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Chapter 6 - Chapter 6

On the other side, the elevator that had been descending for what felt like forever finally came to a halt.

The doors slid open, and a suffocating, oppressive atmosphere slammed into them like a wall. Even Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, frowned. This place… it gave her a very bad feeling.

What surprised her even more was that everything people thought they knew about Impel Down was wrong. There weren't just five levels—there was a hidden sixth.

"So… Fire Fist Ace is being held here?"

Though she had already guessed as much, Hancock still wanted to confirm.

"Yes. He's right ahead. I'll take you to him now," Magellan replied, leading the way without hesitation.

Hancock followed, but her mind drifted to Luffy. Ace's cell was even deeper—and more dangerous—than she'd imagined.

"We're here."

The group suddenly stopped. Hancock glanced to the side and noticed a special cell holding two prisoners.

One look was all it took to recognize them.

The shirtless, black-haired young man was without a doubt Luffy's brother, Fire Fist Ace. The other figure, however, caught her off guard—broad-shouldered, with deep blue skin, and the distinctive gills of a fish-man. Only one person matched that description: Jinbe, another Warlord of the Sea like herself.

While Hancock studied them, Ace and Jinbe were just as puzzled about her presence.

Jinbe, in particular, felt a sinking unease. Hancock's arrival… did this mean the Warlords were joining the war? If so, Whitebeard would be facing even greater pressure. His frown deepened.

"Lady Hancock, this is Fire Fist Ace. Honestly, I don't understand why you wanted to see him in person," Magellan said.

"I wanted to see for myself the man capable of causing such a stir," Hancock replied coldly. "Is that a problem?"

"N-No… no problem."

Even as the strongest man in Impel Down, Magellan found it hard to deal with Hancock's icy demeanor. The title 'Empress' really isn't for show.

"Oi, oi! Isn't that the Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock?!"

"No way—what's she doing here?"

"Wait, it really is her!"

"Hey, beauty! Come over here! I'll treat you real nice, real gentle!"

"Hancock! Look over here! Hey!"

The moment the prisoners realized it was truly Hancock, the whole of Level 6 erupted. Every inmate here had long abandoned hope for the future, but in this dark, suffocating pit, the sight of such a woman stirred their desires—even if it meant angering Magellan.

"Silence!"

Magellan's roar shook the level, but it had little effect. The inmates only grew louder, mocking him outright.

"Diarrhea Magellan, why don't you just go sit on a toilet? Or did you already crap yourself, so you don't need to?!"

"Diarrhea Magellan! Diarrhea Magellan!"

Veins bulged across Magellan's forehead. Anyone who knew him could see—he was seconds away from exploding. Guards and staff instinctively stepped back, unwilling to be anywhere near him in this state.

"Disobeying orders, ignoring commands… As Chief Warden of Impel Down, I have the right to execute you on the spot! Venomous Dragon!"

A thick, sticky purple liquid coated Magellan's body in an instant. From his back, several dragon-shaped heads of venom burst forth, surging toward the loudest hecklers.

"No! Please, don't!"

"He's actually pissed this time!"

Panic swept the level. The targeted inmates dropped to their knees, screaming, begging for mercy—but Magellan had no intention of stopping.

The Venomous Dragons struck with ruthless speed. In the next heartbeat, their screams replaced the chaos. Prisoners scrambled away from the victims—everyone knew that Magellan's poison meant only one thing: certain death.

In the confusion, Hancock moved closer to Ace's cell. Her lips parted slightly, whispering something meant for him alone.

A thunderclap seemed to explode in Ace's mind. His chest tightened, his thoughts scattering. Hancock's words hit harder than any punch. Luffy… that idiot… had broken into Impel Down to rescue him.

Regret. Fear. Worry. And beneath it all… a warmth he couldn't deny.

Jinbe noticed Ace's sudden change immediately. The look on his face was far from normal. He didn't know what Hancock had said, but it made him uneasy.

"Alright, Lady Hancock. If there's anything else you want to do, go ahead—I've already shut them up," Magellan said after restoring order.

To his surprise, Hancock simply turned away.

"I've seen enough. Take me out of here. I have no desire to remain in this wretched place a second longer."

Magellan glanced at Vice Admiral Momonga, who looked just as confused as he felt. Traveling all the way down here only to glance at Ace and leave? Still, they couldn't exactly object. She was a VIP guest of Marine Headquarters, after all.

"Very well. Let's return."

They left as quickly as they had come. All told, Hancock had spent barely thirty seconds on Level 6. But in that half-minute, Ace's heart—once buried under despair—was pounding again.

"Ace… what did she say to you?" Jinbe finally asked when they were alone.

"My little brother… Luffy. He's here. He's come to rescue me."

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