"So this is the third floor," Meiser surveyed his surroundings while stroking his chin. "Didn't expect it to be a vast desert."
What kind of hell is this again?
"It's so hot on this floor!" Mr.3 stuck out his tongue as he looked at the desert ahead. "For someone with wax-based abilities like me, this place is pure torture."
Even before entering the desert proper, Mr.3 already felt like he couldn't take it anymore.
"Where's the path to the next floor?" Luffy asked.
"How would we know that?!"
"Let's check ahead first," Meiser suggested. "Better than staying here."
As he spoke, Meiser glanced back at the massive gate behind them, thinking to himself: 'Who designed this gate without any overhead cover? Just letting sunlight pour right in.'
Wait... that's not right!
Why is there sunlight here anyway?
Looking up at the heights above, a question formed in Meiser's mind.
Where is this light coming from?
"Hey, do you two know how sunlight gets in here?" Meiser asked.
"How would we know that?" Mr.3 sighed. "Maybe the Marines used some special method."
"Could be a plant similar to the Eve Sunlight Tree," Buggy speculated.
"Eve Sunlight Tree?"
"Yeah," Buggy nodded. "When we visited Fish-Man Island years ago, we saw something similar. That place gets its light from the Eve Sunlight Tree."
After a pause, Buggy continued:
"That plant absorbs sunlight from the ocean surface, then releases it through its roots. That's why Fish-Man Island has sunlight."
A nostalgic expression crossed Buggy's face. It had been decades since Fish-Man Island... time really flew.
"So that's how it works," Meiser stroked his chin. "This world really has all kinds of miraculous plants."
First the Sword Trees and Needle Thorns on the first floor, now something like a sunlight tree here. He wondered what other interesting things they might encounter.
"You've actually been to Fish-Man Island?" Mr.3 looked at Buggy in shock. This guy didn't seem like the type with a bounty over 100 million, yet he'd been to Fish-Man Island?
"Ah, but that was when I was just a kid," Buggy waved it off dismissively.
With that, Buggy walked ahead without looking back, clearly not intending to give Mr.3 any detailed explanations. After all, he couldn't risk exposing his past as a member of the Pirate King's crew—that would definitely bring the Marines down on him!
"When you were a kid?" Mr.3 stared thoughtfully at Buggy's retreating back.
His instincts told him this man might be more than he seemed, but now wasn't the time to dwell on it. If he wanted to figure out the truth, he'd have to wait until they escaped this place.
With that thought, Mr.3 stopped pondering and quickly ran forward to catch up with the others.
"Hey Luffy, slow down you idiot!" Meiser shouted.
"Hurry up, I see prison cells ahead!"
Luffy, who had rushed ahead, gazed at the distant cells and said, "Maybe someone there knows the way down."
"Prison cells?"
Mr.3 and Buggy exchanged glances before sprinting after Luffy.
If there was shelter, at least they wouldn't feel so unbearably hot.
"Prison cells, huh?"
Meiser stroked his chin. "Let's go take a look."
If they could get directions from the prisoners, they wouldn't have to search this vast desert for the entrance.
With that thought, Meiser quickly dashed forward.
Soon, the group arrived at the cells Luffy had spotted.
"Why do these people look all shriveled up?" Luffy observed the prisoners. "They look like Granny Nyon."
Meiser: "..."
"Show some respect for Granny Nyon, you idiot!"
"Sorry..."
Seeing Meiser raise his fist, Luffy immediately apologized.
The speed of his apology left Buggy stunned.
Is this really how a captain behaves?
Meiser just shook his head and ignored him.
Once he realized Meiser wasn't going to hit him, Luffy instantly regained his energy and turned back to the cells. "Hey, do any of you know the way to the fourth level?"
Unfortunately, the prisoners barely glanced at him before closing their eyes again, not even bothering to respond.
Luffy: "???"
What's their problem?
"It seems they've been here a long time," Mr.3 said. "They probably don't even have the strength to speak anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"This is the third level—Hunger Hell," Mr.3 explained. "Here, they get no food or water, and they have to endure the extreme heat."
"Over time, even if these were once powerful pirates with bounties over 50 million, they end up like this."
He then pointed at a skeletal figure nailed to a wooden post in the distance.
"That... is their final fate."
With a sigh, Mr.3 fell silent.
He could only hope they wouldn't suffer the same miserable end.
"How do you know so much?" Meiser eyed Mr.3 suspiciously. "Do you know the way to the fourth level?"
His gaze turned sharp.
If this guy was hiding information, Meiser wouldn't hesitate to teach him a lesson.
"Sadly, I don't," Mr.3 said helplessly. "I just heard these details from others."
Prisoners locked up for long periods occasionally picked up bits of information—it was one way to pass the time.
Meiser nodded and said nothing more.
Just then, Luffy's stomach growled loudly, drawing everyone's attention.
