Silence—absolute, deathly silence—enveloped Level 6, as if no prisoners were held there at all.
Yet, occasional rustling sounds from individual cells revealed that numerous prisoners were indeed confined within.
Infinite Hell, Level 6 of Impel Down: the inmates here were all legendary pirates with bounties exceeding 100 million Berries.
"Where are you… Ace! I'm coming to save you, Ace!"
Luffy's voice echoed through the empty prison block. Apart from his own call, no one responded.
"Stop shouting nonsense. Can you at least tell us where he is?"
Ivankov lifted the guard resting on his shoulder and spoke with a smile.
"I…I refuse!"
Though terrified, the guard still would not give Jiang Lin and the others the answer they wanted.
"Leave this to me!"
Jiang Lin yanked the guard from Ivankov's grasp and slapped him.
"Speak… or your mind will cease functioning."
Hard rock began forming from Jiang Lin's palms, spreading rapidly across the guard's body.
Feeling his limbs and brain stiffen, the guard finally broke and revealed Ace's location to them.
"Thank you!"
Jiang Lin whispered his thanks and immediately dashed in the direction the guard had indicated.
"Ace!"
Luffy's voice continued to echo along the way until they reached a darkened cell, where it finally fell silent.
"Damn! Did we still arrive too late?"
Jiang Lin looked at the noticeably emptier section of the prison and angrily struck the cell door with his hand.
"Straw Hat Luffy! And that mysterious man—are you the two Hancock mentioned? Hurry and chase! Ace was just taken to the elevator! If you go now, you still might make it."
Two fishmen with sharp fangs, shackled with Seastone cuffs, pointed toward the Straw Hat and spoke excitedly.
"Jinbe! Thank you!"
After learning from the fishman that Ace had just been transferred, Jiang Lin wasted no time and ran toward the elevator.
"Already gone?"
Arriving at the elevator, Jiang Lin saw the empty shaft and turned to the wall above the left side.
"Beep…"
A surveillance Den Den Mushi slowly turned its eyes toward Jiang Lin and the others.
"Hah!"
Reacting to the Den Den Mushi, Jiang Lin conjured an ice spear with one hand and threw it, instantly freezing the device to the wall.
"Activate the elevator seal!"
In the monitoring room, Hannyabal saw the Den Den Mushi's feed disappear and immediately ordered the nearby guards to trigger the elevator's mechanism.
"Can we go up from here?"
Luffy climbed past Jiang Lin toward the elevator shaft. Just as he peeked out of the elevator doors, a platform embedded with thick spikes dropped rapidly from above.
"Watch out!"
Hearing the warning, Jiang Lin quickly turned and pulled Luffy out of the shaft.
"That was close!"
Luffy, terrified, held his neck with both hands. If Jiang Lin hadn't acted fast, his neck could have been crushed.
After saving Luffy, Jiang Lin examined the elevator shaft's walls. Smooth and bare, they offered no handholds.
"Clang!"
Shortly after the elevator lost function, a harsh crashing sound came nearby.
"Not good!"
Jiang Lin shouted as a pale green fog rapidly approached their location.
"No choice! Luffy! We go up from here!"
Seeing the fog, Jiang Lin intended to call Luffy back to the elevator, but Luffy had already dashed into the mist, shouting fiercely.
A few steps into the fog, Luffy was immediately struck down by the hypnotic gas.
"Miss Ivankov, I leave Luffy to you. I'm going to rescue Ace!"
Seeing the rapidly spreading gas, Jiang Lin didn't hesitate. Placing his hands on the elevator shaft wall, brilliant white ice radiated from his palms, spreading outward and beneath his feet.
"Ice Elevator!"
Using the heavy ice as a base, Jiang Lin dragged himself upward at high speed.
"Ace! You have to hang on!"
Jiang Lin's face was etched with anxiety. He knew that rescuing Ace here was crucial; if Ace were taken to Marineford, he would face formidable opponents: admirals, three admirals, heroes, and the Warlords—none of whom were easy foes.
Thus, saving Ace here was the best possible outcome.
The ice elevator rose rapidly, soon reaching the top of Impel Down.
Harsh "crackling" sounds rang overhead as dark iron doors, propelled by mechanical structures, moved swiftly downward.
"Screech!"
The sliding ice emitted piercing sounds throughout the elevator shaft.
Jiang Lin accelerated, reaching the top before the first-floor elevator doors closed.
"Give up your futile resistance!"
Magellan's voice came through the elevator doors. Before the doors closed completely, Jiang Lin's figure emerged from the frost, racing toward Magellan, gripping his neck and slamming him into the wall.
"Do you want to die?!"
Unending fury burned in Jiang Lin's eyes. His right hand clutched Magellan's neck as gray-white petrification rapidly spread across Magellan's body.
"D!"
Magellan, suspended by Jiang Lin's strong arm, struggled to move. Looking into Jiang Lin's eyes, all he felt was shock and intense fear.
"I'll take you on!"
Seeing Magellan under attack, Aokiji immediately stepped in. Four ice spears shot from his side toward Jiang Lin's back.
"Stop right there!"
Jiang Lin's angry voice boomed. An invisible wave radiated from him, stunning all nearby guards.
"Conqueror's Haki!"
Magellan's eyes widened further, intimidated by Jiang Lin.
"Useless!"
Aokiji, as a Marine Admiral, naturally wouldn't be stopped by mere Conqueror's Haki. Supporting himself with his hands, he sent a blast of icy air straight at Jiang Lin.
"You… really… irritate me, Aokiji!"
Jiang Lin spun, keeping Magellan in front of him to block the cold attack.
"Who… who are you?"
Ace, shocked, rose from the ground, kneeling halfway, staring at Jiang Lin, obscured by frost.
"I'm D. Jiang Lin! I am Luffy's comrade!"
Jiang Lin, holding Magellan's body, stepped out of the icy mist and smiled at Ace.