One Piece : The Strongest Fleet Admiral

Domino heard the pirates' vulgar words, and her eyes filled with sudden anger.

She was usually accustomed to these lawless pirates who spoke without decency. At worst, they were subjected to regular torture to remind them of their place. But now, in front of Fleet Admiral Sakazuki, who was respected by all Marines—how dare they be so arrogant?! Were they tired of living?!

Just as Domino was about to teach this group of pirates a harsh lesson, she heard the sound of a whip striking flesh.

"Hmm~ How dare you be so disrespectful to Fleet Admiral Sakazuki~ Hmm!"

A scantily clad beauty appeared before everyone's eyes. She had curly blonde hair with bangs that partially covered her face. She wore white earrings shaped like candles, a pink tight leather jacket, and spiked high heels. She had just slipped through the gap in the prison cage and swung her whip hard, striking the one-eyed pirate across the face, leaving his already broken face even more disfigured.

"Little Sadie! Why did you come up here?" Domino asked sharply.

Domino didn't get along with Little Sadie because of her sadistic tendencies. Little Sadie found immense excitement in hearing the agonizing screams of those she tortured. As the commander of the four Jailer Beasts of Impel Down's Level 4 Blazing Hell, she rarely left her post. Her sudden appearance today was unusual. However, it was rumored that Little Sadie had feelings for Magellan. If that were true, it might make sense for her to come greet Magellan's best friend, Sakazuki.

"What? Sakazuki? Akainu?!"

The pirates froze upon hearing Little Sadie's words. Compared to the name Sakazuki, his codename "Akainu" struck more fear into their hearts. Sakazuki was infamous among pirates for his brutal and merciless nature. Pirates had often labeled him the loyal "attack dog" of the World Government due to his extreme measures against them.

Seeing Sakazuki's grim expression and his hands beginning to turn into molten lava, the pirates who had just been mouthing off broke out in cold sweats. Their legs trembled in fear, and they were so terrified that they almost wet themselves.

Akainu's reputation among pirates was comparable to Gol D. Roger's reputation among pirates, though for the opposite reason. Akainu was not like Sengoku or Garp, who showed restraint. He was utterly ruthless, with countless pirates buried at sea because of him. The combined strength of all the pirates in Impel Down wouldn't even scratch him!

The one-eyed pirate, who had been about to lash out after being whipped, suddenly froze as recognition set in. This pirate was one of the infamous Decalvan brothers, the captain of one of the 43 pirate crews under Whitebeard. Captured after the Marineford War, he had been imprisoned in this underwater fortress. His brother's fate remained uncertain—either killed or rescued by the Whitebeard Pirates.

For Sakazuki, the man who had killed Whitebeard, Decalvan brothers harbored deep-seated anger. However, his rage wasn't born out of loyalty or love for Whitebeard; instead, it stemmed from losing the protection that Whitebeard provided. Under Whitebeard's banner, pirates like Decalvan brothers had roamed freely, exploiting his status. Now, without Whitebeard, Decalvan's arrogance had turned to fear.

As Sakazuki's gaze fell coldly on him, the pirate began trembling uncontrollably. Was Sakazuki weaker than before? Absolutely not. Did these pirates think his magma had lost its heat?

Without giving the pirate a chance to grovel or beg for mercy, Sakazuki summoned a molten Magma Dragon, which roared toward the cage. The one-eyed pirate, along with the iron bars, was incinerated into ashes without so much as a scream.

"Bang!" The noise startled the sleeping pirates in neighboring cages. A few dared to voice their irritation, but as soon as their eyes met Sakazuki's icy glare and they noticed the smoldering ashes nearby, their anger turned to silent terror. No one wanted to draw his attention.

"If we don't kill this garbage, what do we keep them for? The New Year?" Sakazuki's cold words sent shivers down the spines of everyone present.

Domino was unfazed. Sakazuki's cruelty was something she had seen countless times. However, Little Sadie pouted in dissatisfaction. Why didn't Sakazuki let her torture them first? She loved hearing their cries of pain, but Sakazuki's methods were too swift and final for her taste.

Sakazuki ignored their reactions. His gaze swept over the remaining pirates, ensuring no one else dared to misbehave. His sharp eyes lingered momentarily on one particular figure before moving on.

After handling the incident, Sakazuki and the others retired to the lounge on the third floor of Impel Down. Other levels were unsuitable for rest: Level 1 Crimson Hell was too cold, and the constant screams from the low-ranking pirates were an annoyance. Level 4 Blazing Hell was unbearably hot, while Level 5 Freezing Hell was too cold. Level 6 Eternal Hell, dedicated to history's most infamous criminals, was plagued with clashes of Conqueror's Haki that made it far from peaceful. Only Level 3 Starvation Hell, where the prisoners were too hungry to cause trouble, offered a tolerable environment.

The next morning, Sakazuki visited Magellan's ward. After a night of rest, Sakazuki was in a much better mood. Magellan, the massive, demon-like figure, was lying on the hospital bed. His horns and wing-like decorations showed signs of repair, and his face bore several scars.

"Sakazuki, you're here!" Magellan greeted him with a stiff smile, though his face looked more awkward than welcoming.

"Magellan, it's been a while. Why do you look so defeated?" Sakazuki asked, his tone stern.

"I've failed Impel Down twice! Execute me!" Magellan's voice cracked as tears welled up in his eyes. Despite his fearsome appearance, the man was crying like a child.

Although Magellan had been demoted to deputy warden after the previous attacks, he still blamed himself entirely for the failures. He felt that death was the only way to atone.

"After you're executed, what will happen to Impel Down? Who will manage it?" Sakazuki asked coldly.

"Hannyabal, Domino, and Little Sadie are more than capable," Magellan replied, almost mechanically.

"And if another Emperor attacks? Who can stop them?" Sakazuki's pointed question left Magellan silent. "Do you want to die and leave the mess for others to clean up? Do you deserve the trust and respect of those who look up to you?"

Magellan's eyes widened as Sakazuki's words struck a chord. Slowly, he sat up, his despair replaced by resolve.

Seeing this change, Sakazuki felt relief. "Impel Down is crucial, Magellan, and I need someone I trust to guard it. Now that I'm Fleet Admiral, I must begin preparations for the future."

As he spoke, Sakazuki took Magellan's hand and wrote a few words in his palm. Magellan's eyes widened in shock as his breathing quickened. The words Sakazuki wrote seemed to burn into his skin, igniting a fire within him.