Cheng Xiaoyu continued to delve deeper along the dark, damp corridor, the air thick with the smell of decay.
As he went further, the surrounding light grew thinner and thinner, until it was pitch black.
At the deepest part of the sixth level of Impel Down's Endless Hell, a massive iron cage stood prominently.
Even in the darkness, the clanking of the thick iron chains was clearly audible.
At the end of the chains, a figure was fixed upon a giant iron ball, like a bat nailed to a cross.
He was Barorick Leidfield, known as the "Solitary Red," the Red Count Leidfield.
Once, he alone could stand shoulder to shoulder with the three legendary pirate crews of Roger, Whitebeard, and Golden Lion, striking fear across the seas.
Now, he was like an aging bat, imprisoned in this sunless cage, his body long past its prime.
"This is where Red Count Leidfield is held," Cheng Xiaoyu murmured softly.
Cheng Xiaoyu opened the system store and quickly browsed the item list.
Soon, he found the coveted Devil Fruit—the Bat-Bat Fruit, Mythical Zoan: Vampire Form.
The price of 50,000 points made him gasp. If he hadn't had a few points originally, he would have considered exchanging it and gifting it to Red Count Leidfield as a welcoming present.
"Forget it, I'll max out Haki first," Cheng Xiaoyu mused to himself.
To deal with a declining powerhouse, his Shadow Legion should be enough.
"Who goes there?"
An old yet authoritative voice echoed in the darkness. Even from a hundred meters away, Cheng Xiaoyu could feel the suffocating pressure.
Red Count Leidfield! He had detected his arrival from a hundred meters away, and his Observation Haki was as sharp as ever!
Cheng Xiaoyu's lips curved slightly. This old man was quite interesting.
"My name is Cheng Xiaoyu; you'll know me soon enough," Cheng Xiaoyu replied loudly, his tone full of confidence.
In the darkness, the iron ball swayed slightly, and Red Count Leidfield slowly opened his eyes, his crimson pupils glinting with a bloodthirsty light in the dark.
"Hmph, arrogant brat," Red Count Leidfield's voice held a hint of disdain. "Do you really think you're worthy of challenging me?"
Cheng Xiaoyu ignored the taunt, instead observing the legendary figure before him with interest.
Time had indeed left deep marks on him, but his eyes were still as sharp as an eagle's.
"Just me, and my Shadow Legion."
In an instant, countless shadows emerged from the darkness, coalescing behind Cheng Xiaoyu into a massive legion.
Each shadow emanated a chilling aura, composed of the shadows of powerful individuals.
Red Count Leidfield's eyes finally showed a flicker of emotion. "Interesting. What Devil Fruit ability is this?"
"Shadow Fruit," Cheng Xiaoyu said offhandedly. "But none of that matters. What matters is..."
His voice suddenly turned cold. "You will soon become a member of my Shadow Legion."
Red Count Leidfield suddenly let out a burst of wild laughter, the chains rattling violently with an ear-splitting clang.
"Brat, who do you think this old man is?!"
Red Count Leidfield's crimson eyes stared fixedly at Cheng Xiaoyu.
He had never seen anyone stand so brazenly before him. Even after being imprisoned for so many years, such an attitude still filled him with rage.
Cheng Xiaoyu slowly stepped forward, his figure gradually becoming clearer in the darkness.
"You're old, Red Count Leidfield," his voice was cold and calm.
"Roger is dead. Golden Lion severed his own legs to escape Impel Down and has never dared to show his face again. Whitebeard is also a dying flame. Your era has passed."
The clanking of chains suddenly ceased, and Red Count Leidfield fell silent.
Even though his heart was filled with unwillingness, these words were indeed the truth.
He looked down at his withered hands, the marks of time clearly visible.
"Heh," Red Count Leidfield sneered, "What are you trying to say?"
Cheng Xiaoyu's lips curved slightly. "I can help you find that Devil Fruit and return you to your peak."
These words made a strange light flash in Red Count Leidfield's eyes, but it was quickly concealed.
He threw his head back and laughed, "Hahahaha... Do you know what Devil Fruit I want? Only I can see through others' minds; no one has ever seen through mine!"
"The Bat-Bat Fruit, Mythical Zoan: Vampire Form, right?"
The laughter abruptly stopped.
Red Count Leidfield's pupils constricted, staring at Cheng Xiaoyu in disbelief.
He had never revealed this thought to anyone, and having been imprisoned here for so many years, it was impossible for the outside world to know about it.
But Cheng Xiaoyu knew that Red Count Leidfield's ambition had never faded. He craved power, freedom, and to return to the embrace of the sea.
And this Devil Fruit was exactly what he had always dreamed of.
"You... how did you know?" Red Count Leidfield's voice trembled slightly. "Who exactly are you?"
"It doesn't matter," Cheng Xiaoyu shook his head gently. "What matters is, will you help me?"
Red Count Leidfield pondered for a moment, then suddenly revealed a cunning smile: "It seems you are indeed no nobody. Fine, unbind these chains for me, and I can help you."
"There's no need to unbind the chains," Cheng Xiaoyu smiled coldly. "It's not that much trouble."
Before his words finished, countless dark shadows surged towards Red Count Leidfield like a tide.
Each shadow emanated a chilling aura, twisting and deforming in the air, transforming into countless sharp blades.
"You!" Red Count Leidfield finally realized something was wrong, but it was too late.
"Pfft!"
The sharp shadow blades instantly pierced his body, blood blossoming in the darkness.
Red Count Leidfield's eyes widened, unable to believe he would die in such a manner.
"How interesting..." These were his last words.
Crimson blood splattered in the darkness, like blooming flowers of death.
Red Count Leidfield's proud head slowly drooped, silently.
"Arise, Solitary Red!"
As his words fell, a mass of pitch-black shadow surged out from beneath Red Count Leidfield's corpse.
It rapidly expanded, finally coalescing into a figure identical to Red Count Leidfield.
The shadow's eyes glowed with a crimson light, and its entire body exuded a dangerous aura.
Unlike the previous Red Count Leidfield, this shadow warrior showed no hesitation or doubt, only absolute obedience and a desire for slaughter.
A dark glint flashed in Cheng Xiaoyu's eyes. He slowly raised his right foot and stomped it heavily on the ground.
"Boom—"
An invisible dark energy, with him at its center, instantly spread outwards.
The pitch-black shadows surged like a tide, quickly engulfing the entire sixth level of Impel Down's Endless Hell.
In the darkness, only his glowing eyes were exceptionally striking.
"All of you, rise!" His voice carried an undeniable authority.
No sooner had he spoken than countless dark figures suddenly emerged from the ground.
They were all the prisoners he had killed earlier on the sixth level of Impel Down. These once arrogant great pirates had now all transformed into his shadow warriors.
Dense rows of shadow warriors stood in formation, their eyes glowing with the same crimson light as Red Count Leidfield, their bodies emanating a chilling aura.
A system prompt sounded in Cheng Xiaoyu's ear: [Shadow Count: 1024 / 10000]
Looking at the massive Shadow Legion before him, Cheng Xiaoyu's lips curled into a cold smile.
"Let's go, to witness the end of an era."