"Bullying those who can't fight back—what kind of skill is that!"
"If you've got the guts, unlock our Seastone shackles, let us out, and face us one-on-one!"
"Exactly! Kid, you're praised so highly by Shiryu, yet you only target those caged up?"
Facing these taunts, Shano remained calm, merely lifting his eyelids slightly: "Alright."
"However,"
Shano chuckled lightly again, "I don't have time to deal with you one at a time, so you ten, come at me together."
"What?!" The prisoners exchanged glances and immediately flew into a rage, "One against ten? Arrogant!"
"Do you take us for cannon fodder?!"
"You said it, don't go back on your word!"
Shiryu, watching from the side, couldn't help but squint and chuckle softly. He extinguished his cigar and pulled out a large set of keys from his coat, "Let them out now, sir?"
"Sure."
Shano casually sheathed his sword, "Unlock all the shackles. Since they want to die gloriously, let's fulfill their wish."
"Understood."
Shiryu stepped out decisively, showing no worry or concern.
Clang—!
The sound of iron bars opening echoed, as ten Devil Fruit Ability Users emerged from their cells one by one, feeling the long-lost freedom, their eyes gleaming with ferocity.
"Kid, give it your all, so I can have a good time!"
The one-eyed man grinned viciously, his arm muscles suddenly swelling, his skin taking on a black and hard, metal-like sheen.
Paramecia-type·Iron-Iron Fruit Ability User!
He can showcase the steel-like hardness inside and out, from muscles to blood vessels, and yet, this isn't even his full power!
"Full cover!"
The one-eyed man slammed his chest, instantly covering his body with pitch-black Armament, making him appear as if emerged from an ink pool.
Double armor, double hardness!
"This is my invincible body!" The one-eyed man laughed wildly, rushing toward Shano, "I'll be the first to smash you into a pulp!"
The remaining nine also activated their powers, charging simultaneously!
Someone transformed into a deformed monster with three heads and six arms, someone had Flame Cloud of Zoan-type Awakening rising behind them, someone grew nine demonic tails.
The entire corridor on the 6th Floor was instantly filled with strange power fluctuations!
"Death Breath!"
"Hundred Limb Meat Grinder!"
"Rock Crusher!"
Ten distinctly different attacks surged from all directions, completely engulfing Shano's figure.
Shiryu willingly retreated to the wall, silently pulled out a new cigar from his coat, lit it and took a strong drag, shaking his head empathetically.
Boom!!!
Deafening explosions, smoke and dust swirled continuously, but as the smoke cleared, all prisoners stared wide-eyed—
The man stood motionless in place, unaffected, without even a scratch on his clothes.
"Is it over?"
Shano lifted his eyelids, unable to hide his disappointment, "Even with a chance to team up, is this all you can do? Can't even make me move a step...?"
"No, impossible!!"
The one-eyed man gritted his teeth, "My full-force attack can shatter even the largest warship, how could it be..."
Thud!
A dull sound resonated, the one-eyed man instinctively looked down, only to find a fist had somehow punched into his chest, leaving a massive hole.
How could this be, I'm an Iron-Iron Fruit Ability User, and have strong Armament... The one-eyed man blankly lifted his head.
Boom!
The next moment, his body exploded, transforming into a cloud of blood mist.
"The first one."
In a calm voice, Shano's figure suddenly vanished.
Boom!
In an instant, the Evil King's chest caved in, his entire body catapulting backward, crashing heavily against the wall, dead on the spot.
"Second one."
Shano's figure appeared mid-air, his right leg hacking horizontally like a War Axe!
Crack, directly bending the head of the demon woman with nine tails into her chest cavity, at a 540-degree angle.
"Third one."
These vicious criminals who once ruled their own territories are now like lambs waiting to be slaughtered, without even a chance to resist.
Within a few seconds, six bodies lay on the ground, leaving less than half still alive.
"Monster... Monster! A monster!"
The terrifying figure with three heads and six arms, standing ten meters tall, was now pale, his voice trembling, "What he possesses is not a power that any human could have!"
"Run! Run quickly!"
"We're no match for him, run away!"
The remaining four prisoners utterly collapsed, turning to escape deep into the corridor.
"Can you escape?"
Shano sneered, lightly flicking his right index finger. Four terrifying strands of Qi, entwined with black and red lightning, instantly penetrated their backs.
Flying Finger Gun, a skill he had already perfected to the peak level when he was still in the East Sea.
And now, combining it with Supreme King Entanglement made its piercing power increase more than tenfold!
"..."
The four stood frozen on the spot, lowering their heads to watch the fresh blood gushing from their chests before falling senselessly.
"The tenth one."
Shano withdrew his finger, looking at the corpses strewn across the floor, his expression calm.
Shiryu was still silently puffing on his cigar, his right hand trembling slightly. Although he had somewhat anticipated the scene,
the ability to kill one person per second was still overwhelmingly impactful...
Is this the power of someone with a bounty exceeding fifty billion Belly, reputed to be the strongest Sea Emperor?!
Absolutely invincible, like a god!
"Sir, thirty Devil Fruit Ability Users have been gathered, have your goals been achieved?"
Instinctively lowering his stance even further, he cautiously handed over a tissue, asking.
"Yes, the grievances have been settled, and it's time to leave."
Shano took the tissue, wiped the blood off his hands, then suddenly turned his head, his gaze cold upon Shiryu.
"M-master?"
Shiryu's heart tightened immediately, cold sweat breaking out, could it be, he himself...
"Your thoughts haven't changed, you still wish to follow me?" Shano asked flatly.
"Yes, Master!"
Shiryu breathed a sigh of relief, without hesitation kneeling on one knee, placing his right hand on his chest, his voice even more fervent, more sincere:
"I've been in this prison for far too long, long tired of this life. Your presence let me see the dawn of rebirth!"
Arrogance, heroism, Haki!
Truly seeing is believing, and after witnessing these scenes today, he was even more certain… no mistake about it! The man before him was the king he wanted to follow!
"Hah."
Shano chuckled lightly, his gaze sweeping over the prisoners in the cells who were silent like cicadas in winter:
"Then you should know one thing, on my ship, there's no room for murder-crazed lunatics, or scum who bully the innocent."
"I understand, Master."
Shiryu lifted his head, grinning:
"I admit I indeed enjoy the thrill of slaughter, but I will never target the innocent. All those who died under my blade deserved it."
"Are you certain?"
"In your presence, I, Rain of Shiryu, would never utter falsehoods!"
Only then did Shano retract his Observation, narrowing his eyes slightly.
Shiryu's aura and words were equally resolute and firm, showing no trace of hesitation or doubt.
Seems true.
That being said.
He arrived at Impel Down three full years before Blackbeard, while Shiryu spent less time suffocated in this dark Deep Sea prison.
So, did this prevent his mind from distorting to the extent it did during Blackbeard's prison breakout?
Indeed.
Shiryu was imprisoned in the 6th Floor by Magellan before the outbreak at Marineford because of his indiscriminate killing.
If his nature was inherently that way, Magellan would have acted long ago, not waited three years.
"Rise."
Shano finally smiled, extending a hand to Shiryu who forcefully restrained his excitement as he looked up:
"Welcome to join the Endgame, Shiryu."