When Magellan finally arrived at the Wardens office a large crowd was already gathered there. The dead were placed in a row, their body's covered by white sheets, though some were already stained crimson from the blood.
„Where is he?" growled the Vice-Warden through clenched teeth, and was directed by Domino to the last body in the line.
The room was deathly silent as the guards mourned the loss of their comrades and the Warden.
If Magellan cared to look he would see fear in their eyes, because something like this had no precedent. But his fury made him ignore the soldiers as he knelt down and removed the sheet from Hannyabal's face.
The man was Magellan's greatest headache...always scheming and back-talking...and he was the closest the Vice-Warden had to a friend...
He clenched his fist „Twenty years you waited to be the Chief Warden and now this..." as if he expected the corpse to talk back, give some snarky comeback or such. With a sigh he returned the cover over Hannyabal's face and stood up.
He would have returned sooner when he heard the news, but he was still sealing the exits and duty took priority over other things...but he will have vengeance until this day was over.
„Domino, I'm taking twenty Pacifista from the reinforcements we received. Use the rest to make sure that he doesn't get away from here."
The Head Jailer nodded somberly at his words „You are going to capture him?" she inquired.
„I'm going to kill him"
Alex moved through the 'orchard' of blacklight tendrils and flesh sacks hanging from the room's ceiling. From some of the fresh cocoons a silhouette of a hunter could be seen, but that's about to change.
Thanks to Wapol's power his blacklight tendrils could consume none organic matter like stone, water or even gases and transmute it into biomass quickly, biomass that is channeled into the cocoons and the leader hunters to make them even more powerful.
Green used water towers as artificial wombs for her infected that rapidly matured inside the contaminated water, that process was now perfected through the cocoons that produced far more biomass for the virus to spread, and were reusable as long there was matter to consume and transmute into biomass.
Perhaps I should test how reliable the infected will be...though Alex as he added a few choice gene's into the incubators...also a power up wouldn't hurt for whats to come.
His eye's examined the empty cells he passed by...instead of prisoners he saw strange vines or tendrils growing from the walls, the cell bars twisted and broken, apparently from the inside.
It is advancing rapidly thought Magellan as he watched the strange growths quickly spread out over the corridor.
As he started to walk over the things, a few tried to attach themselves on him, but the second they came in contact they withered and died from his venom. Magellan glanced back at the Pacifista following him, the vines tried to attach themselves to the machines, but had no impact on the governments humanoid weapons as the things failed to hold the cyborgs in place.
The inmates are probably already mutated into those beasts though the Vice-Warden with a scowl.
One level after another they descended without any incident, that bothered him more than a little...he was expecting the mutants to assault him already...so where were they?
„Domino is everything alright up there?" he said into his den den mushi.
After a second a voice replied back „Yes, though some kind of vines started to crawl up through the elevator shaft, we are using Pacifista and flamethrowers to clean them up but those things don't look like they are giving up."
„Don't let them touch you, its possible that it can mutate people" was his warning.
„Yes sir!"
There was always a chance that the Hunter already killed and impersonated the other officers, but he couldn't turn back now because of unfounded doubts...
When they finally reached the last corridor leading to level six Magellan had to admit that the surroundings looked more like the insides of a living organism instead of a stone construction. Vines were everywhere, and from the ceiling hung strange pulsating fleshsacks.
„PX-40 bring down one of those things"
The Pacifista obeyed and using his laser cut one of the sacks down. As soon as it hit the ground, something inside started to move and break free of the flashy cocoon.
It looked like a mockery of a human...the thing stood ten feet tall and the face appeared to be half melted on one side. One arm of the beast was thin and lanky with a blade like shape, covered with blood, probably from cutting out from the cocoon. The other was larger, sinewy, and black, ending in a 5-fingered clawed hand. The glowing orange eyes focused on the Vice-Warden and his Pacifista.
