When the group finally ascended to Level 5, they were immediately struck by the bone-chilling cold that blanketed the floor. Frost clung to the iron bars, and the snow-like ice crunched beneath their feet. This was the dreaded Freezing Hell, where prisoners shivered endlessly in the frigid darkness.
Here, Noir encountered familiar faces—companions who had been held on this level. Among them was Bon Clay, a flamboyant and beloved figure who had once stood proudly by Luffy's side. Noir studied him with sharp eyes, already knowing what fate awaited this man: Bon Clay would one day sacrifice his chance at freedom, remaining in Impel Down so that Luffy and his crew could reach Marineford. Noir's jaw tightened at the thought. He knew the tragic irony of that choice—Ace would squander the opportunity bought by such a sacrifice.
Turning from Bon Clay, Noir addressed his newest allies. "Hey—you two. I've just realized something. I never even asked your names." His breath fogged in the frozen air, and the group stood in silence as the prisoners around them murmured.
The woman stepped forward first, her grin eerie and unsettling. It reminded Noir of Unohana's chilling smile—a predator disguised as a healer.
"My name is Tanya, Captain," she said, her voice laced with manic delight. Her eyes gleamed with bloodlust. Shiryu's expression hardened the moment he heard her name. He knew her reputation well. Tanya was infamous even among the damned—she had once slaughtered an entire company of Marines, not out of vengeance or necessity, but purely for the thrill of it. Her joy in carnage rivaled his own.
The timid-looking man shuffled forward next, his body trembling as tears streamed down his face. "M-my name is Hantengu, Captain. Thank you… thank you for giving me another chance to see the sun." He sobbed, collapsing to his knees before Noir .
Noir frowned slightly, sensing the deceptive strength lurking beneath the man's cowardly demeanor. Tanya scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"Don't be fooled, Captain," she said casually. "He acts pathetic now, but once the blood flows, he's a monster. I've seen it myself. One time, another prisoner tried to steal his food. Hantengu snapped—he literally bit the man to death."
Noir nodded slowly. He could tell Tanya wasn't exaggerating. The trembling man before him was a mask for something far more dangerous.
Meanwhile, the main fighters of the group—Noir , Luffy, Crocodile, Jinbei, Shiryu, and Bullet—prepared to advance. Shiryu, now unarmed, had his own objective: retrieving his swords. The others focused on freeing as many prisoners as possible, creating chaos that would overwhelm the guards. Sanjuan Wolf lumbered forward, carrying others on his enormous shoulders, his size drawing relentless fire from the jailers.
When they stormed into Level 4, the Blazing Hell, they were ambushed by squads of prison soldiers. Flames roared, and shadows danced across the burning landscape. Yet the ambush ended in seconds. Crocodile's sandstorms, Jinbei's martial strikes, and Luffy's rubber fists tore through the guards. Noir barely needed to lift a finger.
Here, Shiryu broke away. "I'll retrieve my sword," he said.
"Meet us on the top floor," Noir replied. Shiryu gave a simple thumbs-up before disappearing into the inferno.
The rest pressed on, freeing cells as they advanced. Crocodile reunited with his old cadre, while Tanya plucked a rifle from a fallen guard. Her skill with it was unnerving—she fired with casual precision, every shot finding a target.
The deeper they pressed, the fiercer the resistance became. More guards appeared, firing volleys of bullets and cannon rounds. Sanjuan Wolf's immense size made him an obvious target, and shells detonated across his body. Despite the onslaught, he trudged forward, his massive form shielding countless others.
At last, they reached the path leading to Level 3. But the stairwell was blocked. A host of jailers stood ready, joined by monstrous figures that towered over them. Noir's eyes narrowed immediately. He recognized the beasts.
"Jailer Beasts," one of the freed prisoners whispered in dread. From the shadows emerged gigantic, animal-like creatures, their bodies twisted and swollen. The sound of a whip cracked through the air, commanding them forward. These were awakened Zoan users, stripped of their humanity, left with only brute strength and the will to destroy.
Jinbei stepped forward, glancing at Luffy. "Straw Hat, let me help you here. I'm not sure how well my techniques work on land, but I'll manage."
Luffy looked him up and down, grinning. "Really? You look plenty strong to me!" Without hesitation, Luffy charged at the beasts, Jinbei sprinting alongside him. Crocodile followed, summoning blades of sand.
Noir stood back, watching closely. Jinbei's Fishman Karate flowed like water, his strikes rippling with force that shook the beasts' bodies from within. Bullet scoffed arrogantly at the sight.
"Not bad for rookies," Bullet muttered, dismissive.
But Noir's grin widened. "I understand now," he said quietly.
Bullet raised a brow. "Understand what?"
Noir ignored him. His sharp eyes studied every motion of Jinbei's strikes—analyzing, dissecting, and already adapting them into his own arsenal. His Hanma bloodline burned with excitement, absorbing the martial technique as if it had always belonged to him.
With their combined assault, the jailer beasts fell. As the path cleared, the group surged forward—only to be halted by the appearance of Hannyabal, the Vice Warden himself.
Bruised but unbroken, Hannyabal stood tall, blocking the way. "You will go no further!" he shouted, brandishing his weapon. He lunged at Luffy, but before he could strike, Noir stepped forward, his patience spent.
"Fist." The word was simple, but the force was not. Noir mimicked the Fishman Karate strike he had just observed, amplifying it to monstrous levels but still holding back as he did not want to destroy the bridge that they were standing on. A colossal shockwave burst forth, engulfing Hannyabal and the guards behind him. Bodies were hurled through the air, collapsing in heaps.
Yet astonishingly, Hannyabal dragged himself back to his feet. Bloodied, trembling, but unyielding, he stood his ground.
Noir's eyes widened slightly. "You're still standing? Impressive."
Hannyabal's voice was ragged, but resolute. "Don't treat me like you, Noir. Impel Down exists to protect the innocent from monsters like you. I'll give my life if it means holding you here!"
His words stirred the hearts of even the surviving guards. Despite the futility of his stand, his resolve was undeniable. Noir found himself smiling—not mockingly, but with genuine respect.
"You have my respect, Hannyabal. Weak you may be, but your spirit rivals any strongman I've met."
Before Hannyabal could respond, the ground suddenly darkened. An oily, black substance seeped upward like liquid death. The guards screamed as they sank, swallowed by the inky flood. Hannyabal turned in horror as a new figure emerged from the shadows—one he recognized instantly.
"Zehahahahaha, it seems that I'm not late for the party," a voice was heard coming from a figure. Then, it jumped high, landing directly on Hannyabal's head and smashing it against the bridge, which began to crack.