Ivankov was probably mentally exhausted. He planted his hands on his hips, utterly speechless.
Both Magellan and Hannyabal now knew the entrance location of New Transvestite Paradise.
Once the wardens of Impel Down discovered a secret passage, they could follow the connecting tunnels straight to New Transvestite Paradise and continue uncovering other hidden routes.
New Transvestite Paradise was no longer the carefree, isolated "Paradise" it once was.
In that case...
"Run for your lives!!!"
Ivankov sprinted frantically through New Transvestite Paradise, his arms swinging so fast they became a blur.
At the command of the Queen of Okama, all the inhabitants of New Transvestite Paradise sprang into action.
Golden Lion II, observing this, leisurely walked to the central area of New Transvestite Paradise—near the massive stage.
He extended his right hand and lightly touched it. The power of the Float-Float Fruit instantly enveloped the enormous stage.
Rumble...
With a deep, resonating sound, the massive stage detached from the ground and floated into midair.
As a result, the dividing wall between New Transvestite Paradise and Infinite Hell was completely destroyed.
A gaping, pitch-black hole leading to the sixth level appeared on the ground of Level Five Point Five.
"W-wait! What are you doing?!" Ivankov shrieked, covering his cheeks as he stared at the stage being lifted from the ground.
"Why are you destroying our New Human Grand Stage?"
"To send you all skyward, of course."
Golden Lion II floated into the air, reaching the ceiling of New Transvestite Paradise in the blink of an eye.
With a gentle tap of Cherry Ten's tip against the ceiling, the structure instantly loosened. Countless chunks of earth surged upward, creating another enormous hole in the ceiling.
Level Five Point Five was sandwiched between the fifth and sixth levels.
Now, both the ceiling and floor of New Transvestite Paradise had been breached by Golden Lion II using the Float-Float Fruit's power.
Extreme Cold Hell, New Transvestite Paradise, and Infinite Hell—all three "hells" were now interconnected.
Warm air rose, cold air descended.
A biting wind carrying swirling snowflakes blew in from Extreme Cold Hell above, instantly engulfing the entire New Transvestite Paradise.
"N-nooo! My New Transvestite Paradise!" Ivankov wailed dramatically, shivering violently in the frigid air.
"Lion BOY! Stop this! New Transvestite Paradise actually has a secret passage leading outside!"
New Transvestite Paradise had been created roughly a century ago by the giant Mori—the current commander of the Revolutionary Army's West Army—using his Push-Push Fruit abilities.
At the time, Mori had been imprisoned in Impel Down for certain crimes.
But through the power of the Push-Push Fruit, he carved out numerous secret passages within the prison, even establishing the original "Level Five Point Five," before eventually escaping.
The world believed Golden Lion Shiki to be the first prisoner ever to break out of Impel Down.
But in reality...
Over a hundred years before Golden Lion Shiki's prison break, Mori had already successfully escaped Impel Down!
Since Mori could use these secret passages to flee Impel Down directly, then Ivankov and his New Human subordinates could also use these same passages to escape!
However.
Ivankov had always kept his mission firmly in mind—to expand the New Human community (crossed out), to strengthen the Revolutionary Army's ranks among Impel Down's prisoners.
So even though he knew the escape routes, Ivankov had never acted on them. After all, the wardens of Impel Down had never discovered the existence of New Transvestite Paradise.
Meanwhile, the Revolutionary Army outside continued to build its strength. Naturally, Ivankov saw no urgency in escaping.
That is, until today—when Golden Lion II arrived.
New Transvestite Paradise was suddenly exposed right before the eyes of Impel Down's Warden Director.
Whether Ivankov wanted to run or not, he had no choice!
But...
Golden Lion II acted far too quickly.
Before Ivankov could even mention the secret passages, the man had already destroyed half of New Transvestite Paradise.
"So this was your escape route..."
Golden Lion II glanced at the three prison levels he had completely breached. The icy winds from Extreme Cold Hell had already dusted New Transvestite Paradise with a thin layer of snow. He smirked and shrugged.
"My bad~"
Not a shred of sincerity in that apology!
Ivankov furiously tore off one of his faces, slammed it onto the ground, and stomped on it repeatedly.
Only then did he finally quell the inexplicable rage burning inside him.
"Lion BOY, you go do your own thing..."
Before Golden Lion II could "helpfully" cause more destruction, Ivankov took a deep breath and gathered all his New Humans.
"We're making a run for it now!
"Everyone, move those legs and RUN!!!"
At the command of the Queen of New Humans, the crowd broke into their uniquely "gorgeous" strides, hauling bundles of belongings as they charged into one of New Transvestite Paradise's secret passages.
Golden Lion II's eye twitched slightly.
In an instant, New Transvestite Paradise was left deserted.
Floating amidst the snowstorm, Golden Lion II expanded his senses.
