Impel Down, Level 5.5: Newkama Land
Deep within the bowels of the great underwater prison, far below the freezing hell of Level 5, a hidden sanctuary thrived. Guided by whispers from rescued inmates and the spectral scouting of Perona's Hollow-Hollow ghosts, Yamato and her small band of escapees had found their way through the prison's sewer system to the fabled Level 5.5.
The air in the vast, dark cavern was damp and still. Yamato led the procession, a torch held high in her hand. Behind her followed Jewelry Bonney, the mysterious Red, the stoic Diaz, and the ever-hovering Perona. Trailing them was a crowd of nearly a hundred prisoners, their faces gaunt and their eyes wide with a mixture of fear and awe. They clutched makeshift torches, fashioned from the frozen trees of the level above, the flickering flames casting long, dancing shadows against the cavern walls. A fragile truce held them all together; whatever their past crimes or future intentions, every single person in the cavern understood that their only hope of escaping this hell was to work together. For now, they were obedient.
"I can't believe it… Level 5.5 is real," one of the prisoners whispered, his voice echoing in the immense space. Many of them had heard the rumors, the tales of a 'Newkama Land' hidden between levels, but none had truly believed. To find that such a place existed felt like a miracle. Even if they couldn't escape Impel Down, they could at least hide here, safe from the torture and torment of the official prison levels.
But Yamato was growing impatient. She stared into the seemingly endless darkness ahead, a knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach. Time was a luxury they didn't have. Ace's execution was drawing closer with every passing second.
She stopped and turned to face the crowd, her expression resolute. The flickering torchlight illuminated the determination in her eyes. "This is taking too long," she announced, her voice cutting through the quiet murmurs. "We can't just wander around hoping to get lucky. We need to split up and search this place properly."
The idea was risky. They knew nothing about these prisoners, and letting them out of their sight was a gamble. But Yamato knew they had no other choice. She had to trust them.
"We'll split into three teams," she commanded, her voice leaving no room for argument. "Red, you take one team. Diaz, you take the other. The rest of you are with me. Our priorities are simple: map out this area, find any weapons you can, and most importantly, find food."
At the mention of "food," a ripple of excitement went through the prisoners. Their eyes, which had been dull with exhaustion, suddenly lit up with a desperate hunger. They hadn't had a proper meal since being thrown into the frozen hell of Level 5, and the promise of sustenance was a powerful motivator.
"Perona," Yamato continued, looking at the Ghost Princess. "Have your ghosts follow each team. You'll be our communication link. Make sure no one gets lost, and report back if you find anything."
With their orders given, the large group quickly divided. The three teams, each a small beacon of light in the oppressive darkness, ventured off in different directions, their footsteps echoing as they disappeared into the unmapped depths of Newkama Land.
The Gates of Justice
While Yamato's group explored the prison's hidden level, a single Marine warship cut through the turbulent waters above. Under a perpetually gloomy sky, it approached the main gates of Impel Down, a fortress surrounded by an impenetrable ring of battleships. The atmosphere was grim, a silent testament to the gravity of the war that was about to begin.
On the deck of the warship, Vice Admiral Momonga stood with his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the looming prison. Beside him, the Pirate Empress Boa Hancock emerged from her cabin, her stunning beauty a stark contrast to the bleak surroundings.
"We've arrived, Boa Hancock," Momonga said, his tone formal and all business. "Headquarters has approved your request to see Portgas D. Ace. But you know the rules. Even a Shichibukai can't just walk in here. As we agreed, you'll have to wear these Sea Prism Stone cuffs and submit to a full body search before you go inside. Are those terms acceptable?"
Hancock, who was secretly concealing Monkey D. Luffy under her long, flowing cloak, gave a slight nod, her expression unreadable. "I have no problem with that."
With the terms accepted, Momonga led her off the warship and into the prison's entrance. Inside the main monitoring room, Hancock played her part perfectly. As the head jailer, Domino, approached to conduct the search, the Empress unleashed the full force of her charm. With a single, captivating glance and a whisper of her Mero Mero no Mi powers, Domino was completely entranced, allowing Hancock to bypass the search. In that brief moment of distraction, Luffy slipped away from under her cloak and disappeared into the depths of Level 1, the Crimson Hell.
His part of the mission had begun. Now, it was all up to him.
