Ultimate Fruit

"Please wait a moment, Admiral Kizaru…"

"...Step away, or I will slash you as well."

Hina faltered for a moment under the threat of an Admiral but still didn't leave.

Lucas frowned and quickly dissuaded Hina, afraid that she will also get caught up with all of this. He didn't think that Hina would recover so fast.

"What are you doing here? Get out!"

However, Hina was as if she didn't hear him at all. She looked at Kizaru straightly and spoke.

"Don't you think killing here is letting him off easily?"

"...Huh?"

"If you kill him here and now, the world nobles might get unsatisfied and think that this punishment is not enough. Their anger might turn on us next…"

Hearing her, Lucas almost cursed.

Dammit! And here I thought she was here to save me!

But...well, this is also good. He had prepared to say a few lines along with the same line of thought and see if he can still complete his plan.

The truth was, Lucas had a completely different plan...but all that went away when he realized what was inside Nami. He was now in a hurry to end this war so he can go where Nami was and make sure she was safe...

And the best way to quickly end the incoming war was…

"Hina suggests you send him first to experience the various hells in Impel Down and kill his spirit. Then you can stage a public execution for him to show the world the consequences of defying the World Government!"

"..."

Lucas was silent and looked at Hina weirdly.

He didn't tell her about his plan...did she secretly know or is this her true feelings?

Obviously, Lucas can't just ask her that right now.

Kizaru thought for a moment and removed his light sword.

"Hmm, you make an excellent suggestion. But will seastone cuffs work on him? I hear he can still be fine underwater."

"This Hina can confirm. Hina managed to know from him that he only make it seem that he is fine underwater, but in fact, he actually controls the water to go around his body so it never touches him. He is still affected by seastone."

Lucas deliberately made an ugly expression but he laughing in his mind.

Those are just stuff that he told her to throw her off. Truth is, he's not affected by seastone at all. In fact, he could easily crush it to pieces back in Sky Island. Lucas has no idea why though...but he didn't have an answer so he didn't bother with questioning it much.

Kizaru deliberated for a bit before disappearing into light and knocking down Lucas to the ground, all the while using Haki to keep Lucas solid!

The move was really too fast for Lucas to do anything even with foreseeing the future.

Sentoumaru also moved fast and placed the seastone cuffs on him.

"Hmph, do whatever you want...but mark my words. You best pray that I die like this. Otherwise, I will bring down the entire Holy Land to the bottom of the ocean and feed the world nobles to the Sea Kings!"

Lucas acted like he was still struggling hard. His expression was one that seemed like he no longer cared what happens to him anymore and bring anyone he can down with him!

After being cuffed, Sentoumaru pulled him up roughly.

"Get up! You're headed for Impel Down where you will suffer the remaining time of your life!"

While being sent off, Lucas gave Hina a look before turning away.

Hina bit her lower lip and turned away...she didn't know what to feel right now…Her hand trembled a bit while she was looking for a cigarette in her pockets.

She tried to look for a lighter but realized that hers was missing. She must've dropped it somewhere…

Without any light on the cigarette, her feelings continued to overwhelm her.

All of a sudden, the island was covered with rain. She looked up and closed her eyes. It was unknown whether the water pouring down her face were tears or not anymore…

When Kizaru, Lucas, and Sentoumaru had left her sight, she muttered.

"...Idiot, there's no way there would be rain in Sabaody Archipelago since it's covered with bubbles...Hina knew seastone won't restrict you…"

She looked at the rain again and smiled.

Even with the two of them now like this, he's still thinking of protecting her…

At this time, Lucas turned back again briefly then walked away.

When Kizaru and Sentoumaru weren't focusing on him much, he secretly shot a fistful of water to the sky and covered the island with rain.

Maybe Kizaru and Sentoumaru were too tired with the battle earlier or that they wanted to get this over with as soon as possible, they didn't notice that the rain in Sabaody was weird...

Lucas figured that Hina would be crying right about that. That girl always tries to hide her feelings and acted like a cold woman on the surface.

He shook his head with a wry smile and followed after Kizaru.

Impel Down might be tough...but if he can head straight to Level 6 where Ace is, then saving him would be easier.

Right. In order to end this war quickly, he just needs to save Ace quickly.

After that, he'll head to Weatheria where Nami is and make sure she's okay.

In hindsight, maybe he was really too rash to kill a world noble...but that guy deserved it. Honestly. Even when Lucas was still in his homeworld, he really wanted to go and kill that trash…

Actually, he could just ignore Luffy and the others and head straight to Impel Down. Kuma would still save them anyway and he can also use his status as Shichibukai to request to meet Ace like what Hanc.o.c.k did.

...No, actually, that's really what he should've done!

Lucas realized this as well and sighed. It was really hard to keep his emotions in check when he heard that the Strawhats were in trouble.

Anyway, he still needed to let the World Government know...they dared to break their agreement, they have to pay the consequences!

What he wanted was to instill fear into them and make them realize that he wasn't a simple pushover.

Hit me once, I'll hit you a thousand times over!

