"The temperature is very low..."
Sage looked up, a red dot appeared in his eyes, "Interesting, it's rather dangerous above, high temperature?"
At his current speed, he could quickly break through the thickness between the cells and blast all the way to the top.
But what his Observation sensed wasn't quite right; this level was frozen, yet the one above had a dangerously scorching heat.
Going up that way, he'd likely be melted away.
The Fifth level had no downward passage, but Sage spotted a staircase leading upward, with a huge door above. With just a move of his foot, he flashed to the other side, stepped onto the stairs, and kicked open the door, swaggering onto the ascending passage.
Even the monitoring Radio Snail in the corner inside the door, he couldn't be bothered with.
Having eaten enough, his strength also recovered under the effect of Life Return.
The Radio Snail on the Sixth level was already destroyed, which would attract Impel Down's attention anyway; whether discovered early or late didn't matter now.
"There he is!"
In the monitoring room, watching Sage swagger down the corridor, several guards broke into a cold sweat, "It's Norton Sage! Disaster! He's escaped the Sixth level, now moving from the Fifth level into the Fourth level's corridor! Repeat! It's Disaster!"
"The Fourth level..."
One guard hesitated, then relaxed, "The Fourth level is Director Magellan's office, nothing will go wrong, just notify the Fourth level!"
The Fourth level, Scorching Hell.
The temperature here is extremely high, with boiling blood pools and seas of fire everywhere, akin to lava.
Prisoners housed here undergo 'disinfection', and based on bounty and strength, are allocated to specific levels.
Besides being a place of prisoner baptism, it's a kitchen and granary, as well as...where Magellan is stationed!
Upon receiving the news, a large number of guards began closing in here, guarding the door leading down from the Fourth level tightly.
"Ah~"
A woman with curly blonde hair, strands covering her eyes, dressed in a suggestive peach-colored leather jacket that exposed her entire lower half, moaned.
She alluringly extended her tongue, licking her red lips, "So excited, want it~ A runaway little prisoner needs to obediently receive punishment~"
Though her tone was tempting, none of the guards around her dared entertain improper thoughts.
For beside her were four giant beasts.
Prison Beasts!
That woman is Prison Warden Sadi!
"Is the Director still in the bathroom?"
Hannyabal wielding a Double-Headed Glaive glanced around, shouting: "The Director's guard failed, let the prisoner escape, but if I capture him, then I'll become Director!"
After speaking, he paused, covering his mouth, "Almost revealed my ambition."
"This Disaster isn't ordinary, managing to escape from the Sixth level. And judging by the appearance, it's different from when he first arrived; we didn't have time to shackle him, which is crucial too..."
Deputy Warden Domino analyzed, then shook her head, "Who would have thought he could break out from Iceburg, the one on the Sixth level had been sealed for thirty years, it's supposed to be impossible."
"No problem!"
Hannyabal said confidently, "With so many of us, we can definitely capture him!"
Step, step, step...
Footsteps began to echo outside the door, as if beating on their hearts; despite Hannyabal's words, the guards couldn't help but swallow nervously.
Though they had numbers, along with the Deputy Director, Prison Warden, and Deputy Warden present, there should be no problem dealing with a jailbreak.
Yet for no apparent reason, anxiety persisted.
Step...
Until the last step, the footsteps outside suddenly halted, and the guards tightly clutched their spears and guns, concentrating on the door.
He's coming!
"Ready!"
Domino raised a hand, and those holding guns in the back leveled them at the door.
As soon as the door opened, they'd attack!
Boom!!
The door endured immense force, bursting open, each door panel crashing into a dozen guards, crushing several more.
Disrupting their well-maintained attack formation swiftly.
From the smoke at the doorway, a silhouette slowly emerged.
"Oh my..."
Sage glanced at those surrounding him, chuckling, "Quite the grand welcome, but it's what I deserve; such a welcome is fitting."
He scanned the room, frowning, "Where's Magellan? Isn't he coming? Doesn't he rate me?"
"Fire!"
Bang bang bang bang!
The guards began pulling the triggers, their lead bullets forming a barrage, hitting Sage with clanging sounds.
Those bullets didn't even come close, blocked by the coiling Haki around Sage.
"A nice welcoming ceremony..."
Sage grinned fiercely, spreading his right hand to the left, the coiling Haki on his fingers growing denser.
"Let me return the favor then!"
Whish!
Boom!!
Like a torrent, like a gale, as Sage waved his hand, Haki covered the guards, causing them to freeze momentarily, and then...
Bang bang bang bang!
They exploded.
The Haki he unleashed pierced their Secret Holes.
A mist of blood filled the air, scattering chunks of flesh all over the ground.
Even Hannyabal and others amid it were bleeding profusely, collapsing to the ground.