One Piece Chapter 544: Even Hell's Gates Open

Blackbeard leans forward with a wide grin, pointing directly ahead. "WASN'T THAT YOU, STRAWHAT LUFFY...!!I" he shouts. "I ONLY HEARD THIS LATER, BUT THE GUY WHO TOOK DOWN THAT FORMER SHICHIBUKAI CROCODILE OVER THERE," he continues. Luffy stares in shock, sweat flying. "THE EASIEST WAY WAS TO TAKE YOUR HEAD AND PROVE MY STRENGTH TO THE GOVERNMENT. I WAS AIMING FOR A SPOT IN THE SHICHIBUKAI THEN." Crocodile watches silently with a cigar. Blackbeard declares, "THERE'S NO WAY I'LL LET YOU DO THAT... THAT'S MY LITTLE BROTHER!!!" while glaring. In the final panel he roars, "I'LL KILL STRAWHAT LUFFY UP AHEAD IN WATER 7 AND GIVE HIM TO THE GOVERNMENT AS A SOUVENIR."

A wide view of the massive stone fortress shows a hanging platform and distant figures. Blackbeard continues, "WAS KIND TO YOU...!!! ACE HAD BEEN CHASING ME FOR WHAT I DID ON WHITEBEARD'S SHIP. AND HE WAS YOUR BROTHER!! WHEN HE LEARNED I WAS GOING TO KILL YOU... HE COULDN'T RETREAT!!" "BUT FATE" appears in large letters. Close-ups show Blackbeard's crew reacting: one laughs "UIIIHAHAHA, YOUR BROTHER PUT UP A HELL OF A FIGHT!!!" Another says "NOW THAT THE CAPTAIN HAS OFFICIALLY BECOME A SHICHIBUKAI, WE NO LONGER NEED YOU ALIVE." A man with glasses adds "AHH... YOU REALLY... HAVE AMAZING LUCK... COUGH!!" while another concludes "THERE ARE NO COINCIDENCES, ONLY FATE. IN OTHER WORDS, GET ITI IF HE LETS US GO... NOT ONLY WOULD WHITEBEARD'S NAME BE SULLIED, HIS LITTLE BROTHER WOULD BE KILLED TOO!!"

Blackbeard looms over Luffy. "THEN WHY DON'T YOU... YOU WOULD BE THE DEAD ONE, STRAWHAT. IF HE DIDN'T SHOW UP, YOU SHOULD GO VISIT HIS GRAVE AND SAY THANKS...!!!" Luffy's eyes widen in fury. "!!!" he reacts. Blackbeard taunts, "TRY ME NOW!!!" Luffy launches forward with a massive spinning kick, leg extended in a powerful strike. "BO!!" explodes on impact as Blackbeard is sent flying backward amid debris and motion lines. "!!!" reaction bubbles fill the panel.

Explosions rock the battlefield as Luffy charges forward. A crewmate yells, "CAP-TAIN!!!" Luffy roars with determination, "I WON'T LET ACE DIE!!!" The opponent reels from the impact, screaming "DA-WAAH!!!" Luffy stretches his arm back and unleashes a powerful strike, shouting "GOMU GOMU..." before twisting into "KURO-UZU"!!! and finishing with "JET". The Black Whirlpool attack slams into the foe amid flying debris and shockwaves.

The massive blow sends the opponent flying backward through rubble. Someone gasps "EH..." as the figure crashes. A shocked voice cries "STRAW-CHAN!I" The enemy slams into debris with a huge impact, yelling "GYAA-AAHH...!!!" Blood splatters as the man, cigar clenched in his teeth, mutters in disbelief, "BLOOD!I BUT HE'S MADE OF RUBBER..."

Luffy continues his assault with "GOMU GOMU..." The opponent grunts "NUU!!!" while being struck. Voices plead from the side, "YOU CAN'T RIGHT NOW!!! ENDURE IT!!! WAIT, LUFFY!!! STOP!!! WHAT COMES FIRST!I THINK ABOUT IT!!!" Luffy lands another heavy hit. Onlookers react: "I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S DOING, BUT RIGHT NOW, HE'S STRONG ENOUGH TO BEAT ACE!" "HE'S BEEN A MYSTERIOUS MAN!" "EVER SINCE HE WAS ON OLD MAN WHITEBEARD'S SHIP." The opponent pants, "HAA... HAA..." and "...!!! FUU!!"

