Level Four, Blazing Hell.
The temperature here was extremely high. It was common for prisoners to occasionally spontaneously combust.
Looking out, there was nothing but a sea of flames.
Only one color existed within one's pupils—the color of fire.
The first step after being imprisoned was to come here for disinfection. Even now, the screams of prisoners could still be faintly heard.
But true strong ones felt almost nothing when facing water as hot as a hundred degrees. It was just like taking a bath.
Buggy had been here before, letting out a shriek like a pig being slaughtered, and was then graciously assigned to Level One.
This was also the daily workplace for the guards of Impel Down. Magellan's office was here.
"Ahh~"
The woman letting out that soul-stirring moan was Sadi-chan.
With curly blonde hair, bangs covering her eyes, wearing white candle-shaped earrings, a peach-pink tight leather belly-baring top, and tight flared pants, she was like a thorned rose—exquisitely beautiful to a fault.
The surrounding guards couldn't help but swallow their saliva, wanting to look but not daring to.
Afraid of catching the attention of the Jailermon standing next to her.
Sadi-chan held a whip in one hand and a weapon taller than herself in the other. She seductively stuck out her pink tongue and licked her crimson lips.
"So exciting, I want it so bad~
Ah, one is a disobedient little prisoner who tried to escape, and the other is a little prisoner who came willingly~ Which one should I choose? As expected, the one who came willingly looks stronger."
Her words were full of seduction.
As Chief Guard, Sadi-chan commanded the Jailermon unit.
She had only just received Magellan's orders a short while ago and had gathered her troops here.
She discovered that the escapee had already made it from Level Two to Level Four.
Beside her stood four giant monsters exuding a fierce aura.
Minotaurus, Minorhinoceros, Minokoala, Minozebra!
These four were failed awakened Zoan users—powerful Jailermon!
"Ah, honestly, I didn't even get to show that haughty Empress around for long before they directly canceled the meeting because of the disturbance."
The Empress was quite displeased. Hannyabal tried to explain but was sent flying with a single kick.
Fortunately, she was restrained by Seastone; otherwise, she would have turned into stone.
Vice Warden Hannyabal's face showed dissatisfaction. He had already drawn his weapon—a double-bladed naginata named Chikyu.
"This escape is all due to the Warden's negligence. After I quell this riot, the Warden's position will be mine!"
Hannyabal suddenly covered his mouth and glanced left and right. "Damn, I almost revealed my ambition."
"This Straw Hat guy appeared out of nowhere in Impel Down. It's very suspicious."
Vice Chief Warden Domino pushed up her glasses, her expression grave. "He's a Devil Fruit user. How did he sneak in? Could this expose some vulnerability in our prison? We must catch him and interrogate him thoroughly."
Moreover, just because of this small disturbance, Marine Headquarters had ordered Fire Fist Ace to be transferred away early, even directly canceling the visitation request previously promised to the Seven Warlords of the Sea, Boa Hancock.
Even if Hancock was dissatisfied, she could only accept it.
Because this was a direct order from Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
"Just a mere Straw Hat!"
Hannyabal swung his naginata and said with full confidence, "We have me, the Vice Warden! Chief Guard Sadi-chan! Vice Chief Warden Domino! Four powerful Jailermon! And so many elite guards! Dealing with one escaped prisoner is absolutely no problem!"
At the same time, a strange creature's scream came from outside the gate.
According to the report, it was that prisoner named Buggy.
The sound of footsteps grew from distant to near, very fast. A moment ago it was faint and blurry, and then it became clear.
Approaching!
The guards' hands began to tremble slightly.
They had the advantage in numbers and no shortage of high-end combat power. Dealing with one escaped prisoner should be more than enough.
Still, a tense atmosphere spread through the air.
After all, this was an extremely evil pirate with a bounty as high as 600 million berries.
A terrifying existence that had slayed a Celestial Dragon and clashed head-on with Admirals on the Sabaody Archipelago.
Sharing the same complicated feelings as Hannyabal and the others was Buggy, who followed behind Luffy. As he looked at the massive door before him, tears nearly burst from his eyes.
Level Four.
This was the very heart of Impel Down's defensive forces.
That guy Magellan could very likely be nearby!
The footsteps outside stopped at the door, and there was a brief silence.
The guards held their breath, their gun muzzles all aimed at the door.
"Gomu Gomu no... Hakoku!"
With a roar, the door was smashed apart with brute force.
The guards right in front of the entrance hadn't even reacted before the gust of wind and gravel sent them flying.
In the billowing smoke and dust, the phantom of a giant fist wrapped in black-red arcs of electricity slowly dissipated.
