Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: p@treon.com/CosmicKaminari
----------
Time passed slowly.
Half a month had gone by since the last episode.
During this time, Akira did not carry out the plan to strengthen the Stone Gate. Instead, he took the major pirates from Eternal Hell and trained them in Freezing Hell.
Before fully taking control of Impel Down, he didn't want to reveal the existence of this operation.
Magellan and the jailers were also smart enough not to disturb them.
Other than their routine patrols through the various levels of hell, they basically stayed out of Akira's way.
Both sides maintained a silent understanding.
In Freezing Hell.
A fierce battle raged within the large, icy chamber.
Two figures darted through the snowstorm, clashing and fighting at speeds too fast for the naked eye to see.
Every time they collided, the entire prison trembled from the sheer force of their blows.
After a long while...
Whoosh!
The tall, golden figure of Shiki suddenly plummeted from mid-air.
With a tremendous crash, he hit the ground and lay still for a long time.
Akira's figure appeared swiftly as well. He walked calmly toward Shiki, but unlike before, he made no sudden moves.
Suddenly, the situation changed.
"Lion Menace: Earth Coiling!"
The chaotic wind and snow seemed to take solid form, quickly gathering and morphing into the shape of a massive lion's head.
It loomed in the sky!
With overwhelming force, it came crashing down like a tidal wave.
"You Marine a**hole, die by my hand!"
At the same time, Golden Lion Shiki, gripping his swords, rushed forward, wind and snow swirling around him, his intent to kill overwhelming.
This attack carried everything he had.
Shiki's hopes of defeating Akira to gain freedom and escape from Impel Down were all pinned on this one strike.
Akira could feel the pressure mounting, and his eyes narrowed sharply.
But he wasn't surprised by Shiki's sudden assault.
As a legendary figure who once stood toe-to-toe with the Pirate King, Roger, even though Shiki's strength had waned due to the rudder embedded in his head, he wasn't someone to be taken lightly.
"I was hoping you'd help me with a breakthrough."
"But since you're in such a hurry, I'll grant your wish."
Akira placed his hand on the hilt of his Nichirin Sword and adjusted his breathing.
During his two years in the Demon Slayer World, he didn't just master the Breath of Thunder.
"Breath of the Sun: Raging Sun!"
Flames erupted from the icy terrain.
The roaring fire surged along the Nichirin Sword, enveloping Akira in a blaze of heat.
Even snowflakes falling from the sky evaporated in the distant glow of his fiery aura.
With a single step, Akira launched himself forward like an arrow.
The blazing flames swirling around him made him look like a god of fire.
In the blink of an eye, Akira and Shiki collided.
But this time, Freezing Hell did not tremble from their clash.
Instead, the entire place fell into an eerie silence.
Akira and Shiki stood with their backs to each other.
Even the lion-shaped blizzard appeared frozen in place, unmoving in the air.
After a moment...
Clang.
Akira sheathed the Nichirin Sword and began walking toward the exit, not sparing a glance behind him.
"Thanks for being my sparring partner this past month and a half."
"Although you couldn't help me fully break through with my Armament Haki, my swordsmanship has improved significantly."
"I've got some business to take care of at headquarters. I'll be back in a week."
With that, he paused.
Tilting his head slightly, Akira flashed a meaningful smile.
"If nothing unexpected happens, I'll be staying here permanently."
"I'll be relying on you and the other big-name pirates for advice in the future."
With those words, Akira continued walking forward, eventually vanishing into the snowy landscape.
Phew.
Golden Lion Shiki, who hadn't reacted until now, suddenly erupted in a fountain of blood from his chest.
The blood sprayed freely, painting the ground beneath him a deep crimson.
At the same time, flames ignited from the lion-shaped blizzard, melting it into water that splashed to the ground.
"To think there's such a terrifying guy in the Marines," Shiki muttered as he glanced down at his wound. His lips twitched for a moment before he managed to force out the words.
After that, his vision blurred, and he collapsed to the ground, completely unconscious.
Not long after, the guards stationed at the door hurried over.
One guard collected Shiki's two swords, while another snapped seastone shackles onto his ankles.
Soon after, a familiar face hefted the unconscious Shiki and began walking toward Eternal Hell.
It was impossible to tell how much time passed in the darkness.
Lying motionless on the floor, Shiki's eyelids twitched as he slowly regained consciousness.
"Why bother, Shiki? Don't try so hard. Just hit casually next time," came a familiar voice.
"You've been carried back like this several times now."
"You can't beat him."
It was the voice of an old acquaintance, another inmate of Eternal Hell.
Shiki glared in anger, but his body had no strength left. He was too drained to respond.
Seeing this, Rayleigh, who had been watching, understood and said nothing more.
Eternal Hell fell into silence once again.
Staring up at the dark ceiling, Shiki's eyes flickered with crazed thoughts. His mind raced with frustration and anger.
'Is this it? Am I really going to be trapped here for the rest of my life?'
No! I am Golden Lion Shiki!'
He clenched his teeth and roared in his mind.
He still had unfulfilled ambitions—there was no way he could accept wasting the rest of his life in this dark prison.
Not only did he lack freedom, but he was also being dragged out whenever they pleased to serve as a punching bag and sparring partner.
It was the ultimate humiliation for him.
The worst part was that he couldn't even win.
'But as long as that Marine b*****d is here, there's no way out of Impel Down.'
Thinking this, Shiki couldn't help but feel a wave of despair wash over him.
From the day Vice Admiral Garp and Admiral Sengoku first imprisoned him in Impel Down, Shiki had never given up on the thought of escaping.
"I just haven't found the right opportunity yet."
Though Impel Down's unique location and strict internal measures made it nearly impossible to escape, Shiki had been carefully observing.
After some time, he felt confident he could break out on his own.
After all, the prison's high-end combat power mostly relied on one man—Magellan, the director.
Shiki believed that, given the right moment, he could break free. This place wouldn't be able to hold him forever.
But now, there was a new problem...
The combat power had increased, and Akira was an overwhelming force.
After half a month of fighting, no matter how much pride Shiki had, he had to admit that Akira's strength deserved its place among the top in the seas.
Not only did Akira possess tremendous strength, but his Devil Fruit ability was also bizarre and unpredictable. Escaping while he was around seemed nearly impossible.
To make matters worse, Akira had mentioned that once he finished his business at Marine headquarters, he planned to stay at Impel Down permanently.
If that happened, Shiki's chance of escape would be reduced to zero.
"No, I have to get out of here before that Marine b*****d comes back," Shiki thought, gritting his teeth, eyes burning with madness.
"If I don't, I'll never regain my freedom."
His gaze shifted to the one thing holding him back.
The seastone shackles on his ankles.
"It's time to make a decision," he muttered to himself.
With a fierce and determined look, Shiki touched his thigh, his unruly eyes turning sharp and cruel.
He was ready to do whatever it took to break free—even if it meant making the ultimate sacrifice.