# Chapter 528: Magellan's Home Turf
"You little bastards, do you think I don't exist!?"
The layer of venom forming a membrane all over Magellan's body grew thicker and thicker. This venom quickly gathered from his back, condensing into three venom pillars, which then shot up and split into even more streams, transforming into dragon heads that lunged toward both sides!
"Venom Demon!"
These venom demons opened their massive jaws like predators hunting, biting at those trying to escape. Some prisoners who had rushed ahead paid the price for their swift feet! Caught off guard, they were pierced through by these venom demons, their entire bodies instantly covered in venom!
"AAAAHHHH!" The prisoners who were hit let out heart-wrenching screams, filling the air with a chorus of agony.
Magellan's venom was a paralytic neurotoxin. Not only did it rob people of their ability to move, but it also amplified their nerve sensations, intensifying the pain. On top of that, because his venom was so potent, it also had strong corrosive properties. The moment it touched human skin, it caused unbearable agony. The pain, magnified many times over by the toxin's properties, was an absolutely unparalleled torture!
The scene was filled with screams. Even some prison guards hiding behind Magellan were unfortunately splashed by the venom and were also screaming loudly.
Seeing the venom demons charging, Luffy and the others quickly jumped aside to dodge. But the venom demons, controlled by Magellan, naturally gave chase. Seeing them leap up, the demons immediately raised their heads and bit toward the group in midair.
"Candle Shield!" Mr. 3 acted again, creating a large shield beneath their feet.
But his shield could only protect some of them. Those not beside him were out of luck!
Those who had jumped into the air were twisting their bodies desperately, trying to change direction midair to avoid the bites. However, the venom demons, under Magellan's control, were incredibly agile. They could dodge once or twice, but definitely not three or four times...
Just as everyone thought they were about to be bitten, a massive sword slash suddenly came flying, heading straight for the base of the venom demons rising from Magellan's back!
The sword slash cut through the source of Magellan's venom in one stroke. In the next second, Magellan could no longer control the venom demons. One by one, the venom demons fell, crashing to the ground and shattering into countless venom droplets that splattered in all directions.
In such a situation, some people inevitably got hit. Venom splashed onto their skin, and they too let out screams.
But being splashed by just a few droplets of venom was far more fortunate than those completely covered in it.
A large droplet of venom bounced off the ground and hit Sanji right on the butt. This droplet was originally going to splash Nami after bouncing up from the floor, but Sanji rushed over and blocked it, shielding her. The price he paid was that his pants were corroded, leaving a hole, and Sanji let out a blood-curdling scream!
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
The pain coming from his rear end made Sanji feel like his entire life had turned gray. The world was reduced to nothing but black and white...
He even vaguely saw himself standing by a riverbank. On the other side of the river, a woman who looked very much like his mother was waving at him...
Seeing Sanji injured while protecting her, Nami panicked and quickly caught him as he slowly collapsed, holding him against her chest.
She patted Sanji's face anxiously and shouted, "Sanji! Sanji! Are you okay!?"
However, when Sanji felt Nami's soft, ample chest, two streams of blood immediately flowed from his nose, and the world suddenly regained its color.
Waving goodbye to his mother on the other shore, Sanji tremblingly gave Nami a thumbs-up and said, "Miss Nami, as long as you're fine!"
What he really wanted to say was: Being held by you like this forever would be the best!
"How can you be so stupid?" Nami said. "Why did you rush over to protect me?"
"I am your guardian knight, Miss Nami!" Sanji forced a smile and said, "I can't let you get hurt. That's my duty!"
"No... What I meant was, even if you hadn't come to protect me, I could have dodged that venom..." Nami said a little sheepishly.
Sanji instantly turned to stone...
"But thank you anyway!" Nami held his face and smiled. "Hang in there. Chopper will give you medicine soon!"
"But hurry!" Chopper, now in human form, ran over and helped support Sanji. "If the venom enters the intestines, it could cause ulceration. That would be trouble!"
Enter... enter the intestines!? Could... could cause ulceration!?
Boom! Hearing this, Sanji, who was already petrified, felt like he had been struck by a thunderbolt! He nearly shattered!
For Sanji, the path of a guardian knight was long and arduous...
"Coup de Vent!" Franky fired a powerful blast of wind, blowing away all the venom in front of them. Then the Straw Hat Pirates quickly carried the now-defeated Sanji and rushed toward the other side of the bridge.
