Chapter 14 - Escape from Impel Down
"Argh!"
A wave of searing pain surged through Nathan's brain, forcing him to clutch his head and collapse onto the floor.
Opposite him, Douglas Bullet was stunned.
Just moments ago, Nathan had been in peak combat condition—how had he suddenly become so weak?
"Nathan, are you alright?"
"Hmph… I'm fine. Just some aftereffects from that high-intensity battle earlier. I'll recover after some rest."
Nathan spoke while gritting his teeth through the pain and tossed the key ring toward Douglas Bullet.
In truth, Nathan was incredibly fragile right now—any random pirate could've taken his life with ease.
But even in this vulnerable state, he trusted Douglas Bullet enough to hand over the keys. After all, Bullet had sailed under Gol D. Roger.
People like him had faith and a code of honor. If they made a promise, they kept it—so Nathan wasn't too worried about being betrayed or killed.
Sure enough, Douglas Bullet caught the key ring and immediately unlocked his Seastone shackles. Then, he raised his head and let out a thunderous, primal roar of liberation.
Without hesitation, he strode over to Nathan, lifted him by the arm, and slung him over his back.
"Alright, stop worrying about everything else. Just rest. I'll get us out of Impel Down."
Douglas Bullet spoke calmly.
Perhaps it was the overwhelming sense of safety Bullet provided—or maybe it was pure exhaustion—but Nathan passed out before he could even respond.
He didn't know how long he slept, but eventually, Nathan slowly opened his eyes.
He found himself lying on a soft bed in a confined space. The moment he sat up, a wave of fatigue hit him hard, forcing a deep breath from his chest.
Damn, the aftereffects of the Eight Gates are no joke. Sure, the power was incredible—opening just the seventh gate was enough to dominate the two top elites of Impel Down—but it had nearly cost him his life.
If he hadn't convinced Douglas Bullet to join him at the last moment, someone might've killed him while he was unconscious.
With that thought, Nathan got up and pushed open the door.
As soon as it opened, a blast of bright sunlight hit his face.
Before him stretched an endless ocean.
"I'm on a ship?" he murmured.
"You're awake, Captain Nathan!"
Standing at the bow, leaning on the railing, was none other than Douglas Bullet himself.
True to his word, he had not only brought Nathan out of Impel Down but now respectfully addressed him as captain.
That title wasn't used lightly. Among pirates, calling someone your captain meant recognizing their strength and leadership.
"Where are we?" Nathan asked, dragging his tired body to Bullet's side.
"Somewhere in the East Blue. I don't know exactly where—we're not familiar with weak places like this.
If it weren't for the fact that we ran into the Navy's reinforcements right after escaping, I would've taken you straight to the New World."
Douglas Bullet explained.
"Navy reinforcements? Who showed up?"
Nathan was instantly intrigued. He wanted to know how the Navy responded to the chaos he had caused.
"Vice Admiral Garp and Admiral Aokiji."
Just hearing those two names made Nathan flinch.
Garp was the most revered figure in the Navy—the "Hero of the Marines"—and had lived in the same era as Gol D. Roger and Douglas Bullet.
Though he only held the rank of Vice Admiral, within Marine Headquarters his authority and strength surpassed most, even the Fleet Admiral Sengoku had to defer to him.
Aokiji, codenamed "Blue Pheasant," was a Logia-type Ice-Ice Fruit user and a powerhouse in his own right. A former student of the great Admiral Zephyr, he was one of the Navy's three top combatants.
If both the "Hero of the Marines" and a "Top Combat Force" had been deployed, it showed just how seriously the World Government took Nathan's actions.
That was also why Bullet had decisively chosen to flee when he saw them.
He had just escaped Impel Down, his strength still recovering. Facing that kind of naval force—even at full power—he wouldn't stand a chance against both Garp and Aokiji.
To avoid unnecessary risk, he had turned around and headed straight for the East Blue.
Fortunately, Garp and the others feared losing control of Impel Down entirely. Pursuing Nathan at that moment would've been too costly, so Garp ordered the fleet to ignore him and head directly to the prison.
Meanwhile, inside the Warden's Office on the fourth floor of Impel Down—
Garp sat solemnly in Magellan's chair. Aokiji stood silently to one side.
Magellan and the high-ranking officers of the prison were lined up in front of them.
All of them were covered in bandages, bruises, and swelling, looking utterly battered and broken.
Though Magellan's rank could rival that of a Vice Admiral—or even an Admiral—since Impel Down, Enies Lobby, and Marineford were all directly under the World Government, he held significant authority.
As Impel Down's chief warden, Magellan's status was far from low.
But after causing such a catastrophic incident, he couldn't say much in defense—especially with the arrival of the Navy's emergency response.
On top of that, Garp's reputation and strength held unparalleled sway, even among the World Government. As a junior, Magellan had no choice but to show proper respect.
"Have the inmates from Level 6 been secured?" Garp asked in a low voice.
"All have been locked back up. Casualties are still being assessed. Aside from a few small fries, Vascot Shot from Level 6 is confirmed dead. Most of the other infamous pirates are seriously wounded. Additionally—"