Mio's figure flashed as he appeared inside a cell, unleashing punch after punch, each strike destroying the seastone shackles that bound the prisoners with sheer tyrannical force.
As soon as one pirate was freed, Mio reappeared beside another, moving like a ghost through the cells.
It took only a quarter of an hour.
Clang.
The sound of chains falling echoed lightly as the Red Earl's shackles dropped to the floor.
"Ah…"
"The feeling of freedom."
Stretching his limbs, the Red Earl smirked coldly, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes.
Boom! Boom!
Another pirate punched the wall, the force behind his fist causing it to tremble. He grinned broadly. "Hahahaha! This is what freedom feels like. I've really missed this."
Bulu Bulu.
Bulu Bulu.
Just then, Millet—the Den Den Mushi—began to ring.
Everyone turned to look at it.
Mio picked it up, and a familiar voice echoed through, one that hadn't been heard in over a year.
"Master, we're almost at the Gate of Justice. Should we attack directly?"
"Erica, your voice is still as pleasant as ever," Mio said with a faint smile, a trace of nostalgia in his tone.
"Master, your voice hasn't changed either," Erica replied without hesitation.
A year was more than enough to change a man. Mio had grown taller—possibly a result of a late growth spurt. His figure had become leaner and more defined, his muscles outlined clearly. Due to a year away from sunlight, his skin had paled slightly, making his long black hair and dark eyes even more striking.
At the moment, Mio looked gentle, refined—even calm.
"Yeah. Attack directly," he ordered before hanging up and tucking Millet into his coat.
Looking forward, Mio saw a pirate staring at him, hesitation flickering in the man's eyes.
Mio immediately understood what was on their minds. Grinning, he said, "That's my pirate ship. If you want a ride, I think there are still warships on the first floor of the sea you can take."
At that, several pirates clicked their tongues.
They had all wanted to escape aboard Mio's ship. After all, from his call, it was clear someone was coming to pick him up via the Gate of Justice. For them, getting out of Impel Down was only part of the challenge—the real issue was finding a ship. Swimming out was out of the question.
But Mio had a point.
There were indeed warships docked above.
And no one wanted to pick a fight with him now.
They might not believe Mio was stronger than all of them, but after a year watching him, they knew full well his bizarre powers and the lengths he'd go to kill someone. Killing him? Near impossible. But him killing them? Highly likely. Especially with so many willing to lend him a hand.
"You have a plan, don't you?" Barrett asked, his voice low. "What's next?"
"Of course," Mio shrugged with a grin. "You've got two choices. First, we can go to the fifth floor and restore our energy."
"Second, we can charge straight to the first floor. With Millet's cover, Magellan still doesn't know we've broken out. We can catch him off guard. On the way, we'll release the prisoners from the upper floors. They're not powerful, but they'll help draw attention."
"Restore energy?" The Red Earl frowned. "Is there food on the fifth floor?"
"Military wolves," Mio replied, tilting his head. "Creatures bred here to torment criminals. Want a bite?"
"Hey, kid," one pirate chuckled, licking his lips. "Mind lending me a fire when the time comes? I haven't tasted barbecue in ages."
"Barbecue?" Mio sneered. "You think you're worthy of that now?"
With that, he turned and walked toward the gate.
Behind him, laughter erupted.
"Hahaha! The kid's right. You're not worthy, and neither are we. Let's escape first."
"Getting a taste of blood will do for now."
"As long as we can eat and regain our strength, doesn't matter if it's raw or cooked."
"Yeah. Only when you're full can you fight properly, hehe."
The pirate who had asked about the fire clicked his tongue in annoyance but eventually grinned as well. "Fine. When we're out, I'll feast properly."
Red Earl and Barrett followed Mio silently.
When they arrived at the gate, Mio came to a halt.
He turned his head slightly, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. Calmly, he said, "Don't think being out of your cells means you can do whatever you want. The fifth floor has no Den Den Mushi installed—at least according to our intel. But that doesn't mean accidents can't happen. You're only half free now. Stay sharp. If you see a Den Den Mushi, destroy it immediately. The longer we stay hidden from Magellan, the better. I don't want the Navy's reinforcements showing up before we reach the surface."
"Exactly," the Red Earl added coldly. "If anyone ruins this escape with their carelessness, I'll deal with you myself."
His voice carried immense pressure, and his stare silenced the rowdy pirates.
Barrett remained unaffected by the Red Earl's intimidation. "Our goal is the same. We leave this place."
San Juan Wolf nodded with a goofy grin. "Yeah. Let's get out of here."
Mio shrugged. "Then let's go."
He stepped forward and pushed open the massive gate.
As soon as it cracked open—
Boom! Boom!
Two figures burst out.
Once the door fully opened, the two pirates tossed aside the buzzing alarms they were holding.
"All the surveillance bugs along the corridor are dealt with," one of them said casually.
Mio nodded, and with a sweep of his Observation Haki, he confirmed it. Not a single Den Den Mushi remained.
The group exited the sixth level of Infinite Hell and headed into the dark corridor ahead.
Fifth Floor: Freezing Hell
This floor, just above Level 6, was filled with pirates who had bounties over 100 million berries. Originally, this was where Mio should have been imprisoned. But due to his unique circumstances, he had been held in the deepest level.
The biting cold of the fifth floor was worse than the icy chambers above it. Most prisoners here had severe frostbite or had died from the freezing temperatures.
Now, a group appeared on this floor—Mio and the others.
As soon as they arrived, scarlet eyes stared at them from the shadows.
Mio grinned and licked his lips in excitement. "Looks like the little guys here are proactive. They sensed us coming and came to us. Saves us the trouble."
Barrett's eyes gleamed with greed. "I haven't had a good meal in ages…"
Boom!
Suddenly, the Red Earl vanished from sight.
In the next instant, he appeared before a military wolf, his fist coated in Armament Haki. With one powerful blow, he crushed the creature's skull, killing it instantly.
Without wasting a moment, he tore off its fur and threw it over his shoulders like a cloak, ignoring the blood. It served well enough as a makeshift sweater against the cold wind.
Then, he ripped out a good chunk of its flesh and began to eat without hesitation.