Hancock, meanwhile, continued her charade. She was escorted by the ambitious Vice Warden Hannyabal and the still-dazed Domino deeper into the prison, heading for the warden's office on Level 4.
"Why are we stopping here?" Hancock asked, her voice laced with an aristocratic curiosity. "I was told I would be taken to see 'Fire Fist' Ace. This doesn't look like his cell."
Before Hannyabal could offer a self-important explanation, a deep voice answered from a nearby restroom. The door opened, and the imposing figure of Warden Magellan, the user of the Venom-Venom Fruit, emerged. "My apologies, Empress," he said, his voice dripping with a dangerous authority. "The prisoners on Level 6 are the worst criminals the world has to offer. I can't allow even a woman of your beauty and status to go down there without my personal escort."
Hancock's brow furrowed with impatience. Every second she wasted here was a second Luffy could be discovered. "If that's the case, then don't waste my time," she declared haughtily. "Take me down there now."
Her imperious tone, rather than offending the jailers, sent them into a collective swoon. "So beautiful!" they gasped in admiration.
Level 6: Infinite Hell
Led by Magellan, the procession descended into the deepest, darkest level of Impel Down. The moment Hancock stepped into the Infinite Hell, she became the center of attention. The forgotten prisoners, legendary figures locked away for eternity, stirred in their cells.
"Well, well, what do we have here? What a beautiful woman!" one called out.
"So gorgeous!" another howled.
"She smells so sweet!" a third screamed, his eyes wide with a desperate, animalistic greed.
The guards and their commanders ignored the catcalls, their faces grim as they walked towards the cell holding Ace and the Knight of the Sea, Jinbe.
Hannyabal stepped forward and tapped on the bars with his trident. "Fire Fist Ace," he announced with a smug grin. "You have a visitor. I doubt you know her, and even Jinbe has likely never laid eyes on her. She is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Empress of Amazon Lily, the most beautiful woman in the world: Boa Hancock!"
The announcement threw the prisoners into an even greater frenzy.
"It's really her! The Snake Princess!"
"She's even more beautiful than the legends say!"
"Come over to our cell, my lady! We'll treat you right, hehehe!"
"Silence, you scum!" Magellan roared, his patience wearing thin. With a flicker of his power, a wave of his deadly poison flowed from his body, forming into a menacing hydra.
Seizing the moment of distraction, Hancock moved to the bars of Ace and Jinbe's cell. Jinbe glared at her, his deep voice rumbling with contempt. "So, the Pirate Empress herself has come to grovel for the World Government. Is that title really so important to you that you'd help them kill one of Whitebeard's sons?"
Hancock paid him no mind. In her world, no man mattered besides Luffy. She looked directly at Ace, her expression completely serious. Ace, confused by her intense stare, finally spoke. "Do you need something from me?"
"Nothing," Hancock replied coolly, her voice just loud enough for him and Jinbe to hear. "I just wanted to see the man whose existence is forcing me to participate in this pointless war."
As she spoke, the prisoners' shouts grew louder and more vulgar. Vice Admiral Momonga's face darkened in disgust. That was the last straw for Magellan. His expression turned to ice as he unleashed his Venom-Venom Fruit ability. The poison hydra lunged forward, engulfing the rowdiest prisoners in a tide of purple venom. Their taunts instantly turned into shrieks of agony as they collapsed to the floor.
Level 6 finally fell silent.
"There," Magellan said, turning back to Hancock. "Those scumbags are quiet now. Empress, you may speak with Fire Fist Ace for as long as you like."
But as he turned, he saw that Hancock had already stepped away from the cell. "There's no need," she said calmly. "I'm finished."
In the chaos Magellan had created, she had whispered the real reason for her visit to Ace, her back turned to the guards: Luffy is here. He's come to save you.
Inside the cell, Ace's face was a mask of shock and grave concern.
Magellan felt a prickle of suspicion. Something was wrong. He glanced from Hancock's placid face to Ace's suddenly troubled one. He wanted to ask what they had discussed, but because of his deadly Devil Fruit powers, even his own subordinates kept a safe distance. No one was close enough to have overheard.
Though a seed of doubt was planted in his mind, Magellan saw that the Empress was ready to leave and decided not to press the issue. "Very well," he said. "If you are finished, then let us depart."
But just as they turned to go, a low, gloomy laugh echoed from the darkness of a nearby cell, sending a chill through the entire level.
"Hehehehe… Hey, Magellan… When are you finally going to let me out of here?"
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