Absolute Hell, elevator entrance leading to Scorching Hell.

Boom—

Another deafening explosion suddenly rang out.

Immediately after, Shiryu, utterly unable to withstand Bullett's assault, crashed heavily into the elevator once more.

His body was embedded into the wall by the terrifying Haki impact, causing the elevator to warp and deform under the strain.

"Ugh—"

Having suffered two consecutive heavy blows, Shiryu could no longer hold back, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

"Shiki!"

Bullett, who had nearly crushed Shiryu with a single strike, did not press his advantage to finish him off.

As Shiryu remained embedded in the wall, surrounded by spiderweb-like cracks, Bullett abruptly turned his head toward Shiki and said in a low voice.

"Are you still going to stop me?"

"Jihahaha, it doesn't matter anymore!"

Shiki floated over, laughing wildly and unrestrainedly.

"I despises those who refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. Since he's asking for death, let's grant his wish!"

Before his words faded, Shiki suddenly raised his leg and delivered a series of lightning-fast kicks through the air.

In an instant, multiple dazzling sword lights erupted, enveloping Shiryu, who was still embedded in the elevator wall.

"Lion's Thousand Cut Valley!"

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Several sword energies crisscrossed and intertwined, as if intent on dismembering Shiryu into pieces.

Just as Shiryu seemed destined to meet his end, a nearly tangible, terrifying energy descended from above the elevator like a falling galaxy.

With a deafening roar, it enveloped Shiryu completely.

Simultaneously, the slashing waves from Shiki's attacks were entirely blocked by the descending energy.

"Conqueror's Haki—"

Feeling the sudden surge of overwhelming pressure within the elevator, Shiki's eyelids twitched violently.

His face pale with shock, he looked up at the elevator and exclaimed.

"He's here!"

Before Shiki could finish speaking, the terrifying energy that had descended like a galaxy shifted direction abruptly.

It surged out of the elevator like a raging torrent or a towering tsunami.

"Bzzz—"

As the terrifying energy erupted, the surrounding space vibrated with a low-frequency hum.

The disorienting oscillations came in waves, with Bullett and Shiki, standing outside the elevator, bearing the brunt of the pressure.

"How is this possible!"

As one of the absolute masters of the three types of Haki, even someone as powerful as Bullett couldn't help but change his expression the moment the invisible pressure washed over him.

He looked up at the elevator in disbelief.

"This level of Conqueror's Haki... even Roger back in his day..."

"Bzzz—"

Before Bullett could finish, another low-frequency vibration exploded in the ears of Bullett and the others, snapping Shiki and Bullett out of their shock.

They both retreated explosively!

"Dammit, stop standing there! Get away from here, now!"

"What immense Conqueror's Haki!"

"Is this the Fleet Admiral Shiki mentioned?"

As Shiki and Bullett retreated, Catarina Devon swiftly followed while shouting to alert Pizarro and the others.

However, her warning was somewhat unnecessary, as no one would be foolish enough to stand their ground under such a terrifying onslaught of Conqueror's Haki.

Amidst the exclamations of shock, Pizarro, San Juan, and Vasco Shot fled in disarray under the impact of the Conqueror's Haki.

The moment they stepped away from the elevator entrance, a terrifying Conqueror's Haki instantly erupted, sweeping through the entire Absolute Hell like a tsunami at an astonishing speed.

Catarina Devon, who had swiftly retreated alongside Shiki and Bullett, was forced to unleash her Devil Fruit ability under the impact of the Conqueror's Haki, transforming into her Mythical Zoan: Nine-Tailed Fox form to resist it.

Even so, as the Conqueror's Haki surged past her like a roaring tidal wave, she nearly collapsed to the ground.

"This is simply unbelievable! What kind of Conqueror's Haki is this?!"

After withstanding the first wave of the Haki's impact, Catarina Devon immediately turned her gaze toward the elevator entrance.

Although there was no other unusual activity inside the elevator at that moment, she finally understood why the Marine Fleet Admiral had dared to let Shiki enter Level 6 unimpeded and allowed him to release them!

"This is just too ridiculously strong, meow~"

At the same time, Pizarro looked up at the black-and-red Conqueror's Haki roaring overhead, covering the entire Absolute Hell with astonishing range.

He couldn't control his trembling.

"Just with Conqueror's Haki alone, he forced all of us back. Is it the Fleet Admiral that Shiki mentioned?"

"All of you, stay alert!"

Observing the reactions of Catarina Devon and Pizarro, Shiki hovered in the air, allowing the Conqueror's Haki to whip through his robes and golden hair.

He stared ahead with unprecedented seriousness, as if facing a formidable enemy.

"Now you should believe my words. This man is far more powerful than you can imagine!"

After a brief pause, Shiki immediately turned to Bullett, who, though also shocked by the sudden Conqueror's Haki, now appeared incredibly excited.

He speak gravely, "Bullett, if you want to escape, set aside your arrogance and conceit. You alone are not enough to defeat this Navy Fleet Admiral. Later, you and I will join forces to restrain him while Redfield leads Pizarro and the others to break through to the fourth level!"

Before Bullett could respond, a cold, clear voice suddenly echoed in Shiki's ears.

"You won't make it to the fourth level. This Absolute Hell will be your grave!"

As the voice faded, a figure descended from within the elevator—it was Orion, clad in the Fleet Admiral's coat.

Having directly broken through the elevator from the Scorching Hell entrance to reach the Absolute Hell entrance, Orion paid no attention to Shiki and the others.

With his back to the Absolute Hell, a single sword in hand, he gazed softly at Shiryu, who had been sent flying by Bullett and embedded into the wall.

"F-Fleet Admiral Orion!"

Never expecting Orion to personally intervene and save him just as he was about to be killed by Shiki's slashes, the severely injured Shiryu weakly lifted his eyes and spoke with effort.

"I... I haven't let you down, have I?"

Orion smiled and nodded. "Holding the line alone—you've done well!"

Before Shiryu could say another word, Orion suddenly bent down, picked up the half-smoked cigar from the ground, and placed it in Shiryu's mouth as he opened it.

"Rest for a while. Leave the rest to me."

Under Shiryu's astonished gaze, Orion, whose words had barely faded, abruptly turned and strode out of the elevator.

His aura surged to its peak in an instant, his sharp eyes sweeping over Shiki, Bullett, Redfield, Catarina Devon, Avalo Pizarro, San Juan Wolf, and Vasco Shot.

Simultaneously.

Several figures descended directly through the shattered opening above the elevator, landing gracefully on Orion's right side.

They were none other than Gion, Hancock, and Kujaku.

Immediately after, Magellan and Borsalino—who had been slacking off in the warden's office earlier—drifted down and stepped out side by side from the elevator, taking their positions on Orion's left side.