"Afraid of pain?"
Nami's voice grew softer, as if she were somewhat embarrassed to say it.
Ron and Robin exchanged glances, shaking their heads helplessly.
Indeed, although Nami had become stronger, she was still as afraid of pain as ever—something that couldn't be changed.
"It's alright. We're here, so you won't get hurt," Robin comforted her.
Just then, In the eerily silent interior of the prison, a faint sound suddenly emerged from ahead.
Upon closer listening, it resembled the crisp clinking of metal against metal.
This sudden noise shattered the surrounding dead silence, like a stone thrown into a calm lake, sending ripples across the surface.
The two women instantly tensed up, stopping in their tracks as if frozen in place.
"It's over there!" Robin whispered urgently, pointing toward a branching path ahead.
The three quickly moved in the direction of the sound, their steps light yet hurried.
Soon, They arrived in front of a spacious cell.
The cell door was wide open, like a dark, gaping mouth.
Inside was empty, with only dim light filtering through a narrow window and spilling onto the floor.
Scattered on the ground were rusted chains and broken shackles, as if telling of a fierce struggle that had once taken place here.
"Someone... was imprisoned here," Robin said slowly, crouching down to carefully examine the chains on the floor.
Her fingers gently touched the broken ends of the chains, and she frowned slightly.
"The chains were forcibly broken. It seems the person held here was quite strong."
A glimmer of hope flashed in Nami's eyes, as if she had seen a ray of light in the darkness.
"Could it be Zoro and the others?" Her voice carried a note of anticipation, her eyes fixed intently on Robin and Ron, eager for a positive answer.
Ron furrowed his brow and shook his head slightly, his eyes revealing a trace of gravity.
"Probably not. The intel says they might be on the fifth level, but there's also a chance they're here. Regardless, it at least indicates that important prisoners were once held here. Since there's no trace of Zoro and the others, we need to keep searching downward."
"Mm."
The three of them continued deeper, moving through the dim and silent corridor, their footsteps echoing in the empty passage.
Soon, they arrived at the stairway leading to the next level.
At the stairway entrance stood a heavy iron door, engraved with the words "LEVEL**." Due to erosion over time and layers of rust, the characters were blurred and unreadable, making it impossible to discern the exact number.
But since they had come from the first level, it was reasonable to assume this should be the second level.
Ron tried pushing the door, hearing only a faint creak—it wasn't locked.
"It seems the guards really have all withdrawn," Robin said quietly, a hint of relief in her voice.
Then, Ron pushed the door open with force and led Nami and Robin inside.
The environment on the second level was even more eerie and terrifying than the first, as if they had entered a forgotten world of darkness.
The air was thick with a nauseating stench of decay—a foul mix of blood, rot, and despair that made one want to vomit.
The walls were covered in thick rust, resembling twisted, ghostly faces.
Scattered across the floor were broken torture instruments: rusted chains, barbed whips, heavy iron balls...
Each tool seemed to whisper tales of the brutal punishments that had once taken place here.
The three advanced cautiously, stepping lightly, afraid of triggering any hidden traps.
"This place... it's feels like hell," Nami couldn't help but cover her nose, her voice tinged with fear and disgust.
Robin, however, remained calmer and more composed, constantly scanning their surroundings in an attempt to find useful clues.
"If Zoro and the others were imprisoned here, we should be able to find some traces."
Suddenly, a low, faint groan came from ahead.
Their bodies tensed instantly, nerves stretched taut like bowstrings.
"What was that sound?"
"Shh..."
They immediately halted, eyes filled with vigilance, all looking in the direction of the sound.
The surrounding air seemed to freeze, each breath becoming heavy and labored.
"Someone's there!" Ron whispered, quickly dashing toward the source of the sound.
Nami and Robin exchanged a glance with a flicker of tension in their eyes, then hurried after Ron, running swiftly.
They soon arrived in front of a cell, its door shut tight, the heavy iron emitting a cold aura.
There was a small observation window on the door.
Ron cautiously approached the window, squinting as he peered inside.
He saw a man covered in wounds, curled up in the corner of the cell, appearing extremely weak.
The man's clothes were tattered, nearly reduced to rags, his body marred with shocking injuries—bruises, swelling, and bloodstains interwoven, clear signs of severe torture.
"Changed guards, huh? Ridiculous! If you have the guts, let me out! I'll kill every last one of you single-handedly!!"
"It's not Zoro and the others..." Nami and Robin hurried over to take a look, their faces showing disappointed expressions.
Without paying attention to the person in the cell, they gently shook their heads.
"We have to keep searching further down."
Without lingering any longer, the three quickly turned and left the cell, continuing their descent to the next level.
As they went deeper, the prison environment grew increasingly worse.
On the third level, a pungent chemical odor filled the air, and unknown green liquid dripped down the walls, emitting a sizzling sound.
The fourth level was pitch black, with only occasional flickers of eerie green light illuminating the scattered bones and remains on the ground.
The fifth level was swept by howling winds, as if countless tormented souls were wailing. A thick layer of frost covered the ground, sending chills down one's spine.
Each level was filled with a sinister and terrifying atmosphere, as if they were different scenes from hell.
But they still found no trace of Zoro or Sanji.
Throughout the journey, Ron's heart remained tense, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings, not missing a single detail.
However, they did not encounter Ivankov, nor did they deliberately search for him.
After all, the longer they stayed here, the more dangerous their situation became.
Although they didn't know when the battle between Big Mom and the Marines outside would end, a sense of urgency lingered in their hearts.
It was better to leave as soon as possible.
Finally, they reached the staircase leading to the sixth level.
...
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