"By the way, what's the deal with this place?"
As they ran through the tunnel, Ivankov glanced at Meiser and replied, "You mean the New Transvestite Kingdom?"
"Yes."
"This was created by one of our Revolutionary Army comrades," Ivankov explained. "Using his Push-Push Fruit ability, he carved out a massive space between the fifth and sixth levels - what you now see as the New Transvestite Kingdom."
Truth be told, without Morley's help, he wouldn't have been able to live so comfortably here.
"A Paramecia-type Devil Fruit user," Meiser remarked.
"Indeed."
"Truly remarkable," Meiser marveled.
Not only could it push aside earth, but it could also displace that special underground layer, creating an enormous space.
Which means...
Hmm?
Wait!
Meiser suddenly stopped in his tracks, looking down at the ground as a thought struck him: 'If that guy pushed aside the special underground layer, does that mean... my Earth Release Technique could directly penetrate underground?'
At this realization, Meiser's eyes lit up.
"What's wrong?"
Ivankov looked puzzled as Meiser abruptly halted.
"I was thinking whether my Earth Release Technique could take us directly to the sixth level!" Meiser said.
If Earth Release could reach the sixth level directly, they wouldn't need to exhaust themselves running to the main gate.
Meiser then crouched down, placing both hands on the ground and closing his eyes to concentrate.
After a moment, he opened his eyes. "It'll work!"
Unlike the upper levels, the special intermediate layer here had already been pushed aside by that Push-Push Fruit user!
This meant he could use Earth Release to transport them to the sixth level.
The thought made Meiser's lips curl upward uncontrollably.
"What will work?" Ivankov asked.
"The upper levels all have special intermediate layers," Meiser explained. "Because of those layers, my Earth Release Technique couldn't take people through the floor to the next level."
"But this level's intermediate layer has been pushed away by the Push-Push Fruit user, so we can go directly to the next level."
At this moment, Meiser felt genuine gratitude toward that Push-Push Fruit user. Without them, reaching the next level would have been much more troublesome.
"Special intermediate layers, huh."
Ivankov stroked his chin. "Seems the World Government put considerable effort into building this Impel Down."
Makes sense - without special construction, there would have been waves upon waves of escapees.
Yes, logical.
"Alright, let's go," Meiser said.
With that, he activated his Earth Release Technique.
As the ninjutsu took effect, the ground beneath their feet began to undulate as if coming alive!
Then, like standing on water's surface, the three slowly began sinking downward.
"What a fascinating ability," Ivankov remarked, examining the changes beneath their feet. "Is this the power of a Ninja?"
Seeing it firsthand through surveillance was completely different from witnessing it in person!
This man... was truly terrifying!
"Earth Release Technique," Inazuma commented. "Quite a convenient ability indeed."
As their voices faded, the three of them descended completely underground.
"It's a bit dark here, Ninja boy," Ivankov said. "Could you turn on a light?"
Meiser: ???
"Where am I supposed to get a light for you?" Meiser retorted, exasperated.
He did have some candles, but those tended to go out during high-speed movement, so he wasn't keen on using them.
"But I'm really scared of the dark~"
Meiser: ...
"Just shut up already," Meiser snapped irritably. "I refuse to believe you don't know Observation Haki."
If he remembered correctly, Bon Clay had mentioned this guy was the king of the Okama Kingdom. Could someone like that really not know Observation Haki?
He didn't buy it!
"So harsh, Ninja boy~" Ivankov laughed heartily. "I do know Observation Haki."
"But even so, I'm still afraid of the dark."
"After all... fear of darkness is a biological instinct!"
"Shihahaha!"
Just then, a light source suddenly appeared beside them, immediately catching their attention.
But the moment they looked, they were struck speechless.
Under the faint glow of the Firefly, Inazuma's face appeared unnaturally pale—almost ghostly.
"Could you not scare people like that?" Meiser complained.
"Seriously."
Ivankov also gave Inazuma a deadpan look. The guy could've at least warned them first.
He hadn't even activated his Observation Haki, damn it!
Unfortunately, Inazuma ignored their complaints and calmly stated, "The Firefly's light may be weak, but it's enough for basic illumination."
Meiser rolled his eyes before turning to Ivankov. "Happy now?"
"Mhm, this'll do."
Now composed, Ivankov crossed his arms and said, "Alright, Ninja boy, you can start your performance."
"Already on it."
The moment they went underground, Meiser had been manipulating the rock beneath them to carry them forward.
By now, they had passed through the special barrier and reached the space above the sixth level.
After carefully sensing the situation below, Meiser announced, "We're here."
He paused, then glanced at the other two. "Be prepared. There might be unexpected things waiting down there."
"Understood!" Ivankov nodded.
He knew what Meiser meant—the concern was that Magellan might be waiting in the sixth level.
But... even if that guy was there, they were still going to rescue their target!
"Damn it, if only I could get out," one pirate muttered. "I'd go straight to Marine Headquarters and take Whitebeard's head."
"Pfft, you?"
"What's that supposed to mean, brat?" The mocked pirate snarled, storming to the bars of his cell to glare at the other. "You looking to die?!"
"My bounty is—"
"Enough with the nonsense," a pirate from a nearby cell interrupted. "Everyone here was once a notorious figure in their time!"
"Exactly!"
"Yahahaha! Kid, if you dared talk to me like that outside, I'd have twisted your head off already!"
"Kehahaha, damn right!"
"Hey, you guard over there! Let me out! I'm gonna kill Whitebeard!"
"Yeah, yeah!"
Unfortunately, the guard monitoring Level 6 ignored them, still fiddling with his Den Den Mushi.
Seeing the guard's indifference, the pirates scowled. "Tch, how boring."
