Summary:
Buggy and Luffy fight their way to enter Level 2 by going through Level 1, the crimson hell where the lowest ranked criminals are kept. To convince Buggy to help Luffy get to Level 2, he gave him his tape (which he got from Nami’s treasure), which was apparently a clue to the treasure Buggy was looking for.
As more Blugoris give chase, Luffy knocks some out with the Gum-Gum Whip. Buggy fakes a screaming fit, then surprises the guard with a Chop-Chop Quick Escape and knocks the guard down with an Aerial Topspin Big Top. The guard gets up, but is then knocked down again by Luffy. This will leave the clown with pirate shock. Buggy explains that the Blugoris or Blue Gorillas are very tough fighters, but Luffy has already defeated them.
The ranger is informed that one of the escapees is with Luffy and has defeated Blugoris.
Buggy is surprised that Luffy has come to save Ace and refuses the offer to be freed from the prisoners. The Clown also remembers when he and his crew met Ace when the feast crashed. After Buggy befriends him, he fears that capturing Ace will anger Whitebeard and refuses to help Luffy get to Level 5. Luffy also reminds him that 10 battleships are in place guarding the prison docks.
As Buggy formulates a plan, he notices the tape Nami gave Luffy and tries to pry it off. More guards arrive and force them to leave. The clown hopes that if he gets the tape, they will surely find Ace. Buggy flies through and leaves his legs in Luffy’s hands.
In a flashback, Buggy went through a cave that supposedly contained Captain John’s treasure. The clown warns what dangers await them. Just then, a group of workers noticed Buggy’s party, thinking they were recruits. Buggy was frustrated as he dug his way through the cave. As Buggy’s crew searched for the treasure, it was spotted by a group of Marines at a naval base. He was thrown into Impel Down and he thought it was fate.
Buggy explains that he has to go through the levels by number, first levels 1 to 2. He also says that he was tortured several times before in level 4. Below level 5, the group of criminals is erased from history. As Luffy thinks about the treasure map, he hands Captain John’s treasure a sleeve tape, mistaking it for the map. Buggy takes the band and thanks Luffy.
Just then, Buggy hits a wall and Luffy is convinced that it will contain a shortcut.
Meanwhile, Hancock and Hannyabal’s gang continue their descent, with the former more worried about Luffy. Hancock stomps on the vice mayor for interrupting her romantic moment.
Luffy and Buggy break through the wall into the guard room. They soon find themselves in a red thorn forest. Buggy explains that the trees are Blade Trees and the grass is Spike Needle Grass for chopping legs. Venomous spiders stalk the prisoners to further torture them. Luffy is shocked by this discovery of Crimson Hell. Luffy throws Buggy’s feet to the ground and she should protect him for a while.
Buggy flies across the cut grass, hoping to find an exit. Eventually the two find a deep hole and it’s a one-way drop to level 2. Luffy decides to jump anyway, while Buggy runs away with the armband, thinking he’ll finally get the treasure he’s aiming for. Then Blugoris takes aim with his axe, sending Buggy’s main body into the hole, soon followed by Buggy’s head.
Elsewhere, a large wild beast roars as some prisoners complain of its hunger. Galdino despairs as he knows he will soon be eaten. Luffy and Buggy continue their descent.