Chapter 8: Welcome To Hell - Part 2

The prisoners were sent to another rectangular building that was parallel to the one they exited from. However, they didn't enter the building directly, instead they went toward a hatch in front of the building that, which when opened, reveals a gigantic white and blue-ish hallway with plain cell doors lining down, seemingly, endlessly. It didn't look as bad as they were taking it to be and some of the prisoners relaxed and a small few even started chuckling to themselves on how this will be a cakewalk for them. Oh, how wrong they were.

They did stop and the select prisoners that were sent to cells were little kids that looked around the ages of 4 to 9. Luffy didn't even realize that there were prisoners this young entering this place and he inwardly worried on just how many people fell victim to these … whatever they were. Whatever it was they were in for, he kept his guard up and looked out for hancock when need be and he also had to look out for Robin. 'Speaking of Robin, where could she be in this place…?' Before his thoughts could continue, the guards sent the other prisoners to a floor below the 4-9 aged prisoners via an elevator to a level that instantly screamed 'Hellzone' to everyone, especially Luffy.

The level was a visual nightmare with it being a gigantic orange and red-ish hallway with old and rusty cell doors lining down, seemingly, endlessly across a steamy red floor. The heat was so insane that as soon as they entered the level, every prisoner started to sweat profusely and the guards put on some sort of gear that apparently keeps them cool. Not only that but every one of their feet burned with each step which resulted in them not being able to sit or stand still in one place. The prisoners started to fear for themselves and inwardly questioned how were they going to survive in this place. No one held the answer and Luffy knew that they would have to wait and see.

-X-

A few hours pass by without much happening. All that occurred was the prisoners being directed to their cells. After the door shut with a loud bang, Luffy's eyes wandered around the area where he stumbled into. It didn't look like much: there was a toilet at the wall opposite of the door and a single bed on his right side. On the left side, there was a schedule for the upcoming days which, according to the paper, was going into effect tomorrow.

Schedule

4:00am Wake up

4:30am - 4:50am Breakfast

4:50am - 12:00pm Experiments I

12:00pm - 5:20pm Training

5:20pm -12:00am Experiments II

12:10am Lights out

Luffy's eyes widened considerably after reading that. The times were so early and the periods labeled "Experiments" significantly worried him as different images went through his head on what could happen during those times. But soon, his attention shifted to the guy who brought him here: the space suit-wearing guy. Luffy sat crossed legged and went into a deep thinking mode.

'That guy… he moved so fast that I couldn't keep up, even when I accessed that strange power that managed to save my life back then….'

Images of the buster call flash through his mind.

'I couldn't save anyone. I was helpless. I was weak. I was … scared. And because of my weaknesses, my home and all of the people I would consider family are gone. why…. Why …. WHY?!'

Luffy slammed his fist into the brick wall as a dark red aura surrounded him.

'WHY AM I SO AFRAID?! WHY AM I SO WEAK?! WHY CAN'T I PROTECT ONE DAMN PERSON?!'

Luffy's frustration and rage flared up extremely and people around his cell began to pass out with foam in their mouths. However, Luffy was oblivious to those events around him and was still intently thinking.

'...This training … this place ... if this could help me get stronger… strong enough so no more of my friends would die, then … then I'll do it. No more cowering… no more fear… no more helplessness… today ….'

Luffy clenches his fists.

'...TODAY IS THE DAY I START MY JOURNEY TO BE THE PIRATE KING!'

To Be Continued

Next Time: Demons And Mochi - Rivalries Born