Shun Kaien scanned the iron-barred cells of Infinite Hell with detached focus, his mind racing as he evaluated threats and opportunities.
Among the shadows, the notorious Avalo Pizarro growled, his feline eyes gleaming.
"I'll serve you, just release me!"
His voice was desperate, hollow.
Shun ignored the theatrics.
He turned to Domino, who stood trembling, defiant, though her position was utterly hopeless.
"Keys," Shun demanded coldly.
"Never," Domino hissed through gritted teeth.
Shun's answer was simple.
A backhand.
Silent, efficient.
Her head struck the wall with a dull crack. She collapsed.
System Notification:
Target subdued.
Reputation Points gained: 15,000.
Total Points: 118,500.
Remaining Tokens: 5.
Synchronization Duration: 52 minutes.
Shun crouched, collecting the keyring.
The prisoners' frenzy grew louder.
They thought he was here to lead them.
They were wrong.
He unlocked Pizarro's cell.
The pirate stumbled forward, grinning.
"I'll be your—"
Shun silenced him with a strike to the throat.
Brutal.
Efficient.
System Notification:
Target subdued.
Reputation Points gained: 30,000.
Total Points: 148,500.
The prison level turned eerily silent.
They understood now.
This wasn't a rescue.
This was an execution.
Shun moved without pause.
Catarina Devon's eyes flickered with fear.
"What do you want...?"
"Points."
He opened her cell.
"No, wait—!"
His foot connected with her skull before she could finish.
System Notification:
Target subdued.
Reputation Points gained: 30,000.
Total Points: 178,500.
Shun stood amidst the silent, suffocating darkness.
The predators of Level 6—monsters erased from the world—cowered.
But then... a voice.
"Don't open this door, or you'll die."
It came from a sealed, isolated cell.
Shun paused.
A curiosity.
He opened the door.
The man inside lunged—golden hair, military uniform, rage in his eyes.
Shun struck him down instantly, his foot crushing the man's chest.
Even coughing blood, the man snarled.
"Kill me, coward."
Shun's gaze narrowed.
"...Douglas Bullet."
The name escaped his lips, and the man froze.
Even now, in chains, broken, Bullet's glare remained defiant.
Shun smiled coldly.
"I finally found something interesting."
Douglas Bullet stared at Shun Kaien in silence.
Even shackled, broken, erased from history, the man's presence still loomed like a beast.
"You know my name," Bullet muttered.
Shun didn't blink.
"I know your strength, too."
Shun didn't flatter.
He assessed.
Douglas Bullet—former monster of the Roger Pirates.
A relic of an era where force ruled all.
But now, a chained relic.
"Two choices," Shun said, his voice void of warmth.
"Join me.
Or rot here."
Bullet's laughter was hollow, humorless.
"You brats think strength can be handed over like a deal?"
Shun didn't reply.
He let the weight of silence crush the space between them.
He stepped forward.
"I know your goal.
You don't want treasure.
You don't care about titles.
You want the world to kneel to your strength alone."
Bullet's breath caught.
Shun's words pierced like a blade.
"You won't find that by rotting here.
Follow me.
We crush them together.
And when the world kneels, you can take your shot at me."
Silence stretched.
Bullet's gaze flickered.
Logic.
He wasn't a fool.
Alone, he would rot.
With Shun, he had a path.
A path drenched in blood.
He extended his hand.
"Shun Kaien."
Bullet smirked.
"I'll follow.
For now."
Shun shook his hand.
But the system didn't let him savor the moment.
System Notification:
Might Guy Synchronization expired.
Host returned to base state.
Stamina at critical.
Pain tore through Shun's body.
His knees hit the floor.
His muscles screamed.
He had pushed too far.
And now... he paid the price.
Bullet crouched, watching him without pity.
"You've got guts, Kaien.
But guts won't save you from the consequences."
Shun clenched his teeth.
He knew that already.
But it didn't matter.
They had time.
For now.