Chapter 124: The Entry of Shiryu of the Rain

Magellan watched the dense fog with a grave expression. Even with his keen eyesight, he could not pierce the veil, relying instead on his sharp senses to perceive the fierce battle raging within.

Powerful collisions echoed incessantly from the mist. From time to time, strands of sword energy and gusts of fist-force erupted, easily tearing through the air and cleaving the sea. While the battle remained hidden from sight, one did not need to ponder long to know that a clash between officers of this caliber was exceptionally perilous. Those lacking the necessary strength would not dare to draw near.

The battle within the fog had already lasted thirty minutes. The fearsome "Ghost Hunter" stood alone against ten Marine officers of Rear Admiral and Vice Admiral rank, fighting them to a standstill. Although the strength of such officers was significantly compromised in naval warfare, it still served to demonstrate the extraordinary prowess of Shu Mingyuan.

Onigumo had already surged from the seabed, dragging a massive piece of a Sea King’s fin, and clashed with Shu Mingyuan once again.

"Is this all your combat strength amounts to in the open sea? I am truly disappointed."

Hearing Shu Mingyuan’s mockery, the officers who had consumed Devil Fruits felt a surge of shame and indignation. Their abilities were severely countered, forcing them to fight with hesitation, constantly wary of the giant waves that could crash upon them at any moment. Falling into the sea would spell their doom.

"I don’t have time to play with you lot."

"Super Expansion Jutsu: Double Palm Push!"

Shu Mingyuan’s expression remained indifferent. Facing so many high-ranking officers, he dared not be careless. He channeled all his strength, chakra surging as his arms swelled to the size of a giant’s. As he thrust his hands forward, the massive air currents generated by the force blew the dense fog away.

His giant arms were covered entirely in pitch-black Armament Haki. With an unstoppable momentum, both palms struck out, aimed directly at the ten Marine officers.

This strike condensed all of Shu Mingyuan’s spirit and vitality, its power several times greater than the punch that had defeated Black Cage Hina. With his hair flying wildly, he seemed invincible upon the sea at this moment.

The five Rear Admirals and Vice Admirals had no time to react; before the mist could even fully dissipate, they were struck head-on by the massive fists.

Within that white haze, a smear of crimson suddenly appeared! The scent of blood filled the air...

The ten Marine officers were struck by the devastating blow, blood erupting from their mouths as they were sent flying backward. The wooden planks beneath their feet were pulverized into dust by the force of the palms.

The screams echoing from the mist caused everyone watching the battle to tighten their hearts. Could it be that even so many Marine officers were no match for that fearsome man? When the ten figures were seen spitting blood and flying out of the mist almost simultaneously, the crowd was struck with pure horror!

Ghost Hunter Shu Mingyuan defeats ten officers with a single strike!

The ten Marine officers were sent hurtling hundreds of meters across the sea, crashing heavily into the thick stone walls of Impel Down, vomiting blood once more. The Devil Fruit users were rendered powerless and sank into the depths, while the masters of martial arts were so severely crippled that they could not form a fighting force in the short term.

As the mist cleared, Shu Mingyuan’s lean figure appeared before everyone’s eyes once again. After such repeated battles, a trace of fatigue seemed to show in his eyes.

"A trap laid for me? The World Government is nothing more than this."

Shu Mingyuan’s slightly mocking voice resonated across the sea, but the content of his words swept through like a hurricane, causing a massive uproar. Mocking the World Government and openly declaring himself an enemy—this brat, much like the Revolutionary Army, had made his opposition public.

On the Impel Down side, Blue Gorillas constantly dove into the sea to rescue the fallen Marines. The others monitored Shu Mingyuan closely, terrified that he might summon celestial lightning again.

"Shiliew, do you still think you can handle him? This brat’s growth rate is simply too fast," Magellan said, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.

"His swordsmanship is strong, but it is still a significant distance from my level as a Great Swordsman. The real problem is his ability to walk on the sea as if it were flat land. Even for me, I can only force my internal energy to unleash five strikes; after that, I must pause to catch my breath."

Magellan’s mouth twitched. He knew that if the issue of standing on the sea could not be solved, this arrest attempt might end in failure.

"How confident are you?"

"Ten out of ten. There are those who can withstand five of my strikes, but he is certainly not among them. Regardless, I will not let him leave this time. I do not wish to repeat such a disgraceful affair."

Shiliew of the Rain’s gaze was gloomy. His heavy cloak fluttered in the wake of an invisible aura. Suddenly, an indescribably terrifying pressure erupted from his body, and a crimson, murderous intent soared ten fathoms high. At this moment, he was like a true demon who had crawled out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

His eyes were blood-red as he stared at the slender figure standing on the sea, his mouth curling into a sinister grin. Shiliew gripped the Nidai Kitetsu at his waist. The cursed blade, like its master, was now bathed in an eerie crimson, and infinite malevolence poured endlessly from Shiliew’s body.

Nidai Kitetsu, this bloodthirsty cursed blade, had stirred countless storms of blood throughout pirate history; even its former owners were eventually consumed by its endless malice.

Shiliew’s current state suggested he was being possessed by the blade's spirit. Watching him, Magellan sighed heavily. In this state, Shiliew acted almost entirely on a primal, bloodthirsty instinct; even Magellan himself would have to avoid his edge.

Shiliew stepped forward and shot toward Shu Mingyuan, trailing a blinding crimson streak through the air!

"Brat, I envy the sins you’ve committed in Impel Down. After all, killing is no crime when the victims are all pirates. But you should never have provoked me repeatedly!"

"Spouting such arrogance and opposing the World Government—who gave you the courage? Today, I will surely take your head."

"One-Sword Style: Iai!"

The cursed blade must drink blood once drawn, or it would consume its master!

Nidai Kitetsu unleashed a crimson slash. Under the shocked and incredulous gaze of the onlookers, the strike split the sea for ten thousand meters. Its depth was unfathomable, revealing only the endless, all-consuming darkness from the depths of the ocean.

If the Ghost Hunter’s previous feat of splitting a hundred meters of sea had already left the crowd in awe, this strike—delivered personally by the Chief Jailer Shiliew, one of Impel Down’s trump cards—showed everyone the terrifying power of a Great Swordsman.

The crimson sword energy lingered between heaven and earth, forcefully preventing the vast sea from closing. Such power was worthy of one of the few Great Swordsmen; it stood at the pinnacle of humanity, truly horrifying!

Shu Mingyuan’s pupils constricted. An attack of this magnitude—was he joking?!

Reflexively, he bit his finger, pressed his five fingers together against the surface of the sea, and a mysterious, profound formation spread rapidly.

"Summoning Jutsu: Quintuple Rashomon!"