Continuing the Escape from Prison

As chaos continued to engulf the deeper levels of Impel Down, Alaric, with his spear Phobos resting on his shoulder, led the group ascending through the fearsome prison. Luffy, Ivankov, Jimbei, Crocodile, and Inazuma kept pace, though sometimes with difficulty. They had left Level Six behind, but now they approached Level Five, the Frozen Hell, a place so brutal that even the most resilient prisoners would succumb to the cold.

Alaric walked through the frozen corridors with a carefree expression, his black cloak billowing behind him, giving the impression that the cold didn't affect him at all. He was shirtless, displaying his numerous snake tattoos, which seemed to move and writhe with each step. However, beneath that façade of confidence, the cold pierced his bones like thousands of needles. Every gust of freezing wind felt like it was tearing at his skin, but his pride wouldn't let him show weakness.

"Are you alright, Alaric?" Jimbei asked, noticing the former vice admiral was unusually quiet.

Without taking his eyes off the path, Alaric let out a laugh that echoed down the hallways.

"Alright? Of course, I'm alright! Cold's just a bad joke for someone like me."

But internally, Alaric was on the verge of freezing. He felt like his entire body was going to fall apart at any moment, but he couldn't let anyone know. He couldn't afford to appear weak in front of this group of temporary allies.

Luffy, who had already passed through Level Five during his previous attempt to rescue Ace, recognized the terrain. His memories of freezing to the bone were not pleasant, but this time, he was better prepared for what lay ahead.

"This place… is even colder than I remembered!" Luffy exclaimed, rubbing his arms and hopping from foot to foot to stay warm.

"It's going to get worse before it gets better, Straw Hat," Crocodile said in his usual sarcastic tone, the vapor of his frozen breath visible as he spoke.

As they reached Level Five, a familiar group emerged from the snow and ice. The New Kama Land Okamas, waiting for the return of Ivankov and the others, spotted the group approaching and began cheering loudly, waving their hands in joy.

"Iva-sama is back!" they shouted in unison, excited to see their leader return victorious.

Ivankov smiled and gave a dramatic wave, arms flailing theatrically.

"Candy's! We made it! New Kama Land is ready to move forward!"

The Okamas ran toward Ivankov and the others, but soon their eyes were drawn to a new figure in the group: Alaric.

The former vice admiral, clad only in a cloak, walked with superhuman confidence, his bare torso exposed, and the snake tattoos on his skin standing out against the white of the ice and snow. Phobos, his spear, rested on his shoulder, and his proud posture made him an imposing, almost irresistible presence.

"Ohhh! Who's that handsome man?!" one of the Okamas exclaimed, clasping their hands to their face dramatically.

Another Okama, with painted lips and long eyelashes, let out an exaggerated sigh.

"What a perfect body! Look at those muscles, and those exotic tattoos!"

"And that spear! Ohhh, I bet he's good with his hands!" another commented, casting a lascivious glance at Alaric.

Alaric, already struggling with the extreme cold, now felt a cold sweat trickle down his forehead for entirely different reasons. The Okamas approached with admiring smiles, looking at him like he was a rare delicacy.

"Hey, hey, stay back!" Alaric said, lifting his spear in front of him as if it were a shield. "I don't have time for games."

But instead of being scared, the Okamas erupted into excited giggles and flirted even more.

"Ohhh, what a bad boy! I love a man who knows how to set boundaries!"

"Cut me to pieces with that spear if you want, darling! I won't resist!"

"And those tattoos? Snakes! So dangerous!"

Alaric started to back away slowly, but the Okamas kept advancing, sighing and making increasingly bold comments. No matter how threatening he appeared with his spear, they seemed more excited than frightened.

"If anyone gets any closer, I'll cut them with this spear!" Alaric threatened, pointing at one of the closest Okamas.

"Ohhh, yes! Cut me, Daddy! Do it in style!" the Okama cried, thoroughly thrilled.

Alaric's face stiffened, and for the first time, the sweat on his forehead had nothing to do with the cold. The level of flirting was out of control.

"For the love of… What's wrong with you people?" he muttered through gritted teeth, and with a swift motion, decided that fleeing was the best option.

