw Hat's crew, running into Bon Clay here was the perfect chance to return the favor by saving a life.
With a flick of his fingers, a Spatial Ripple flashed, and the unconscious Bon Clay appeared before him.
Grabbing the okama by the collar with one hand and still carrying Sadi over his other shoulder, Bahr stepped onto an invisible Space Barrier, ascending toward the upper levels, his figure gradually disappearing down the tunnel.
"Release Sadi!" Magellan roared, forcing himself upright despite the agony. A dark green Poison Dragon erupted from his palm, venom splattering the ground with corrosive hisses as the dragon's maw lunged for Bahr's back.
Without breaking stride, Bahr's form blurred, reappearing meters away like a ghost. The Poison Dragon crashed into the stone wall, its acid instantly eating a bowl-sized crater into the rock, debris and smoke raining down.
Blackbeard watched Bahr's retreating figure, leisurely stroking his stubble. Unreadable light churned in his eyes as his lips curled into a meaningful grin. "ZEHAHAHA... That brat just keeps getting more interesting."
Shiryu sheathed his sword with a clean click, crushing his cigarette between his fingers, ashes dusting his lapel. "Just letting him go?"
"What else?" Blackbeard shot a sidelong glance at the barely conscious Magellan, his stubbled jaw twisting into a cruel smirk. "First, we deal with this eyesore. The Marines at HQ won't wait forever."
Before the words faded, the black smoke around him surged like a tide, swallowing the dark green figure whole.
--Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LegendaryTL
Thanks!