The prisoners in the underground cavern felt all their past perceptions overturned.
What had happened to this world!!!
What was that giant blue figure nearly a hundred meters tall, could such a thing truly exist in reality?
Had the slaughter of the entire Great Prison not been solely Magellan's doing, but also involved the participation of something like this...
Cold sweat streamed down Ivankov's large head.
That terrifying aura made his body tremble uncontrollably. He swallowed and then reacted:
"Everyone, evacuate quickly!!!"
Suppressing his fear, he thought that this had to be the Navy's doing, they had to escape as quickly as possible...
Ivankov still retained a shred of reason. Only Devil Fruits could achieve this level on the seas, but this level was simply too outrageous...
He stared directly at the colossal head that occupied his entire field of vision above.
Ivankov took a deep breath, syringes sprouted from his fingertips, and he injected himself with his abilities:
"Facial Growth Hormone!!!"
Ivankov's already large head swelled several times over, but from the perspective of the nearly hundred-meter-tall Barrett, it was merely a rather plump little mouse.
The head grew a little bigger, still just a little mouse...
The enlarged Ivankov below began to move:
"Facial Afterimage!"
Through high-speed movement, the afterimages of Ivankov's massive face seemed to form a great wall, serving as a rear defense for everyone. Then, these illusory faces blinked simultaneously:
"Galaxy Wink!!!!"
An explosive shockwave formed by countless rapid blinks surged towards the giant face that filled his vision.
At the same time, the ground began to flow, soft like cloth. After being cut, it followed the shockwave, piercing upwards towards the giant.
Barrett, in his blue giant form, opened his mouth and inhaled sharply.
The explosive shockwaves, the debris from the ground, and even the ground cut by lightning and thrust at Barrett, were all inhaled into his mouth, his chest puffing out slightly.
"Roar—"
A torrent of violent air was spewed from Barrett's mouth.
The sweeping blast destroyed everything below, and the resulting wind blades, unhindered, sliced the fleeing prisoners into several pieces.
The entire Great Prison trembled everywhere.
This Level 5.5 contained numerous passages connecting various parts of Prisons One to Six.
At this moment, these secret passages were being crushed and exploded by the sweeping gale.
Prisoners who couldn't escape in time were crushed to death by the high-pressure air currents within the passages...
On Level 5.5.
Ivankov, Lightning, and all the powerful prisoners who acted as rearguards lay scattered everywhere, bleeding from all seven orifices, unconscious...
Barrett, in his giant form, said faintly:
"Poor mice..."
He reached out his enormous hand and grabbed the unconscious Ivankov. Due to the size of his palm, he could only gently pinch him with his thumb and index finger.
*Poof—*
Ivankov exploded entirely.
Like a mosquito being crushed, blood splattered, and his head rolled off.
Barrett frowned slightly. He had restrained his strength as much as possible, but he hadn't expected it to be this strong even with enhancements, crushing him so easily...
"Forget it."
He looked at the other unconscious little mice and his hand began to surge with blue Armament Haki. He pressed down diagonally below.
*Boom!!!!*
The entire Great Prison shook.
Everyone below vanished without a trace, leaving only a bottomless pit plunging downwards...
Barrett's form began to shrink.
He returned to his normal state, with a hint of exhaustion.
Although his awakened state was powerful, the consumption was too great. In just this short while, it made Barrett, who had battled the Red Hair Pirates for days and then fought against Kaido, appear weary.
To use it for extended periods, he would need to combine it with massive amounts of resources to create nutrient solutions for energy replenishment.
Barrett stretched and turned to look at Magellan, who had retreated hundreds of meters away. He stomped his foot and instantly disappeared, appearing beside him:
"Let's go."
"This place is going to collapse."
The previous attack had not only pierced through Level 5.5 but also through Level Six. The underwater prison was about to become a truly 'underwater' prison.
The rumbling sounds could already be heard faintly. Magellan's heart leaped:
"Please, follow me."
The two quickly vanished from the fifth level.
Heading towards the outside...
------------
At the same time.
New World, New Marineford.
Early morning.
Unlike the busy underwater prison, this place was much quieter.
At the Marine Hospital.
Robin, in an unfamiliar environment, hadn't slept for long and woke up early.
She leaned against the bed for half the morning before coming back to her senses.
She got up and walked to the window, pulling back the curtains to look at the island.
As a world-government-wanted criminal, she was openly appearing at Marine Headquarters...
It felt strangely incongruous.
She watched the island, which was beginning to get busy.
Robin's gaze shifted to the tallest fortress in the center.
The sun had not yet fully risen, and she could still see faint lights there.
The busy figure of Carol appeared there. Although she could only see a blurry silhouette from the hospital, Robin recognized the person at a glance:
"Didn't sleep at all last night..."
Carol's figure, though busy, was not flustered, clearly accustomed to it, or perhaps hadn't slept at all.
Robin suddenly felt a sense of absurdity.
How could one possibly survive when facing such Marines?
Possessing the world's strongest military power, and with almost absurd levels of execution.
Carol, as Sakazuki's adjutant, worked tirelessly through the night. In that fortress, where the lights had been on all night, how many people could possibly be sleeping...
----------
Above the fortress.
Carol, having received intelligence, seemed to sense Robin's gaze. She smiled in the direction of the hospital and walked into Sakazuki's office.
She reported to Sakazuki:
"Barrett is finished over there."
"He's on his way back."
"Magellan has also set sail for the Sabaody Archipelago."
Due to the break with the World Government, the Red Line route was no longer usable, so they had to take the Fish-Man Island route.
Barrett, using the excuse of having another mission, departed separately from Magellan. He would be picked up by Carol at a designated location later.
Sakazuki nodded:
"You two, stand by for now."
"Keep a close watch on the movements of Hearl Nok and the Revolutionary Army."
"It's time to begin..."
The Revolutionary Army was almost ready. Once the four seas were completely pacified, Sakazuki would sweep through the New World like a whirlwind.
At that time, not only the pirates would panic, but the World Government would panic, and the Revolutionary Army would also panic.
This final decisive battle.
Would be orchestrated by Sakazuki, forcefully initiated...
-----------
New Marineford.
Unlike the original Marineford, New Marineford, which replaced the G-1 Branch, didn't have much scenic beauty on the island.
Mostly fortresses and bunkers, with firepower deployed everywhere. After all, this place was originally a military stronghold guarding the Holy Land on the other side of the Red Line.
After strolling for half the day, Robin had essentially explored the entire island.
Carol's words had been very effective. Wherever she went, she wasn't stopped. In fact, she moved unhindered even within the massive bunker emplacements.
It was now nearing noon.
Having explored enough, Robin walked aimlessly through the streets.
Of course, it wasn't entirely explored, as there was one place she hadn't visited.
Robin stopped and looked up.
She could see the massive fortress at a glance. It was at the very center of the island and was the location of Fleet Admiral Sakazuki.
And at the end of the street where Robin was standing.
That was also where it was...