#401 - Chapter 401 From now on, we are allies

The sixth level of Impel Down.

Dark, cold, the air thick with the stench of decay and madness.

This is where the world's most dangerous and cruel criminals are imprisoned.

Inmates who haven't seen the light of day for years writhe in the darkness, like devils in hell, their eyes filled with long-lost madness and bloodlust.

Blackbeard and his crew stood at the entrance to this hell, and the oppressive atmosphere only seemed to invigorate them.

They no longer pretended, having long since torn off their masks of hypocrisy, revealing their true faces—a pack of bloodthirsty wolves.

Madness gleamed in each of their eyes, as if this were their paradise.

Hannyabal stood in front, his hands clenched tightly around his trident, his face gradually darkening as he sensed their ill intentions.

An indescribable tension filled the air, every nerve in his body warning him that these pirates intended to do far more than just escort prisoners.

"Blackbeard..."

Hannyabal's voice held a hint of alertness as he tried to maintain control, but he could feel his palms beginning to sweat.

Blackbeard scanned the entire cell, his eyes cold and sharp, a sinister smile playing on his lips.

He glanced at Hannyabal and all the guards with a nonchalant contempt and arrogance, as if he had already seen through their fear.

"What is it?" Blackbeard laughed, his voice echoing through the sixth level, shaking the very air, "Afraid?"

His voice was like a death sentence, making Hannyabal's heart sink.

"Too bad, it's too late."

At that moment, Doc Q, who had been silently standing next to Blackbeard, slightly raised the corner of his mouth, revealing a meaningful, sinister smile.

His eyes were deep and cold, as if he were already accustomed to the impending chaos.

No words were spoken, only a cold acquiescence.

Suddenly, one of the guards' faces changed drastically, he clutched his mouth, his body trembling violently, and black blood seeped from between his fingers, dripping onto the ground with a soft "splatter" sound.

In that instant, everyone's heart jumped into their throat.

"You…poisoned us!"

Hannyabal roared, his eyes wide with fury.

He raised his trident and charged towards Blackbeard, consumed by rage.

However, as he charged, his vision gradually blurred, and his steps became heavy and weak.

The poison was like invisible chains, tightly binding his limbs, preventing him from exerting any strength.

"You dare to attack the guards here…" His voice gradually weakened, his body unable to bear the weight, and he finally collapsed to the ground, his eyes gradually losing focus.

"Do you know what this means…?"

Blackbeard laughed wildly, his arms outstretched, as if welcoming the chaos to come.

"It means I can free the prisoners here!"

His voice was loud and impassioned, as if announcing a great victory, "It means chaos will engulf the entire world!"

His gaze swept across the entire sixth level, and at that moment, the prisoners in the cells also sensed the commotion outside.

Their eyes gleamed with a morbid light, as if they had seen a savior descend from the heavens, their blood-red pupils filled with greed and desire.

Blackbeard laughed and shouted into the cells, "I imagine you've all been here for a long time? I've long admired your names, and it's a great honor to finally meet you!"

His voice was full of mockery and arrogance, each word burning like a flame in the depths of the prisoners' long-suppressed ambitions.

"Do it!"

Blackbeard ordered coldly, his eyes flashing with bloodlust.

The members of the pirate crew were ecstatic, their faces showing fanatical smiles as they strode towards the cells.

In the next moment, the cell doors were destroyed one after another, emitting heavy metallic crashing sounds, the sound of long-sealed shackles being broken.

The prisoners slowly emerged from the depths of the darkness, cold smiles on their lips, their eyes filled with long-lost freedom and a desire for revenge.

Blackbeard stood in place, watching all of this, a satisfied smile on his face. "The taste of freedom, it's intoxicating."

He said softly, as if everything were under his control, and the chaos in this prison had only just begun.

The moment the sixth-level cell doors were destroyed, heavy footsteps echoed through the empty depths of the prison.

