Chapter 60: The Art of Multiple Shadow Clones

“Ninja Art: Multi Shadow Clone Technique!”

Shu Mingyuan brought his fingers together, forming a cross. Chakra surged, and tens of thousands of clones appeared out of thin air, each identical to his true self, indistinguishable to the naked eye except for the disparity in strength.

“The great Impel Down prison break begins now!”

A smile played at Shu Mingyuan’s lips as he melted among his clones, raising his arm and shouting, “Brothers, charge toward the exit!”

Within a few breaths, every “Shu Mingyuan” erupted from the corridors, flooding the entire first floor above the sea. Their singular purpose was clear—the gate to the Deep Hell, the passage to the outside world.

With a casual blow, Shu Mingyuan smashed a monitoring Den Den Mushi, severing another surveillance feed. The remaining guards watched what little was left of the footage, only to see countless figures of the Ghost Hunter, each moving, acting, and appearing exactly the same, utterly impossible to distinguish.

From the screens, it was clear: Shu Mingyuan’s presence filled every corner of the first floor above the sea. With the Den Den Mushi destroyed, they had lost any precise way to track him. In terms of monitoring, Impel Down had been rendered blind.

There was no doubt: these extra Ghost Hunters were all fakes. If harmed, they would vanish, but left unchecked, they could still attack fiercely. Worse yet, it was now impossible to determine which was the real Ghost Hunter.

“Chief Warden, Ghost Hunter figures are appearing in Area A.”

“They’re in Area B as well.”

“Area C, Area D—there are too many, and the first floor’s defenses can’t hold.”

Rain Shiryu's gaze flashed like lightning. Events had spun out far beyond his expectations, and the sudden swarm of “Ghost Hunters” threw him off balance.

The clones had little strength—he could destroy hundreds with a single slash—but their sheer numbers made them formidable. Who could say where the true body was hiding?

“This brat has so many tricks up his sleeve!”

“Everyone, follow me to the Gate of Hell! I want to see how long he can keep this up. If he plans to escape, his final target has to be the Gate of Hell!”

“Yes, sir!”

Rain Shiryu was at a loss against the endless clones. His only recourse was to hold the Gate of Hell. Once Magellan arrived, all problems would cease; Magellan’s powers were perfect for this situation.

Where the Venom Dragon passed, nothing survived.

Countless Shu Mingyuans surged toward the Gate of Hell. He had memorized the surroundings when he was brought in, and now his clones filled every corner of the first floor, so he knew exactly the shortest route to the gate.

Rain Shiryu, meanwhile, led his men toward the Gate of Hell. Every clone encountered along the way was destroyed with a single sword stroke—all were fakes, without exception.

His expression grew ever darker, quickening his pace. If someone escaped Impel Down again, it would be the disgrace of his lifetime. The Golden Lion was one thing—a legendary pirate—but this weak brat? How was he causing such chaos?

Shu Mingyuan blended seamlessly into the tide of clones, like a drop of water dissolving into the sea. The crowd surged, their momentum shaking the prison, as if countless criminals were breaking out together, terrifying those already incarcerated.

“Which infamous pirate is breaking out this time? The scale is unbelievable!”

“I heard he’s the Ghost Hunter, imprisoned just three months ago. Not only did he escape the day he arrived, he fought his way to the Freezing Hell to release the most vicious pirates.”

“The whole Impel Down is in turmoil. Magellan and Rain Shiryu have both been mobilized. Let’s see if he can make it out. With those two here, chances are slim.”

Shu Mingyuan directed his clones to attack Rain Shiryu’s group whenever they were spotted, hoping to delay them even for a single second. Yet as time passed, his brows furrowed further.

The clones were too weak to withstand Rain Shiryu’s blade; the gap between them closed steadily, and soon, they would meet at the Gate of Hell.

Ahead lay the Gate of Hell, the entrance to Impel Down. Shu Mingyuan’s speed was just slightly faster; from afar, he saw Rain Shiryu approaching from another direction and commanded all nearby clones to attack.

“Chidori Sharp Spear!”

“Fire Style: Grand Fireball Technique!”

“Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Technique!”

“Finger Gun!”

“Tempest Kick!”

A barrage of attacks rained down on Rain Shiryu. He glanced indifferently, then swung his sword. A jet-black blade, a hundred meters long, cleaved through fireballs, flame bursts, Chidori spears—everything was cut down in a single stroke, destroying nearly a thousand clones.

“This is the moment!”

“Soru!”

The multitude of clones finally forced Rain Shiryu to pause for a few breaths. Shu Mingyuan’s spirits soared; he stamped the ground and pushed his speed to the limit, sprinting toward the Gate of Hell.

With his strength, once he reached the gate, he could shatter it with a single punch.

Rain Shiryu saw a figure burst forth from the clone swarm, rushing at full speed toward the gate. He instantly realized this was the true Ghost Hunter.

“One Sword Style: Demon Blade!”

Rain Shiryu pointed his sword skyward; his aura shifted dramatically. Endless murderous intent poured from his cursed blade, chilling the air to the bone.

He swung down—Second Generation Demon Sword flashed black, a devilish shadow overlaying the blade’s aura, slashing furiously toward Shu Mingyuan. Along its path, clones, air, even the floor itself were split in two.

A three-hundred-meter-long sword scar traced straight to the Gate of Hell. Shu Mingyuan’s pupils contracted sharply; he stopped in his tracks. The blade of darkness swept past him, and had he not halted, he would have been cleaved in half.

The sword mark extended three hundred meters, unfathomably deep. As it touched the Gate of Hell, the blade dissipated instantly, leaving the gate unscathed. Shu Mingyuan was astounded; Rain Shiryu’s control of the blade aura was absolute, calculated to perfection.

It stopped Shu Mingyuan from advancing without splitting the Gate of Hell in two.

And now, Shu Mingyuan was only ten meters from the gate!