CHAPTER 14
The alarms of Impel Down screamed through the molten air. Level 4 was chaos—bodies sprawled, smoke rising, steel twisted.
Kris and Umi stood amid the wreckage, their breaths ragged but victorious.
Kris sheathed his pistols and glanced around.
"We've cleared them all… Let's secure a ship."
Umi nodded, brushing ash from his sleeve.
"Aye, let's move before—"
DING!
The elevator doors hissed open.
A wave of purple mist poured out, burning the air like acid.
From within stepped a towering figure dripping venom—Magellan, Warden of Impel Down.
"VENOM DEMON: RELEASE!" he roared, his body transforming into a writhing monster of poison.
The ground hissed as acid spread in all directions.
Kris's eyes widened—Umi was already hurt, his movements sluggish.
"Umi! Move!"
But he couldn't.
In that split second, Kris reached into his pouch, pulled out a small, strange fruit Ren had given him days ago, and bit down hard.
CRACK.
Magellan's poison roared toward them—then everything went silent.
When the smoke cleared, Magellan scanned the room, his eyes narrowing.
The two pirates were gone.
---
Meanwhile, further down the corridor, Ren faced off against Admiral Kizaru.
Light and darkness danced across the ruined cellblock, gold beams flashing against obsidian Haki.
Kizaru tilted his head lazily.
"Ohh… quite the troublesome crew you've got there, Captain of the Pride Pirates."
Ren spun his naginata once, the blade humming with black lightning.
"And you're wasting time, old man."
Kizaru chuckled.
"Light kick!"
A blinding beam shot forward, Ren met it head-on, his weapon crackling with Armament. The clash split the ground open.
The Admiral's lazy expression hardened.
"You're faster than I expected."
Ren smirked.
"Who gave you the audacity to question mi crew?"
Behind him, Brocky and Ross darted out, heading for the next stairway.
Kizaru fired another volley of light. Ren deflected the hit, his muscles flaring with raw Haki. He planted his naginata into the ground and spun it, creating a shockwave that scattered the lasers.
"You're not going anywhere," Kizaru warned.
Ren's aura flared like a storm.
"You're right. I'm not. But they are."
He lunged forward—naginata and light collided in a cataclysmic explosion. The shockwave tore through the corridor, blinding and deafening, but when the dust cleared, Ren standing up from the debris, swinging his naginata, his weapon gleaming in the darkness.
He grinned.
"Good. They're moving."
Then he turned back to Kizaru.
"Round two, Admiral."
---
The Stairway to Level 5
Ross and Brocky sprinted up the stone stairs, pursued by Vice Admirals.
John Giant's massive footsteps thundered behind them, while Momonga moved like a phantom, sword in hand.
Brocky turned, laughter booming.
"Rahahaha! I'll take the big one!"
He swung a broken gate bar like a war club, meeting John Giant head-on. The impact sent shockwaves through the level.
Ross, meanwhile, locked eyes with Momonga. Their blades met with a clash that rang like a bell.
"You tasteless pirate," Momonga spat, "this is where your journey ends."
Ross smirked.
"Maybe. But at least I'm not a dog with a leash."
Steel sang as they traded blows, sparks flying across the narrow stairway. Ross moved with fluid instinct, each dodge and counter guided by raw, natural rhythm.
Momonga's slash carved through stone, Ross deflected it with the flat of his blade, pivoted, and unleashed a whirlwind slash that grazed the Vice Admiral's coat.
"Not bad," Momonga muttered, his eyes narrowing.
Ross launched forward again, dual blades flashing. Clang! Clang! Clang! Each strike faster, heavier, wilder.
Momonga parried with masterful precision, his Armament-coated sword cutting through the air like thunder. Their weapons locked, muscles straining.
"Hah!" Ross twisted, breaking the lock, then sent a knee into Momonga's ribs.
The Vice Admiral grunted, spinning backward, only to counter with a lightning-fast thrust. Ross bent at the last second, the blade grazed his cheek. Blood dripped, but his grin widened.
"That all you got?"
Momonga raised his sword skyward. "Rankyaku Slash!" A crescent wave of compressed air ripped through the stairs.
Ross crossed both swords and blocked, the shock sent him skidding backward, boots grinding against stone.
He roared and charged again, crossing blades midair. The stairway trembled with each impact.
Momonga's slash sliced the air once more, Ross twisted, blocking it, then swept his leg in a roundhouse kick.
Momonga dodged midair, counter-slashing downward.
Ross's second blade flew from his foot like a bullet—CLANG!—blocked by Momonga's Armament-coated hand.
"Nice try, boy," the Vice Admiral growled.
Ross vanished from his sight. A heartbeat later…. BAM! …an uppercut exploded under Momonga's chin.
His sword dropped from his grip; Ross kicked it upward, caught it, and spun in a fluid arc.
A whirlwind of steel struck from every direction.
Momonga parried desperately, sparks igniting around them.
The final clash echoed through the corridor, a ringing note of metal and resolve.
When the dust settled, Momonga knelt, clutching his arm, blood dripping. His sword lay cracked beside him.
He looked up and gave a faint, proud smile.
"At least… you're no ordinary pirate. You've got talent."
Ross's chest rose and fell, eyes blazing.
"Keep your praise. I fight for my captain."
He turned, sheathing his sword, determination burning in his gaze.
"Captain Ren… I'll catch up with you soon, at the top."
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