Fatal Strike

"Tap, tap, tap..."

The familiar sound quietly came from the main gate. Ye Qiong opened his eyes. This time, it should be the meal delivery.

The food runner placed meals in front of each cage, silently and mechanically completing his work as though the prisoners inside did not exist.

Ye Qiong had found it strange at first, but after more than a month, he had grown used to it.

The food runners of Eternal Hell were all deaf-mutes, preventing them from passing prisoner information to the outside world. They were only responsible for delivering meals and performing necessary cleaning each day. Compared to the Marines, prisoners generally had no reason to make trouble for them.

Looking at the two meals before the cage, Ye Qiong rose and stepped forward, about to take his portion.

The moment Ye Qiong reached out, the bearded man beside him suddenly moved. A cold glint flashed in his eyes as he bent his massive body forward, thrusting half of it close and kicking out.

The Marine coat draped over the bearded man's shoulders like a cape, making his entire body appear even larger. His shadow bore down on Ye Qiong as the chains locking his limbs and bones jerked taut!

In the blink of an eye.

Ye Qiong sensed the sudden kick from the side. Having already prepared to dodge, he rolled across the ground. The military boot slammed heavily into the floor with a dull thud.

Ye Qiong did not hesitate after evading it. He continued retreating toward the other side of the cage until his back pressed against the corner wall, completely leaving the bearded man's attack range.

"Who gave you trash permission to take food?!"

The bearded man was surprised by Ye Qiong's swift reaction, yet he still looked down on him disdainfully. His tone allowed no argument. "From now on, you can only eat once every three days, and only with my permission!"

With that, he took both meals by the iron cage door.

Ye Qiong watched coldly as the man claimed his food for himself. No emotion could be seen on his face beneath the cage's dark shadows; only his hands silently clenched into fists.

A mere new prisoner was already this overbearing. If Ye Qiong had not been on guard just now, then with his body not yet recovered, that kick would likely have worsened his injuries.

Ye Qiong's eyes gradually turned sharp, radiating cold light.

Kindness only invited bullying! He had initially planned for them not to interfere with each other until his body fully recovered. Now, it seemed he could wait no longer.

After finishing the food, the bearded man shot him a sinister glance and spat saliva mixed with scraps of food. "Coward!"

He had originally wanted to provoke that brat hiding in the corner, cripple his limbs completely, and leave him at his mercy—a tool for earning an extra meal.

Ye Qiong said nothing, lowering his head and pretending to cower.

After all, the prisoners in the surrounding cages disliked the bearded man greatly, and they had not told him some of Eternal Hell's rules.

One of Eternal Hell's rules—since it housed vicious criminals, conflict between people in the same cage was nothing unusual. Prisoners often argued and fought, and their lives were worth less than nothing!

Eternal Hell had no distinction between day and night.

Ye Qiong woke in the corner, habitually looking toward the bearded man sleeping against the side wall. The man snored like thunder, his chest rising and falling steadily and powerfully.

After studying the bearded man for a moment, he looked toward the elderly prisoner in the opposite cage. The old man was asleep as well.

Ye Qiong quietly rose. He lifted the chain connecting his shackled feet, carefully controlling it so it would not make the slightest sound.

Then, like a born hunter, he approached the bearded man on tiptoe.

Step by step, Ye Qiong focused with utmost concentration. Not only did he need to watch for every tiny movement from the bearded man in case he suddenly awoke, he also had to watch the prisoners in the surrounding cages to ensure they did not disrupt his plan.

At the slightest sign of trouble, he would abandon the attack and retreat immediately.

The process went surprisingly smoothly. Ye Qiong's slightly crouched body reached the bearded man's front. Holding his breath, he could clearly sense the other man's heartbeat.

Even though he had long prepared and rehearsed this countless times in his mind, he was somewhat nervous now. At present, he was no different from an ordinary person, while the other man's body, honed by long-term physical training, was extraordinarily tough. Though his limbs were restrained, a starving camel was still bigger than a horse.

Ye Qiong did not dare be careless. He gathered his breath and focused his mind, seeking only to kill in one strike and leave the bearded man no chance to resist!

The chain on his foot shackles had already pulled taut. He had reached the limit of his range. Just as he was about to strike, his gaze swept to the side, and his hunting posture suddenly froze!

The elderly prisoner in the opposite cage had clearly awakened and was watching his every move with great interest.

Ye Qiong frowned. If the old man warned him now, he would be in absolute danger!

The elderly prisoner clearly realized this as well, but merely waved a hand slightly, signaling him to continue.

Ye Qiong let out a breath of relief and returned his gaze to the bearded man. Power surged from every muscle in his body, flowing through him as his essence, energy, and spirit became one!

At that instant, it was as though the Seastone suppression on his feet had been broken. Extraordinary power burst forth and gathered at the tips of several fingers!

Ancient Martial Arts—Eagle Claw Hand!

His left hand formed a claw and lashed out! Tearing through the air!

The instant it touched the bearded man's throat, the man's eyes flew wide open. He had noticed something, but he was already half a beat too late!

Splat!

Ye Qiong's fingers smoothly tore through the soft flesh of the bearded man's throat, plunging deep inside as warm blood sprayed everywhere.

"Urgh! Urgh!"

