บท 144: The Break-In: Entering Hell

In the dark and gloomy depths of Impel Down, Ace sat shackled by heavy chains made from Seastone. His fiery spirit was dulled, but his gaze remained defiant. His grandfather, Vice Admiral Garp, stood before him, his expression a mixture of disappointment and regret.

"I wanted you and Luffy to become Marines," Garp said, sighing heavily. "Not criminals." His tone was tinged with a sadness that only a parent—or in this case, a grandparent—could understand.

Ace, however, looked back resolutely. "With the blood of a criminal running through my veins, could I have ever been anything else?" he replied. He went on, explaining how he took on his mother's last name, Portgas, out of love and respect for her. And though Gol D. Roger was his biological father, Whitebeard was the one he saw as a true father.

Garp gave a silent nod, conflicted but somewhat understanding. After leaving, Ace felt a strange sense of vitality, despite the Seastone sapping his energy. Unbeknownst to him, a powerful Rune Magic from Raja had been placed on his tattoo in Alabasta, silently aiding his recovery even here in this hellish place.

Meanwhile, Vice Admiral Momonga's ship sailed through the calm waters toward Impel Down. Not far off, the infamous clown pirate ship of Buggy the Clown was seen drifting nearby. Buggy's crew, including Alvida, realized that attempting a rescue mission was impossible given the dangers of the Calm Belt and the monstrous Sea Kings that roamed beneath.

"Good luck, Captain Buggy!" they shouted reluctantly, knowing they couldn't risk their lives for what seemed like a hopeless endeavor.

Inside the twisted corridors of Impel Down, new prisoners faced brutal treatment. In a shadowy corner, a minotaur-like jailer mercilessly beat a struggling inmate, who had dared to challenge the unforgiving conditions of the prison. The screams echoed through the cold stone halls, a grim reminder of the torture that awaited those trapped within the depths.

Four days later, Momonga's ship reached the imposing gates of Impel Down. Luffy gazed up at the massive fortress, taking note of the ominous high security surrounding it. The notorious Amazonian pirate, Boa Hancock, was subjected to a thorough security check, which included Seastone handcuffs and a body search.

"I'll help you through it," Luffy reassured her, determined to see his mission through.

At the main entrance, they were met by Vice Warden Hannyabal and Vice Head Jailer Domino. Hancock was escorted away for a final check by Domino, during which she subtly used her Mero Mero powers to freeze both Domino and the surveillance Den Den Mushi. With the guards momentarily incapacitated, Luffy slipped into the prison, unnoticed and undetected.

"Luffy, this is as far as I can go," Hancock whispered, feeling the weight of her decision to help him.

Luffy thanked her sincerely, his gaze unwavering. "Thank you, Hancock." The simplicity of his words struck her, and she swooned, misinterpreting his gratitude as love. She restored Domino and the Den Den Mushi before leaving, though she was lost in thoughts of Luffy's supposed "confession."

Elsewhere in the prison, deformed creatures called Blugori were slicing up Sea Kings. The meat was collected, then transported through a series of compartments that supplied Impel Down with a continuous source of food. The sight was both brutal and efficient, a testament to the prison's reliance on these horrific creatures.

An ominous countdown loomed, with only 33 hours left until Ace's scheduled execution. The urgency weighed heavily on Luffy as he began his search for his brother.

Just as Luffy began his descent into Level 1, Raja suddenly emerged from the shadows. He had been silently trailing Luffy, and now he stepped forward with a calm but urgent expression.

"I've secured a ship for us to escape, and here's how to use the communication bracelet," Raja explained, carefully instructing Luffy on its unique functions.

He then presented Luffy with new gear: battle-enhanced gloves, magic shoes, and runes inscribed into his clothes. "You'll need these," Raja said, "and be careful. You'll find some familiar faces down here."

Luffy nodded, excitement sparking in his eyes as he donned the enchanted gear. Determined, he set off through the halls, passing cells where shocked prisoners whispered about the notorious Straw Hat's bold infiltration.

