Level 6: Infinite Hell
The heavy iron door of the cell groaned open, and from the oppressive darkness within, Shiliew of the Rain slowly emerged. The air in Infinite Hell, already thick with despair, seemed to grow colder in his presence. Domino, the head jailer, approached him with a nervous tremor in her hands, fumbling for a moment before unlocking the Sea Prism Stone shackles from his wrists. Another guard, trying to appear brave, stepped forward and presented Shiliew with his infamous nodachi, Raiu.
Magellan watched the scene with a grim, unyielding expression. "This is a temporary pardon, Shiliew," he said, his voice low and hard. "The World Government has authorized your release for one purpose: to deal with Kaido's daughter. Don't waste this opportunity."
A cruel smile spread across Shiliew's face. "Ah, of course I won't," he purred, his voice like silk and steel. He took his sword, the weight of it familiar and comforting in his grip. He drew the blade a few inches from its scabbard, the polished steel catching the dim light, a cold glint that mirrored the look in his eyes. He paused, scanning the guards. "Anyone got a cigar?"
Magellan gave a subtle nod to a nearby jailer, who quickly produced one. Shiliew took it, lit it, and inhaled deeply, letting the smoke curl from his lips. He looked utterly at ease, as if he were taking a leisurely stroll rather than being released from the deepest level of hell.
"You know," Shiliew began casually, "I might have an idea where Kaido's daughter is hiding. Why don't you go deal with the new intruder, Straw Hat? I'll take care of the girl."
"Fine," Magellan conceded, though his eyes narrowed in suspicion. "But you won't be going alone. Someone will accompany you."
Shiliew's smile didn't falter, but a dangerous edge crept into his voice. "It seems you still don't trust me, Warden."
Magellan snorted, a sound of pure contempt. "You, of all people, should know exactly why I don't trust you, Shiliew. And a word of warning," he added, his voice dropping to a serious tone. "Don't underestimate her. The reports say she can go toe-to-toe with an Admiral like Akainu."
For the first time, a flicker of genuine surprise crossed Shiliew's face. It was quickly replaced by a wide, predatory grin, a look of pure, bloodthirsty excitement. "Is that so?" he mused, tapping the ash from his cigar. "Well now… that makes things much more interesting."
Level 5.5: Newkama Land
The hidden world between levels, the so-called Newkama Land, was far larger than anyone in Yamato's group could have imagined. After nearly half a day of careful exploration, they had not only mapped out the vast network of caves but had also made a thrilling discovery: a series of secret passages that connected directly to every level of the prison, from the Crimson Hell of Level 1 all the way down to the Blazing Hell of Level 4. It was the perfect escape route.
It was during this exploration that they finally met the ruler of this hidden kingdom.
They were deep within a central cavern when, without warning, the shadows came alive. Figures with dramatic makeup, flamboyant clothing, and impossibly large heads surrounded them, appearing from cracks and tunnels in the rock. Yamato and her followers immediately tensed, weapons ready, preparing for a fight.
But before a single blow could be exchanged, Jewelry Bonney's eyes went wide with disbelief. A gasp escaped her lips, followed by a joyful, tear-filled cry that echoed through the cavern.
"Ivan-chan!"
The queen of the Okamas, Emporio Ivankov, who had been glaring at the intruders with a mixture of suspicion and annoyance, froze. The name, spoken in that achingly familiar voice, struck her like a bolt of lightning. Her massive head whipped around, her eyes searching the crowd until they landed on Bonney. The face was older than she remembered, but the spirit behind it was unmistakable.
"You… you can't be… Ginny?" Ivankov whispered, her own voice trembling. "No… that's impossible. Ginny is gone… Who are you?"
Hearing her mother's name, Bonney couldn't hold back her tears any longer. She let her Devil Fruit power wash over her, her adult form shrinking in an instant until she was a small, ten-year-old child again, tears streaming down her face.
"Little Bonney…" Ivankov breathed, the name a fragile whisper. She was completely stunned, her body shaking as tears began to well up in her own eyes.
"Ivan-chan!" Bonney cried again.
In a moment that left both the escaped prisoners and the Okamas utterly bewildered, Bonney ran forward and leaped into Ivankov's arms, hugging her tightly. The great Queen of the Kamabakka Kingdom broke down, her loud, theatrical sobs echoing through the cave as she hugged the child she thought she'd never see again.
