Chapter 522: Return Journey


    At this moment, these prisoners were all bowing and fawning over Ian, each one disying a shamelessly thick-skinned demeanor. However, Ian wasn’t angry at all because, in reality, he released these prisoners with the intention of using them.


    Having resolved to stir up amotion within the Impel Down, Ian weed the ensuing chaos. The freed prisoners yed a crucial role in drawing the attention of the prison’s vignt guards.


    In Ian’s eyes, these guys were nothing more than expendable pawns!


    Among the prisoners in Impel Down, there might be some who were wrongly used, but the majority were genuinely wicked criminals. Ian didn’t have any psychological burden about using them. So, he didn’t say much about their apologies, just nodded and said, “Follow me!”


    After that, Ian unsheathed his Senbonzakura and swung a massive Flying sh forward. The width of this projectile was just about the width of the corridor, causing it to graze the edges of the prison cells on both sides. After the Flying sh passed, without exception, the bars of these cells were all destroyed.


    This sword strike indirectly revealed Ian’s strength. When the other prisoners walked out of their cells, they were still somewhat incredulous, staring nkly at Ian. Regardless, Ian paid no attention to them, continuing to lead the group forward. After they passed, the released prisoners looked at each other, and then hastily caught up with Ian and the others.


    “These people seem to have extraordinary backgrounds!”


    “Definitely! Ordinary folks wouldn’t dare to conceive an assault on Impel Down!”


    The prisoners whispered among themselves.At this moment, due to the previous total defeat of the guarding forces, Impel Down had no choice but to dispatch the prison guards known as the Blue Goris!


    These Blue Goris were peculiar creatures d in a white cloak with a skull pattern on the head. They wielded giant double-edged axes and were now crawling along the corridor walls.


    Thus, another round ofbat ensued. It had to be admitted that these Blue Gori monsters had some strength; having hunted sea kings in the sea, they posed a lethal threat to ordinary pirates.


    However, when Luffy, Zoro, and Urouge took action, they swiftly defeated the Blue Goris.


    As a result, the freed prisoners now had weapons. They picked up the axes from the defeated Blue Goris, hoisting them onto their shoulders, and once again joined Ian’s procession.


    Upon reaching the end of the corridor, Ian and the others arrived at a massive pit. This pit was the ce where Level 1 prisoners were subjected to punishment, and belowy a forest of ded trees!


    The so-called ded trees were a unique species with steel-like hardness. The leaves they produced were sharp as des, difficult to break. When Level 1 prisoners were to be punished, the prison guards would throw them into this sword tree forest. The dense foliage left the prisoners with no ce to take shelter, forcing them to keep moving. However, with every step, the sharp leaves would cut into the prisoners, leaving them covered in blood!


    Much of this blood remained on the sword tree leaves, creating a crimson panorama when viewed from a distance. This was the origin of the name “Level 1 Crimson Hell”…


    As Ian leaned over to peer below, he could still see numerous prisoners in the sword tree forest undergoing punishment. These individuals staggered among the trees, presenting an appearance of imminent demise.


    Shaking his head, Ian found himself unable to pass judgment on the scene before him. He pondered whether such punishment was excessively cruel or if, for these criminals, it was a well-deserved consequence.


    Nevertheless, the sword tree forest presented a formidable obstacle in Ian’s path.


    “What do we do? How can we proceed?”


    “Let’s wait and see. If they can’t descend, they’ll have no choice but to retreat!”


    The prisoners in the rear exchanged hushed words, some even relishing the prospect of watching the spectacle unfold.


    Thesements elicited a wry smile from Ian. It seemed that a firm disy of authority might be necessary to shake these individuals.


    In the next moment, the Marine uniform Ian wore on his body suddenly turned into ashes at the right sleeve!


    The heat of the ck Dragon Wave radiated out, incinerating the sleeve and revealing the runic bandages wrapped around Ian’s right arm. Ian raised his right hand, and the bell on the bandages emitted a crisp sound.


    This bell sound had be synonymous with Ian. When describing the Shichibukai, Ian, people often mentioned this distinctive bell sound first.


    So, when the bell sound from Ian’s wrist suddenly rang out, some prisoners, who hadn’t been in the prison for long, widened their eyes and stared at Ian in disbelief!


    Although many hadn’t actually seen Ian before, this bell sound reminded them of the legend surrounding the ck Dragon Ian…


    No… it can’t be!? The leader in front, dressed in the Marine rear admiral’s attire, could it really be… could it be…


    Before they could utter that name, Ian had already unraveled the runic bandages on his wrist. A surging wave of heat instantly enveloped everyone nearby, forcing them to step back.