At the same time, those devils in the cells walked step by step towards Blackbeard.

Their eyes burned with ambition and killing intent, and this disaster would spread from the abyss of Impel Down, engulfing the entire world.

These heinous pirates, who were once the existence that made the entire sea tremble, now stepped out of the dark cells, their eyes immediately falling on Blackbeard like sharp blades.

Their eyes revealed a kind of contempt and disdain, as if they were looking at an insignificant nobody.

All those imprisoned here were former overlords of the sea, each of them once rampaging and unimaginably powerful, but now, trapped in this place, they had long developed an indifference and contempt for the weak.

"Where's Magellan?"

A tall, fierce-looking pirate spoke coldly, his tone full of contempt, as if Blackbeard were just an intruder.

He slowly stretched his muscles, his joints making "crackling" sounds, the sound of stiff muscles regaining their vitality after years of imprisonment, "To think they would let someone like you get here so easily."

The other pirates nodded when they heard his words, their eyes fixed on Blackbeard like beasts, revealing the same mockery and disdain.

In this kind of situation, any weakness would be magnified and seen as prey.

Blackbeard remained unmoved, the signature maniacal laugh still on his lips.

Faced with these hostile and mocking gazes, he appeared calm and composed, as if he were used to this kind of questioning.

In fact, Blackbeard had always had a high degree of patience, especially in this kind of murderous environment, he knew how to control his emotions.

"You are all great pirates who are famous throughout the sea," Blackbeard began, his voice hoarse and deep, but with an undeniable sense of authority, "I only managed to get here by using the name of 'Shichibukai'."

As he said this, a cold glint of conspiracy flashed in his eyes, as if he had anticipated the reaction of these pirates.

He paused, looking around, his eyes sweeping over each pirate, "I imagine you all want to escape this cage,"

He said slowly, his voice gradually increasing, with a hint of bewitching power, "Then why don't we cooperate temporarily and turn this sea upside down together!"

Blackbeard's proposal was like a boulder thrown, instantly causing waves in the hearts of these pirates.

Every prisoner standing in front of him was once a great pirate, long trapped in a cage, their hearts filled with a desire for freedom and anger at the world.

Blackbeard's plan was like a fuse igniting their ambition.

Some of the pirates already had a shaken look in their eyes.

They exchanged a brief glance with each other, and although they were still outwardly calm, the inner stirring could no longer be concealed.

For these pirates, escaping the prison of Impel Down was more tempting than anything else, even temporary cooperation was worth a try.

However, those pirates who truly stood at the top of the world remained silent.

Their eyes were deep and cold, as if they had already seen through everything, neither agreeing nor immediately objecting.

Blackbeard may still be a wary presence in their eyes, even with a bit of danger.

An uneasy atmosphere filled the air, and no one was willing to break this delicate balance.

Blackbeard's gaze rested on these strong men, a faint smile still on his lips, he knew that the pride and confidence of these pirates were the source of their power.

Temporary silence was not terrible, what he needed was to let these people see hope.

Finally, a low laugh came from a corner, breaking the tense silence.

A dark-skinned, muscular pirate slowly walked out, a cruel smile on his lips, "Temporary cooperation?"

He showed a mouthful of fangs, "Heh heh, interesting."

Soon, the other pirates nodded as well, obviously, they all realized that they really couldn't get out of this prison alive with their personal strength alone.

Blackbeard's proposal, although it made them wary, was undoubtedly the most practical choice at the moment.

A glint of conspiracy flashed in Blackbeard's eyes, he knew that the defenses in these people's hearts had been breached.

Although it was a temporary cooperation, as long as these pirates were moved, his plan could proceed smoothly.

"Very good." Blackbeard smiled slightly, waving his arms as if commanding an impending war, "From now on, we are allies!"

At this moment, the sixth level of Impel Down became the center of the storm.

Those villains who once dominated the sea, under the guidance of Blackbeard, once again embarked on the road to chaos and destruction.