After the shockwave passed, a figure wearing a straw hat ran inside.
Seeing the scene, Buggy looked like he was about to be scared into becoming a reindeer.
"We finally made it?"
Luffy looked at the guards before him, standing in full formation, and said, "After I beat you guys, there shouldn't be any real obstacles left below, right?
But for a prison that's supposedly impossible to escape, isn't this a little too few guards? Kind of lacking, don't you think?"
"Stop provoking them, you idiot!"
Buggy screamed at Luffy with a tearful voice.
Sure enough, the next second, Domino calmly gave the order:
"Fire!"
Bang bang bang!
The dense sound of gunfire rang out. Lead bullets rained down on Luffy like a storm.
Some of these bullets hit Luffy's body and were directly deflected. Others stopped one or two centimeters from his body, blocked by an invisible, flowing Haki barrier, clattering to the ground.
Mixed among the ordinary bullets were quite a few Seastone bullets specifically targeting ability users, meant to catch Luffy off guard.
But Luffy's proficiency in Observation Haki and Armament Haki had reached an extremely precise level.
He could clearly distinguish which bullets posed a threat and prioritize defending against them with Haki.
As for ordinary lead bullets, he couldn't even be bothered to use Haki on them. His rubber body was already immune.
At times like this, it was necessary to use his stamina wisely.
"Still trying to be clever,"
Luffy stared at the people before him. "I don't have time to play around with you anymore. Ace is waiting for me!"
His body sank slightly. An even more powerful aura erupted from him. His skin turned slightly red and emitted steam. Black and red patterns faintly appeared and disappeared on the surface of his body.
Gear Second Plus, activate!
Shwoop!
Boom!!
His figure instantly vanished from its original spot, transforming into a red gale.
Like a tiger entering a flock of sheep, like a thunderclap exploding in the middle of a crowd.
The guards couldn't even see his movements. They only felt an irresistible force strike them, then their vision went dark. With screams, they flew backward, crashed into the walls, and instantly lost the ability to fight.
Bam!
In just one exchange, more than half of the guards had been cleared out, completely incapable of resistance.
Luffy could one-shot a Blugori with his fist. Dealing with these ordinary guards was even easier than cutting vegetables.
Even Hannyabal, Sadi-chan, and Domino, who were standing further back, were shaken by this sudden speed and power.
They hadn't even seen Luffy attack. Had his speed already reached a level imperceptible to the naked eye?
"Too weak."
Luffy stopped, shook his wrist, and commented in a flat tone.
But not everyone had fallen.
Heavy footsteps sounded. The Jailermon that looked like a cow was sent flying, then tumbled and jumped back up.
"Minotaurus, attack!" Sadi-chan cracked her whip.
Minotaurus let out a roar, its eyes turning crimson. It swung its giant spiked club and charged forward with a speed that belied its massive size. With a shrill whistle of wind, it slammed down toward Luffy.
Thud!
A dull impact!
Luffy reached out his hand. The spiked club stopped a short distance away from him, blocked by a layer of flowing Armament Haki.
The tremendous recoil forced Luffy's ankles to sink slightly into the ground, but his body didn't budge an inch.
"What's wrong with the aura on you guys?"
Luffy glanced at the thing called Minotaurus.
This cow monster had a strange shape. Overall, it looked like a cow, but it wore human shorts, had exaggerated abdominal muscles, and emitted a chaotic, violent aura, yet also carried a certain tenacious vitality.
"It feels strange... like awakening, but not quite right."
Swoosh!
Luffy moved. In an instant, he closed the distance to Minotaurus!
Wham wham wham wham wham!!
Gear Second Plus: Jet Gatling Gun!
His Haki-coated fists poured down on Minotaurus's abdomen like a raging storm!
The speed was so fast that only a blur of afterimages remained.
The dense sound of impacts merged into one continuous noise. Minotaurus's massive body was punched into the air. The intense pain made it let out a agonized howl.
The final blow!
Luffy's fist scraped against the air, igniting into flames.
Higan!
Boom!
The burning fist slammed heavily into Minotaurus's chest, sending it flying like a cannonball. It crashed through a distant stone wall and was buried under the rubble.
"It still didn't go down immediately?"
Luffy looked at the pile of tumbling gravel, somewhat surprised.
His combo, combined with Haki and the augmentation of Gear Second Plus, was powerful enough to split mountains and shatter rocks. Under normal circumstances, even a pirate with a bounty over 100 million would be critically injured and lose consciousness if hit solidly.
This cow monster was still struggling to get back up.
