Seeing this, Hannibal and the others quickly backed away. Of course, he kept close to Redfield, staring at him intently, not daring to relax. This man had once stood shoulder to shoulder with Roger, Shiki, and Whitebeard—a legendary existence. If he escaped, Hannibal could forget about becoming warden; he wouldn't even remain deputy, and might well end up thrown in a cell himself.
"Relax. I still have seastone shackles on, and besides, my heart is in your warden's hands." Redfield said calmly, glancing at the burly Hannibal. "Compared to being trapped below, this place is heaven itself. The environment is far better than soaking in seawater in LV6, where I couldn't even move freely."
On the other side…
Shiryu's eyes flashed violently, his body flickering as he vanished, reappearing instantly in front of Creed. His eerie blood-red sword slashed down. The snowy field lit with a deadly gleam, cold air biting to the bone.
Clang! Creed raised his blade to meet the strike.
Boom! A deafening blast rang out, violent currents tearing through the air, shredding the falling snow into nothing.
"One-Sword Style: Blood Blade!!"
Shhh! The air split apart, a surge of sword aura exploding from Shiryu. Behind him, it seemed as if a blood-red moon had risen. A crimson slash tore across the sky, shattering the ice underfoot, crushing snow into powder.
This was the sword aura of a top-tier great swordsman! Shiryu, indeed, was among them.
"One-Sword Style: Flame Slash!!"
Creed's blade swept out, its glow black and sinister. As if the rising sun painted it aflame, a fiery edge streaked across the horizon.
Boom!!
Shiryu dodged swiftly, but the unleashed sword energy gouged countless scars into the ice, crisscrossing in every direction.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The two clashed fiercely, each collision smashing pits into the frozen ground, leaving the ice uneven and broken.
From the circular prison walkway, inmates pressed against the bars, eyes wide, watching the titanic duel. Steel clashed, blades sparked, the battlefield drowned in chaos.
Even free criminals lurking nearby gawked, knowing they couldn't withstand even a single blow from either fighter.
On the battlefield…
Clang!!
Their swords met once more. The eerie crimson blade in Shiryu's hands pulsed thick with bloodlust, as if dripping gore itself. It wasn't a cursed blade—it was a demon blade.
"One-Sword Style: Blood Moon Slash!!"
"Raiyō: ZAN!! (Thunder Welcome: Slash!!)"
Crack-crackle-crackle!! Creed's sword lit with lightning, arcs splitting the sky as bolts slashed outward in savage arcs. The clash erupted in a storm of thunder and blood, the impact flashing like a pool of lightning.
When the explosion finally subsided, stray currents of electricity still danced through the air.
"Cut!!"
Creed's body flickered, lightning bursting under his feet. In an instant, he accelerated, his form becoming a streak of thunder.
Splat! Blood sprayed high. Shiryu staggered, chest ripped open, blood pouring freely. A numbing paralysis spread through his muscles, locking him down.
Boom!
Scarlet sword aura erupted wildly around him.
"Blood Sea!!"
"Raiyō: ZAN!!"
The duel continued, sword energy raging, devastation spreading across the frozen floor.
Looking at the exhausted, gasping Shiryu, Creed shook his head. "You're no match for me."
"Ahhh!!!"
Shiryu screamed as agony tore through him, his heart clutched in Creed's grasp. The torment was unbearable. Coupled with exhaustion, his body finally collapsed and he fainted.
Creed walked over, seized Shiryu, and tossed him at Sadi's feet.
"Stop the bleeding. Put the seastone shackles back on."
"Y-yes!!" She came back to her senses, realizing the impossible had just happened. The infamous Shiryu had been defeated. Creed's strength was terrifying.
"Next… it's my turn, isn't it?"
Redfield rose, stretching his neck until bones cracked. He knew Creed hadn't freed him just to watch.
"Bring me my hooked blade," he told Sadi.
She glanced at Creed, who nodded.
"Has your Haki recovered?" Creed asked. Shiryu wasn't his true target—he was too weak. His real interest lay in Redfield, in opponents of that caliber, like Tesoro.
"It's mostly recovered." Redfield's noble aura returned as he accepted his weapon. "But you just fought. Don't you need rest?"
"No. That was just a warm-up."
Creed tossed him the key. Redfield unlocked his shackles with refined elegance, the clatter of seastone chains echoing as they fell.
Soon, Sadi carried his weapon over—a hooked blade. Redfield gripped it, standing tall, his noble aura shining through even in rags. With dignity, he bowed.
"Red Count, Baroric Redfield."
"D. Creed."
"D. Creed? Are you related to Garp?"
At that name, Redfield's eyes widened in shock.
"Grandson."
Understanding dawned. No wonder. He had once lamented how the seas birthed so many powerful figures. And now, even a youth of just fifteen possessed such terrifying strength.
To be Garp's grandson… it all made sense.
Redfield walked to the edge of the battlefield, murmuring, "Garp… truly remarkable."
In the next instant, his aura transformed. The frailty of age vanished, replaced by the grandeur of a peerless warrior.
Boom!!
His gaze sharpened, and a crushing wave of will exploded outward, sweeping over Creed like a storm.
This was… Conqueror's Haki!
…
(End of Chapter)
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