The prisoners shot forward like wild horses freed from their reins, sprinting madly toward the path that seemed to lead to hope.
But Yujin stopped right at that moment, turning to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Redfield.
His hands flashed through a series of seals, and chakra gathered rapidly inside his mouth.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
A massive fireball formed instantly in front of him and roared toward the enormous elevator.
At the same time, Redfield raised his weapon high, his Haki surging violently.
A fierce slash, coated in brilliant light, tore out from his blade.
This was the strike of a true Grandmaster Swordsman.
The Great Fireball and Redfield's slash struck the elevator simultaneously, and a thunderous explosion erupted.
Under this combined attack, the elevator was blown apart instantly, metal shards scattering everywhere as the entire structure collapsed inward.
Having done this, Yujin and Redfield didn't stay for even a second—they immediately turned and sprinted after the fleeing crowd.
However, at that very moment, a sharp "ding" echoed from an unremarkable corner.
The prisoners' hearts collectively skipped a beat, and a wave of dread washed over them.
The doors of another elevator slowly opened, and from within stepped an enraged figure.
His appearance was like that of a slave driver returning to find his lazy workers—his aura alone crushed the prisoners' spirits in an instant.
A few inmates who had already been tortured into mental instability dropped to their knees on the spot, kowtowing and shouting, "I don't want to escape! I—I was forced into this!"
Magellan's presence alone was suffocating.
Just one glance from him was enough to turn the cheering prisoners back into whimpering wrecks.
Their powers and stamina had been weakened to this state because the World Government used a special injection—one crafted specifically around Magellan's venom.
Years of being dosed with this poison had already carved terror of its source deep into their souls.
Even a diluted dose of it would make them collapse, just like a Devil Fruit user drowning in the sea.
So if they were to take a direct hit from Magellan's concentrated poison…
Magellan let out a cold snort and roared at the prisoners:
"This is Impel Down! Even with wings, you cannot escape judgment! Surrender peacefully, and you may avoid needless suffering!"
"Otherwise, I shall turn you into nothing but pus and blood in this endless hell of poison—your souls scattered as a warning to all!"
His murderous aura surged upward, reaching the ceiling of the scorching inferno itself.
With a man like this guarding it, Impel Down truly deserved its reputation as a fortress of iron.
However… if it were only Magellan—
A deafening boom erupted.
From the ruins of the elevator that Yujin and Redfield had just destroyed, a figure shot out.
Shiryu of the Rain bit down on his cigar, gripping a struggling prisoner in one hand.
With a single swing of his blade, he executed the man instantly—a brutal greeting for everyone present.
"Shiryu!"
Magellan trembled with rage as he watched the prisoner executed right before his eyes.
"Hehehehe…" Shiryu laughed maniacally. "At this point, do you still care about the lives of these prisoners? Kill them!"
Magellan sighed. "I'll deal with you later."
With that, he hurled a ball of poison into the crowd.
"Ahhhh!"
Screams instantly filled the scorching hellscape. The most dangerous part of the prison break had finally arrived.
Yujin exhaled deeply. "We can't work together anymore."
He exchanged a glance with Redfield, silently reaching an agreement, and they each charged toward their respective opponents.
Seeing Yujin rush forward, Magellan activated his ability.
"Poison Dragon!"
Before Yujin could finish forming his seals, Ivankov jumped in.
She blinked rapidly, sending a visible gust of wind toward the Poison Dragon.
"DEATH WINK!"
Boom!
The Poison Dragon was blasted to pieces, and several unlucky prisoners nearby were poisoned, losing their ability to move.
Ivankov turned to Yujin. "You love-struck kid, I'll handle him! You run!"
Yujin's face was tense as his hands moved rapidly. "What nonsense are you talking about? Don't falter now! Stick to the plan! Ivankov, right now, you're the only one who can make that wicked woman, Catarina Devon, follow through!"
Inazuma also urged, "Listen to him! Commander! Go, now!"
Ivankov's face was filled with reluctance. "You must… you must hold on! You're going to marry your childhood sweetheart!"
Yujin almost choked on his own spit. He took a deep breath and shouted, "See you at sea!"
On the other side of the battlefield, Shiryu and Redfield faced each other.
A chilling aura radiated from them, making the surrounding air feel oppressive and heavy.
Shiryu held a cigar in his mouth, the smoke curling with each breath. His eyes glimmered with a cruel, bloodthirsty light.
Redfield stood tall and steady like a pine. His famed blade, Raiu, glinted coldly as it touched the ground. His eyes were deep and icy, as if seeing through Shiryu's entire life.
Suddenly, Shiryu moved!
Like a ghost, he vanished from his spot in an instant.
The next second, a sharp clash rang out. A flash of cold light streaked across as their blades collided violently.
The force was so immense that visible shockwaves spread outward, sending nearby stones and debris flying.
Redfield snorted coldly. His arm muscles tensed as he swung, deflecting Shiryu's massive sword.
Then, with a turn of his body, his blade Raiu sliced through the air, hurling a fierce sword aura straight at Shiryu.
Shiryu, however, remained calm. He planted his sword before him and shouted, "Prison!"
Immediately, a black Haki surged from his sword, colliding head-on with Redfield's sword aura!
Another deafening crash filled the air. The impact emitted a blinding light and force, forcing nearby prisoners to shield their eyes and cower.
They clashed back and forth, blades flashing and sparks flying in a dazzling spectacle.
This was the duel of true master swordsmen!
Shiryu no longer had his trusty sword. Even in his prime, he could not easily defeat Red the Aloof, a pirate once on par with Whitebeard and Roger.
But the lone Redfield, weakened by years of malnutrition and age, despite wielding a famed blade, could not gain the upper hand against Shiryu either.
Yujin stole a glance at the battle and quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, he had automatically retrieved Shiryu's sword. Without that, today's outcome would have been far more uncertain.
****
Support me on my ko-fi account and read upto 20 early chapters,
https://ko-fi.com/aayume