The sixth level of Impel Down, Infinite Hell, held only a dozen or so cells.
As crimson eyes opened in the gloom dark room, a figure emerged from the cell nearest the gate, staring through the Seastone bars at the Golden Lion.
"Mmm-hmm-hmm~ It really is you, Shiki!"
It was Catarina Devon, the "Crescent Moon Hunter."
She wore her prison uniform like a fashionable dress and had a distinctively long nose.
As the user of the Dog-Dog Fruit, Mythical Zoan, Model: Nine-Tailed Fox, she was known as the most vicious female pirate in history, imprisoned here for crimes so extreme the World Government had erased her name from all records.
"What's going on? Did you get caught by the Marines again? Nyan~" another voice drawled from the next cell.
A man with a wild mane and cat-like eyes stepped out of the darkness, looking at Shiki with curiosity.
This was Avalo Pizarro, the "Corrupt King" and user of the Island-Island Fruit.
He had been imprisoned just after Shiki's legendary escape, making him the only inmate here who had never been Shiki's cellmate.
The floor of Level 6 was inlaid with Seastone, but Shiki wasn't concerned.
When he had escaped years ago, he had cut off his own feet, replacing them with his two famous swords, Oto and Kogarashi.
With swords for legs, the Seastone floor had no effect on him.
He floated down gracefully, the tips of his blades clinking against the stone, drawing the attention of the other infamous criminals held in solitary confinement.
"How is that possible!" Shiki grinned bloodthirstily as he approached Catarina Devon's cell.
"If I escaped from here once, I would never let them catch me again! I'm here for you! All of you! As long as you're willing to follow me, I'll take you out of this damned hell!"
"You came all this way just for us? What are you planning, Shiki? Nyan~"
Although Pizarro had never been his cellmate, he knew of the Golden Lion's reputation.
A pirate on par with Roger and Whitebeard was not one to act without a meticulous plan.
"My plan is simple!" Shiki glanced at Pizarro before moving to the third cell, where a prisoner sat by the bars, his crimson eyes glowing like embers in the dark.
Shiki's aura swelled, and his voice boomed.
"I'll break you out of Impel Down, and together, we will turn this world upside down! What do you say, 'Demon Heir'? Jihahaha, all those years ago, I hoped you would join the Golden Lion Pirates!"
"Do you know why I refused?" a deep voice rumbled from the darkness.
A towering, powerful figure dragged heavy iron chains as he approached the bars, staring at Shiki with ghostly eyes.
"Because you are not worthy!"
It was Douglas Bullet, a former member of the Roger Pirates.
After Roger's execution, Bullet had gone on a rampage across the Grand Line, forcing the Navy to issue a Buster Call just to subdue him.
"Jihahaha, still as arrogant as ever, Bullet!" Shiki wasn't angered by the insult.
He simply glanced around and said, "You don't have much time to think. The guards and admirals will be here soon."
With that, Shiki strode to another cell, his expression growing serious.
"So, will you follow me and escape to turn the world upside down, or will you stay in this dark, endless hell?" He looked up at a lone figure in the prison, his voice lowering.
"Red Count, Patrick Redfield, what are your thoughts?"
"Shiki, you must be in serious trouble out there," an elegant voice replied.
A man with a wicked smile walked out of the shadows.
It was Patrick Redfield, the "Red Count," a lone pirate who once stood as an equal to Whitebeard and Roger.
Redfield seemed to see right through Shiki.
"The fact that you've risked coming to Infinite Hell to recruit us means your situation is desperate. However, I am curious. How did you get here? We are completely isolated, yet I am not the only one here who possesses powerful Observation Haki."
"What I find most curious," Redfield continued calmly, "is that based on the glimpse of the future I just saw, you encountered no resistance. In fact, someone opened every gate for you. Shiki, can you tell me why?"
"Jihahaha, you truly are worthy of your title, Red Count!" Shiki laughed heartily and took a step forward, his grin savage.
"Indeed. The reason I reached this level unimpeded is thanks to a young and arrogant Fleet Admiral of the Marines. He learned of my plan and decided to play a little game with me!"
"He bet that I couldn't escape from Infinite Hell as I did all those years ago..."
BOOM—
Before Shiki could finish, the gate to Infinite Hell slammed shut with a deafening roar, plunging the room into absolute darkness.
Only the pairs of crimson eyes remained, all fixed on Shiki.
"Interesting," the Red Count's voice echoed, perfectly calm.
"This Fleet admiral you speak of is not only arrogant but supremely confident. But isn't Sengoku the Fleet Admiral? When did a new one appear?"
"That's a long story," Shiki said, instinctively taking a few steps back from the Seastone bars.
"All you need to know is that this fleet admiral wasn't appointed. He rose to power through a coup! You'll understand the rest once we escape."
"A new Fleet Admiral who launch a coup?" Catarina Devon's voice purred.
"How interesting. Is the Navy in such a mess these days?"
"Devon, you're missing the point," Bullet's deep voice cut in. "To hold the rank of Fleet Admiral after a coup proves that he is so powerful that the World Government was forced to compromise!"
"A Marine so powerful the World Government is afraid of him? Is that even possible? Nyan~"
"Jihahaha, it seems being locked up hasn't dulled your minds," Shiki chuckled, lighting a cigar in the darkness.
"However, you're only half right. The Holy Land compromised because this new Fleet Admiral is not just powerful—he's strong enough to have easily defeated Roger, or even Rocks, in their prime. More than that, the entire Navy is fiercely loyal to him. If the World Government hadn't backed down, the Marines would have followed him to war!"
"What did you say?"
The sound of clashing chains echoed, followed by Bullet's excited voice.
"Strong enough to easily defeat Roger? You're talking about this fleet admiral?"
Shiki looked towards the sound. "How else could he command the loyalty of so many powerful men? In this world, personal charm doesn't earn you a man's life—strength does."
"Bullet, you lost your purpose when Roger was executed, didn't you?"
"Now, a new one has appeared!"
"Help me, and you will face this Fleet Admiral. If you can kill him, you will be the new king, and I will be your right hand!"
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