"Ivankov and his New Humans are already far away...
"Magellan hasn't woken up yet, though Hannyabal is still struggling. No need to worry about them."
Having fully assessed the situation in Level Five Point Five, Golden Lion II then leaped straight into the gaping hole left in New Transvestite Paradise.
Infinite Hell.
His arrival immediately drew the attention of the other prisoners in Infinite Hell.
Thanks to the Float-Float Fruit forcibly connecting the walls between Extreme Cold Hell, New Transvestite Paradise, and Infinite Hell, the freezing winds had also swept into Infinite Hell.
The prisoners had long sensed something amiss.
Now, at the sight of Golden Lion, a thunderous cheer erupted among them.
"Golden Lion~! It's Shiki~! After escaping all those years ago, you've come back~?"
"Golden Lion! You're here to save us, right? Hurry and get us out! This place is way too cramped!"
"Golden Lion! I'll serve under you! Take me with you! I miss the booze outside so much!"
Golden Lion II paid no attention to the shouts of these insignificant prisoners.
Even though "he" had once slaughtered his way through the Infinite Hell before, most of the prisoners "he" killed back then were just small-time thugs.
The number of truly formidable pirates who had been eliminated was still quite small.
Among those who had just spoken up were Avalo Pizarro, the Tyrannical King, Giant Battleship Sanjuan Wolf, and Vasco Shot, the Heavy Drinker.
These were all "veterans" of the Infinite Hell.
Take Sanjuan Wolf, for example—already over ninety years old this year, he had been a pirate far longer than Golden Lion Shiki himself.
Yet Golden Lion II still ignored them.
His purpose in coming to the Infinite Hell was not for these weaklings.
A faint red light flickered in Golden Lion II's eyes as he activated his [Observation Haki], instantly enveloping the entire Infinite Hell within its range.
In mere moments,
Golden Lion II had located one of his two primary targets—
Lone Red, Patrick Redfield!
Harnessing the power of the [Float-Float Fruit], Golden Lion II swiftly soared toward the solitary prison cell where Lone Red was confined.
As he passed by a certain cell in the Infinite Hell,
the prisoner inside suddenly let out a cold snort.
"Golden Lion Shiki! The old pirate who escaped over a decade ago, now back in the Infinite Hell? That useless Magellan!"
Golden Lion II cast a brief glance at the cell and immediately recognized the man's identity.
Deputy Warden of Impel Down, Shiryu of the Rain.
He had been somewhat curious earlier as to why he hadn't encountered Shiryu during the battle, only running into Hannyabal and Magellan.
Only now did he understand the reason.
So this guy had already been locked up in the Infinite Hell...
However,
Golden Lion II merely spared Shiryu a passing glance before flying straight past the solitary cell.
Once upon a time, he might have been interested in Shiryu of the Rain.
But now, he craved stronger opponents!
Silence is the ultimate contempt.
Shiryu watched as Golden Lion II flew past with nothing more than an indifferent glance, his expression darkening instantly.
Yet in the Infinite Hell, no one cared about the Deputy Warden of Impel Down.
In no time at all,
Golden Lion II had traversed most of the Infinite Hell, arriving before a particularly unique solitary cell.
"Those fools... can't even recognize the right person."
A hoarse voice drifted from within the cell as Patrick Redfield stood at the entrance, studying Golden Lion II with keen interest.
"Though you're both brats, you're not Golden Lion Shiki.
"Even if you wield [Cherry Ten] and [Withered Tree], and possess the power of the [Float-Float Fruit]—"
"Of course I'm not Golden Lion Shiki."
Golden Lion II had no patience for the ramblings of a relic from a bygone era.
With a swift motion of his right hand, he swung the [Named Sword] Cherry Ten, unleashing a razor-sharp [Soaring Slash] that tore through the air toward the prison bars.
Patrick Redfield's pupils contracted slightly, but his reaction was anything but slow.
Even though he was trapped in a narrow prison cell, Patrick Redfield still managed to assume an evasive stance while raising both hands.
The Great Sword Master-level Soaring Slash tore through the outer bars of Lone Red's cell and continued inward, carving a deep trench into the prison wall.
Clink, clink...
At that moment, crisp metallic sounds echoed through the cell - the sound of chains hitting the floor.
Patrick Redfield had extended his hands while dodging the attack.
But his purpose wasn't self-harm.
He intended to use the young brat's Soaring Slash - so reminiscent of Golden Lion Shiki's techniques - to break his shackles!
Patrick Redfield's plan succeeded brilliantly.
Using that razor-sharp Soaring Slash capable of slicing through metal,
Patrick Redfield not only severed the shackles on his wrists but also the chains binding his legs.
Lone Red had regained his freedom.
Almost simultaneously,
At Impel Down's Maritime First Level,
A golden flash suddenly illuminated the area.
"Am I too late?"
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