With one last glance at the Okamas still showering him with compliments, Alaric turned and quickened his pace toward the next level, Level Four, the Burning Hell. Behind him, he could hear the laughter and shouts of the Okamas, who, excited, began to follow him, delighted at the idea of accompanying someone so "mysterious and dangerous."

"Ohhh, you can't escape from us, darling!" they shouted, running after him, waving their hands and moving with almost superhuman energy. "A bad boy always draws us in!"

Luffy and the others watched with a mix of astonishment and amusement as Alaric, who usually maintained an air of absolute confidence, now seemed almost desperate to escape the Okamas.

"That guy's fast when he wants to be!" Luffy commented, laughing. "And those Okamas aren't far behind!"

Ivankov, meanwhile, smiled from ear to ear.

"Ahhh, Candy-Boy, you can't help but attract the attention of my darlings! How lucky you are!"

Without looking back, Alaric sped up even more, eager to reach Level Four, where at least the heat of the Burning Hell would save him from freezing. As he ran, he could feel the cold begin to fade as the heat of the next level drew near. However, he still refused to show any weakness. Pretending that the cold didn't affect him was his way of keeping his image intact, but in reality, every cell in his body screamed for warmth.

Finally, he crossed the door that separated Level Five from Level Four, immediately feeling the temperature shift. The hot, suffocating air of the Burning Hell hit his skin, providing instant relief… or so he hoped.

But instead of showing signs of relief, Alaric maintained his serious demeanor, as if the temperature change were irrelevant.

"This heat is insignificant," he said aloud, more to himself than to anyone else, even though his muscles began to relax after escaping the glacial cold.

The Okamas arrived shortly after, panting from the effort but still filled with enthusiasm.

"Ohh, now it's warm! But how nice, darling, we can see you sweat!" one of the Okamas shouted, winking at Alaric.

"That black cloak looks divine in this hellish heat!" another added, fanning themselves with their hand.

Alaric stopped and looked at the group following him, his eyes reflecting his growing exasperation. Couldn't he get rid of them? He tried to maintain his air of superiority, but the relentless energy of the Okamas was pushing him to the brink of a mental breakdown.

Luffy, who had been watching the whole scene from the back, let out a laugh.

"You've got quite the fan club, Alaric!"

"I don't need fans," Alaric grumbled, glancing at Luffy as he moved deeper into Level Four, the Burning Hell, with the Okamas closely trailing him.

However, deep down, Alaric knew that, although they were eccentric, the Okamas would be useful for what was to come. The escape from Impel Down was just the first step, and every ally, no matter how quirky, would be crucial for what awaited them at Marineford, where the real battle would begin.

"Oh, Alaric-sama! The heat enhances your masculinity even more!" one of the Okamas shouted, wiping sweat from their forehead with a handkerchief.

"Look at how his skin glows! This heat makes him look even more irresistible!" another added, gazing dreamily.

Alaric, who had tried to keep his composure throughout the chase, couldn't help but roll his eyes as he gripped his spear Phobos tightly.

"Please, someone get me out of this torture," he muttered to himself, feeling that the sweat was now not only from the heat but from the anxiety of being constantly pursued by his Okama admirers.

Then, as if fate were listening to his prayers, a figure appeared on the horizon.

"Finally! A woman!" Alaric exclaimed, raising his gaze to the sky in a dramatic and exaggerated gesture. "Thank you, God, for this miracle!"

Before him stood Sadi, the sensual and fearsome head of torture at Impel Down. She wore a tight red leather outfit that barely covered anything, with a long whip hanging from her waist. Her blonde hair fell in perfect waves around her shoulders, and her face, though severe, had a hint of provocation that always seemed to linger. Her eyes, lined with dark makeup, cast a challenging and dangerous look, but one couldn't deny that amidst all the brutality, Sadi was undoubtedly a woman of imposing beauty.

Behind her were her five demonic guardians: enormous, grotesque beasts, each with different monstrous features. Their bodies were colossal, with horns, claws, and sharp teeth that glinted under the blazing heat of hell. They roared, waiting for orders from their mistress, ready to attack anyone who stood in their way.

