One Piece: Bai Ye Deputy Captain of the Straw Hats

Translator: PapaSmurf0700

Just as the Whitebeard Pirates made their dramatic entrance at Marineford, capturing the world's attention, another of the World Government's three great powers was about to receive an unwelcome guest.

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"Zehahahahaha! So this is the legendary Impel Down?"

A boisterous, arrogant laugh echoed across the waters. Marshall D. Teach and his Blackbeard Pirates, the newest members of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, were supposed to be en route to the war. Instead, they stood at the gates of the world's most infamous prison.

"Using the status of a Warlord to sail a Marine warship right up to the front door of the great prison," Lafitte mused, his cane tapping rhythmically. "The captain's plans are always so wonderfully audacious."

"Thanks to that Straw Hat boy stirring up chaos, even the Iron Gate of Impel Down is short on defenders," Van Augur added, adjusting the scope on his massive rifle. "There could be no better opportunity."

"Hmm… it must be… the will of fate," Doc Q mumbled, slouched over his equally sickly-looking horse, Stronger.

"There's barely a guard in sight! Let's just smash our way in, Captain!" Jesus Burgess roared, flexing his massive arms in anticipation.

"Zehahaha! Go on, my boys! Wreak as much havoc as you can!" Blackbeard spread his arms wide, as if to embrace the entire fortress. "In just a few hours, we'll put on a show that will make the world tremble!"

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Teach's triumphant laugh died in his throat. He looked up, his eyes widening as a colossal slash, powerful enough to split the very sky, came hurtling toward them.

"Black Hole!"

Teach thrust his right hand forward. A swirling vortex of pure darkness erupted from his palm, drawing in and completely nullifying the attack. It was the terrifying power of his Dark-Dark Fruit—the ability to consume all things, even the attacks of his enemies.

After the slash was absorbed into nothingness, the Blackbeard Pirates snapped to attention, their eyes fixed on the direction of the attack.

A man emerged from the shadows. He wore a mustard-yellow suit and the pristine white coat of a Marine Vice-Admiral, emblazoned with the characters for "Justice."

The sight of him drew a surprised expression from Teach. "Well, well! Vice-Admiral Tokikake! Fancy meeting you here. I thought my only real obstacle would be Magellan. Zehahahaha!"

A Vice-Admiral, and a candidate for the rank of Admiral at that. The man's presence was an unexpected complication.

"I can't say I'm as surprised, Blackbeard Teach," Tokikake said, his stance firm, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "In fact, I'm more impressed by the accuracy of someone's analysis."

He recalled the urgent message delivered to him by a Marine major Ripper, and his gaze hardened. "You people actually dared to betray us. You never had any intention of serving as Warlords, did you?"

"Zehahaha!" Teach let out another booming laugh. While Tokikake's appearance was a surprise, this mention of "someone" pulling the strings behind the scenes piqued his interest.

But what did it matter?

"My ambition is bigger than some title!" Teach declared, dropping any pretense. "Before I'm done, even the Four Emperors will be nothing more than stepping stones on my path to true power!"

He grinned savagely at his crew. "Alright, boys! Looks like we have a slight delay! Zehahahahaha!"

With that, he slammed his hand on the ground. "Dark Vortex!"

In an instant, the four pirates behind him launched their own attacks. The Blackbeard Pirates versus Vice-Admiral Tokikake. The battle had officially begun.

And deep inside Impel Down, other changes were already taking place.

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The main structure of Impel Down is a submerged tower, divided into six levels, each more horrific than the last. The higher the level number, the deeper it is, and the more dangerous the criminals imprisoned there.

The prison's reputation as the "Iron Wall" isn't just due to its warden, Magellan, and his infamous second-in-command, Shiryu of the Rain. It's also thanks to the countless Visual Den Den Mushi that monitor every corner, feeding a constant stream of images to the central control room. Combined with the guards on every floor, escape is considered impossible.

At that very moment, a guard in the control room shouted an alert. "We've got an escapee! Inmate from Level 4, mixed cell block one: 'Buggy the Clown'! He's loose and heading for single cell 22! All units, capture him immediately!"

CRACK!

The live feed from the snail monitoring Buggy suddenly went black. He'd found it and smashed it.

"You did it, you fiend!"

Even so, Buggy saw the hulking forms of the Blugori, the prison's beastly guards, charging toward him. He had no choice but to sprint in the other direction.

"That blasted Straw Hat kid! And that smug, long-haired Priest! When I get out of here, I'll turn you both into confetti with my special Buggy Balls!"

As the laughter of other prisoners echoed from their cells, Buggy cursed Luffy and Bai Ye while scrambling for the entrance to Level 3. He knew that even on the "safer" upper levels, escaping alone was a fool's errand. He needed cannon fodder. Lots of it.

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While the guards focused on Buggy's escape, treating it as a minor incident, a much greater secret was stirring in a part of the prison that didn't officially exist.

Between LEVEL 5, the Freezing Hell, and LEVEL 6, the Eternal Hell, there was a hidden sanctuary: Level 5.5, the Newkama Land. It was a secret paradise built by prisoners, accessible only through a hidden passage in the prison's sewer system.

At that very moment, the queen of this secret paradise was delivering a grand address.

On a makeshift stage stood an impossibly tall "new human" with a massive, dark purple afro, squeezed into a tight, low-cut jumpsuit, fishnet stockings, and a regal cloak. The figure struck a fabulous pose for the cheering crowd.

This was Emporio Ivankov, a commander of the Revolutionary Army and the former queen of the Kamabakka Kingdom.

"Hee-haw!" Ivankov's voice boomed across the cavern. "Listen up, my candy-boys of Newkama Land! I have something miracle-important to tell you all!"

The crowd of outcasts and escapees below went wild, thrusting their fists into the air.

"Hee-haw! Hee-haw!"