3. Float-Float Fruit And More-More Fruit

Alex took advantage of the special circumstances. Most of the key personnel at Impel Down were occupied with a high-priority meeting to discuss strategies against the rising tide of Great Pirates. Meanwhile, the inspection team had been rendered helpless by a discreet dose of laxatives, allowing Alex to slip down to the secluded Sixth Level—Eternal Hell—without attracting attention.

Shiki was dead, and Alex knew he had only a brief window before the next inspection round, roughly twenty minutes. Time was tight, especially given the vastness of the sixth level.

Quickening his pace, it took him about five minutes to reach a particular cell, isolated and bone-chillingly cold. Unlike other cells on this level, it lacked seastone chains and instead held a giant, refrigerator-like apparatus.

Inside was an old man with a green beard, his face lined with age and hardship.

This was none other than the World Destroyer, Byrnndi World, frozen in suspended animation within the depths of Eternal Hell.

Alex's target was World's Devil Fruit—the More-More Fruit . Although it wasn't his top choice for a second ability, it was essential for his escape. Among the powerful Devil Fruits imprisoned in Impel Down, the only one that rivaled the Float-Float Fruit in utility was this one.

Staring at the containment device, Alex noted there was no key to access it, which prevented him from directly destroying it. However, a tube connected to the apparatus allowed the jailers to replace World's nutrient solution without needing to unlock the chamber. This would now serve as Alex's entry point.

His preparations over the past year had not been in vain. After obtaining a sample of Magellan's venom, Alex had conserved it carefully. Now, with the container in hand, he poured the entire violet liquid into the nutrient solution supply. In an instant, the vibrant green solution turned a sickly purple.

Magellan's Venom-Venom Fruit ability was feared for good reason, and with this single, indirect maneuver, Alex had once again used Impel Down's own systems to eliminate a legendary pirate.

Moments later, the once-black fruit in his hand transformed, taking on a swirling pattern and a color unique to the More-More Fruit. Without hesitation, Alex bit into it. The indescribably foul taste hit him instantly, but he gritted his teeth, held his breath, and consumed the entire fruit.

Suppressing the urge to vomit, he focused on the strange sensations within his body. His cells seemed to pulse with newfound energy, resonating with the power of the fruit. Instantly, Alex felt the changes flood his senses, the abilities integrating with his own.

At will, he could now make himself float, nullify the gravity of anything he touched, and freely control his flight. Furthermore, he could manipulate properties like the volume and speed of any object.

Alex clenched his fists, exhilarated. This was true power! Even without Haki, wielding these two Devil Fruit abilities placed him leagues above the average pirate. He stood among the strong now, a force to be reckoned with.

Though he longed to laugh aloud and revel in his strength, he restrained himself. He knew that his moment of triumph would come only after he had broken free from Impel Down. That would be the perfect time to unleash the power that had finally set him apart from the ordinary.

As Alex retraced his path, a sudden stream of information flooded his mind, detailing the abilities he had just acquired:

[Float-Float Fruit: Allows the user to make themselves or objects float in the air, negating gravity. It can also cause any touched objects—whether living or non-living—to float at will.]

[More-More Fruit: Grants the power to multiply the speed, strength, volume, and weight of any touched objects.]

Then, another set of information appeared before him:

[Float-Float Fruit: Previous User – Golden Lion Shiki]

[More-More Fruit: Previous User – Byrnndi World]

[Please choose your representative ability.]

Alex blinked in surprise. Up until now, he thought he had no special advantage aside from possessing a Devil Fruit. But this new, system-like prompt presented him with an unexpected choice. Still, he couldn't afford to linger here; time was running short, with only a few minutes until the next patrol. He decided to make his way out of this hellish prison first and examine his options later.

Upon reaching the elevator turn-room, he encountered a squad of patrolling guards exiting the lift.

"Why are you here alone?" the guard captain questioned, noticing Alex's solitary presence in this area.

"My teammates passed by the deputy director's office earlier, and they seemed to inhale some kind of gas. They all rushed to the toilets, but I felt fine, so I came here to carry out the task," Alex replied smoothly.

The guards exchanged a knowing glance, visibly disturbed by the explanation, but Alex simply nodded at them and walked toward the elevator.

Bang!

The elevator ascended, carrying Alex out of the sixth level. 

As he disappeared from sight, one of the guards muttered, "Poor guy, having to patrol this creepy place alone."

"Tell me about it," another guard laughed. "But people in his team say he's a bit of a lone wolf, doesn't mind doing things solo."

"Alright, enough chatter," the captain interjected. "Let's finish our patrol and get out of here."

The Eternal Hell on the sixth floor was the largest and most treacherous section of Impel Down, requiring a full team's effort just to patrol adequately. Looking back, the captain found it odd that Alex was alone and made a mental note to request another team for coverage next time. But he quickly dismissed it as just another quirk of an unusual guard.

Five or six minutes into their patrol, an urgent message suddenly crackled through the captain's transponder snail.

"Captain… it's Shiki, Golden Lion Shiki… he's dead!"

"What?!" The captain's face went pale as he sprinted toward the special containment area.

When he arrived, his eyes fell upon Shiki's lifeless form, his eyes frozen in shock, with visible bullet holes piercing his skull. Trembling, the captain grabbed his transponder snail and began frantically reporting.

"Director… Director! Golden Lion Shiki has been killed!"

---

While chaos erupted on the sixth floor, Alex's elevator continued unimpeded, reaching the first floor above sea level. The sight of the outside world flooded him with relief and exhilaration. 

Once, he could only dream of escaping this place. Now, with his newfound abilities, freedom was within his grasp. And in a darkly ironic twist, he even felt gratitude toward Impel Down for unwittingly aiding his ascent to power.

"Hey! What are you doing?" A guard spotted him heading toward the deck and raised his rifle in alarm.

"Leaving this wretched place," Alex replied, not even turning around.

To the guards' astonishment, Alex's body began to lift off the ground, defying gravity as he floated higher and higher into the open air.

"Though I'll miss you all, I think it's time to say goodbye," he called out with a smirk. "Keep the coat as thanks for your hospitality."

With those words, he released his prison guard coat, letting it drift down as he ascended into the sky, leaving Impel Down far below.