Chapter 489: Training at the Edge: Awakening Power and Imminent Crisis

Two hundred nautical miles from Impel Down, on a desolate island, Luffy and Zoro had already lost count of how many times Rayleigh had knocked them flying. Both were battered and bruised, their stamina all but depleted after hours of relentless combat. Only sheer willpower kept them on their feet—without it, they would’ve collapsed long ago.

“Brute force alone won’t let you master the power of Conqueror’s Haki Infusion. You have to feel it, understand it from your heart.”

At Rayleigh’s words, Zoro and Luffy closed their eyes at the same time, guiding their Conqueror’s Haki, trying to will it to follow their intent and coat their hands just like with Armament Haki.

Rayleigh nodded in satisfaction. After hours of battle, Luffy and Zoro were beginning to grasp how to use Conqueror’s Haki Infusion—though their strength was still far too lacking. It looked like he’d have to push them even harder.

“It’s only when you truly face death that you can understand the essence of real power.”

“One Sword Style—Iai Slash!”

A wave of killing intent erupted as a slash infused with Conqueror’s Haki cut through the air, seeming to move slowly but in truth closing in on Luffy and Zoro with terrifying speed.

The island’s snakes, insects and mice all fainted under its pressure. Even on the sea nearby, Sea Kings surfaced one after another.

Luffy and Zoro felt the overwhelming intent from Rayleigh’s blade and their eyes snapped wide open. The wisps of Conqueror’s Haki they’d barely pulled out until now instantly surged over their fists and blades in the face of death.

“Gum-Gum—Kong Gun!”

“Demon Aura—Nine Sword Style—Asura Draw—Dance of the Dead!”

Luffy and Zoro’s sudden explosion of power even caught Rayleigh off guard. In that moment, the two had stepped into the realm of Admirals. Even Rayleigh had to take them seriously to avoid getting hurt.

Boom!

As Luffy’s fist, Zoro’s blade and sword aura collided, a gaping hole was punched through the sky. Trees all around bent under the forceful wind and the waves grew wild, sending the Thousand Sunny drifting nearly a hundred meters away.

“Divine Departure!”

Rayleigh saw the sword aura about to shatter, so he quickly followed up with a slash of his own, suppressing both their attacks.

Clang!

The attacks crashed together all at once and vanished instantly into thin air. Two heavy thuds sounded in the distance.

Luffy and Zoro had long since hit their limits. Summoning the power of Conqueror’s Haki Infusion for a final attack had been no small feat.

“Hahaha, your talent’s impressive, that’s for sure.”

Rayleigh walked over and grabbed each of them, dragging them to the shore and waving at the distant Thousand Sunny.

“Look! Luffy and the others are finished!”

Everyone on the ship had been watching the fight, hearts in their throats. After that massive collision, the island went dead silent—they figured the battle was finally over.

And when they saw Rayleigh emerging with Luffy and Zoro, their suspicions were confirmed. Under Franky’s direction, the Thousand Sunny started heading for shore.

“Training’s over for now. The next stop is Impel Down. As for these two, I’ll hand them over to you—the best doctor on this ship.”

Before the ship had even docked, Rayleigh leapt aboard with Luffy and Zoro, setting them gently down on the deck. He called for Chopper to tend to their wounds.

“Ahaha, even if you say that, I’m not going to be happy, dummy!”

Chopper twisted about shyly for a moment before regaining his composure. Grabbing his medical kit, he rushed to treat the two.

“Super! Get back to the cabin, quick!”

“I’m firing up the Coup de Vent Cannon!”

To make it on time, the Thousand Sunny would need one last burst from the Coup de Vent Cannon to reach Impel Down before deadline.

“Alright, leave it to me!”

Usopp hoisted Luffy and Sanji carried Zoro as they all headed into the cabin.

Soon the deck was empty. A powerful blast erupted from the stern, flinging the ship into the air as it shot toward Impel Down.

Before the Sunny even landed back on the water, a strange group arrived at Impel Down. Vice Admiral Onigumo led the team himself, taking Ace out of the prison.

“Move it, hurry up!”

Onigumo strode in front with Ace behind, the sharp sound of iron chains ringing out through the Fifth Floor.

The sight caught the eyes of nearby imprisoned pirates. “Ace? That’s Captain Ace, isn’t it?”

“Why’s Captain Ace here?”

“Something huge is about to happen. This is big, real big.”

The Fifth Floor held dozens of Whitebeard’s subordinate pirates—men who’d seen Ace with their own eyes.

They all knew how protective Whitebeard could be. If a regular crew member got caught, he might only smash a few Navy surveillance ships. But with a division captain like Ace arrested—a man Whitebeard himself had adopted as family—no one dared imagine how far things might go.

With Ace, a captain and Whitebeard’s own foster son, captured, they couldn’t begin to fathom what would come next.

Ace staggered forward, barely able to raise his head at the sound, only for Onigumo to yank his chain and drag him stumbling ahead.

“You should be grateful. It’s better to die in public than rot in here forgotten.”

“Pirates are nothing more than rats in a cell, forever living in darkness. Even your old man is the same.”

“You—”

Ace thrust out his hand, pointing at Onigumo, anger burning in his eyes.

“Trash belongs in the trash can.”

“Tch!”

Onigumo, well over six feet tall, jerked Ace’s chain and slammed him to the ground. “You two! Give this prisoner a hand. He’s moving too slow.”

After that, Onigumo swept his gaze over the nearby cells, declaring coldly, “The rest of you—if anyone doesn’t want to live, I can grant your wish right now.”

Every pirate he locked eyes with hurried deeper into their cell. None dared meet his gaze. Better to live wretchedly than die for nothing. As long as you’re alive, there’s still hope.

“Hmph. Trash!”

Onigumo relaxed his right hand from his longsword hilt once he saw no one dared challenge him.

Not saying another word, he turned and walked out as two prison guards hauled Ace along behind.

An hour after Ace was taken away, Luffy’s group arrived ten nautical miles east of Impel Down.

Luffy was busy stuffing roast meat in his mouth with both hands. As he patted his now bulging stomach, he sighed in satisfaction, “Ah, I’m alive again!”

“Is that Impel Down over there?”

Zoro, finally recovered as well, gulped down mouthfuls of meat and booze. Their strength returned at a shocking rate.

That was thanks to the Six Powers technique Ye Fan had taught them. While not everyone on the crew had mastered it, the Straw Hat Pirates’ top three fighters had already learned Return of Life.

Meaning, as long as there was food, they’d never run out of stamina.

“So that’s Impel Down up ahead. Any plan?”

“We bust in, of course!”

Clang!

No sooner had Luffy spoken than Nami smacked a giant bump on his head.

“Honestly! The guards in Impel Down are no joke. If you charge in like that, the Navy’ll spot you for sure.”

“We’re not far from Navy Headquarters here. They could send reinforcements any time.”