Fourth floor.
Third floor.
Second floor.
Shiki ascended, leaving a trail of carnage in his wake.
Guards surged forward like a tide, only to fall like one.
Finally—
The massive iron gate of the first floor loomed ahead.
Once through that gate, he would reach the outside.
Then, with the power of the Float-Float Fruit, he would take to the skies, and no one would be able to stop him.
Shiki accelerated, floating toward the gate.
But the next moment, he halted.
Because standing before the iron gate was a man.
A lean-figured man, clad in the uniform of the Impel Down warden, with a long sword hanging at his waist.
Impel Down Warden—Gotez Jubei.
"This ends here, Golden Lion."
Shiki grinned.
"Gyahahaha—!"
"You think you can stop me?"
Jubei didn't answer.
He simply raised his hand and gripped the hilt of his sword.
In the next instant, he vanished from his spot!
Shiki sneered, crossing his two swords as he met the attack head-on!
Clang—!!
The moment their blades clashed, shockwaves erupted in all directions!
The walls on both sides of the corridor instantly cracked, fissures spreading like spiderwebs in every direction!
Gotez Jubei was sent sliding back ten meters by the force of the blow, his feet carving two deep furrows into the ground!
He looked up, shock flashing in his eyes.
Such immense power!
Shiki pressed his advantage relentlessly!
Both swords struck out, slashing toward Jubei like a raging storm!
Jubei desperately parried!
But Shiki's onslaught was too fierce—he could only retreat step by step!
Clang clang clang clang clang—!!
The deafening clashes of blades were as dense as a downpour, shockwaves erupting one after another!
Jubei was forced into a corner, his back slamming against the wall!
Shiki delivered a final downward slash, his blade aimed straight at Jubei's head!
Jubei's pupils contracted sharply as he frantically twisted aside. The blade grazed his cheek, leaving a deep gash in the wall.
He took a deep breath, straightened up, and gripped the Shodai Kitetsu with both hands once more.
This time, Advanced Armament Haki began to coil around the blade.
It was a higher level of Armament Haki, capable of attacking an opponent's internal organs without direct contact.
Shiki watched him, tightening his grip on his swords as Advanced Armament Haki likewise enveloped them!
In the next instant, both men vanished simultaneously!
Clang—!!
Their blades met mid-air, shockwaves exploding outward!
The surrounding walls instantly crumbled, rubble flying in all directions!
The two clashed in a fierce exchange!
The deafening roar of their blades colliding echoed relentlessly, shockwaves spreading outward in successive waves!
Jubei's swordsmanship was indeed masterful.
His blade work was sharp and precise, each strike aimed at a vital point without a single wasted movement.
But Shiki was faster.
After all, he was a man who stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Roger and Whitebeard.
Decades at sea, countless life-or-death battles—his combat instincts were etched into his very bones.
As Jubei thrust his blade forward, Shiki sidestepped, sweeping Cherry Ten with his right hand!
Jubei retracted his sword to block, but Shiki's left hand, holding Withered Tree, was already stabbing toward him!
Jubei barely dodged, the blade grazing his ribs—another bloody gash!
Gritting his teeth, he counterattacked, slashing toward Shiki's head!
Shiki neither dodged nor evaded, instead crossing his swords to block.
Then he suddenly exerted force, shaking off Juubei's sword!
Boom!!
Juubei was sent flying backward, crashing through a wall!
Amidst the swirling dust, Juubei slowly stood up, covered in blood but still gripping his sword tightly.
He charged forward again!
Shiki met him with both swords!
Clang clang clang—!
Three blades clashed, and Juubei's sword was shaken off once more!
But using the force of the deflection, he spun around and swung his blade horizontally, aiming straight for Shiki's throat!
Shiki leaned back, the blade grazing past his Adam's apple!
At the same time, he thrust Cherry Ten with his right hand, aiming directly at Juubei's abdomen!
Juubei dodged sideways, but the blade still pierced his ribs, blood splattering!
Juubei grunted in pain and swung his sword backhanded toward Shiki's arm!
Shiki retracted his blade to block, but Juubei's strike was a feint.
He suddenly withdrew his sword and drove his knee hard into Shiki's lower abdomen!
Thud!
Shiki was knocked back two steps, grinning:
"Not bad."
"But not enough."
As the words fell, he surged forward!
His speed was so fast it left afterimages in the air!
Juubei's pupils contracted sharply as he desperately swung his sword to block!
But Shiki was too fast, his power too overwhelming!
In this fierce assault, Shiki unleashed a total of forty-seven slashes!
Each strike was heavy and lethal!
Juubei blocked with all his might, but in the end—
Boom!!
He was sent flying once more, crashing through a second wall!
Shiki stopped and sheathed his swords.
Juubei lay in the rubble, gasping for breath.
Covered in blood, his sword-hand trembled violently.
He struggled to stand, but his legs gave way, and he knelt back down.
Shiki no longer paid him any attention.
He turned and swiftly floated toward the massive iron gate.
Sunlight streamed in from outside.
It was the light of freedom.
Shiki floated out the gate and emerged outside.
The azure sky, white clouds, warm sea breeze, and the endless ocean in the distance.
He took a deep breath, savoring the long-lost scent of freedom.
"Gehahaha—!!"
He laughed heartily, his voice echoing across the sky:
"I am finally free—!!"
He soared into the sky!
Transforming into a golden streak of light, he vanished into the horizon!
From within Impel Down's gates, countless guards rushed out, gazing up at the fading golden light, powerless to do anything but watch him disappear.
In the distance, on the sea.
A warship was speeding toward Impel Down at full throttle.
It was Sengoku and Garp, rushing to provide support after receiving the emergency communication.
But they were too late.
Golden Lion Shiki had already successfully escaped.
One day later.
News of Golden Lion's escape quickly spread across the seas.
The legend once spoken of alongside Roger and Whitebeard had reappeared before the world.
No one knew where he had gone, no one knew what he intended to do.
...
Lyle Island, Vegapunk's research base.
This island was hidden in an inconspicuous stretch of sea, neither on any shipping route nor belonging to any kingdom.
A massive white research base stood on the island, surrounded by guard posts and defensive fortifications.
This was one of the World Government's top-secret research bases.
And it was here that the genius hailed as five hundred years ahead of his time—Chief Scientist Vegapunk—conducted his research.
On the open ground outside the base, the sea breeze swept by, stirring up a few fallen leaves.
Suddenly, ripples appeared in space.
Then, a figure materialized out of thin air.
Raiver.
He stood in mid-air, looking down at the white base below.
Space Perception swept through, and the breath of every life within the base clearly entered his mind—
Scientists, researchers, CP Agents guarding the facility, Marines soldiers responsible for security.
"Found it."
A slight smile curled at the corner of his mouth as he raised his right hand, aiming at the research base.
Space-Time Imprisonment.
Buzz—
An invisible force spread from his palm, instantly enveloping the entire base!
Time ceased its flow.
Space fell into stagnation.
--Enjoying the story? Want more chapters? Check out my Patreon and support me for 40+ advance chapters.
Just search for "LegendaryTL" on Patreon!"
Thanks!