Soon, Luffy encountered a peculiar scene: a prisoner fleeing from a Blugori, only to be sliced in half. However, the pieces of this "victim" quickly reassembled, revealing none other than Buggy the Clown.

"Luffy?! What are you doing here?" Buggy exclaimed, equally shocked and annoyed.

"I'm here to save my brother!" Luffy replied.

The two quickly struck a temporary truce, aware that working together might be their best chance of survival.

As they were about to move, a Blugori approached, forcing Buggy to fight. He used his powers, launching a flurry of chaotic attacks, but to little effect. Meanwhile, Luffy's new gear allowed him to defeat the creature effortlessly, leaving Buggy stunned at his newfound strength.

Buggy, initially considering an escape, was reminded of the Marine battleships waiting outside. Then, noticing Luffy's armband, he recognized it as a map to Captain John's treasure and quickly struck a deal: he would guide Luffy to Level 4 in exchange for the armband.

Monkey D. Luffy found John's armband amidst Moria's riches and took it not knowing that it was in reality a map to John's loot.

Though skeptical, Luffy agreed, trusting Buggy with a surprising amount of confidence.

Buggy revealed another trick: as long as Luffy's feet touched the ground, Buggy could hover within a certain range. Grateful, Luffy handed him the armband in advance, and the two set off deeper into the prison.

Buggy, feeling a pang of guilt for his earlier deception, tried to escape but ended up crashing into a wall. Luffy misinterpreted this as a shortcut and followed, inadvertently leading them into the terrifying forest of Crimson Hell.

The sinister landscape was filled with blade-like grass and venomous spiders, a hellish scene where prisoners were forced to run for survival, staining the ground with blood. Luffy used Buggy's flying ability to avoid the dangers, narrowly escaping the sharp grass below.

At the end of the forest, Buggy pointed out a hole leading to Level 2. Eager to continue, Luffy jumped without hesitation, with Buggy soon following, albeit reluctantly.

On Level 2, Mr. 3 sat in a cell, weary and jaded. He observed the wild beasts lurking around, realizing that everyone here was ultimately "food" for the ferocious creatures.

As they entered, Luffy and Buggy faced a massive basilisk. Despite their fear, Luffy defeated the creature with ease, leaving Buggy awestruck once more.

When nearby prisoners begged for freedom, Buggy saw an opportunity. He unlocked their cells, hoping for a riot to cover their escape, but the plan backfired when the prisoners locked themselves back in, fearing the Jailer Beasts.

Seeing Luffy's strength, Mr. 3 volunteered to guide them, offering his services in exchange for freedom. Luffy hesitated but then remembered how Raja had spared him in the past, deciding to trust Mr. 3.

Elsewhere in Impel Down, Jinbe spoke to Ace about his pain over the impending war. Despite his title as a Warlord, Jinbe was willing to sacrifice everything to prevent bloodshed between Whitebeard and the World Government.

The trio faced off against monstrous Manticores, narrowly escaping their fierce jaws. They soon encountered the level's boss, a strange Sphinx that parroted ramen names. Luffy quickly engaged it in battle, eager for the challenge.

Mr. 3's Doru clones distracted the Sphinx long enough for them to attempt an escape, but the enraged creature smashed the floor, sending them plummeting down to Level 3.

Following their fall, freed prisoners began rioting throughout Impel Down, thanking Buggy for their escape. Meanwhile, the guards grew increasingly alarmed, realizing that Luffy was attempting to reach Ace.

As news of Luffy's mission spread, Chief Warden Magellan was informed, along with Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Frustrated, Sengoku ranted about the Straw Hat's audacity, fearing the damage this could do to Impel Down's reputation. Garp, however, chuckled, amused by his grandson's relentless determination.

"Is Raja with him?" Garp asked, curious.

"No, only Luffy and Buggy," Magellan responded.

Sengoku, however, remained concerned. Only one pirate—Shiki the "Flying Pirate"—had ever successfully escaped Impel Down. Sengoku knew that if Luffy succeeded, the prison's legacy of unbreakable security would be shattered forever.