Crocodile stands amid the ruined stone walls and smoke, addressing Luffy from above. "LETTING YOUR EMOTIONS GET THE BEST OF YOU AND FIGHTING HIM ISN'T GOING TO HELP ACE ESCAPE!!! DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME AND ENERGY HERE!!!" Luffy, breathing heavily, replies from the cliff edge. Crocodile continues, "I HEARD THAT A NO-NAME PIRATE FROM WHITEBEARD'S CREW TOOK MY PLACE... YOU SAID YOU'RE 'BLACKBEARD,' RIGHTI ISN'T THAT STRANGEI YOU'RE STRONGER THAN I THOUGHT... YOUR HAKI IS STRONGER THAN BEFORE, TOO." He presses on, "BUT I SEE NO NEED TO TELL YOU ABOUT THAT, MR. CROCODILE. IT'S ALL PART OF MY PLAN, THOUGH I'VE RUN INTO SOME SNAGS. YOU'VE ALREADY THROWN AWAY THE SHICHIBUKAI TITLE YOU COVETED. WHY ARE YOU HERE WHEN MARINE HEADQUARTERS SHOULD HAVE SUMMONED YOUI"

Prisoners react in panic as word spreads. "MAGELLAN IS HERE!!!" A scarred man with a cigar replies coolly, "YOU'VE GOT NO MANNERS. AND FRANKLY, I'M NOT INTERESTED." Another voice adds, "NO, I GUESS NOT..." Below, chaos erupts on the stairs. "TO LEVEL 3!!! QUICK, RUN AWAY!!! THIS IS BAD!!! CHIEF WARDEN MAGELLAN!!!I" An explosion rocks the area with "POGOOON!!!" A cloaked figure mutters, "MAGELLAN...I SO HE FINALLY SHOWING UPI" Magellan himself appears in close-up, stern and smoking. Prisoners scream as a massive wave of purple liquid floods the lower level: "GYAAAAA-AHHHHH!!!" Guards and inmates are swept away amid the torrent. "UWOOOH!!!"

The flood continues as a guard cries, "THANK GOD...!!! THE WARDEN HAS ARRIVED...!!!!" Another shouts, "CHIEF WARDEN MAGELLAN...!!I" A prisoner warns, "IF YOU GET HIT WITH MAGELLAN'S POISON AGAIN, YOU WON'T BE COMING BACK ALIVE!!!" A large curly-haired figure points and yells, "STRAWHAT BOY!! GET GOING ALREADY!!!" Someone replies, "THIS IS BAD..." Crocodile grins, "WE'RE LUCKY YOU BROKE THROUGH THE DEFENSES AT THE STAIRS." Prisoners charge upward amid gunfire and debris. "THE BAZOOKA SQUAD'S GONE!! THE PATH IS OPEN!!! GET UPSTAIRS!!! TO LEVEL 3!!!" A laughing prisoner adds, "THIS PANIC IS PERFECT FOR US...!!! ZEHAHAHA...!!! SAME HERE!"

New threats appear. "IT'S THE MINOTAUROS THIS TIME!!! ANOTHER DEMON BEAST GUARD!!!" Jailer beasts rampage through the crowd. A prisoner realizes, "TH... THAT'S AN ABILITY USER WHO ATE A DEVIL FRUIT!!I THEIR ABNORMAL RESILIENCE IS THEIR STRONG POINT. HE WAS REVIVED, OF COURSE. THAT'S AN AWAKENED ZOAN-TYPE ABILITY USER!" Magellan watches calmly, cigar in mouth. "EHHH!!!I DIDN'T WE BEAT THAT GUY!!I" He states, "BUT IT'S NOT THE TIME TO BE AFRAID OF THEM. THE BOSS OF HELL IS COMING. QUICKLY." The beasts loom closer as prisoners panic. "EHHH!!!I THE THREE FROM BEFORE... WILL BE UP TOO... IF WE KEEP WASTING TIME."

From the monitor room, staff report: "HE SHOULD HAVE RUN INTO SHIRYU!! WAS HE DEFEATEDI HAS APPEARED AT THE STAIRS TO LEVEL 3 ON THIS FLOOR...!!! WE'VE RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT BLACKBEARD... CHIEF WARDEN MAGELLAN!!" An officer realizes, "AND THE MONITOR SYSTEM FOR THE ENTIRE PRISON IS DOWN!! THE GIANT VIDEO DEN DEN MUSHI WAS TAKEN OUT. I-IT'S BAD...!!!! WHAT'S WRONGI THIS IS THE MONITOR ROOM!!! FURTHERMORE, ALL COMMUNICATION LINES TO MARINE HEADQUARTERS AND THE GOVERNMENT HAVE BEEN CUT!!!" Shiryu stands over fallen guards, rifle in hand. "DON'T TATTLE, OR MAGELLAN WILL COME HERE..." A voice asks, "HEY! WHAT'S WRONG!!I WHAT'S GOING ON OVER THERE!!I WHO DID THIS!!I WE'RE COMPLETELY CUT OFF FROM...!!!"