"It's useless~ It's useless~"
Although Sadi-chan had also been startled by Luffy's speed earlier, she now stood up, her face flushed with excitement. "They're awakened users of Zoan-type Devil Fruits... mm, you could call them failed awakening products~
But their recovery and endurance are super strong! Pain only makes them more excited!
Ahhh~ I'm starting to get excited too!"
Failed awakened Zoan-type ability users?
Luffy understood.
He himself was an awakened user of the Mythical Zoan, Nika form. He was very sensitive to that unique awakening aura.
The aura on these Jailermon did carry the traits of awakening, but it was extremely unstable.
They were like monsters stripped of their rationality.
Failed ones, huh?
But I'm a successful one who has completely mastered the power of awakening through my own will!
While Luffy paused for a moment, the other three Jailermon moved.
Minorhinoceros, Minokoala, and Minozebra simultaneously charged at Luffy from three different directions, swinging their weapons and roaring.
"Has your reason been Devoured by power?"
Luffy looked at their crimson eyes and shook his head slightly. "What a pity. You could have become stronger."
Facing the encirclement of three Jailer Beasts, Luffy took a deep breath. Suddenly, a dazzling white light burst from his body. His black hair seemed to transform into leaping flames. Pure white steam surrounded him like clouds of dawn.
Gear Fifth: Nika Form, activate!
Swoosh!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
His movements became as unpredictable as a dance. His speed soared once again!
His fists, wrapped in Conqueror's Haki, combined with the freely stretching and deforming rubber body of the Nika form, struck each Jailermon precisely and heavily!
Minorhinoceros was punched square in the forehead. Its massive body crashed to the ground with a thud.
Minokoala was sent flying like a whip by Luffy's rubber leg. Minozebra was grabbed by the neck, swung around like a rag doll, and slammed into the ground!
The gap between the failed and the successful was demonstrated to its fullest in this moment.
In just a few exchanges, the three fierce Jailer followed Minotaurus's example and lay on the ground, temporarily unable to move.
"Tell me, where exactly is Ace being held?"
Luffy stepped over the Jailermon's bodies and looked at Sadi-chan, whose expression had changed slightly. "You command these things. You must have a high enough position. There's no way you don't know."
"Oh ho ho ho~"
Sadi-chan forced herself to remain calm and swayed her hips. "You want to know? Then let me hear your sweet screams first~ If you make me happy, maybe I'll tell you~"
"I will never let you reach Level Six, Infinite Hell! That is my vow as the future Warden!"
Hannyabal struggled to his feet. A clear fist print was still visible on his chest. He raised his naginata and roared at Luffy.
Level Six?
Luffy's eyes lit up. "Got it. Thanks for the tip."
Hannyabal suddenly covered his mouth, his eyes nearly popping out of his head. "I, I didn't say anything!"
Beside him, Sadi-chan and Domino both facepalmed in exasperation.
What an idiot!
"Are you the boss of this prison?"
Luffy looked at Hannyabal and asked.
"Yes! I am the Vice Warden of Impel Down, ah no! I am the Warden of Impel Down, Hannyabal! Impel Down will be mine sooner or later!"
Hannyabal instinctively shouted, then covered his mouth again.
"Sooner or later. Meaning not yet?"
Luffy accurately captured the key word.
Hannyabal turned red. "You could say it is now!"
Luffy had already stopped caring. He drew Magi from his waist.
With their hearts connected, the short blade quickly elongated and transformed into a katana that suited his grip. Pitch-black Haki flowed like liquid and wrapped around the blade.
"Level Six, Infinite Hell, is right below Level Five, isn't it? You guys are no match for me. Just step aside."
Now that he knew the specific target location, Luffy didn't plan on wasting any more time here.
Hannyabal's eyes widened as he looked at the black blade in Luffy's hand, which emitted an ominous aura. Feeling that heart-stopping pressure, he forced himself to stand up straight, gripped his double-bladed naginata Chikyu tightly, and shouted, "I won't let you pass!"
Impel Down, like Enies Lobby, was a symbol of the World Government and a crucial part of the world's order.
If that order were broken, the civilians out on the seas would definitely fall into panic!
"The world's order will be shaken!"
Hannyabal raised his naginata horizontally, its sharp blade aimed at Luffy, and roared, "That's why I absolutely will not let you through! Be imprisoned here quietly! That is how justice is upheld!"
"I'm just here to save my brother,"
Luffy pointed the blade at him. "And do you really think the order out there has been maintained all this time? The ones disrupting order are the very Celestial Dragons you're supposed to protect with your rule."
Hannyabal's expression freezes.