If the guard had engaged in their banter, it would've been entertaining. But being ignored? No fun at all.
Just then, a pirate noticed something odd.
"Hey, what's that on the ceiling?"
"Wait—those are three people!"
"Why are there three people up there?"
The pirates were stunned as three figures plummeted from above. The guard, too, froze in shock the moment they appeared.
"So this is Level 6," Meiser mused, observing the rapidly approaching cells below. "Pretty simple and plain."
It looked no different from the cells on Level 1—nothing extra.
As he thought this, Meiser activated his Water Release Technique.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu!"
"BOOM!!"
A massive whirlpool of water formed beneath him, coalescing into an enormous Water Dragon that caught all three midair. The dragon then surged downward, landing them smoothly right in front of the guard.
"CRASH!!"
The moment they touched down, the Water Dragon dispersed, drenching the guard in a torrent of water.
"Uh..."
Drenched and dazed, the guard snapped back to reality, his face twisting in terror. "Th-the... Blood-Eyed Ninja?!"
If he remembered correctly, this was the same Blood-Eyed Ninja who had invaded Impel Down!
Damn it, why was he here?!
"Yahaha!"
"Perfect landing!" Ivankov cheered.
"You're... Ivankov?!"
Recognizing Ivankov's face, the guard instinctively stepped back, his mind screaming: 'I'm done for...'
The Blood-Eyed Ninja alone was strong enough to fight Warden Magellan. Now, with the incredibly powerful Ivankov here too... He was dead!
Resigned to his fate, despair washed over the guard's face.
Just... make it quick. Please...
Watching the trembling guard, Ivankov smirked. "Now, Candy Boy, if you cooperate nicely, I'll—"
"Why waste words?"
Meiser stepped forward, his Mangekyō Sharingan flaring as he cast an Illusion Technique.
"CLANG!"
In an instant, the guard fell under the hypnotic control of Meiser's eyes.
"Tell me," Meiser demanded. "Where is Fire Fist Ace being held?"
The man pointed to a distant cell and said, "Over there."
"Over there, huh."
Meiser glanced at the far-off cell before nodding. "Let's go."
"What did you do?"
Ivankov looked at Meiser in confusion. Why had the man obediently revealed the information just from a single glance?
"Ah, I just hypnotized him," Meiser said casually.
Ivankov: !!!
Hypnotized?
That powerful?
Staring at Meiser's crimson eyes, Ivankov thought in shock, 'Was it through these eyes?'
Was this the power of a Devil Fruit, or was his bloodline inherently special?
"Enough staring. Let's focus on the task," Meiser said.
"Oh, coming!"
Suppressing his curiosity, Ivankov quickly followed.
Meanwhile, the surrounding pirates finally caught on and began shouting excitedly:
"Hey, aren't you that Ivankov?"
"Are you breaking out?"
"Take me with you!"
"Just give me the key to these Seastone Handcuffs, and I'll carve a path out for you!"
"That's right! I'm strong—that diarrhea bastard is no match for me!"
"Yahahaha! Hurry, give us the keys!"
Ivankov frowned at the noise. "So annoying."
"Keep yapping, and I'll slaughter you all!"
Instead of being intimidated, the pirates only laughed more wildly.
Soon, they began rhythmically stomping their feet, as if trying to pressure them.
Unfortunately, it had zero effect on Ivankov.
But since they insisted on being pests, he saw no reason to hold back.
With that thought, Ivankov struck.
"Death Wink!"
BAM!
A powerful Shockwave blasted out, sending a pirate flying from his cell.
Ivankov then turned to the next cell and continued his assault.
"Death Wink!"
"Death Wink!"
"Death Wink!"
The relentless attacks left the pirates in disarray. Some Devil Fruit Ability Users, already weakened by Seastone restraints, coughed up blood from the force.
Ignoring the chaos behind him, Meiser reached the target area.
But as he approached, his brow furrowed—there was no sign of Ace in the cell. Instead, a blue-skinned giant sat inside.
Meiser: ???
Standing before the cell, Meiser demanded, "You said Ace was here. Where is he?"
"He was here," the Guard replied. "When I came yesterday, he was still locked up."
"Then why is he gone now?"
The Guard hesitated before answering, "Maybe... Warden Magellan took him away already."
"You didn't know about this?"
"Sorry, I just arrived at Level 6. I don't know what happened here."
Before receiving orders, he had been helping treat injured colleagues, so he had no idea if the Warden had moved the prisoner.
Meiser frowned upon hearing this, thinking to himself: 'It seems the enemy isn't foolish either.'
After seeing his Earth Release Technique, they must have anticipated he might use it to reach Level 6 for the rescue, so they moved Fire Fist Ace beforehand.
Tch, one move behind.
"It seems we're too late," said Inazuma, holding a glass of red wine with a furrowed brow. "Fire Fist Ace has probably already been taken away."
"Most likely," Ivankov replied. "If they were smart enough, they would have sent him away in advance."
If even the hidden depths of Level 6 couldn't stop the ninja boy, then the other floors wouldn't hold him back either.
So he didn't believe that Magellan would keep Fire Fist Ace in Impel Down.
By now... he was probably already on a Marine ship or en route to Marine Headquarters.
At this thought, Ivankov's expression darkened.
They actually came...
Inside his cell, Jimbei stared in shock at the three conversing outside, his eyes filled with disbelief.
This was Impel Down, known as the graveyard of pirates!
Yet not only had they broken in, but they had fought their way all the way to Level 6... This was beyond astonishing!
Glancing at Meiser's appearance, Jimbei thought: 'Not the Straw Hat Boy... Is he one of the Straw Hat's companions?'
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