But instead of being frightened or preparing for a fierce battle, Alaric let out a sigh of relief.

"Finally! After so many Okamas, seeing a real woman is a treat for my eyes."

Sadi, who had been watching the group with arrogance, raised an eyebrow at Alaric's comment.

"What did you say, insect?" she asked, her voice a mix of seductive and threatening.

"Oh, nothing," Alaric replied with a crooked smile, looking at the demonic guardians as if they were just puppies. "I'm just glad to see a pretty face around here. And these little ones too." Phobos rested on his shoulder, and his gaze focused on the giant beasts as if they posed no danger.

The demonic guardians roared ferociously, but Alaric barely blinked. The air around him suddenly shifted. A powerful wave of Haki surged from his body, enveloping the beasts and Sadi in an instant. The monsters, who just seconds ago were ready to tear him apart, came to a sudden halt. Their roars turned into soft whimpers, and their aggressive stares became docile, as if Alaric had tamed them in an instant.

"What… what are you doing?" Sadi was bewildered. She had never seen her demonic guardians behave like this.

Alaric chuckled as he reached out to one of the largest beasts, which began to wag its tail like a submissive dog.

"Good girl!" Alaric said, scratching the beast's head as if it were a pet. "They're quite adorable when they're not trying to eat you, aren't they?"

Sadi gritted her teeth, furious. How was it possible that this man had tamed her precious beasts in seconds? Her pride was at stake, and she wouldn't let anyone mock her.

"I don't care what kind of trick you used! I'm going to crush you for insulting my guardians and me!" she shouted, drawing her whip and cracking it through the air with a sound that resonated throughout the level.

Alaric, with a playful smile, watched as Sadi lunged toward him. He had no intention of fighting seriously, but a little fun wouldn't hurt. When Sadi swung her whip, he dodged it effortlessly, moving with grace, almost as if he were dancing around her.

"You're too slow!" he teased, lightly tapping Sadi on the backside with the shaft of his spear.

Sadi, caught off guard by such disrespect, gasped in surprise. Her face flushed red, a mix of embarrassment and rage.

"You dare to mock me! I'll make you pay for this!"

She attempted another lash with the whip, but Alaric dodged again, this time striking her more firmly on the backside, provoking another scream of anger from Sadi.

"That was stronger!" Alaric taunted. "Are you running out of energy? Maybe you're not used to facing real men."

Sadi, completely enraged by the humiliation, launched a third attack, but Alaric easily disarmed her, causing her to lose her balance. In a swift, elegant motion, he caught her with her own whip, binding her hands and legs in a compromising position.

"Well, that was easier than I thought," Alaric said, adjusting the knots of the whip so that Sadi's position was as humiliating as it was provocative.

The head of torture, completely defeated and tied up, lay on the ground, unconscious, with an expression that surprisingly showed not pain or suffering, but something closer to… satisfaction.

The Okamas, who had been watching the scene with bright eyes, began to applaud.

"Bravo, Alaric-sama!" one shouted. "That was amazing!"

"You're so strong and dominant! We love you!" another added, making an exaggerated fan gesture.

Alaric, uninterested in more praise from the Okamas, sighed and turned to them.

"Shut up and move on to the next level," he said, a mix of exasperation and fatigue in his voice. "I have more important things to do."

As the other prisoners continued freeing more inmates from Level Four, Ivankov and his group joined Alaric, observing the scene.

"Oh, darling, it looks like you had quite a bit of fun," Ivankov said, casting a mischievous glance at Sadi, who was still obscenely bound. "Your style is… very personal, I would say!"

"Yeah, yeah," Alaric replied, shrugging. "A real woman is a refreshing change after all that Okama madness."

"That's what makes you special, darling!" Ivankov laughed. "You have an irresistible charm!"

"Sure, sure," Alaric responded, walking toward the exit of the level. "Come on, we still have a lot to do. And please, keep the Okamas away from me!"

The group continued on to the next level, with Alaric paying attention to another battle about to begin, while Sadi lay unconscious, completely defeated, her expression revealing a twisted enjoyment of the situation she had found herself in.