The monster roared and charged the group, only to be struck by one of Magellan's hydras.
It staggered a bit, but quickly regained its footing.
The Vice-Warden silently growled when he saw that his poison was either ineffective or worked far slower than usual.
„Pacifista destroy is"
The cyborgs immediately charged their lasers and fired at the supreme hunter in front of them. Large holes were blasted into it, limbs were cut of its body before the beast finally fell over dead.
„This one is stronger than the normal beasts described in the report" mused Magellan as he looked at the other cocoons hanging all over the place that was once the fifth level of the prison.
Then another cocoon fell.
Magellan prepared to order the Pacifista to attack it, but stopped when another cocoon fell, then another, and another. As before the monstrosities broke through the cocoons and turned to the Vice-Warden and his group as soon as they saw them.
Curses!
Seeing how they were surrounded from all sides the Vice-Warden and his entourage formed a circle against the approaching threat.
„Fire at will" came his reply as he formed his hydra's. Laser's shot into the mass of the monster one after another, some hit others missed but altogether not even one of the monsters was seriously injured.
„Concentrate your fire on a single target!" shouted Magellan.
Then something strange happened, a golden glow started to form around the monsters.
Magellan's eyes widened when he recognized the attack That look's like El Drago's sound beam! Having no better option Impel Down's second in command took a deep breath and used his Doku Fugue technique.
When the sound beams shot out from the jaws of the monsters only his inflated body allowed him to withstand the onslaught of the hideous monsters.
Regrettably unlike him, the Pacifista had no such defenses and were shredded by the attack, their heavily damaged bodies falling in broken machine parts on the infested ground.
Seeing how the monsters have stopped up their attack he quickly released his defensive technique and formed three large hydras.
Using his signature technique he slammed the monsters away, sending them flying though they didn't seem to be bothered by the blow as much as he hoped they would.
If he bothered to look down the stairs leading to the last level, he would have seen a hooded figure observing the battle with interest.
Mercer's cold, blue eyes watched how the supreme hunter experiment was going. He allowed himself for this plan a little bit of creativity and made a dozen prisoners into hunter's strengthened by genes from one of the two dozen Devil Fruit users he found in the prison. In this case the supreme hunters inherited the genes of El Drago and his Goe Goe no Mi and were imbued with genetic knowledge, or rather instinct of using armament haki.
So far it looks promising...though Mercer as he watched the supreme hunters regroup from their setback. He could see that the venom in their bodies inflicted by the hydras was taking its toll on their overall performance.
It failed to kill them quickly thanks to their extreme physiology but their speed and strength dropped by 60% until they overcame the poisons, and that will take another fifteen minutes...unless they receive another does of different venom from Magellan.
Though the battle was a good test, the supreme hunters were supposed to strike at the Marines when they engaged him, grinding them between the two groups, where not even Magellan's full power would be able to save them...but because the soldiers attacked the incubation cocoons he was forced to jump to plan B.
He tried contacting the infected den den mushi from the monitor room, but when the telepathic link wouldn't connect, he assumed that the infiltrator was destroyed. Regrettably that meant that he wont be able to consume the antidote for Magellan's poisons, and though he can overcome the toxic attacks, he would be weakened as the hunters were.
At least it managed to 'warn' the marines, now I only have to wait until the Admiral's arrive.
Mercer was pulled out of his thoughts when he saw that Magellan coated his form with some sort of reddish poison. As the supreme hunters came closer, the red poison formed a colossal figure in the shape of a red demon.
Hmmm so Magellan is going all out...though Mercer as he watched the Vice-Warden melt his infected by one hit from the animated poison. The Venom Demon was the only actual threat to him since normal poison will only affect his performance until he adapts...but not against something so acidic that it dissolves even steel in seconds. It would have been a worthy challenge before, but the minute he consumed Shiki the Navy lost, not only Magellan but the whole system that dominated this world.
Since those were the last infected he left inside the prison it was about time he became more personally involved.