"Is order that only belongs to a few people really order?"
Hannyabal couldn't help but step backward.
"Forget it. This kind of stuff isn't something I need to worry about anyway."
The moment his voice fell, Luffy's figure had vanished from where he stood.
His voice sounded directly in Hannyabal's ear: "I'm a pirate, after all."
Hannyabal's pupils sharply contracted. He only had time to see a black flash of sword light, like a new moon, slashing toward him.
"Venom Dragon!"
A deep, majestic roar of fury rang out!
A giant dragon-shaped creature, entirely composed of deep purple venom, appeared on the path ahead of Luffy, radiating a terrifying aura that corroded everything.
It opened its massive mouth, filled with venomous fangs, seemingly about to devour Luffy!
Luffy narrowed his eyes slightly, but the slash aimed at Hannyabal did not stop.
After swinging the blade, he leaped backward in a way that nearly defied the laws of physics.
Chssss!
Boom, crash!
The Venom Dragon slammed into the ground where Luffy had just been standing. Deep purple venom splashed everywhere. The hard ground was instantly corroded into a large pit, billowing thick, pungent smoke. Even the rocks melted with a sizzling sound.
"That was close, that was close."
Luffy dodged several meters away, looking at the rapidly corroding ground with a surprised expression. "This feeling... is it poison? But that corrosiveness is seriously over the top."
"Tha, that guy is Magellan!"
Buggy, not far away, shrieked. "The real Warden of Impel Down! The Doku Doku no Mi user! If you get even a little of his poison on you, you're done for!"
Magellan?
Luffy looked at the tall man slowly walking out from the office door. He had demonic wings growing from his back, and his entire body was surrounded by an ominous purple aura.
"So you're the boss here?"
Luffy tightened his grip on Magi. His expression changed slightly.
From this man, he felt something—a bit of pressure.
This guy... is strong.
"Straw Hat, Monkey D. Luffy."
Magellan approached step by step. His deep purple gaze swept over the scene in shambles. Although that slash had been somewhat restrained due to his intervention, Hannyabal and the others had nearly been cut in half at the waist.
His glare locked onto Luffy, and he said in a deep voice, "You really have some nerve. Breaking into the depths of Impel Down all by yourself like this, acting so arrogantly. What exactly are you trying to do?"
"I've already said it many times,"
Luffy met Magellan's gaze. "I'm here to save someone. Hand over Ace, and I'll leave immediately. How about it?"
He paused, then added, "I don't want to waste too much time with you either."
Every second wasted increased the risk of Ace being transferred early or executed.
Time, at this moment, was incredibly precious.
"To be honest, that doesn't sound good at all. The Warden of Impel Down doesn't accept threats."
Magellan's deep purple pupils tightly stared at this bold, arrogant Straw Hat kid in front of him.
He had long since memorized Impel Down's prisoner roster. The name Monkey D. Luffy was absolutely not on it.
For a pirate who hadn't been officially incarcerated to break through layer after layer of guards all the way down to Level Four, Blazing Hell...
The only explanation was—stowaway!
Magellan had come to the same conclusion as Domino.
"Your name isn't on the roster. How did you sneak into Impel Down?"
Magellan's voice was extremely oppressive. "Not that it matters. Once I capture you alive, Impel Down's interrogation tools will loosen your tongue. The torture devices here are quite refined."
He walked with heavy steps toward Hannyabal, who was struggling to stand.
Most of Luffy's devastating attacks just now had landed squarely on this Vice Warden.
The Jailer Beast had all fallen. Impel Down's elite soldiers had also lost the ability to fight.
That was enough.
Magellan stopped in front of Hannyabal and said, "Hannyabal. I'll handle Straw Hat."
Hearing these words, Hannyabal seemed to shed a thousand-pound burden. He grunted twice, his body went limp, and he finally collapsed to the ground with relief, completely losing consciousness.
Being able to hold his ground against Luffy for that amount of time—his strength and willpower were already quite qualified.
As expected of the man who would one day succeed to the position of Warden.
Ordinary pirates, even brutal criminals with bounties over 100 million, would have absolutely no chance of breaking through so easily against the combined forces of the Vice Warden, Chief Guard, Vice Chief Warden, and four Jailer Beasts.
But for Luffy, who had long treated Admirals as his opponents and had been through countless battles, these obstacles were indeed still too weak.
"Being able to sneak in here does prove your skill. But a pirate like you, not only sneaking in but also rampaging through Impel Down in front of me so arrogantly... I've never seen such a thing."
Luffy said, "Well, you're seeing one now."
***
Dive deeper into the story with 30+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!
patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!