"Ahaha, I'm hungry," Luffy admitted, scratching his head.
Unconsciously, he had already digested all the food he'd eaten earlier.
"Then let's eat first."
"Wha—?!"
Mr.3 and Buggy stared at Meiser in shock. "You're thinking about food at a time like this?!"
No, they're inside Impel Down!
And where are we supposed to find food in a place like this?
Grill these guys in front of us?
Damn it, they don't eat humans!
"Nonsense, how can we fight without eating our fill?"
"But we can't—"
Before Buggy could finish speaking, a strange sound reached their ears.
"Okama Way!"
"Okama Way!"
"My Okama Way!"
"Wait, how can someone still be this energetic in this environment?" Buggy said with shock. "What kind of person is this?"
According to Mr.3, no one here can get food or water!
Yet this guy is still so full of energy?
He's definitely no ordinary person!
"Why does this voice sound so familiar?" Mr.3 frowned.
"Huh? You know him?"
"I think it sounds like one of my former colleagues," Mr.3 said. "Straw Hat Boy, remember that okama you met in Alabasta?"
"Okama?"
Luffy tilted his head at Mr.3, not understanding the meaning of the word.
"That guy who could transform into others—Mr.2!"
"It's Bon Clay!"
Luffy's eyes lit up as he remembered who it was.
Then, excited, he turned to Meiser and said, "Hey, Meiser, quick, let's go rescue Bon Clay too!"
He thought the guy had already been killed by the Marines, but... he's still alive!
How could he not be excited?
"Oh, let's go then," Meiser laughed.
Never thought they'd run into that guy here. Maybe... this is fate.
Well, they might even get directions to the lower levels from him.
With that in mind, the group quickly ran forward and soon reached the target area.
"So this is the guy," Buggy said.
Watching Bon Clay spinning excitedly in his cell, Buggy twitched his lips, unsure what to say.
"What's a little heat to me? My Okama Way won't lose to this environment!"
"Gahahaha!"
"Bon Clay, it really is you!" Luffy rushed to the cell, looking at Bon Clay excitedly. "I'm so glad you're alive!"
"Little Straw Hat?"
Bon Clay froze for a moment upon seeing Luffy pressed against the bars, then burst into laughter. "Ahahaha, I never thought we'd meet here, Little Straw Hat!"
"Gahaha—"
"Wait?!"
Suddenly realizing, Bon Clay stared at Luffy in shock. "Why are you here?"
"Ah, and Mr.3 too!"
"Am I just an afterthought?" Mr.3 grumbled.
Ignoring Mr.3's comment, Bon Clay exclaimed excitedly, "Were you captured too?"
"Ah, no, I'm here to rescue Ace."
"Rescue Ace?"
"Yeah!"
Watching the two chat happily, Buggy glanced at Mr.3. "What's the deal with this rare creature?"
"He's always like this. You'll get used to it," Mr.3 sighed, shaking his head.
For some reason, Mr.3 suddenly regretted telling Meiser about this guy.
But now that they were here, they couldn't just leave him behind.
"I never expected you came here to save your brother. That truly moves me to tears," Bon Kurei said while wiping his eyes. "In that case, allow me to lend you my strength!"
"Really, Bon-chan? You'll help me save Ace?"
"Absolutely!"
Bon Kurei declared with firm resolve: "When a friend needs help, I must extend my hand!"
As a man of principle, he was determined to help Straw Hat rescue Fire Fist Ace!
"Thank you so much, Bon-chan!"
"No need for thanks between Straw Hat and me!"
"Gyahahaha!"
After laughing heartily, Bon Kurei turned to Mr.3 and said, "Mr.3, could you free my hands?"
"Fine."
Seeing the eager look in the other's eyes, Mr.3 sighed deeply.
Meeting this guy—was it a blessing or a curse?
"Let's find a place to eat first," Meiser suggested.
"Where would we find food here?" Buggy retorted skeptically.
"Don't worry, I brought some."
Buggy eyed Meiser's confident expression with suspicion.
Where exactly had he been keeping the food?
"Food?! Really?!" Bon Kurei's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Yeah, there's some."
"Wonderful!" Bon-chan spun in circles, overjoyed. "It's been so long since I last ate!"
With a full stomach, he could unleash even greater strength!
That would surely increase their chances of rescuing Fire Fist Ace!
"By the way, Bon-chan, do you know how to get to Level 4?" Luffy asked.
"Of course~" Bon Kurei grinned. "I'll take you there soon!"
"Awesome!"
"So this is Level 6—Infinite Hell?!"
"Indeed," Hannyabal nodded. "Only the most notorious figures on the seas are imprisoned here."
"I see."
Hancock nodded, though her brow furrowed slightly.
Level 6... According to Magellan, this floor is Impel Down's highest-level secret. Only a handful know of its existence.
