Impel Down.

Aside from Magellan, all prison staff led by Deputy Warden Hannyabal, had gathered in the hall!

"I'm so excited, I finally get to meet the Fleet Admiral face to face!"

Among the two neatly lined-up rows of personnel, an elegant woman wearing reddish-brown glasses and a hat tilted to cover her right eye gazed expectantly toward the main entrance.

Dressed in a brown jacket and brown shorts paired with deep red thigh-high boots and matching long gloves, she wore her charm and allure openly without the slightest concealment.

Domino, Head Jailer of Impel Down.

Noticing Domino's reaction, Sadie—the Chief Guard of Impel Down, standing beside her in a peach-colored crop top and bell-bottoms—subconsciously licked her lips and spoke with equal anticipation.

"Domino, the Fleet Admiral is mine. Don't you dare try to take him from me. I want to hear the Fleet Admiral's moans tonight."

"Both of you, shut up!"

As the Deputy Warden, Hannyabal sharply turned his head with a fierce expression.

"The Fleet Admiral is wise and mighty! How could any of you bitches ever catch his eye? Do your damn jobs properly! If even one prisoner escapes Impel Down, you'll learn the consequences!"

"(ˉ▽￣～)"

Domino shot a sidelong glare at Hannyabal, retorting sharply, "Even if prisoners escape, the Fleet Admiral will hold you and Magellan accountable! I'm just a lowly Head Jailer!"

"Eh~"

Hannyabal's eyes lit up excitedly, "If prisoners escape, Magellan would definitely be demoted. Then I could drop the 'Deputy' from my title and become the new Warden of Impel Down!"

"Hey, hey, what's all this racket?"

Suddenly, a booming voice came from outside the door.

"Silence! The Fleet Admiral has arrived!"

Before the words faded, the hall's lighting dimmed abruptly, followed by a crowd pouring into the chamber.

"Attention, all!"

The moment the lights dimmed, Domino—who had just been arguing with Hannyabal—shouted excitedly, then straightened her posture rigidly.

"Salute the Fleet Admiral!"

As soon as Domino spoke, all Impel Down staff present snapped to attention and raised their hands in synchronized salute, shouting in unison.

"Loyalty!"

Entering the sea-level hall of Impel Down were Marine officers of various ranks led by Orion.

Orion, positioned at the center, didn't break stride as he returned the salute while walking and got straight to business.

"Hannyabal will accompany me to report intelligence. Domino, proceed immediately to the second level, Beast Hell. Sadi, go to the third level, Hunger Hell. Should any prisoners riot during this period, execute them on the spot!"

"Yes, Fleet Admiral!"

Domino heart fluttered wildly; if not for the Level 6 prisoners having already broken through to the fifth floor, she would've thrown herself at him without hesitation.

However, the moment this thought surfaced, it was crushed by several sharp gazes suddenly appearing behind Orion.

Those staring at Domino were none other than Kujaku and Hancock.

Even Gion seemed to read her mind, glancing back subtly as they passed each other.

Though her gaze wasn't as piercing as Hancock's or Kujaku's, it still made Domino feel immense pressure.

.....

Meanwhile.

Impel Down, Fifth Level: Absolute Hell.

"Leave one of us behind?"

"Jihahaha, can't you see the situation clearly, brat?"

Hearing the demand for one of them to stay behind, Shiki couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Right now we just want to escape Impel Down! We've no time to play one-on-one games with you here!"

Before his words faded, Shiki abruptly lifted his leg.

A domineering, fierce slash materialized instantly, then cleanly shot toward Shiryu—who stood guarding the passage—through the air.

"Wave Slash!"

Whoosh—

A brilliant, overwhelming slash flashed out, instantly splitting the frozen ground of Absolute Hell as it surged toward Shiryu with terrifying force.

Shiryu showed no panic at Shiki's sudden attack.

Ever since he arrived here from Level 4 Scorching Hell and saw Shiki and the others, he knew that Magellan's sudden decision to release him from confinement wasn't about expecting him to single-handedly stop the monsters who had escaped from Level 6.

Instead, it was a test!

Of course, none of that mattered.

What truly mattered was that, based on his understanding of Magellan, Magellan wouldn't play such testing games with him!

This was most likely the intention of that young Fleet Admiral.

If he were to switch sides in this battle, his fate would undoubtedly be the same as these Level 6 monsters before him.

But if he persisted in fighting these monsters as the Chief Guard, given the young Fleet Admiral's decisive and ruthless nature, the atrocities he had committed over the years by torturing and killing prisoners in Impel Down would likely be brushed aside lightly.

He might even earn the Fleet Admiral's favor!

Thus, the moment he stepped into Absolute Hell, he had made up his mind: he must stop the Level 6 monsters at all costs.

If he died, it would be a worthy death; if he survived, he might be honored.

In the blink of an eye, the slash attack instantly expanded in Shiryu's pupils.

At the critical moment, Shiryu abruptly raised his head, drawing his famed sword from his waist.

In that instant, a crimson blade light flashed.

BOOM—

Accompanied by a deafening explosion, the slash unleashed by Shiki and the crimson blade light collided, forming two distinct shockwaves that recklessly surged outward in all directions.

Wherever they passed, it was like a hurricane sweeping across flat ground, whipping the clothes of Redfield and the others beside Shiki, causing them to flutter violently.

"Now!"

Seizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Catarina Devon suddenly dashed out, breaking through the shockwaves from the collision and appearing right in front of Shiryu.

Without giving Shiryu a chance to react, Catarina Devon didn't hesitate for a moment, decisively reaching out to grab his arm!

"Huh?"

Caught off guard by Catarina Devon's sudden sneak attack, Shiryu's pupils contracted slightly.

Just as Devon was about to touch his arm, he explosively retreated.

"Catarina Devon!"

Shiryu, having retreated while holding his sword to avoid Devon's grasp, let out a cold laugh and said in a deep voice.

"Drop your little scheme. Trying to touch my body to mimic my appearance and escape Impel Down in the chaos won't work, because I, too, am a criminal now! If I fail to stop you all, the moment you escape Impel Down, Fleet Admiral Orion's blade will fall upon me!"

"You talk too much!"

Surprised that Shiryu could still evade Catarina Devon's sneak attack after clashing with Shiki, Bullett suddenly lunged forward, releasing his Armament Haki.

As he dashed out, the flowing Armament Haki surged like a tsunami, overwhelming Shiryu with an unstoppable force.