"I heard that every level of Impel Down is named 'Hell,' but if no one dies, how can it truly be called Hell?"
Sage spread his hands, standing before the scattered flesh, "Now, it feels a little like Hell!"
Thud, thud, thud!
A cow monster rushed swiftly, making a series of pounding sounds on the ground. It swung a gigantic Wolf Fang Club, fiercely striking Sage's head.
Bang!
The iron club abruptly stopped one or two centimeters from Sage's head, as if it had hit something, making a dull sound, and forced Sage's feet to sink slightly.
Sage glanced at it; this cow monster seemed to be in its Zoan-type Transformation state, resembling a cow overall but wearing shorts, with human-like muscles on its abdomen.
"Good strength."
Whoosh!
Bam!!
The cow monster suddenly exploded, spraying blood everywhere, falling with its mouth agape. Seven holes appeared in its chest and abdomen, as if pierced by punches.
Sage's hand, which had been open, was now inexplicably clenched into a fist, making it impossible for anyone to see the change clearly.
"The physique is quite good. A single punch didn't make you explode. I had to punch seven times to penetrate the Secret Hole, enough to make you explode," he remarked with surprise.
Under the speed amplification of the More-More Fruit, even a tenfold increase made it hard for anyone to see.
Sage's moves now were all instantaneous.
The amplified speed inherently boosts power, and along with Haki Destruction that pierced through Secret Holes, it still couldn't make this Prison Beast explode.
The physique is indeed strong.
Moreover...
"Recovering, are we? It is indeed Zoan-type."
Sage noticed that, at the moment it fell, the cow monster started to automatically heal.
It's not just a simple Zoan-type transformation...
It's already at the level of Awakening.
The other three Prison Beasts were now quickly charging toward Sage from three angles.
"There's this rumor."
Sage looked at the other three Prison Beasts—a rhino, a koala, and a zebra.
"You are all products of failed Awakenings. You have no intelligence, but you've kept your physique."
The Prison Beasts surrounded Sage, and just as they raised their weapons, Sage's body slightly sank, "Tenfold."
Whoosh!
Bam, bam, bam!
Similarly, the three Prison Beasts' bodies halted for a moment, with seven irregular fist mark holes appearing on their upper bodies, spewing blood as they fell.
"But that's about it. A mere Zoan-type Awakening, without Haki, relying only on physique, how strong can it be?"
Sage stepped over the bodies of the Prison Beasts and said, "This welcome ceremony isn't all that impressive. If Magellan isn't coming, then I'll be off."
Slap.
He walked past the scattered flesh, heading toward another door, but just then, a hand grabbed his ankle.
"Hmm?"
Sage looked down, seeing a ghostly figure with a face like a demonic mask but resembling a Pharaoh, struggling to lift its blood-stained head, "No, you cannot leave!"
"Oh? I thought your physique was decent. Just the 'touch' stage of Haki, not even visible. Surviving my strike is not bad, and you're still conscious..."
Sage asked, "Great willpower, what's your name?"
"Deputy Warden of Impel Down, Hannyabal! Impel Down...will be mine eventually!"
Hannyabal struggled to stand, staggering before Sage, heavily planting the Double-Headed Glaive into the ground to support himself, breathing heavily.
Hannyabal glared, standing his body gradually erect, gripping the glaive named 'Kessui' tightly, shouting, "I won't let you escape! You're just a Pirate, scaring the seafaring civilians! If you escape, and news of a breakout from Impel Down spreads, civilians will fall back into panic!"
He leveled 'Kessui' and pointed it at Sage, yelling, "So I won't allow you to leave! Obediently stay here imprisoned!!"
"You make a good argument."
The voice sounded right by Hannyabal's ear.
As he finished speaking, Sage appeared in front of him, fist raised, ready to strike down.
"But you can't support it with strength!"
"Poison Dragon!"
Whoosh!
A dragon-shaped, purple entity appeared above Sage as he moved, his figure swiftly disappearing, letting the Poison Dragon hit the ground, forming a puddle of purple liquid, bubbling, and smoking.
Sage shifted to the rear, observing the seemingly corroded ground, marveling, "This feeling, poison? But the corrosiveness is too intense..."
He turned around, looking at the person stepping out from a door that seemed like an office, stating, "Are you Magellan?"
"Natural Disaster... Norton Sage."
Like a demon, Magellan gradually approached, sparing a glance at the still-standing Hannyabal before turning to Sage, speaking in a deep voice, "You've got quite the nerve, marching all the way down here alone, didn't you plan to sneak out taking advantage of the chaos?"
"I'm not much for sneaking."
Sage laughed heartily, "I need the fame. If I can break through here alone, that will be notorious enough!"
His eyes momentarily narrowed, and he looked at Magellan with a grim smile, "The price of letting me in is quite high!"
After regaining his strength, he didn't intend to sneak around anymore.
Escaping quickly was actually simple, with the amplification power of the More-More Fruit he had gained, leaving here wouldn't be too difficult.
But the only obstacle was Magellan, who wouldn't let him leave so smoothly.
Since a fight is inevitable, it might as well be straightforward!
A solo onslaught through Impel Down!