Magellan, at this moment, had no time to deal with those who had rushed past him because Ian had already attacked!
After realizing that his flames would vaporize Magellan's venom, Ian had to be cautious about using fire. This Venom-Venom Fruit user was indeed troublesome.
But he also knew that Magellan was not a Logia-type ability user but a Paramecia-type!
That meant Magellan's venom was produced from his body, not that he himself was venom! He had a solid body!
After cutting off the venom demons, Ian charged at Magellan and directly drew his sword to strike!
"Hmph, fool!" Seeing Ian's move, Magellan couldn't help but sneer with a mocking smile on his lips!
At this moment, Magellan's entire body was covered in a sticky layer of venom. This layer of venom was his best barrier. Anything that touched him had to go through this venom first!
In other words, Magellan was least afraid of close combat. Anyone trying to attack him would first be contaminated by the venom, even if they used a weapon!
Magellan's venom had strong corrosive properties. It could even melt stone floors, let alone steel weapons. Unless Ian didn't want his weapon anymore, such a slash was simply foolish.
However, this time Magellan underestimated his opponent. The moment Ian's blade came down, Magellan noticed that Ian's sword edge had turned a dark red color!
That was... Armament Haki!? Not good!
Magellan hurriedly tried to dodge, but his massive body made him slow and clumsy, unable to evade Ian's slash.
With Armament Haki protecting the blade, Ian could touch Magellan's venom-covered body without worry. This slash, after piercing through the venom on Magellan's surface, left a long gash on his body!
Deep enough to see bone!
"AHH!" Magellan couldn't help but let out a scream, clutching his wound and staggering back a few steps.
Having landed a hit, Ian immediately raised his sword again to press the attack. But Magellan reacted quickly. He chewed a few times and spat out a venom bubble at Ian.
Ian naturally wouldn't be hit by such a venom bubble. But just as he was about to jump aside to dodge, something unexpected happened—the venom bubble exploded on its own!
Boom! At such close range, the explosion sent Ian, who was already in midair, flying back. He flipped a few times before regaining his balance.
The venom bubble earlier wasn't the venom pufferfish Magellan had used before, but a venom gas bomb. Ian accidentally inhaled some, and the fumes made his eyes water. Fortunately, the Twin Heaven Return Shield was still enveloping him, continuously providing healing effects. After coughing a few times, Ian was fine!
Unfortunately, the Twin Heaven Return Shield could only affect one person at a time, not multiple people. Otherwise, Ian could have enveloped everyone, making them completely immune to Magellan's venom gas.
Magellan also noticed that the faint light membrane around Ian might be unusual. After blowing Ian away with the venom gas bomb, he turned to look behind him.
Behind him, Luffy, Law, and the others who had already rushed past were fighting the prison guard forces. Urouge had already activated his Devil Fruit power, his body growing larger as he wielded his giant stone pestle as a vanguard, wreaking havoc among the guards.
How could the prison guards be a match for these Supernovas? Breaking through their defenses was only a matter of time.
If they got their hands on gas masks, it would be trouble! Magellan thought. He took a deep breath, and just as Ian charged again, he suddenly exhaled a massive cloud of purple mist toward Ian!
"Venom Cloud!!"
The venom cloud Magellan spat out was unprecedented in size. After enveloping Ian, it continued to spread in all directions!
The reason Impel Down was Magellan's home turf was that the entire prison was almost completely sealed. This was the fourth level, located in the middle of Impel Down. Without proper ventilation, Magellan's venom gas could achieve maximum effect!
Thus, the venom cloud quickly spread throughout the entire fourth level. Even Luffy and the others, who were still fighting the prison guards behind, were affected by the venom cloud.
Even though Magellan's own subordinates were there, he didn't care anymore. Magellan was a man dedicated to his duty. His mission was to stop and capture these prison breakers. Even if it meant harming some of his own men, he wouldn't hesitate!
"W-What is this?"
The people in the middle of battle were breathing heavily, so they quickly inhaled a lot of the venom gas. By the time they realized something was wrong, it was already too late.
Everyone suddenly noticed that the people around them were becoming hazy and blurry. Some appeared larger, some smaller! Some even mistook their companions for enemies and started attacking them!
This venom cloud had a powerful hallucinogenic effect...