Part 2.7

The staricase leading to Level Four from Level Five is interesting. It's completely dark, no light sources whatsoever. I see spots in the walls where it looks like torches or other form of lighting is supposed to be, but it appears as if they are all inactive.

This meant me and the prisoners I took with me from Level Five longer to get up the stairs then it would have normally. People were falling left and right, taking down others as they fell. Myself and a few other prisoners, Gurry included, had no problem seeing in the dark. We had to guide those that couldn't see up the staircase.

We made it eventually of course. Nothing can stop me when I'm determined enough. Let me tell you, Level Four was just how I remembered it.

Except for all the bodies.

All around us were the bodies of prisoners and guards. Some looked like they had been killed by conventional means, bullets and swords. Others however showed the tell-tale sign of Magellan's work. Their corpses were laying on the ground in puddles of sizzling purple sludge.

As we walked through the sweltering heat we all took extra precautions to not step in those puddles. Best case scenario, we'd get sick. Worst case, that person would die.

I checked each guard's body for survivors, but so far there were none.

I scanned the horizon. Everywhere I could see on Level Four there were people layed out, dead or dying silently.

My chest hurt slightly. I had failed to stop the riot. Becuse I was too slow all of these guards who were just doing their job was dead.

"All these bastards are dead! Woohoo!" One of the prisoners I had taken with me called out cheerfully.

I gave him a sideways glance. He was an uninteresting guy, no reason to be too bothered by it.

I called out loudly, "Anyone not dead, make a noise so I know!"

I waited patiently for an answer. Soon, I heard a groan coming from the distance. I made a waving motion with my hand so the prisoners would follow me.

After a few minutes of walking over body over body I found the source of the groaning. Five men and a horse laying on the ground covered in the Warden's poison. They were still moving despite the pain they must had been in. I was really impressed by how tough these guys must had been.

Normally, I'd be inclined to help these gentlemen, seeing as how they were obviously not prisoners. Instead, they were dressed as pirates. Logic dictates that ment they were pirates themselves. I shouldn't help pirates.

...

And the guy in the middle was a fatty. Fatties got to pay, and the price is being left for dead. Next time eat a salad and do some laps.

I ignore them in favor of walking past him. As I do, the fat pirate's arm shoots out and grabs my leg.

I look down at him and see he has a desperate look in his eye.

"Help me..." He groans out.

I shake him off my leg. Then tell him as plainly as calmly as I can my response. I say, "No."

I don't help pirates.

The prisoners behind me laugh when they see me do that, but I don't care. I'm ready to walk away when I see something poking out of the pirate's belt. He turned over to grab my leg, and when he did, he revealed three pistols tucked away in his sash.

He's an armed outsider in the depths of Impel Down. That though hits me like Fredigar, who has in fact hit me before.

This is more than just a riot. This is an invasion from unknown forces!

...

"Who in their right mind would attack Impel Down?" I ask out loud.

"What do you mean?" One prisoner asks.

I explain to him, "These guys aren't prisoners, and they obviously aren't dressed like guards. These guys look like pirates. That means that they came here. They look like they were heading deeper down too before Warden got to them. I can tell because they're facing the way we came from. They're facing torwards the entrance to Level Five. There's only one obvious conclusion everybody."

"W-what is it?" Somebody asks.

I give them the most serious face I can muster. One befitting the gravity of the situation. Not that it matters because I'm wearing a mask, but the sheer importance of what I have to say will carry through my voice.

"Impel Down is under attack by invaders."

"Hoky sheet! Wesa unda attack!" One guy up in front of the crowd calls out in a horribly high pitched voice with a painful accent.

I snap to look at him and he looks sheepish. He pulls one of his twin ponytails for a few moments before another prisoner Gibs-slaps him for me.

"Thank you." I tell the slapper sincerely.

I then resume thinking about this. This changes everything. I thought this was just a simple riot that got out of hand, but it's not. People from outside are attacking Impel Down. That can only mean one thing.

This is a prison break.

I was getting ready to run off to find a guard when a corpse catches my eye. They aren't wearing prison garbs or a guard's uniform. And I can't exactly call what I see a pirates outfit either.

Slowly, with growing dread, I walk to the corpse and flip it over. It's a... person who got shot in the stomach a few times and died, but that's not important.

It's a... guy. But they're wearing women's clothing and heavy mascara. Which makes me think they're a woman. But they have a bulge in their pants, so they're a guy?

Oh my god. Gurry was right. It's a transvestite... If he was right about these guys then the underground army of perverts and cross-dressers have finally risen to install a new world order!

"I foretold you so." Gurry says behind me, making me jump. For such a big guy, he's very stealthy.

"Sins are heavy, so that means I am now near-weightless."

Gurry can read my mind!

"No, that's not it. I taught you to think, so it's easy for me to predict what you're thinking. Also, it's Gurry-Rōshi to you boy."

I have to rethink my strategy. If Impel Down is being attacked, a good prisoner would fight back and defend the prison. I eye the fat pirate's pistols once more. Very carefully, so I don't touch any poison, I take the three pistols from his belt.

I look at the prisoners who are in turn watching me loot the pistols from the poisoned and dying pirate.

"If Impel Down is being attacked, it's our duty to fend off the invaders. Men, arm yourselves and fight off the rioters and attackers. Loot the bodies for weapons, there's plenty of of them."

"Why should we listen to you snitch!" One guy calls out far to my left side.

Very calmly I level one of my newly acquired pistols in his direction and with experience I didn't even know I had, I take aim and pull the trigger.

"Fifty-Fold Handcannon."

A bullet the size of a cannonball tears the naysayer in half.

"I said, arm yourselves and get ready to fight rioters and invaders. I did not say argue with me."

The other prisoners begin scrambling around and grabbing rifles and swords from the bodies that surround us. I look into the distance where the entrance to Level Three is. I'm not certain, but my gut is speaking up again.

There is a fight coming up, and I'm going to be ready.