After a while, Lucas was tossed to a cell in the warship as they headed to Impel Down.

Lucas quietly spent this time meditating instead to further train on his Observation Haki.

Sentoumaru pushed him to the entrance where he was greeted by a strange looking large horned man that seemed to be oozing with some sort of substance…

Lucas saw this man and thought of a name. Magellan!

"Welcome. This must be the new prisoner...Lucas, was it?"

Lucas just snorted and didn't bother answering him.

Magellan couldn't really care less about a prisoner on death row ignoring him. In a moment, he will start to feel like hell.

Afterward, Kizaru stayed while Lucas was being checked. His things were confiscated and was put in the storage room. This included his phone…

They were skeptical about the device at first but after numerous tests, they couldn't see any use for it.

Naturally, Lucas had turned it off beforehand so they wouldn't even see the screen at all. To them, it was just some rectangular piece of metal.

When he was asked, he simply said it was a memento given by his parents. Anyway, it was half true since that phone was indeed gifted by his parents…

They didn't seem to bother about changing Lucas' clothes at all. Maybe they thought he was gonna die soon anyway, no need to waste on giving him clothes. Lucas remembered that even Ace wasn't wearing prison clothes as well in the original story.

Once all the checks and paperwork was done, Kizaru and Sentoumaru finally left.

Magellan glanced at Lucas briefly and threw him to another person. Lucas recognized this guy as Hannyabal. The current vice-warden of Impel Down.

"You know what to do."

"Yes, sir!"

Hannyabal saluted to Magellan and watched as he left the room. Once he was sure that he was gone, Hannyabal threw Lucas to one of the Blue Gorillas, otherwise known as Bluegori.

"You know what to do."

"..."

The head guard standing at the side, Domino, watched Hannyabal imitate Magellan with a deadpan expression. As if she was already used to his antics…

On the other hand, Lucas was beyond pissed. He almost wanted to reveal his powers and kill this bastard on the spot!

Dammit! Stop throwing me around!

However, he gritted his teeth and didn't do anything. All he can do is curse Hannyabal in his mind and make a note to beat his a.s.s later when he get Ace out of here.

While being held by the Bluegori, Hannyabal stamped on his trident and spoke in a haughty manner.

"Listen up, pirate! You're probably gonna die in a few days, but I want you to experience the entirety of my Impel Down!"

"..."

"Ah, my mistake. I was too ambitious saying 'my'. I am still the vice-warden."

"..."

Just get it over with you annoying bastard!

Hannyabal cleared his throat and led the way with the Bluegori dragging Lucas following along behind him.

"You shall stay on each hell for a day before your execution. Welcome...to the Crimson Hell!"

Hannyabal grinned and suddenly threw Lucas in.

While in midair, Lucas could see the 'crimson trees' surrounding the area...but Lucas knew. Those weren't trees at all. Those were blade stacked and formed together to look like trees and grass.

The crimson part was naturally due to the blood of all the prisoners in this level.

Lucas gritted his teeth. When he was about to land, he flipped and...smashed down his foot hard!

The blades shattered under his foot, but his soles were still injured from the blade and were now dyed red...Lucas ignored the pain and didn't utter a single word.

He looked up and stared straight at Hannyabal's eyes.

"Is that all? Vice-warden Hannyabal?"

"...Hmph! We shall see how long that attitude lasts after you've experienced every hell! But don't think it will be this easy!"

Hannyabal nodded at one of the guards. After which, the guard pulled a bazooka from somewhere and aimed it at Lucas!

"!!! Shi-!"

Before he could even finish cursing, the bazooka already shot out!

Lucas quickly ran away, but in the process of doing so, he stepped on many blades as he ran!

Hannyabal looked satisfied with this reaction and gave his orders.

"You guys can change shifts. Don't give him any moment of rest!"

"Yes, sir!"

Lucas heard him as well. His hatred for this guy now increased on a whole new level!

Bastard! You will pay for this!

In such a situation, Lucas naturally won't take all the pain. When his feet were covered with blood, he could use it as cover and secretly change to water when he ran.

He wasn't a m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t. He only needed to get hurt as a cover.

Of course, he would still wince in pain and act like he's bearing with it.

The day passed as he ran around the forest of blades while being targeted by bazookas.

The next day, he was tossed to another hell. The Wild Beast Hell.

Unlike the prisoners on this level, he wasn't kept in a cage. Rather, he was set loose with cuffs still on as numerous beasts chased him without rest!

Lucas managed to knock a few beasts out but ran for most of the day. He needed to act like he was weakened…

The 3rd day. Starvation Hell.

This place was actually the most relaxing for Lucas. There as indeed heat...but he was used to this kind of heat from his Heatman mode already...as for starving, well, he hasn't eaten for 3 days now. He can still hold on.

At least here, he was able to get a small breathing room and he was not running around…

4th day. Blazing Hell.

Hannyabal was very ruthless. He directly tossed Lucas in the boiling blood for a whole day!

As always, Lucas gritted his teeth and acted like he was bearing the pain. In his mind, he was laughing at how relaxing this was for him…

En, it's indeed hot. Like going to a hot spring.