He activated his armor and walked up the staircase, his footsteps drawing Magellan's attention.
The gigantic venom construct slowly turned towards the noise...
As soon as the Vice-Warden saw the armored figure of the Hunter he charged with all the fury he could muster. But before he came close a large wall appeared in front of him, blocking his path.
Alex used his newly acquired power of producing and manipulating carbon to form spikes as hard as diamond...those should keep him busy for some time. Normally the hardness of diamonds isn't all that it's cracked up to be, but when you can rearrange carbon on the atomic level a lot of options become accessible. Those were regrettably the only two notable powers he consumed here, the rest were either zoan's or people who simply were physically strong like giants etc...
Two hydras managed to pass through the gaps of the barricades, but were slowed down with a hand gesture from the sentient virus.
While the diamond hard wall and spikes were keeping Magellan occupied, Alex used Shiki's power to levitate and shape any none living material he came in contact with...in this case the whole lower regions of Impel Down.
He willed the stone to move and holes in the walls appeared, allowing water to start flooding the level. He used the same method to bring the other infected inmates out in to the sea...now he will use it to sink the whole structure.
Mercer watched as the Vice-Warden canceled his technique and glared at him, than at the water that was entering...
„You wont get away with this!" the huge man shouted „do you hear me Hunter! No matter where you run or hide, I will bring you to justice for what you have done!"
Alex nodded from the other side of the diamond hard carbon barricades, accepting the Vice-Wardens words as a testament to the man's sheer determination.
Magellan frowned when the sea water already reached his ankles, he glared at the Hunter one last time before retreating „Domino!" he growled into his den den mushi.
„Yes Vice-Warden?" came her reply.
„Gather everyone you can and evacuate them on the ships! The Hunter is flooding the Prison!" he growled...if this continues no level would remain above water level...and with the Hunters ability to manipulate water..."Quickly!"
„...as you command" was her somber reply before the connection was cut.
Magellan sighed and used Venom Road to quickly leave the lower levels through the now overgrown elevator shaft, the tendrils quickly died when they came in contact with him, not slowing his movement in the slightest.
Mercer would be happier if his first plan worked and Magellan was trapped on level six when he did the breach, but this only means that the hunt goes on.
When Magellan reached the first level the evacuation was in full force. Guards rushed to the ships docked with the prison. The officers directed the retreat as efficiently as they could in the chaos.
„Vice-Warden why are we abandoning our positions?" questioned Saldeath as their superior approached them.
„The Hunter has created hole's in the prison, even as we speak water is flooding the lower levels" was Magellan's response „not a single level of the prison is above water level and with the Hunters ability to control water and the confined area it would be impossible to defend ourselves for any amount of time."
„I see" said the Chief-Guard dejectedly „still the ships will be only a marginal improvement...what about the other prisoners on the first two level's?"
Magellan hesitated for a second but steeled himself „Send a few Bluegori's to unlock their cell's. They are criminals, but all are small-scale law breakers...they should at least have the chance of survival."
Saldeath nodded and blew into his trident-flute calling a few of his monstrous guards over. As the Chief-Guard handed them the key's and instructions he tried to think of a better way to deal with the situation but regrettably couldn't think of anything.
The most they could do now is make sure that the prisoners are spared the fate of drowning or being turned into monsters...though between the two scenarios, it would be better to let them drown than allow the Hunter to mutate thousands of people and use them against the world.
„Vice-Warden! The guards are on the ship's!" said Domino from on of the twelve vessels packed tight with soldiers.
Magellan nodded and walked to the last ship that was waiting for him and Saldeath, but something caught his eye. It looked like a dragonfly, only bigger, about the size of a seagull, and as quickly as it appeared, the insect flew away.
What was that? thought Magellan since he never saw that kind of insect here before, or one that was so fast.
„Vice-Warden we must hurry" came Domino's voice, prompting him to move.
