Chapter 38 : Backstabbing!

Magellan felt the intense murderous aura radiating from Shiryu behind him, causing him to frown deeply. 

The jailers around instinctively took a step back from Shiryu, who seemed more like a pirate than any of the prisoner. 

Shiryu's presence was discordant with their own, and it was clear that once this crisis was over, he would need to be confined in the sixth underground level.

Magellan made a mental note to ensure Shiryu's continued imprisonment.

Suddenly, a distant call echoed from the stairwell, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps. 

"They're coming!" Magellan's heart skipped a beat as he clenched his fists. His reaction was mirrored by the others around him, who tightened their grips on their weapons and braced themselves.

"Warden, they're storming the stairwell! Leading the charge are Buggy the Clown, Luffy the Straw Hat, Boa Hancock the Pirate Empress, and Ivankov, who had previously disappeared from his cell!" a guard reported urgently.

Surveillance Den Den Mushi were placed throughout the stairwell between the fifth and fourth underground levels. 

Although Buggy and his team had dismantled many of them on their way, some areas still remained within the surveillance field.

Magellan's expression hardened. "Have they all entered the stairwell?"

A guard responsible for monitoring the surveillance footage replied, "We're not sure! They've taken out all the surveillance Den Den Mushi along their path, so their exact status is unclear."

"How do we fix this?" Magellan turned to Domino. "Go find Sadi and instruct her to initiate the countermeasures immediately. At the same time, once Sadi is in place, take over the defense of the elevator!"

Without hesitation, Domino nodded and quickly headed toward the elevator area.

"They're approaching! Open fire! Open fire!" 

"Everyone, hold your ground! Use the Seastone Nets on the Devil Fruit users!"

"Kill them all!!!"

"Bang! Bang! Bang..."

Soon, shouts and screams echoed from the stairwell!

At the forefront of Impel Down, the prison guards had already engaged in combat with the prisoners led by Buggy!

Hearing the chaos from inside, Magellan's body quivered slightly. He understood that the guards stationed in the stairwell alone wouldn't be able to stop Buggy and his crew, but he had no choice but to deploy them there!

First, it was to slow down Buggy and his group, buying time for Sadi to complete her mission. 

Second, he feared that if they didn't have any guards in the stairwell, Buggy and his crew might see through the trap!

The cacophony of shouts and screams grew louder, and Buggy and his crew advanced towards the stairs with relentless force!

Magellan gritted his teeth and endured the tension!

Every minute and second felt excruciatingly long to Magellan!

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the surveillance Den Den Mushi in Magellan's pocket started ringing with a "brubru" sound!

Without hesitation, Magellan quickly answered the call.

Sadi's voice came through the Den Den Mushi, sounding clear and calm, "Warden! The first group of rear guards has reached the stairs on the fifth underground floor! Confirm that all prisoners have entered the stairwell!"

"Excellent! Set up defenses immediately and make sure to guard the staircase!" Magellan ended the call and shouted into the stairwell, "The mission to lure the enemy is complete! Fall back to the second line of defense in an orderly manner!"

After giving these instructions, Magellan tossed the Den Den Mushi to a nearby jailer and moved toward the stairs!

Now, it all depended on his performance!

"Boom!!!"

Just then, a deafening noise erupted from the prison area on the fourth underground floor! Yellow sand erupted like a fountain!

Magellan turned around abruptly, his face contorted with shock as he saw a flood of prisoners from the sixth underground floor—led by Crocodile, Inazuma, and Mr. 3—bursting out of the yellow sand like divine soldiers descending from the sky!

As soon as many of the prisoners emerged, they seized the wax keys and rushed to the cells on the fourth underground floor, freeing the inmates inside and clashing with the jailers who followed them!

Magellan's expression darkened with rage! He had used a trick to lure Buggy into a trap, only to be outwitted as Buggy used a ruse to deceive him, attacking from the east while feinting a strike from the west!

Now, their advantage over the prison guards was gone in an instant!

"How can this be repaired!!!"

Magellan's hands were coated in a layer of venom. He turned to clear the prisoners from the stairwell first and then focused on eliminating the enemies that had emerged from behind, aiming to prevent attacks from both sides.

But in the next moment, with a "thud," a blade wrapped in Haki pierced through Magellan's body and emerged from his chest!

"Ugh~~"

Magellan spat out a large mouthful of blood, turning his head slightly in disbelief to see Shiryu who had stabbed him from behind!

Seeing this, not only was Magellan stunned, but even the surrounding jailers were left frozen, unable to believe their eyes!

"Hehehe…" Shiryu let out a restrained chuckle, his eyes gleaming with pleasure, and said, "Magellan, you really are too naive!"

Magellan felt his vitality rapidly draining away as Shiryu's long-planned blade struck directly at his heart!

Blood filled Magellan's mouth as he gritted his teeth and demanded, "Shiryu... why?"

With a dismissive sneer, Shiryu withdrew his sword and replied, "Because I'm bored!"

"Have you lost your mind? You're attacking the Chief Warden of Impel Down just because you're bored?" Hannyabal, unable to contain his frustration, raised his naginata, leapt into the air, and swung it at Shiryu!

"Hannyabal, no! You—ahh!!"

Magellan's eyes widened in shock, but before he could say anything more, he collapsed to his knees.

Shiryu barely regarded Hannyabal's attack. With a swift, blood-red slash, he sent Hannyabal flying without effort.

Shiryu wasn't boasting—among all the guards of Impel Down, none were worthy of his attention except Magellan. They were mere fools, seeing only the narrow confines of their own world without understanding the broader picture.

"Haah... haah... Shiryu, you... damn you!"

Magellan knew his end was near. As Shiryu's blade was pulled from his body, his life force drained even faster. 

But before he succumbed to death, he vowed to take Shiryu down with him, no matter the cost!

Magellan gathered all his remaining strength into his right hand, and the deep red venom coalesced into the shape of a dragon's head. 

"Red Poison Dragon!" 

Magellan was unconcerned with the potential harm to any innocent bystanders. He unleashed a massive red poisonous dragon that surged toward Shiryu. 

Shiryu swiftly evaded the attack, stepping back. Having worked alongside Magellan for years, he knew better than to face Magellan's desperate strike head-on. 

"Wall of Candles!"

At that moment, a figure rushed to Shiryu's side and conjured a towering wall of candles to shield him from the incoming red poisonous dragon.

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