His vital point wounded, the bearded man's entire body convulsed violently. His eyes bulged as his limbs yanked at the chains, producing a metallic clatter!

His physique was powerful. Even with his throat, an absolute vital point, torn open, his life force did not immediately fade! Instead, he became even more violent!

His broad hands, tugging at the chains, slammed down toward Ye Qiong, trying to stop him.

Ye Qiong gritted his teeth, gripping the man's throat. He violently swept his left hand, sending blood and flesh flying as warm blood gushed out.

The bearded man's hand landed on his shoulder. Though it was not a full-powered strike, it still felt as if Ye Qiong's shoulder would split apart. His legs buckled, and he nearly dropped to his knees. He controlled his body, shedding part of the force through his shoulder and using the remaining impact to sink down, then drove his elbow diagonally downward.

"Ancient Martial Arts—Mountain-Back Charge!!!"

Ye Qiong's muscles bulged and veins stood out as his whole body crashed into the bearded man's soft lower abdomen, driving all his strength into the man's navel.

Crack!

Under that blow, the bearded man sprayed even more warm blood from his throat, staining Ye Qiong's shoulder and clothes red. His limbs stretched outward in every direction as the chains slapped against the walls.

"Die for me!"

Ye Qiong pressed tightly against the bearded man's lower abdomen, preventing him from exerting any strength.

The bearded man flailed wildly, his chains whipping through the air like madness. Like a vicious beast, the power spilling from his death throes nearly crushed Ye Qiong at once.

Ye Qiong's face turned pale. It seemed all the strength in his body had been spent in those two attacks, and Seastone's weakening effect invaded his body. Just as he was about to collapse, a gentle vitality surged from his navel and spread through his limbs and bones, gathering his strength anew, strand by strand!

No matter how desperately the bearded man struggled, Ye Qiong remained pressed against his lower abdomen, stopping his strength from erupting.

Blood poured from the man's throat, spilling entirely over Ye Qiong's shoulder and dyeing his whole arm red.

"You... urgh, urgh..."

Blood overflowed from the bearded man's mouth. With his throat torn open, he could not speak. He gradually lost strength, opening and closing his mouth like a dying fish, as though desperately trying to say something.

Ye Qiong's arm had turned blood-red, and his eyes were sharp. He looked like a demon as he continued pressing his elbow against the bearded man's lower abdomen, not daring to relax until the body convulsed and its limbs hung limply.

Finally dead...

Letting out a foul breath, Ye Qiong collapsed weakly onto the floor. The wound on the right side of his abdomen had split open again. He was covered in blood, unable to tell which was his and which belonged to the bearded man.

Such intense noise had long since drawn the attention of every prisoner in Eternal Hell.

Wave after wave of presence swept over him. Ye Qiong's body tensed slightly, unable to shake the feeling of being watched.

Observation Haki?

Ye Qiong pondered secretly.

"Impressive, young friend."

The elderly prisoner across from him, who had watched the entire process, spoke in praise.

Although Ye Qiong had only launched a sneak attack, he had killed the bearded man, formerly a vice admiral, in less than a minute. The powerful combat techniques, terrifying temperament, and explosive strength he displayed during that time all shook the old man. And all this came from a prisoner who looked like a youth.

"Tsk, tsk. Ruthless and decisive, kid, I concede after seeing that move of yours today. For now, I acknowledge that you belong in Eternal Hell!"

"I couldn't stand that damned vice admiral long ago. Now that he died at the hands of a kid, I bet he died with his eyes wide open. Hahaha."

"Kid, you still weren't ruthless enough! Your second elbow strike could have landed right on his crotch. As a man's absolute weak point, one hit there and he wouldn't have had the strength to struggle at all."

"Hehe, the guy had barely entered your cage, and you already killed him. Don't tell me you're trying to be as domineering as Golden Lion?"

The prisoners whispered among themselves, chattering as they evaluated the scene from moments ago.

Ye Qiong silently retreated, avoiding the blood flowing from the bearded man, and sat on the prison's icy floor.

If he had guessed correctly, those prisoners far from his cage had actually used Observation Haki to inspect what was happening inside his cage!

That made things troublesome. Could it be that every move he had made before had been watched by these prisoners?

"Were you using Observation Haki just now?" Unable to reach an answer, Ye Qiong asked aloud.

"Oh? So you brat has heard of Haki?"

"Then why didn't that bearded man use Armament Haki to defend against my attack? At the level of a vice admiral, shouldn't he have known how to use Haki?" Ye Qiong countered.

"Heh, young friend, it isn't that simple." The elderly man in the opposite cage smiled and shook the chains on his limbs. "Observation Haki moves with the mind, replacing one's eyes and ears to sense all around. Armament Haki comes from the body and strengthens it through the muscles. The Marines have locked the bones in the limbs of us physical combat experts, completely restricting our bodies. How could we use Armament Haki?"

"Hehe, even Observation Haki can only be used under special circumstances. That's a rule everyone agreed upon, so no one abuses Observation Haki and disturbs others' sleep." The other prisoners chimed in. Ye Qiong's display just now had clearly earned their recognition.

"So that's how it is..." Ye Qiong understood, but a new question arose in his mind.

What exactly was Haki?