"Ivan-chan, they said the Marines caught you!" Bonney sobbed into her shoulder. "I thought… I thought you were gone forever!"
"How could I be gone, Little Bonney?" Ivankov cried, her emotions getting the better of her. But then, the reality of the situation crashed down on her. Her expression shifted from sorrowful reunion to panicked alarm. "Wait a Candee! Little Bonney, how are you here?! In Impel Down?! Were you captured too? Curses! What is that idiot Kuma doing?! And Dragon…!"
Bonney quickly shook her head, wiping tears from her eyes with the back of her hand. "No, I'm okay! I came here with my Captain, Brother Yamato. We're here to save Fire Fist Ace!"
"Captain? Yamato?" Ivankov repeated, her gaze shifting to the tall, horned figure standing at the head of the group of intruders.
Meanwhile, the other prisoners behind Yamato began whispering amongst themselves.
"Did you hear that?"
"She said 'Kuma'... like the Warlord, Bartholomew Kuma?"
"And 'Dragon'! Could she mean the Revolutionary?"
Ivankov's mind was reeling. None of this made any sense. But one thing was clear. "What kind of joke is this?!" she roared, her fury now directed at Yamato. "Vee don't care who you are! Bringing a ten-year-old child into a place like Impel Down is unforgivable!"
Yamato had the decency to look ashamed. "I'm sorry," she started. "I…"
"It's not his fault, Ivan-chan!" Bonney interjected immediately. "I insisted on coming!"
Seeing the fierce determination in Bonney's eyes, Ivankov knew it was useless to argue. "You're all being too reckless!" she huffed. "What exactly is going on here?"
Just then, Ivankov's right-hand man, Inazuma, the user of the Snip-Snip Fruit, stepped forward. "Fire Fist Ace," he said thoughtfully. "I have heard the rumors. He was brought to Impel Down and is being held in Level 6, directly below us."
Ivankov clutched her head, a massive headache forming. On one hand, she had direct orders from Dragon to lay low and wait for the perfect moment to act. On the other, here was Bonney, the daughter of her two dearest friends, Ginny and Kuma, caught in the middle of this impossibly dangerous mission.
"What to do, what to do?" she muttered, pacing back and forth.
Bonney watched her with concern. "What's wrong, Ivan-chan? Are you sick?"
"No, no, no…" Ivankov stopped pacing, a look of steely resolve hardening her features. In that instant, she made her choice. She had failed to save Ginny from the horrors she'd endured. She would not, could not, allow any harm to come to Ginny's daughter.
She turned to face Yamato, her expression serious. "Listen here. Vee don't know why Bonney calls you Captain, and frankly, Vee don't care. But since it has come to this, Vee will help you. But let's get one thing straight: this is for Bonney, and for Bonney alone. Got it?"
Yamato, knowing she was in the wrong for bringing a child on such a mission, simply nodded. "Thank you. The plan is simple. We break into Level 6, rescue Ace, fight our way back up, and hijack a Marine warship to escape."
Ivankov stared at her, her jaw dropping. "Hee-haw! Is that plan a joke?! Do you have any idea what you're up against? Impel Down has the monster Magellan, and the moment you make a move, Marineford will send reinforcements!"
"I know," Yamato said, her confidence unshaken. "That's why we have to be fast. Luckily, Jinbe is also down there. With him, Ace, and me fighting together, we can definitely take on this Magellan guy."
Her sheer self-assurance gave Ivankov pause. "Whoa there, little girl. Who in the world do you think you are?"
Bonney, sensing the tension, quickly spoke up. "Ivan-chan," she said, her voice filled with pride. "Brother Yamato is Kaido's daughter!"
The name dropped into the cavern like a bomb. Silence. Every Okama, every prisoner, and most of all, Ivankov, froze, their eyes wide with utter shock.
"Ka… Ka-Ka-Ka… Kaido?" Ivankov stammered, her mind struggling to process the information. "You mean… the Kaido?"
"That's right, Ivan-chan," Bonney confirmed with a smile. "Kaido of the Beasts. One of the Four Emperors of the Sea."
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