Would Meiser and the others even find their way here?
Damn it—if only she could relay information to Meiser.
"Alright, we're here."
Hannyabal pointed to a cell ahead. "This is where Fire Fist Ace is being held."
He then approached the bars and called out to the two inside, "Hey, Fire Fist Ace, wake up. You have a visitor."
"Huh?"
Ace opened his eyes and glanced at Hannyabal. "A visitor?"
Could it be Gramps again?
But he dismissed the thought—the old man had visited not long ago.
"Who is it?" Ace asked.
"Allow me to introduce them properly~" Hannyabal cleared his throat, then gazed at Hancock with adoration. "Behold! One of the Royal Seven Warlords of the Sea, Empress of Kuja Island, the most beautiful woman in the world—the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock!!"
"Ahaha! Once I become warden, please marry me, Hancock-sama!"
"Hancock-sama—"
BAM!
Before Hannyabal could finish speaking, Magellan slapped him to the ground.
"You bastard, what the hell are you saying?!"
Spouting such nonsense to a guest—what if it angered this woman?
"Sorry... but I still really want to become the warden."
Magellan's lips twitched. This idiot.
"Pirate Empress?"
Ace frowned at Hancock, unsure why this woman had come to see him.
They didn't seem to have any connection—he didn't even know her!
"Hahaha, the legendary Pirate Empress?!" The surrounding pirates exclaimed excitedly. "No wonder she's so beautiful!"
"Quick, give her to me!"
"Pirate Empress, come play in our cell! I'll treat you right!"
"Wahaha, damn right!"
"Woman, get over here!"
Unfortunately, these voices had no effect on Hancock. She completely ignored them.
"Bastards, shut the hell up!!" Magellan roared. "Can't you see they have something to discuss?!"
"Shut it, you diarrhea-ridden bastard!"
"That's right, hahaha!"
"You damn diarrhea freak, bring that woman to me right now!"
"Yahaha!"
Crack!
Veins bulged on Magellan's forehead as terrifying killing intent erupted from him.
"Who the hell do you think you're talking to?!" Magellan glared coldly at the pirates. "I'm the warden of Impel Down!"
BOOM!!
As he spoke, terrifying venom surged from Magellan's body, transforming him into the Poison Man. Without hesitation, he attacked the pirates on both sides, staining the prisoners in their cells purple.
"Bastard, he actually attacked..."
"Damn it, give me the antidote! Hurry!"
"Magellan, you bastard!"
"It hurts! It hurts so much!"
"You scum of the sea, don't forget—I'm the warden of Impel Down, with the power and authority to execute every last one of you on the spot!" Magellan said coldly. "So when you see me, keep your tails tucked between your legs!"
Faced with the venom-drenched Magellan, the pirates fell silent as if their throats had been squeezed.
Seeing this, Magellan snorted and retracted all his venom.
If these trash knew their place, he couldn't be bothered dealing with them.
Then, Magellan turned to Hancock with a smile. "Alright, Boa Hancock, please continue~"
"No, we're done."
"Huh?!"
Magellan stared at Hancock in shock. "It's over already?"
He'd just finished flexing his authority, and their conversation was already done?
"Hannyabal, what did they just talk about?"
"How the hell should I know?" Hannyabal gave Magellan a deadpan look. "You were spewing poison everywhere—I didn't dare stick around."
He didn't want to die from this bastard's poison before becoming warden himself.
Magellan frowned at Hancock but said nothing, merely nodding before leading his men away.
Though she didn't know exactly what they had discussed, as long as they weren't causing trouble, it was fine.
"Alright, now that we've seen what we came for, it's time to accompany me to Marine Headquarters," Vice Admiral Momonga said. "No objections, Boa Hancock!"
"Rest assured, this queen shall honor her promise."
With one final glance at the cell behind her, Hancock thought to herself: 'Meiser, I hope you can make it here safely.'
She had done everything she could. Now it was up to Meiser and his crew to reach this place and rescue their comrade.
With these thoughts in mind, Hancock departed with the others.
After they left, the sixth level of Impel Down returned to its usual clamor.
"Damn diarrhea bastard, he didn't hold back at all!"
"Damn it, why did it have to be our cell?"
"Hahaha! Serves you right for being closest to that guy!"
"Damn you, Magellan! If I ever get out, I'll kill him!"
Listening to the cacophony outside, Jimbei shook his head before turning to Ace. "Ace, what did that woman say to you?"
"She said my little brother is coming here with his crew to rescue me."
"Wh-what?!"
Seeing the expression on Ace's face, Jimbei was utterly incredulous.
He never imagined anyone would dare break into Impel Down for a rescue!
This was sheer madness!
At that moment, Jimbei felt intense curiosity about these two bold intruders.
He desperately wanted to know—what kind of people would attempt such an audacious feat?!
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