Chapter 77 (1/2)

Grandline, Paradise, Impel Down

Stepping out of the elevator on the freezing level the group were greeted by silence only interrupted when their feet met the concrete as they kept on walking.

Some of the strawhats were bickering within their crew while Crocodile kept to himself, now and then eyeing Azul as if to assess a possible threat. Meanwhile Chopper was sitting on top of Azuls shoulder and repeatedly checked on Robins condition while Azul was carrying her.

Their path lead the group through the deserted prison cells coming about a frozen corpse now and then which caused some shrieking amongst the strawhats, namely from Nami.

Whenever that happened Crocodile grunted in annoyance at the volume while Zoro stuck his finger in his ear as if to check the condition of his eardrums.

After a while of walking they arrived at the stairs that lead to the upper level, the burning hell. As soon as they entered said level Choppers condition began to worsen once again making him become a wet towl once again. Still he kept on checking on Robin if only by eyecontact.

They ventured through the level, coming across the gigantic pot filled with bubbling water sending a grimace to Crocodiles face who could still remember his babtism when he first arrived in Impel Down. The strawhats truly had gotten lucky to not have to go through this initiation upon their arrival. Next to the bubbling pot a lot of various instruments and constructs laid against the walls or were simply thrown on the ground, their means clear to all eyes judging by the bloodstains that still decorated their exterior.

Shoving the disturbing sight to the back of their minds the group left the burning hell and tracked up the stairs that lead them into the starving hell which seemed to brighten Crocodiles mood after he had been freed from his seastone cuffs on the sixth level, now that he came upon a desert like environment. After basking in the athmosphere of this level he rejoined the group that had kept on walking not too keen to stay on this level either as many of the group were sweating rivers by the time they reached the stairs that lead to the second level.

On the second level the came upon the first small scenes of battle. Though surprisingly the ones that laid dead on the ground weren't only wardens and prisoners, no. Amongst them a few marines could be seen which stopped Azul in his tracks shortly after which he turned to Crocodile.

”It seems the marines have finally arrived at Impel Down which means that they possibly brought a decent amount of sh.i.p.s filled with troops along while under the command of a high ranking officer.”

”Indeed...” Crocodile answered shortly, walking up to the dead marines, turning them over with his foot.