Was that one more of the Hunter's tricks? Probably a spy...
The second he was on the ship it started to sail away from the doomed prison.
„I notified the Fleet-Admiral about our situation from one of the ship's den den mushi's. He wasn't pleased with the evacuation..." she said worriedly. The Fleet-Admiral didn't have a lot of good to say about people who retreated or failed to display their faith in justice and the Navy's military strength.
Magellan didn't seem to be bothered by the news too much though, his pride already damaged beyond repair „I will take full responsibility for this, it was through my failure to eliminate the Hunter that forced me to give the order to retreat."
„I disagree Vice-Warden. If not for your command thousands of soldiers would have died, the Hunter simply had all the advantages...we will get him next time" said Domino with all honesty. Sure they lost, but it wasn't a devastating loss. Emotionally she grieved for the Warden and the murdered guards, but considering the catastrophe that the Hunter caused in the Marine HQ without any plan...this was really getting out lightly.
„We will get some worker's and patch the holes up and pump the water out, we will restore the pris-" was all she managed to say before huge waves rocked the ship, making her hold on the railing.
„W-whats going on?!" she shouted.
Magellan didn't reply...only clenched his teeth when he saw the prison slowly rise out of the sea...NO! This can't be happening!
As level after level was levitated out of the sea the retreating Marine soldiers could only stare at the disaster unfolding.
The whole prison, all six levels floated in midair...then it started to move towards the retreating ships.
What was a depressing but orderly retreat soon turned into chaos. Marines started to shout orders to sail faster, items that weren't needed were tossed overboard...though after some debating all agreed that they should keep the cannons..they only needed to reach the Gates of Justice then the current will allow them to outdistanced their pursuer.
Or so they though...
Magellan was the first to notice the armored figure floating in the air beside the airborne structure. His black armor easily visible on the blue sky. The long claws making the fleeing guard's tremble in fear at the monster that was staring down on them.
The Hunter raised his left hand and a large piece of the prison was ripped of from the main structure.
The Vice-Warden turned around and shouted „He's going to throw the thing, hold tight!"
„Shouldn't we zig-zag or something?!" asked one of the frightened prison guard's.
"It would only marginally increase our chances" hissed Magellan „our best option is still being faster...even if it means being easier target's for him."
The piece of the structure suddenly accelerated and crashed not that far away from one of the retreating ships, causing a large column of water to rise in the air.
The ship's crew managed to prevent a collision with another of the Marine ships by only a small margin as the impact pushed them to the left without capsizing the vessel.
But that was not the end of it.
The broken piece that fell in the sea suddenly shot back out of the water, only to be joined by even more huge piece's as Mercer broke down the prison into a hail of ship sized stone orbs floating in the air.
„We are so dead..." said Sadi-chan as she watched the huge projectiles accelerate towards them. The descending rock engulfing her ship into its shadow. When it impacted the whole vessel simply disintegrated into pieces, broken sails and driftwood being the only evidence that a ship was there a second ago.
There were no words said between Magellan and Domino as three of the twelve ships were obliterated from the attack.
As the Hunter prepared to send another volley all the guard's stared death in the face with undisguised terror, the Gate's of Justice were forgotten...the only thing that was on everyone's mind was that they were going to die.
Then the sky exploded.
A/N:
Writing battles is a pain in the neck. Honestly I avoid any action anime/movie etc since they bore me. One Piece is the exception since I watch it for the comedy, I probably slept over most fights in it. Because of that I write fight's with the help of the wiki where I read what a person does and then try to insert some logic in it...at the same time, I couldn't write a single good comedic moment for the chapters...then again, most of the characters here are not that comedic (I'm not that good in writing anything besides villains, one of the reasons that SHats are so rarely shown in the story, though that will have to change in some four or five chapters 24-25...so when that comes, if there is anyone who would like to help with writing their dialogs..would be great since I cant get in touch with my co-author ).