One Piece: Ulquiorra Template

Chapter 96: Sands of Judgment

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On Level 3 of Impel Down, the Starvation Hell, Ian responded to Tashigi's concerned inquiry with a shake of his head.

"If I can't stop the riot on the lower three levels, no one can." His calm statement resonated with unshakeable confidence.

At 58% fusion with Ulquiorra, he had reached high-tier Admiral level strength, equivalent to a powerful Adjuchas-class Hollow or a highly skilled Shinigami captain. He was a 2% away from Yonko level. Eliminating the prisoners on the lower levels would easily push him into that domain, especially considering the presence of legendary pirates on Level Six, the Eternal Hell.

"Be careful," Tashigi and Domino cautioned, acknowledging his impressive track record, which arguably surpassed even Warden Magellan's. The two bespectacled Marines, clad in their distinctive uniforms, offered no further dissuasion.

After all, his power spoke for itself.

"Hurry up and let me out!"

"Wahahaha! I'm finally free! I'm going to rip Whitebeard's head off! Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr... you damn Marines! Once I'm out, I'll gut your entire families!"

Countless vicious criminals, freed from their cells, rampaged through the prison, their voices filled with unrestrained malice and bloodlust. Impel Down's four Jailer Beasts had been redeployed to the upper two levels to confront Kaido.

The guards and reinforcements, hastily assembled and deployed, were no match for the freed prisoners. Even armed with flintlocks and light artillery, they couldn't hold back the tide of escaped convicts.

Fortunately, the prisoners themselves were not united. Rivalries and grudges fueled infighting, preventing them from forming a cohesive force. Moreover, news of Kaido's invasion hadn't fully reached this level, so no one had attempted to breach the upper levels yet.

But it was only a matter of time. "You guards... you tormented me for so long! Come on, give me a smile!"

Many of the freed prisoners turned on their former captors, unleashing their pent-up rage and resentment in brutal acts of violence. "Damn it!"

"Hold the line! Keep firing!" Saldeath roared, commanding the artillery units to suppress the riot. The situation was deteriorating rapidly, but every minute they could hold back the prisoners was a victory.

If these criminals escaped... the consequences for the world would be catastrophic.

The guards in the front lines manned the cannons, but they were ordinary humans facing off against powerful Devil Fruit users, skilled martial artists, and swordsmen, freed from the constraints of their cells and shackles. They were like tigers unleashed from their cages.

Despite their efforts, the guards were being overwhelmed, their numbers dwindling as the prisoners surged forward. Impel Down's main forces were occupied with Kaido on Level One, leaving the lower levels vulnerable.

"No! Are there no more reinforcements?!"

Saldeath barked orders, but he realized there were no more guards behind him. They had all been deployed to the front lines, and the remaining few were on the verge of collapse. His heart sank.

This was bad...

"Hahaha! Is that all you've got?" A dozen prisoners, their faces twisted in savage grins, charged forward, their combined aura radiating a frightening menace.