"BOOM—"

Amid the deafening explosion, even someone as powerful as Shiryu, who stood as Impel Down's iron wall alongside Magellan, was a step too slow despite raising his sword in time.

Under the overwhelming force of the Armament Haki impact, he was sent flying like a heavy bomb, crashing into the elevator leading to Level 4 Scorching Hell.

"Devil's Heir!"

Amidst the raging shockwaves, Shiryu, who had been violently thrown into the elevator, ignored the blood surging within him and immediately looked up with intense vigilance at the tall, imposing figure before him.

Gritting his teeth, he tightly gripped the hilt of his renowned sword Raiu, struggling to his feet and forcibly swallowing the blood that had risen to his mouth.

"All these years in Level 6, you haven't been affected in the slightest. This level of strength… your Devil Fruit ability must have awakened!"

"But it doesn't matter. Even if I die here today, I won't let you proceed smoothly into the Scorching Hell!"

With these words, Shiryu took a step forward, positioning himself at the elevator entrance, his aura silently reaching its peak.

"You're overestimating yourself!"

Without wasting words, Bullett took a step forward.

Thud—

As his foot landed, the Absolute Hell trembled.

In the next instant, a terrifying Conqueror's Haki erupted.

Black and red Conqueror's Haki, carrying an invisible pressure, descended upon Shiryu like a crushing mountain.

"Bullett!"

Just as Bullett was about to strike and crush Shiryu, Shiki swiftly floated over and promptly intervened.

"Killing him is as easy as turning over a hand. There's no need to rush!"

After a brief pause, Shiki immediately shifted his tone, his gaze burning intently at Shiryu.

"Shiryu, if I heard correctly, if we escape, Orion's blade will also fall upon you, right? Since you're doomed either way, why not make a wiser choice? If you choose to keep fighting us, your fate is clear. But if you join us in breaking out, you might still have a chance at survival!"

"Look at your current situation. We've already fought our way to the fifth level, yet the Navy and Impel Down guards are nowhere to be seen. Clearly, they're sending you to your death alone!"

"Come, become my right-hand man, and let's overturn this Impel Down together!"

Before Shiryu could react, Catarina Devon, standing nearby, grinned meaningfully and said.

"What choice will Shiryu make? Right now, not just Bullett, but any one of us could easily overpower him. A heroic death or joining us to break out of Impel Down—that's a question worth pondering, mururururu."

"Recruiting him is your business!"

Bullett was clearly displeased with Shiki's interference.

After throwing out these words, he strode forward.

"I'm not dead yet, Bullett!"

Ignoring Shiki's attempt to persuade him to surrender, Shiryu gripped his sword tightly and took a step forward, staring intently at the approaching Bullett.

"No one would be troubled by killing a minor nuisance, but I am the Chief Guard of Impel Down. Trying to take me down won't be that easy!"

"Those who stand in my way, die!"

Bullett's patience had clearly reached its limit.

As he threw both fists forward, he simultaneously unleashed Armament Haki and Conqueror's Haki.

....

Meanwhile.

Impel Down, Fourth Level, Scorching Hell, Warden's Office.

"All personnel, attention!"

"Salute the Fleet Admiral!"

"Loyalty! Devotion!"

As soon as Orion stepped out of the elevator, dozens of guards who had been waiting with Magellan outside the entrance almost simultaneously stepped forward and saluted.

Though this was Magellan's first time meeting Orion, the new Fleet Admiral, he showed no arrogance or disdain.

As he raised his hand in salute to Orion, his eyes were filled with respect.

Orion did not continue forward but came to a halt before Magellan.

He lifted his head slightly with a warm smile on his face as he spoke.

"Warden Magellan, now that I think about it, I should have come to inspect Impel Down earlier after taking office. However, burdened by official duties and now here to purge the criminals within Impel Down, I hope you don't hold any resentment?"

As he spoke, Orion raised his hand and extended it toward Magellan.

Seeing this, Magellan was both flattered and apprehensive.

He raised his hand, preparing to shake Orion's, but then he immediately remembered his status as a Venom-Venom Fruit user.

Even being near him required wearing a gas mask, let alone physical contact.

He hastily retreated several steps, his voice trembling with fear.

"Fleet Admiral, let's skip the handshake. My Devil Fruit ability is too potent. If I were to harm you, I could never bear the responsibility!"

"You're an honest man!"

Orion chuckled and without further pleasantries, got straight to the point.

"What's the current situation with Shiki and the others?"

Magellan dared not hide anything, replying in his gruff voice.

"Shiki and his group have already entered Absolute Hell. Some time ago, Shiryu tortured and killed several prisoners and a guard. I ordered him to atone for his crimes by intercepting Shiki's group in Absolute Hell."

Orion nodded.

"Shiryu is inherently cruel and bloodthirsty. Over the years, he has harmed many colleagues within the prison. Sending him to confront the monsters of Level 6 is a test. If he passes, I will transfer him out of Impel Down to serve at headquarters. If he fails, he will be executed as part of this purge!"

Boom, boom, boom, boom—

Suddenly, a series of deafening explosions erupted.

Immediately after, violent tremors came from the direction of the elevator leading to the fifth level, Absolute Hell.

Invisible shockwaves seeped through the elevator shaft, penetrating the cracks of the door into the fourth level.

At the same time, a fleeting image flashed before Orion's eyes.

In the vision, Shiryu rejected Shiki's invitation and withstood a thunderous blow from Bullett.

Yet, even after being sent crashing into the elevator, Shiryu refused to give up.

Clutching his renowned sword, Raiu, he struggled to his feet, blocking Bullett and the others from advancing beyond the elevator.

"Interesting!"

A faint smile curled at the corner of Orion's lips as he processed the vision.

Shiryu's actions had exceeded his expectations.

Based on the original storyline, when Shiki and the prisoners of Level 6 broke out, Shiryu had a high probability of betraying the prison.

After all, Magellan had already confined Shiryu multiple times.

Unless he reformed, he would eventually be imprisoned in Level 6 or even executed.

Under such circumstances, it would have been entirely plausible for Shiryu to take a gamble and join forces with Shiki to escape Impel Down.

Yet, the reality was that Shiryu, still serving as the chief jailer of Impel Down, not only rejected Shiki's offer but also risked his life to defend the elevator.

This display alone was enough for Orion to view him in a new light.