At Redfield's words, both Barrett and Wald turned toward Souta Kiryuu.
The arrogance in their eyes quickly faded, replaced by something else—tension, even awe.
Barrett's gaze, however, carried something more.
A flicker of battle intent.
"Ehhahaha! Yeah, it's true—I killed Garling and those Celestial Dragons," Souta said with a wild grin, his voice echoing with unrestrained pride. "Though I'll admit, I just learned about this new bounty myself. A few days ago, I was still fighting Garling and the Five Elders back in the New World! During their sick little 'native extermination tournament,' I sent plenty of those so-called gods straight to hell—then traveled thousands of miles to storm Impel Down."
His laughter was filled with overwhelming confidence and power. Souta had barely raised his fist to smash Barrett's cell open when Shiryu of the Rain stepped forward, keys in hand, and casually unlocked the gate.
"What are you trying to do?" Barrett frowned as Souta pulled out another syringe and began walking toward him.
Even though he had mostly adapted to the seastone shackles and their weakening effect, he still couldn't summon his full strength. Three days without proper food or rest had left his body worn and his will strained.
"Relax. Just drawing a little blood—checking your condition," Souta replied, ignoring Barrett's glare and low growl. He plunged the needle straight in and drew a full tube of blood, unaffected even by the faint, suppressed Conqueror's Haki radiating from Barrett's weakened form.
He didn't stop there. Souta turned toward Redfield—who didn't even possess a Devil Fruit power—and drew another sample. Who knew? That man's lineage might contain a remarkable genetic trait. His innate Observation Haki alone was something rare, almost divine.
If cloned Seraphim could awaken such abilities… it would be worth the experiment.
"Alright," Souta said, tucking away the blood samples. "Now, you three can make your choice—stay here and die, or come with me to slaughter the Five Elders and those damn Celestial Dragons."
He smiled as he spoke, a grin sharp as a blade.
"Oh, right. You relics deserve an update about the new world you've woken up to."
He then briefly explained what had happened in recent years: the existence of Imu—the so-called immortal "King of the World," who had lived for over eight centuries—and the Five Elders, who each possessed awakened Mythical Zoan powers.
"An immortal? Lived for eight hundred years?"
"The King of the World… Imu?"
"The Five Elders are that strong now?"
"A new Great Era of ambition and tyranny…"
Each man stared blankly as Souta spoke, their expressions hardening.
They realized how much the sea had changed—and how far behind they had fallen.
"Your next move is your choice," Souta said, his tone dropping cold. "Either die here, or join me. But don't think you can act on your own. If you want to walk free, you walk under my flag."
A quiet menace filled the air. Even monsters like Redfield and Barrett understood that this man was not one to test.
"By the way, Redfield," Souta added with a smirk, "your idol—Brook—is part of my crew. If you want your youth back, I can help with that too. You're still hunting for that Mythical Zoan—Vampire Fruit—that restores youth, aren't you?"
Shiryu stepped forward again, unlocking the rest of their seastone chains—leaving only their handcuffs and ankle restraints intact.
The three men said nothing, their expressions dark and unreadable, as Souta and Shiryu led them up from the deepest level of Infinite Hell.
Their emergence shook all of Impel Down.
After all, names like Redfield and the "Heir of the Devil" were legends of the sea.
"Ehhahaha! Law! Go up to Level Four and bring me today's newspaper!" Souta shouted. "I heard my bounty's been raised to eighty-eight billion berries! Let's show these rotting fossils what true dominance looks like!"
His voice carried with the force of Conqueror's Haki, shaking the iron corridors and echoing through the entire prison.
"Yes, Boss Souta!" Law replied, his eyes lighting up before vanishing in a flash of his teleportation ability.
Even Redfield and Barrett exchanged glances—another rare Devil Fruit user.
"What!? Eighty-eight billion!? Souta Kiryuu's bounty is eighty-eight billion!?"
Bonney's scream cut through the air, followed by gasps from the rest of the Souta Pirates.
"Lord Souta is the strongest man alive!"
Boa Hancock's face flushed with excitement, her eyes brimming with adoration as she gazed at her man.
"Yehahaha! If Boss's bounty is that high, then this god must be close behind the Yonko!" Enel crackled with electricity, grinning from ear to ear.
"Hehehe! Then my bounty's sure to surpass those idiots from Kaido's crew!" Moria shrieked, full of manic confidence.
Shiryu just sighed through his cigar smoke. Judging from the chaos, Enel and Moria were probably the ones whose bounties had risen the least.
"What!? Eighty-eight billion? Even the Pirate King Roger didn't have that much! You're full of crap!"
"Don't think storming Impel Down gives you the right to boast, you lunatics!"
The imprisoned pirates shouted from their cells—only to be met with a surge of lightning, a swarm of shadow bats, and a storm of petrifying arrows.
Even Redfield and the others couldn't help but admit—Souta's crew was formidable.
"Ehhahaha! You prisoners disappoint me!" Souta roared. "You've got no spirit, no vision. You don't even deserve the chance to join me! Those who spoke just now—congratulations. You'll become fuel for my army!"
His Conqueror's Haki exploded through Infinite Hell once again, silencing the entire prison.
"Take those fools out," he ordered coldly. "Drain their blood and harvest their shadows for Moria. Make them into zombies."
The surviving prisoners recoiled, eyes wide with terror. This man was even more terrifying than Shiryu.
"Hehehe! I love this decision!" Moria cackled madly, already imagining his growing army of undead.
Just then, Law reappeared, holding stacks of newspapers and new bounty posters.
Bonney darted forward first, snatching one up eagerly, followed by Boa Hancock, desperate to see her beloved Souta's new bounty.
"Ahhh!! It's true! Souta Kiryuu—eighty-eight billion berries! And Kuma's at thirty billion now too!" Bonney's joyous scream echoed across Infinite Hell.
The sharp rise in bounties for both her father and her captain made her happier than she'd ever been.
"Only sixteen billion for me?" Boa Hancock muttered, visibly displeased. "That's more than the Calamities, but still far below Kuma… hmph."
Meanwhile, Enel and Moria, seeing their own bounty posters, went dark-faced with frustration.
The era of Souta Kiryuu had officially begun.