In the dim and eerie entrance of the Eternal Hell elevator, a horrifying scene unfolded before their eyes.
Bodies of prisoners lay sprawled across the ground, twisted in unnatural angles, their limbs trembling uncontrollably.
Purple venom foamed from their mouths as they convulsed, their eyes rolled upward to expose large patches of white — hollow, unfocused, already in the depths of poisoning.
Thick poison gas drifted through the air, so pungent it made one nauseous just by breathing.
Magellan stood nearby, expressionless, quietly flexing his wrist.
A thin sheen of sweat glimmered on his forehead, yet from his steady breathing and calm demeanor, it was clear the battle had barely drained him.
Before his overwhelming poison abilities, even the infamous pirates of Eternal Hell couldn't escape becoming helpless victims.
The few pirates still resisting the corrosion of the toxin could only spit out useless last words like, "If I weren't old, I'd kill you!" before collapsing into the spreading pool of venom, awaiting the countdown to death.
"Magellan."
Inside the cell, Shiryu of the Rain clutched the iron bars tightly, his eyes locked onto Magellan like a trapped beast — filled with resentment and suppressed fury.
"Magellan!" Shiryu shouted again, his voice echoing violently within the cramped stone walls, shaking them faintly.
"You and I both know how dire things are right now! The prisoners have already begun a massive breakout. With your strength alone, you cannot stop this. Let me out, and I'll help you drag them back in. I'll make them pay for what they've done!"
But Magellan didn't react — as if Shiryu's words never reached his ears. He walked straight toward the elevator.
Just as Magellan was about to step inside, Shiryu suddenly raised his voice, shouting, "You've seen that kid, haven't you? The one with the strange ability! His power counters yours — it'll force you into a tough fight!"
"But for me? His tricks won't work. If you don't want to suffer another humiliating loss against him, you'd better release me now!"
A sly glint flashed across Shiryu's eyes as he continued, "Impel Down is facing a crisis like never before. You need my strength. We once upheld order here together. Yes, we've had our conflicts — but at this moment, I'm the only one who can truly help you!"
"Magellan!!!"
Magellan's face remained stiff and unreadable as Shiryu's voice echoed through the hall. He pressed the elevator button without turning around.
"Magellan! You bastard—"
Just as Shiryu was certain all hope had been crushed, right as the elevator doors were about to shut completely…
A dark shadow shot out from the narrowing gap!
With a sharp clang, a key dropped precisely in front of Shiryu's cell.
The elevator rose slowly.
The low, buzzing hum of its machinery echoed through the confined shaft, sounding like the background music to a secret, forbidden transaction.
Shiryu paused.
Then, a wicked smile slowly spread across his face. Bloodlust flickered in his eyes—cold, sharp, and terrifying—like a starving wolf that had finally been released from its cage.
He bent down swiftly and picked up the key.
With practiced ease, he unlocked the heavy seastone chains wrapped around his body.
The chains fell to the ground with a harsh metallic crash.
Shiryu continued, unlocking the handcuffs clamped tightly to his wrists.
Every movement was laced with impatience and unrestrained violence.
With a forceful shove, he pushed open the iron gate of his cell.
The door creaked loudly as he strode out of the cage that had imprisoned him for so long.
He moved toward a shadowed corner.
His gaze drifted across the corpses of the fallen guards before resting on a katana whose blade gleamed with icy menace.
He stooped down, picked up the katana, and walked toward the poisoned prisoners—one step at a time.
A cruel smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
The prisoners were already on the brink of death, their bodies trembling weakly from the venom ravaging their veins.
They struggled to lift their heads, staring at Shiryu with dimming eyes.
At first, their gazes held only despair.
But when they saw him approach, a fragile spark of hope ignited within them.
They believed he had come to save them—an ally offering a final chance at survival.
They couldn't have been more wrong.
Shiryu stopped in front of them.
In the next instant, the blade swung down.
A flash of cold steel.
A head soared into the air.
"Heh… hehehehe!"
Shiryu's wild laughter echoed through the narrow, dim corridor, sending waves of cold dread through the air.
The demon of Impel Down… had returned.
The elevator connecting Eternal Hell and Freezing Hell never reached the upper layers.
By design, it stopped halfway—at the junction between Blazing Hell and Freezing Hell.
This additional transfer point existed for a simple reason: to prevent prisoners from using a direct elevator to reach the surface.
The forced walk through Blazing Hell served as a barrier against unexpected escapes.
Yujin had been waiting there for a long time.
At his feet lay two burly escaped convicts with vicious faces.
Or rather—two corpses, their hearts now serving as replacements for his Earth Grudge Fear technique.
With a soft chime, the elevator doors opened.
The first thing to emerge was an enormous pair of buttocks, followed by a giant prisoner squeezing his massive frame through the doorway.
More convicts poured out in a chaotic stream.
Finally, one of the leaders of the breakout—the Okama King, Emporio Ivankov—stepped forward.
"Ivankov! Quick—what do we do?!
We can't breathe this poison gas!"
Dozens of prisoners stared anxiously at the Okama King.
Their nervous expressions revealed the reason for their unusual restraint—they weren't charging ahead like students rushing to the cafeteria after class.
Magellan had released a thick layer of poison gas moments earlier.
The toxic barrier made movement impossible, forcing everyone to cluster together in place.
Before Ivankov could speak, Yujin stepped forward.
He took a deep breath.
The blue mask-beast perched on his shoulder inhaled with him, the two moving like synchronized bellows.
Yujin's hands blurred into motion, forming a hand seal he had learned from Orochimaru—Wind Style: Great Breakthrough.
"Compound Ninjutsu… Wind Rampage!"
His shout echoed through the chamber as a violent gale burst from both his mouth and the mask-beast's.
The wind howled like an invisible dragon, hurling itself toward the dense clouds of poison.
At once, the toxic mist trembled under the pressure.
The once-still miasma scattered like a startled flock of sheep, rolling aside as the gale forced open a path.
The violent gale swept through the corridor, blowing the poison gas away in an instant.
The pungent smell lingering in the air gradually began to fade.
A relatively safe passage slowly revealed itself before everyone's eyes.
The prisoners stood frozen in place, witnessing this unbelievable scene, each of their faces filled with shock.
They whispered among themselves, guessing that Yujin must be some kind of Wind-Wind Fruit user—or at least someone with a similar devil fruit ability.
Ivankov noticed their reactions and waved both hands.
"Target—! The sea surface!"
****
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