    The dragon tattoo on Ian’s wrist, apanied by ck mes, wantonly released its heat, indirectly confirming Ian’s identity. The prisoners rescued by Ian stared at him in utter terror, finally realizing who was behind this prison break!


    Amidst the stunned gazes of the onlookers, Ian unleashed the ck Dragon Wave!


    After Ian’s proficiency in Nen abilities reached the Grand-master level, the power of the ck Dragon Wave increased. The current ck Dragon Wave wasrger and more formidable, resembling a true giant dragon. Roaring, it soared through the air. Controlled by Ian, it arrived above the sword tree forest, coiling and swirling. The ck demonic mes surged along with it.


    As the ck Dragon Wave passed through, the sword tree forest below was incinerated by the extreme heat. The prisoners undergoing punishment inside were reduced to ashes.


    In a mere seven or eight seconds, by the time Ian recalled the ck Dragon and underwent the absorption process, the sword tree forest below—referred to by the prison inmates as the Crimson Hell—hadpletely vanished. All that remained were countless charred ashes and imprints.


    “Let’s go!” Ian raised the wings of ck mes and leaped into the pit, descending below. In the center of the depression, there was a dark circr passage leading to Level 2.


    Once Ian descended, Luffy, Law, and the others quickly followed suit.


    As the edge of the pit dwindled to only the released prisoners, they exchanged nces and suddenly erupted into a massive cheer!


    “Haha! We’re saved!”


    “God! Never thought it would be none other than Ian, the ck Dragon Shichibukai!”


    “With such a prominent figure here to break us out, we’ve got a chance to escape!”


    “That power was terrifying! Just now, that ming ck dragon, even from a distance, it felt like we were being roasted alive!”


    “Heard that ck Dragon Ian rivals the strength of a Navy Admiral. Looks like the rumors are true!”


    “No exaggeration! He might be even more formidable than a Navy Admiral! Not many in Impel Down can stand up to him!”


    “Hurry! Catch up! It’s a great opportunity to cling to someone so powerful!”


    “Yes, yes! Catch up! Maybe we can join Ian and, once we go outside. Even the Navy wouldn’t dare to mess with us again!”


    As they spoke, the prisoners enthusiastically leaped into the pit. Despite the considerable height, they showed no hesitation, fearing they might miss the chance to follow one of the Seven Warlords.


    …


    Meanwhile, as the inmates identified Ian and witnessed the scene through omnipresent surveince Den Den Mushi, the prison guards also became aware of Ian’s identity at this moment.


    However, a cold sweat broke out all over them.


    “Hurry, quickly contact Marine Headquarters!” The guards frantically shouted, “We need reinforcements! We need support! Immediately request a Navy Admiral from Marine Headquarters!”


    “No, it’s not possible! The interference is still ongoing; we can’t establish contact!”


    “Keep trying! Do not stop until you get through!”


    “Yes!”


    “Damn it! If it’s ck Dragon Ian, then why would Vice Admiral Momonga be apanying him!”


    “Absolutely! Marine Headquarters has revoked Ian’s title as a Shichibukai. He has be an enemy of the Navy. How could a Navy Vice Admiral be associated with him? It’s definitely a fake!”


    “So, could that Pirate Empress also be an imposter?”


    “It’s highly likely. Nevertheless, quickly find a way to contact Marine Headquarters, report everything here, and let them make the judgment!”


    “Investigate the identities of the others too. Anyone associating with ck Dragon Ian is undoubtedly a significant figure! Look into that aspect!”


    “What about chief warden Magen!? Have we made contact?”


    “We have, but the chief warden is currently dealing with stomach issues…”


    “…”


    …


    Meanwhile, in the waters near a solitary ind in the Calm Belt, the real Vice Admiral Momonga was swimming in the open sea.


    “Damn it! Damn it!”


    Frantically swimming, Vice Admiral Momonga cursed in frustration, “Who the hell did this!? Who attacked me!?”


    His warship was gone, everything on him had been taken, leaving only a knife. Ironically, he didn’t even know who had done all this to him.


    Unable to contact Marine Headquarters and without a Log Pose, Vice Admiral Momonga had no idea of his current location. With no ships around the Calm Belt, he was forced to reenact a scene reminiscent of Raleigh, attempting to cross the open sea swimming.


    For a Navy Vice Admiral, this was undoubtedly challenging. Aside from the frequent attacks by Sea Kings, which made his journey miserable, the real issue was that without a Log Pose, he couldn’t determine his direction. He had no idea if he was heading in the right direction.


    It seemed Vice Admiral Momonga was in for quite a struggle if he intended to return to Marine Headquarters. However, the real cause for his unease went beyond these challenges; he had a foreboding sense that something significant was about to happen.