Chapter 8: Joining Forces

Orochimaru narrowed his golden eyes slightly, a flicker of interest flashing through his pupils. He hadn't expected someone to voluntarily offer help at this critical juncture.

The man let out a cold laugh, raising his right hand; the golden hook traced a sharp arc through the air. "I am Crocodile, a prisoner of this prison." His tone was flat, as if stating the most ordinary thing.

"As for why I'm helping you..." Crocodile narrowed his eyes, a smile curving his lips. "The enemy of my enemy is a friend, isn't that right?"

Orochimaru's heart stirred; he instantly understood Crocodile's intent. This man probably also wanted to borrow his power to escape this cage.

In that instant, countless thoughts flashed through Orochimaru's mind; he weighed the pros and cons, finally making up his mind and nodding. "Good!" he answered in a deep voice, his tone carrying a hint of resolve.

He gripped the Kusanagi Sword tightly in his hand; Wind Release chakra instantly coiled around the blade, emitting a keen radiance.

Orochimaru swung his sword sharply; the blade instantly elongated, like a streak of lightning, precisely severing the handcuffs binding Crocodile.

"Clang!" The handcuffs snapped in response, falling to the ground with a crisp sound.

Boom! The next second, a sandstorm instantly burst out of the cell, then took on Crocodile's form.

"Desert Spada!" Crocodile shouted lowly, waving his right hand; a sharp blade composed of sand condensed into being, its edge fully revealed, emitting a bone-chilling aura.

That blade slashed toward a cell at the end of the passage with lightning speed, as if intending to sever the cell along with the prisoner inside.

Seeing this, Orochimaru's pupils shrank; he shouted sternly: "You!"

Crocodile, however, wore an expression of calm indifference, his tone full of confidence: "Just the two of us would find it hard to escape. We need helpers; rest assured, they aren't lunatics." He turned his head to look at Orochimaru, his gaze open and frank.

The moment his words fell, with a "Bang!", the cell at the end of the passage burst open; the Desert Spada cut through the sturdy cell door, and under Crocodile's precise control, sand entered the shackles binding the two prisoners, completely unlocking their fetters for them.

Two figures walked out of the cell. One was tall and powerfully built, muscles knotted, skin a deep blue — clearly a Fish-Man. The other was relatively younger, a head of black short hair, his face dotted with a few freckles.

Jinbe looked at Orochimaru and Crocodile outside and bowed slightly: "Many thanks to you two sirs."

At this moment, flames wreathed Ace's body: "Didn't expect there'd still be a chance to escape."

Simultaneously, the final Rashomon began to tremble violently, a terrifying blood-red surfacing on its surface, on the verge of collapse.

The four exchanged a glance, tacitly understanding each other; a trace of determination flashed in all their eyes. They knew the jailbreak chance came only once, allowing not the slightest hesitation.

The next second, accompanied by an explosive boom, the Rashomon shattered in response. Countless fragments flew up, turning into pitch-black raindrops tracing chaotic trajectories in the air.

Before the Rashomon's debris even hit the ground, Magellan's massive bulk shot out of the poison mist, only his upper half exposed.

"Die..."

However, before he could finish speaking, he was stunned by the sight before him, his eyes widening; the second half of his threat cut off abruptly, stuck hard in his throat.

Only to see Ace clench both fists, flames gathering around him to form a giant fireball. "Flame Emperor!" He roared, hurling the fireball viciously at Magellan.

Crocodile waved the golden hook in his hand; a tornado composed of sand whistled out, rushing straight for Magellan's face. "Sables!"

Jinbe assumed the opening stance of Fish-Man Karate, muscles bulging, gathering force. "Fish-Man Karate: Five Thousand Tile True Punch!"

Orochimaru formed Hand Seals with both hands, chakra gathering in his chest, then violently spewing out. "Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!" A giant chakra sphere composed of vacuum, mixed with sharp wind blades, whistled toward Magellan.

The four's powers converged and fused in mid-air, emitting an extremely terrifying aura. Seeing this destructive power howling toward him, Magellan's pupils contracted sharply, his face instantly turning deathly pale.

"Bastard!" He let out a low roar, his voice revealing a thread of panic.

Magellan swiftly extended both hands; purple-black poison churned and roared at his fingertips like a living thing. Under his control, a large amount of poison rapidly gathered, condensing into a giant shield before him.

The next second, the four's attacks crashed heavily onto the poison shield.

"Boom!"

The entire prison seemed to tremble in this instant. Billowing thick smoke enveloped the battlefield, rubble flew wildly, dust filled the air. That terrifying shockwave even cracked spider-web fractures into the surrounding cell walls.

Under this fierce offensive, Magellan's massive body could no longer withstand it. Only to see his eyes wide, face full of shock, his whole person like a kite with its string cut, blasted flying alive! "Rumble!"

The ground split in response, mud flew, smoke and dust permeated. Magellan slammed straight into the earth, smashing a giant pit into the hard rock.

"Cough." Magellan violently coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood, his face instantly turning deathly pale; the Poison Giant Soldier attached to his body also dissipated.

He tried to use the power of poison to support himself to stand up. But the poison at this moment was like it had lost its life, scattering powerlessly on the ground, no longer able to condense.

Even Magellan, struck simultaneously by three Seven Warlords of the Sea-level experts and one Kage-level expert, would find it hard to recover in a short time.

"Wind Release: Breakthrough." Orochimaru formed Hand Seals; a fierce wind blew past, dispersing the permeating poison gas.

"Huff huff." At this moment Ace's chest heaved violently, sweat streaming down his cheeks, dripping onto the ground.

Long-term imprisonment and "special care" had left his body somewhat weak; the all-out attack just now was a bit more than he could handle.

Orochimaru glanced at Ace, fished out a Soldier Pill from his waist, and tossed it lightly, sending it flying toward Ace: "Eat it."

Ace caught the sphere, looking at Orochimaru with doubt, but still popped it into his mouth without hesitation.

"Gulp." Ace swallowed the sphere, only to feel a warm current instantly spread through his whole body; that weak, powerless sensation miraculously vanished.

"This is..." Ace's eyes widened, looking at Orochimaru in shock. "What did you feed me?"

The corner of Orochimaru's mouth curved up slightly, revealing a mysterious smile. "A special pill," he said lightly, "that can quickly restore stamina."

Crocodile swept a glance at Magellan on the ground in the distance, a fierce light flashing in his eyes. But he quickly reined in his emotions, turning and walking toward the passage leading to Level 4 of the prison.

"Move fast." Crocodile said in a deep voice, his tone brooking no argument. "Time is tight; we must leave here as soon as possible."

"Let us out!"

"Let us join you! We can help you fight the Marines!"

Frantic roars rose and fell in succession, echoing throughout the entire prison. That sound surged like a tsunami, almost enough to overturn the whole great jail.

Crocodile frowned, his footsteps pausing. He turned his head to look at Orochimaru, his gaze carrying a question.

(Chapter End)