Heavy, resonant footsteps echoed up the stairwell.
Domino swallowed hard, her fingers trembling as she held the key over the lock to Shilieu of the Rain's cell. The metallic click of the door echoed like a gunshot in the silent corridor.
The prisoner stepped out—a tall man in the uniform of Impel Prison, his aviator cap shadowing sharp, calculating eyes. Freedom lit up his face, twisted slightly into a sinister grin.
"That guy is incredibly powerful… please—" Domino's warning was cut off in an instant.
In a blur, Shilieu of the Rain's hand shot out and clamped around Domino's neck. She struggled, but his grip was iron-strong.
"Let go of me!" she gasped, panic rising.
"Stop talking. Bring me my Thunderstorm!" Shilieu's voice was cold, commanding. In the same motion, he snatched a saber from her hand—the legendary blade that had accompanied him through countless battles. Thunderstorm.
"Hey, hey! Why are you fighting among yourselves?"
Shin Kawa stepped into view, his expression calm but alert.
Shilieu of the Rain flung Domino aside with a casual motion, sending her skidding across the floor. He turned fully to Shin. "So… the one who toppled Magellan himself approaches."
Shin bowed slightly. "It's nothing special. I'm just here to put an end to this chaos, then I leave."
Shilieu laughed, a low, dangerous sound. "Hmph. Magellan may rely on poison, but that's all he is—useless without it. Me? My blade is no joke. One careless strike, and your body will be torn apart."
Shin cracked a faint smile. "That's fine. My fists are stronger than your blade."
He activated the system.
Ding!Character Card [Mitekai] Activated. Possession uses –1.
Green energy coursed through Shin's veins again, vitality and reflexes surging. The ten puppets had been strong against ordinary opponents, but Shilieu's skill with Thunderstorm was beyond their reach. Even all ten puppets working in unison wouldn't be enough.
It was time to switch tactics—physical combat against the sword master.
"Come then," Shilieu growled, swinging Thunderstorm in a deadly arc.
"Eight Gates of Dunjia—Gate of Awakening!" Shin roared, green energy flaring over his body. Every nerve, every muscle, every heartbeat quickened to inhuman levels.
Shilieu lunged.
"Go to hell!" His blade screamed through the air like a thunderbolt. Its murderous aura sliced through the dungeon, almost splitting the stone walls with its sheer energy.
Shin leapt, barely evading. The blade's edge shaved past him, illuminating the corridor like lightning. Every tile beneath him cracked from the strike's force, tiny shards bouncing like sparks.
He exhaled sharply, sweat beading on his brow. Even at the Sixth Gate, Shin's reflexes had been pushed to the limit. And Shilieu… had never been so surprised.
To dodge at such close range, it was nearly impossible. Yet Shin had done it—escaping a strike delivered within mere centimeters.
Before Shilieu could recover, Shin's counterattack struck.
"To the Peacock!"
The Sixth Gate of Dunjia unlocked its true power. Shin's fists became a whirlwind of energy—countless strikes blasting from every angle. The air itself ignited under the speed and force of his blows. Flames erupted from his fists, scattering like a brilliant peacock's tail, dazzling and deadly.
Shilieu staggered, caught in the onslaught, rain of punches pounding him from all sides. Each strike burned, each impact rattled his body.
BOOM!
In seconds, he was forced back ten steps. His uniform—black attire of the Impel Prison wardens—was scorched, riddled with holes. His face bore the black-and-white mark of soot and ash, looking more humiliated than battered.
A voice rang out from the shadows. A man leaned against the prison door, his hat crooked, his bulbous nose comically prominent, the faint stench of alcohol clinging to him.
"Haha! Shilieu of the Rain… really useless. To think the two aces of Push City could lose to a prisoner from Red Lotus Hell. Hilarious!"
"Basque Choate, enough of your nonsense!" Shin heard Shilieu snap.
The warden-turned-prisoner's composure shattered. Fury flared in Shilieu's eyes as he swung Thunderstorm toward Basque Choate, who had been leaning there lazily. The legendary blade sliced through the air with a roar, aimed directly at the taunting spectator.
The dungeon trembled. Sparks flew. Shadows stretched like living things across the walls.
Shin tightened his stance, energy flaring in readiness. The real battle was about to erupt.