"Unlock the shackles?"

Red the Aloof, Redfield's words made the surrounding criminals freeze in disbelief.

But a moment later, someone let out a mocking laugh.

Unlock the shackles? Impossible…

What kind of place did this brat think this was?!

This was the world's greatest prison, a place that held only the most heinous criminals—monsters whose release could destroy entire nations.

And this man—"Red the Aloof" Patrick Redfield—had once stood shoulder to shoulder with Whitebeard and the Roger Pirates!

Back then, when Fleet Admiral Kong personally led the operation to take him down, their battle raged for days and nights without a clear victor.

It was only with that bastard Garp's help that they finally managed to defeat him and throw him into Impel Down.

If Redfield's shackles were to be removed, this entire prison wouldn't survive the slaughter he could unleash.

Even if Kong himself came again, he might not be able to lock him away a second time.

At that thought, the criminals sneered inwardly.

No matter how strong or arrogant this brat was, there was no way he'd actually dare to—

"Click."

A crisp sound suddenly echoed through the deathly still prison, freezing everyone in place.

Their bodies went rigid as they turned toward the source, eyes widening when they saw the opened shackles on Redfield's wrists.

He... he actually unlocked them!?

Has that brat gone insane!?

The prisoners stared at Daren in utter shock, eyes wide as if they'd just seen a ghost.

Even Redfield himself was momentarily stunned.

Clang...

The heavy Seastone shackles slid from his wrists and hit the floor with a metallic crash. He stared at his hands in silence before the corners of his mouth slowly lifted into a faint smile.

"Interesting."

Lifting his head, Redfield's piercing eyes—sharp enough to see straight through a man's soul—locked onto Daren as he chuckled softly.

"Zephyr truly raised an excellent disciple. I imagine Garp must be quite fond of you as well?"

There was unmistakable admiration in his gaze.

"Now I understand why your Conqueror's Haki is so powerful!"

"Hahahaha! Such ambition at your age!"

His tone had shifted unconsciously—no longer that of an elder speaking to a junior, but of one equal addressing another.

Yet Daren merely smiled and shook his head lightly.

"No, you've misunderstood."

"Oh?"

Redfield's brow furrowed, his interest clearly piqued.

"What do you mean?"

Daren's voice was calm.

"I mean you've got one thing wrong."

He slowly raised his hand, blue arcs of electricity crackling at his fingertip.

A wild grin spread across his face.

"My ambition... goes far beyond that."

Redfield froze. A strange crimson light flickered deep within his pupils.

As his Observation Haki activated, granting him a glimpse of the future, his smile suddenly stiffened.

The next instant—

"Click!"

"Click!"

"Click!"

"..."

Under the wide-eyed stares of the stunned prisoners...

Under Magellan's speechless gaze...

Throughout Eternal Hell, faint blue lightning danced through the keyholes of every pair of shackles. One after another, the locks turned with crisp clicks, and the heavy manacles slipped from wrists and ankles, clattering onto the ground.

The sound of chains unlocking spread through the prison like a cascade of firecrackers, endless and deafening!

"..."

When the final shackle fell, silence once again engulfed the prison.

"Gulp."

Magellan swallowed nervously and instinctively stepped closer behind Daren.

He could feel it—the presence of countless figures in the darkness, their breathing growing heavier and more feral.

As if something terrifying was awakening within the shadows, a cold killing intent began to drift through the air like a creeping fog.

Creak...

Then, one by one, the iron doors of the cells swung open with rusty groans.

The open doors, the path to freedom, now lay naked before their eyes.

Every prisoner's breath hitched at once.

"Fufufufu... So that's how it is..."

Redfield remained silent for a long moment before finally snapping out of his stunned daze.

Suddenly, he let out a low chuckle. Unlike the gentlemanly, elegant smile from before, this laugh carried a faint edge—sharp and raspy. He laughed with unrestrained delight!

"I suppose I underestimated you, young Daren!"

"But..."

He fixed his gaze on Daren, his hands gradually crackling with crimson-black lightning.

"Are you truly prepared to fight alone against everyone in this Eternal Hell—including myself!?"

Daren narrowed his eyes and smiled faintly.

"Is there a problem with that?"

He glanced at Redfield's hands, suddenly seeming to recall something. He tapped his forehead and grinned widely.

"Almost forgot—without this, you'd be pretty clumsy, wouldn't you?"

He raised his hand.

Suddenly—

A streak of crimson light shot through the sky from the fifth layer of Impel Down. In the blink of an eye, it traversed the entire Frozen Hell and the underground passageway, whistling through the air until it arrived before Redfield.

Redfield instinctively reached out to grasp the crimson light.

Only then did everyone clearly see it was a bat-handled umbrella, as red as blood!

"This is your sword, right?"

Daren asked.

Redfield stared blankly at the blood-red umbrella in his hands, momentarily lost in thought, his mind filled with confusion.

This brat... is he serious?

He actually delivered his own weapon right to me.

Is he that confident in his own strength? Or has he simply grown tired of living?

In that instant, an indescribable mix of absurdity and rage surged through the mind of "Red the Aloof." It instantly transformed into a violent, surging battle intent!

"Very good."

He smiled with satisfaction.

"It's been far too long since I last felt such blood boiling."

Daren nodded with satisfaction, chuckling.

"Good. I need you at your absolute peak."

He turned his gaze to Magellan.

"Magellan, close the door."

Magellan froze, suppressing his inner shock before turning without hesitation to obey.

Rumble...

The heavy doors slowly closed, sealing off the path to the fifth level.

He drew a deep breath, arms spread wide with fierce arrogance, his gaze sweeping over the entire Eternal Hell as if surveying a conquered domain.

"Kill me, and you may leave Eternal Hell."

He let out a savage laugh.

"Please... do your very best to... please me."

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