In the crumbling halls of Impel Down Level 2, a massive figure in a horned hat and dark coat glares furiously as alarms blare. "THAT MEANS HE BROKE THROUGH THE GATES TO LEVEL 2...!!" a subordinate reports. Another warns, "WE'RE IN TROUBLE HERE... IF BLACKBEARD HAS ARRIVED ON THIS FLOOR, SOMEONE GO CONFIRM THE SITUATION!!" A reply comes back: "NO RESPONSE...!!" The leader snarls, "A SINGLE RAT HAS TURNED INTO THIS GIGANTIC MESS!!! WE'RE NOT CATCHING ANY BREAKS AT ALL...!!!" Below, Buggy's striped-uniform prisoners erupt in wild celebration, raising fists and weapons. "AND NOW WE'RE HEADING OUT INTO THE SUN!!!" one shouts. "ALL RIGHT!! YOU BAS-TARDS!!! TO LEVEL 1!" another yells. Buggy himself cheers, "YEEHAWW, TOTALLY LUCKY MEN!!! YAAA-AAY!!!" A sign on the wall reads "Level 2." The crowd chants, "UWOOOHH, OUR BLESSED SAVIOR!! CAPTAIN BUGGY!!" while smaller text bubbles read "TOTALLY TOTALLY...♪" and "TOTALLY..."

Luffy stands battered and bloodied beside a cloaked Blackbeard. A small voice mutters "SUTA... SUTA..." Blackbeard laughs, "ZEHAHAHA... YEAH, I WON'T TELL YOU THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE IN THIS WORLD." Luffy clenches his fist and declares, "I'LL DEFINITELY SAVE ACE!!!" A prisoner asks, "THE SKY ISLAND WAS REAL, RIGHTI" Luffy's face fills a panel as he shouts, "IT DEFINITELY EXISTS!!!" Blackbeard counters, "ONE PIECE IS THE SAME!!" A distant panel shows a figure raising arms with the caption "THE AGE OF PIRATE DREAMS IS OVER...!I" Someone yells "EHHH!I HEY!!!" The group presses forward as Buggy's men shout "LOOK FORWARD TO IT, YOU GUYS!!!" Blackbeard laughs again, "ZEHAHAHA-HAHAHA!!!" while Luffy glares ahead with intense eyes.

Blackbeard stands triumphantly with arms raised, coat billowing, surrounded by his crew and prisoners. "WE'LL PUT ON A SHOW THAT'LL SHAKE THE ENTIRE WORLD!!!" he roars. "IN JUST A FEW SHORT HOURS," text adds. His massive laugh erupts across the page: "ZEHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" Nearby faces react—Mr. 3 looks stern, Crocodile glares, Jinbe frowns with "HMPH...", Luffy stares in surprise with a "I", and Buggy sweats nervously saying "FORGET HIM, LUFFY!!" Blackbeard points forward and commands, "TO LEVEL 3!!!" The prisoners surge ahead with cheers of "ONWARD!!!" as the chaotic mob rushes through the collapsing stone corridors.

Sadi-chan hangs upside down, bound in ropes, swinging wildly with a large SFX "ばーん". She cries out, "Nnnn~ Help me!! Chief Warden!!!" and "SADI-CHAN!!!" A close-up shows Magellan's furious face with a "!". Guards drag the struggling Sadi-chan away as she protests, "So humiliating!! There's no point in living if I'm not dominating!!" and "That okamakov nnn~ got me!!" A guard replies, "YES, RIGHT AWAY. GET HER DOWN FROM THERE." In the lower level, tiny figures stand on a high stone ledge overlooking a spiked pit and barred gate. A voice calls out, "ZEHAHAHA... ARE YOU MAGELLAN...!I" while another mutters "SUTA... SUTA..." and a long SFX "わあああああああ..." echoes across the chasm.

Blackbeard stares with a fierce grin, sweat pouring down his face. "INDEED!!!" he declares. Another voice questions, "BLACK-BEARDI" In the next instant a massive multi-headed black mass erupts forward, jaws open wide. "HYDRA"!!! the attack is named as countless venomous heads surge outward, engulfing the area in dripping poison and chaos. Eyes widen in shock below as the hydra-like poison strikes with overwhelming force.

Magellan looms, his body coated in thick poison as he glares down. "I HAVE NO TIME TO HEAR WHY YOU CAME HERE....!!!" he roars. Blackbeard writhes in agony, screaming "GYAAAA, IT HURTS~ I'M SUFFERING!!!" and "AAAAH-HHHH!!!" as the poison engulfs him. Magellan presses the assault, declaring "YOU STOOD YOUR GROUND WELL....!!!" while Blackbeard gasps "HANNYABAL..." A close-up shows Magellan's furious face: "WHAT IS THIS...!I POISON!I DAMN IT!!!"

Magellan towers over the scene. "YOU ARE THE ONLY SUCCESSOR I HAVE!!!" he tells Hannyabal. "I'LL TAKE CARE OF THE REST. DON'T DIE ON ME." he adds. Suddenly his eyes widen as he shouts "STRAWHAT!!!" Below, prisoners react in panic: "LWOOHH!! WHO'S THAT!I MAGELLAN'S VOICE!I" and "BIRI BIRI..." Luffy appears, eyes blazing. "LET YOU OUT OF HERE!!!" a monstrous figure growls. Luffy clenches his teeth: "I WILL NEVER" and "THE POISON GUY....!!!"

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