Chapter 56: Unrivaled in Hell! [Second Update]

With a single strike, Hannibal's forces fell into utter chaos.

“A bunch of useless fools!”

Shu Mingyuan withdrew his hand and stood tall. Compared to three months ago, he was completely changed; his strength and physique had doubled. He strode directly over the fallen wardens. Having seen what the Infinite Hell had to offer, he knew that with pirates here, there was only one viable tactic—overwhelming force. Now that his presence was exposed, if he didn’t leave immediately, it might soon be too late. As for the fate of these infamous criminals, that was the business of Impel Down.

“It seems it’s time to leave.”

Luffy had wreaked havoc in Impel Down in a single day, but Shu Mingyuan had lingered for a full three months. Though the gains were immense, it was time to move on. He walked toward the main gate, pressing both palms against it.

Sensing his intent, Hannibal’s face changed drastically. “No! He’s trying to escape! Jail Beasts, stop him!”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a massive, pitch-black figure seemed to materialize from thin air. A gust of wind swept through the corridor as the enormous iron club of the Jail Beast crashed down toward Shu Mingyuan’s head.

He did not dodge. As the club descended, he raised his arm, a dark aura covering it, and caught the club in his palm, steady and unyielding!

“Get lost!”

With a commanding shout, he seized the spiked club. Empowered by Armament Haki, his strength swelled further, his physique nearing a score of 2,500 points. With a twist of his wrist, he yanked the weapon away and, in a fluid motion, smashed it down upon the Jail Beast.

The beast, shaped like an antelope, let out a miserable howl and was sent hurtling into the sea-stone walls like a cannonball. Bones shattered within its body; it lay on the ground twitching, eyes rolled back. With a single blow, the Jail Beast of Infinite Hell was rendered powerless.

Such wounds would take even an awakened Zoan Devil Fruit user considerable time to recover from, despite their famed regeneration.

“Hah! Kid, you’re a lot stronger than before—far more impressive than your feeble finger guns. What a pity for such fine mutton...”

After dispatching the beast, Shu Mingyuan pressed against the door once more, just as two more Jail Beasts arrived. Their massive forms radiated an oppressive aura as they raised their fists to crush him from both sides.

“Soru!”

With the Sharingan paired with Observation Haki, it mattered not what tricks the Jail Beasts tried; he could see everything clearly. In an instant, he stamped the ground twenty times and vanished before their eyes.

He reappeared a dozen feet away, arms spread wide behind him.

“Super Amplification Art: Ultra Push!”

“Armament: Hardening!”

His arms instantly lengthened to thirty meters, nearly blocking the entire passage. The black Haki wrapped around his fists, and the force of his strike sliced the air itself.

Both palms surged forward, the uproar shaking even the most notorious criminals in their cells. Such terrifying power could injure even them.

Before the overwhelming force, the two Jail Beasts had no chance to dodge. Amidst their anguished screams, they were sent flying, crimson mist spraying in their wake.

This was Shu Mingyuan’s greatest effort since arriving at Impel Down and mastering Haki. He wanted to see just how much devastation he could unleash after three months of cultivation.

With both palms thrust forward, every warden and Jail Beast in the path was sent hurtling away. The heavy black gate was shattered in a single blow, flung down the stairwell to Level Five.

Countless jailers died in that instant; the two Jail Beasts who arrived last were killed outright, crushed without suspense.

Even Shu Mingyuan was shocked by the result. The combination of Armament Haki and ninjutsu was far more than the sum of its parts.

Hannibal and the other wardens, as well as the blue gorillas sent to capture him, were left dead or dying.

This scene was captured perfectly by the infrared surveillance Den Den Mushi, and the footage was relayed back to the control room, terrifying every guard within.

This was the same man who, three months ago, had thrown Impel Down into chaos—the Ghost Hunter, Monchi D. Shu Mingyuan. Although he’d been personally locked away in the Frozen Hell by Deputy Warden Hannibal, word had just come in: he had slaughtered everyone on that level single-handedly.

Such a disaster could not be concealed. It was certain that the report had already landed on the World Government’s conference table.

Shu Mingyuan, after three months of apparent quiet, had staged another jailbreak. Such an unforgivable act could not be tolerated. No one knew how he’d escaped the sea-stone shackles, but that was no longer the question—the real issue was how to apprehend him.

Hannibal had led a squadron of wardens to the Infinite Hell, even with the help of three Jail Beasts, but they’d been utterly crushed. Total annihilation.

“Hurry! Send this footage to Magellan and Rain Shiryu! Request immediate backup! The criminal’s brutality has reached a whole new level!”

“Yes, sir!”

...

Within the Infinite Hell, there was no longer anyone who could threaten him. Given the strict protocols of Impel Down, he was certain Magellan had already been informed. If anyone else tried to stop him, it would likely be one of the two: Magellan or Rain Shiryu.

He turned to look back at the prison cells, considering whether he ought to take a souvenir before leaving.

Perhaps a notorious head or two?

“Keh keh keh, kid, it seems we really underestimated you. Who would have thought such terrifying power lay hidden in that frail body? Awakened Haki at your age—the future holds great things for you.”

“Hey, kid! I’ve been locked in this hellhole long enough. I’ve had it with those World Government bastards. How about you let me out and we take them down together?”

“We’re all pirates here—let us out and we'll kill Magellan, take out Rain Shiryu, topple this prison, and finally storm the Holy Land of Mariejois. Just thinking about it gets my blood pumping—keh keh keh!”

“So, kid, what do you say to our proposal? Hoo hah hah...”

Shu Mingyuan watched them coolly. These men were indeed strong—among the world’s most formidable. Only such notorious criminals were worth the thrill of a hunt.

He searched through the cells and finally spotted a woman in one.

Even here in the Infinite Hell, she was heavily made up, her nose sharp, her clothes eccentric, a fierce aura radiating from her.

“You are Catarina Devon?”

“Ooh hoo hoo, little brother, are you looking to let me out?”

Shu Mingyuan grinned. “No, you misunderstand me. I’m not a pirate—I’m a pirate hunter. I entered Impel Down of my own free will, because my purpose is... to kill you all. And you—well, you’re just the weakest among them.”

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