In fact, Lucas even felt that he can make a breakthrough here and further level up his Boilingman mode…

Magellan stays in this level as well to keep watch at the dangerous criminals and make sure no one tries to escape. When he saw Lucas bearing the pain in the boiling blood pot, he shook his head and no longer looked.

5th day. Freezing Hell.

After the extreme heat comes the extreme cold.

Lucas was thrown here to freeze for a whole day...Lucas had to admit, he was not used to the cold. But compared to Aokiji's cold, this was nothing!

Like in the level above this, Lucas also tried to train instead. He felt like he can make another kind of mode…

He sat there like a statue and waited for the day to pass.

Ivankov was watching him from afar. He shook his head with a sigh and went back to his Newkama Land.

Sigh, another good seedling about to die…

When Hannyabal came and saw him sitting there without moving, he knocked on him a few times.

"Oh, did he die?"

Lucas snapped his eyes open which shocked Hannyabal.

He saw how his eyes still appeared bright and full of life, he frowned. He held his trident up and slammed it on Lucas.

"Get up! You're headed to the last floor. The Eternal Hell! But for you, it won't be eternal at all. You will die the day after, after all."

"..."

Lucas didn't say anything and simply glared at Hannyabal.

I WILL DEFINITELY KILL YOU!

This message seemed to have been delivered very clearly in his eyes. Hannyabal felt some kind of power overwhelm him and his vision blurred.

Suddenly, he felt someone slam on his shoulder and jolted him away.

"Stop dallying. Get him to the 6th level."

"A-ah! Yes, sir Magellan!"

Magellan glared at Lucas one last time before leaving and letting Hannyabal drag him to the 6th level.

6th level. The Eternal Hell.

"Hmph, you did well surviving until now. But that won't last for long! Enjoy your last day in my Impel Down. Ah, I was being ambitious again."

Lucas just rolled his eyes. He was already tired of this bastard's ramblings.

He was then thrown and locked in one of the cells next to Ace. He also saw Jimbei and the other prisoners here.

Naturally, he wasn't the only one observing the others.

Crocodile had been locked up here since he was defeated by Luffy. He recognized Lucas and laughed.

"Hahahaha! That's quite a familiar face I see there...tell me, how on earth did someone like you get in here?"

"Ahh, I think there's sand in my ears, I can't hear you at all."

"...This bastard!"

Lucas ignored Crocodile and looked at Ace. He was about to speak when another man spoke to him.

"Kuku, ah, it's been a long time, Lucas."

"? Who're you?"

Lucas frowned when he saw the large man speak to him familiarly. He can't really recall who this guy was. Even in the original story, he didn't recognize him at all.

When the guy heard Lucas, he made a strange face and laughed in the end.

"Well, whatever. You will know soon enough."

"..."

Seeing as the guy was no longer speaking to him, Lucas decided to ignore him as well and spoke to Ace.

"You are Ace right?"

"? Do I know you?"

"No, but I'm a friend of Luffy's. I've come to get you out."

Ace's face lit up when he heard Luffy's name, but frowned when he heard that Lucas came here to get him out.

He looked at the cuffs on Lucas and shook his head.

"It's no use. It's impossible to escape here."

"Don't sweat the small details. Anyway, I'm getting you out. I have somewhere to be…"

Lucas didn't immediately remove the cuffs on him. Instead, he looked around first to make sure that the surveillance denden mushis were not looking...

He waited for his chance while speaking to Ace.

"By the way, how did you get captured? Surely it isn't that easy to catch Whitebeard's crew."

"...I was chasing a guy who calls himself Blackbeard now. He was a former crewmate of ours...until he committed the greatest sin in a ship. He killed his own crewmate!"

"..."

Lucas stayed silent and listened to his story.

"I got the news that he was on a certain island...but when I got there, 3 admirals were waiting for me...I wasn't able to escape. Now, here I am. And Teach is probably still somewhere…"

Hearing this, Lucas sighed.

So in the end, even with him killing Blackbeard, Ace was still captured because of this…is Ace really fated to die in this war?

...No! I won't let him!

One of the biggest moments in the original story that he wanted to change was Ace's death. He truly felt that Ace did not deserve to die at all!

No matter what, he will make sure of it!

Still, he had to clarify something with Ace.

"Blackbeard's dead. I...already killed him."

"...What?"

Ace looked at Lucas in shock and disbelief.

Teach was dead? Already?

"...Why?"

"He was a dangerous man that I couldn't leave alive...and let's just say, because of him, someone very important to me was killed…"

A very important character in the original story that is...but no need to tell him that.

"...I see. I'm sorry for your loss."

It was your loss actually…

Lucas refrained from speaking once more.

Ace sighed and slumped down. Lucas had an illusion as if the weight on Ace's shoulder was just lifted.

"I see...so he's dead huh…?"

And then, a tear fell from his eye.

"Thatch...even though I wasn't the one who did it...but you have been avenged...!"

The burden he had been carrying for a long time...has finally been lifted!