CHAPTER 199- The Chains Break, The Tide Turns

"Get back—now! Or you'll die!"

Hyogoro's voice cracked the air like a whip. His expression changed drastically as he shouted with urgency.

But the suddenness of what followed caught everyone flat-footed.

The Sheep Mink's face twisted with malice as he let out a low, guttural growl.

"Hmph, too late for regrets now."

"Seems you've forgotten what's strapped around your neck, Hyogoro—the explosive collar. Drag them all with you and die like the worm you are!"

With that, the Sheep Mink slammed his thumb onto the red detonator in his hand.

Inside Udon Prison, certain high-risk inmates—especially those deemed particularly dangerous—were fitted with explosive collars capable of killing instantly. Hyogoro was one of them.

Though he looked weak, his status was well-known. Before leaving Udon, Queen had personally ensured Hyogoro wore a collar, just in case.

Now, the collar blinked red—armed and counting down.

Hyogoro panicked and instinctively tried to leap back to a safe distance.

But just as he moved, a hand moved even faster.

Clack!

The collar was ripped clean off.

In a single, effortless motion, Luo Yu had snatched the explosive collar from Hyogoro's neck and hurled it straight at the Sheep Mink.

The Sheep Mink froze.

No—everyone froze.

No one had expected that this seemingly fatal crisis would be so… casually resolved.

As the collar flew toward him, the Sheep Mink's pupils dilated.

Too late.

BOOM!!

A blinding blast of flame and force erupted, swallowing the Sheep Mink whole.

Flames surged in every direction, licking across the prison yard.

Screams of agony rang out.

The explosion had shaken the entire camp—and the remaining dozens of guards were instantly alerted.

"Sound the alarm! There's an intruder!"

One of the guards fumbled for a Den-Den Mushi to report the attack.

Meanwhile, Hyogoro, still standing dazed, patted his chest, arms, legs—every part of his body—to confirm he was still alive.

He turned to Luo Yu, eyes wide with disbelief.

He had seen many men die to those collars over the decades.

To him—and to all prisoners—it had always been a death sentence.

But this stranger had undone it as if swatting a fly.

Before Hyogoro could say anything, he looked around and blanched.

Dozens of guards were converging on them from all directions.

"Young man… thank you. I don't know why you saved me—but this isn't the time to talk."

"It's true Queen is gone from Udon—but we still have four or five hundred guards here. Many of them are Gifters from the Beasts Pirates. If they organize, they'll be a real threat."

He turned toward Cat Viper.

"Cat Viper! You and this young man hold them off. I'll rally the others! Even if we're shackled, the men here can still fight!"

Just as he turned to leave, Cat Viper grabbed his arm tightly.

"Dogstorm, did you get him out?"

BOOM!

The wall of a decrepit cell—rumored to be haunted—shattered.

Dogstorm emerged, dragging a shackled figure into the light, eyes full of joy.

It had been over twenty years since their last reunion—since the failed raid on Onigashima shattered the Nine Red Scabbards.

Even the prisoner—Kawamatsu the Kappa—looked stunned.

"Cat Viper? Dogstorm? You're back?!" Kawamatsu cried in disbelief.

But as he took in the charging guards, his gaze sharpened.

"Quick! Get me a sword! I can take on ten of them!"

He paused. "No—my body's rusty, but I could probably handle dozens!"

Hyogoro, seeing Kawamatsu again after decades, was shocked.

"Three of the Nine Red Scabbards… gathered in one place?"

"Back then, each of you was a warrior who could stand alone against armies. Now, after all these years, you must be even stronger!"

"With the three of you here… we finally have hope."

"But we still need to be cautious. Let me gather the other men first—more numbers won't hurt."

But before he could finish, Cat Viper tightened his grip again.

Dogstorm did the same with Kawamatsu.

The strange tension in the air made Hyogoro and Kawamatsu look up, confused.

Then they followed the Scabbards' eyes—

BOOM!!

A massive elephant trunk slammed down, obliterating a rock wall with ease.

A hulking figure emerged from the guard ranks, forcing his way forward with brute strength alone.

Babanuki, the head warden of Udon, had arrived.

Massive and imposing, he looked like a walking mountain among the guards.

His face twisted in fury.

Kaido and the Beasts Pirates had just left Wano—and now this?

If anything happened on his watch, he was dead meat.

He looked down at the charred body of the Sheep Mink.

His voice trembled with rage.

"Well, well…"

"You worms… dare to cause chaos while Master Queen is away?"

"Fine. I, Babanuki, will personally deal with you!"

"Everyone—KILL THEM ALL!"

"Yes, Chief Warden Babanuki!"

The guards roared in unison.

To them, these few intruders were as good as dead.

After all, this was Udon—the impenetrable fortress. Their numbers and firepower far outmatched any rebellion.

Laughter and bloodlust echoed across the quarry as 400–500 guards raised their weapons and charged.

But they weren't the only ones moving.

"Boss Hyogoro! We're coming too!"

From every corner of the quarry, prisoners began flooding in—dozens of them, fists clenched with fury and eyes burning with loyalty.

The truth of Hyogoro's identity had shaken them deeply.

He wasn't just a relic of the past—he was their boss, their legend.

They had no hesitation left.

They'd die for him.

Hyogoro was moved. He opened his mouth to shout something—

But then a voice whispered beside him.

"Old man, when I count to three… run as fast as you can."

"Or you'll die."

Hyogoro turned.

Luo Yu's voice was calm—but his eyes were locked onto the battlefield ahead.

And his hand was already drifting toward his sword.