Daren: ...
Watching Bullet charge forward only to be sent flying moments later, Daren couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
Still as reckless as ever.
The surrounding pirates, witnessing the brutal scene, turned pale with fear and scattered in panic.
One slash... just one slash... and the "Demon Heir" with a bounty of 300 million Belly was sent flying without even a chance to resist.
If it had been them, wouldn't they have been sliced clean in two?
To hell with the Moa Moa no Mi!
Even if they managed to snatch the Moa Moa no Mi amidst the chaos, they'd still need to escape this island alive!
"Jihahahaha! No one can stop me, Shiki!"
After slashing away the troublesome Bullet, Shiki's body shot forward once more.
With a posture nearly skimming the ground, he dove toward Daren.
Along the way, countless metal spikes erupted from the ground, like black serpents aiming to ensnare Shiki's figure.
But he weaved through them effortlessly, slicing some into fragments with a flick of his sword, others he simply dodged—none could impede his advance.
From afar, Shiki resembled a soaring golden lion, charging forward with unbridled arrogance, rapidly closing the distance between them.
In both hands, he gripped the peerless Meito swords, Oto and Kogarashi, their blades crackling with dense black and red lightning, trailing twin torrents of thunderous fury.
Conqueror's Haki surged around him!
At that moment, the entire island seemed engulfed by the raging Conqueror's Haki, black and red light flickering chaotically, transforming the space into a hellish purgatory.
Shiki's eyes were bloodshot with rage, his expression ferocious and bloodthirsty, like a demon from the underworld.
"Die, Marine brat!!"
In an instant, Daren felt an overwhelming pressure bearing down from the front, nearly suffocating him.
Every pore on his body stood on end.
At that moment, Shiki reminded him of the time he first left the North Blue and encountered Roger!
Like a demon!
The same unstoppable force, the same unparalleled dominance!
But back then, Roger hadn't gone all out. Now, Shiki's aura and killing intent had reached their peak!
Faced with such a dire situation, anyone would instinctively retreat!
Even Daren could feel his muscles and cells screaming in protest, urging him to fall back.
Yet, a fierce grin spread across Daren's face.
Over a year of relentless training;
Half a year shackled by Seastone, enduring suppression;
The agony of torture and imprisonment by the Beasts Pirates;
Years upon years of grueling practice, sweat, and toil...
Countless memories flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.
At this moment...
How could he possibly retreat?
He could forgo the Moa Moa no Mi, but this strike—he had to face it head-on!
If he stepped back now, if he dodged this blow, his journey might end here, never advancing another inch.
"Come on then!!"
Daren let out a thunderous roar and stepped forward instead of backing down!
His right fist clenched tight as Armament Haki surged from his entire body, erupting with full force and wrapping his arm like an impenetrable suit of armor.
He struck with a punch!
In that moment, his mind was completely calm.
His gaze was fierce, but inside, his heart was like a still lake.
Reflected in his pupils was Shiki's ferocious, grinning face, but deeper within, his eyes were like a tranquil pool, gradually stirring with blurred images.
Like a ripple spreading from a droplet falling into calm waters, the scene twisted into the image of a broken warship.
To Daren, the lightning-wielding Shiki in front of him seemed to vanish, replaced by a shattered warship docked at a scrapyard.
Spirit, will, strength, skill... everything merged into one!
It was like a flash of insight piercing through the Commodore's mind.
Not far off, Sengoku, who was sprinting over, caught sight of Daren's soaring will and that all-or-nothing punch. He froze instinctively, his expression shifting.
"That punch... could it be...?"
In the next instant, Shiki's twin blades clashed head-on with Daren's fist!
Boom!!
A deep roar thundered out as a shockwave burst in all directions.
Black and red lightning crackled outward in streaks.
The ground within hundreds of meters collapsed and quaked. Cannons and massive boulders were launched into the air, then shattered in the explosion of air pressure.
"He... he blocked it!?"
King and Charlotte Perospero stared in disbelief, a storm raging in their hearts.
Shiki the Golden Lion—one of the legendary Great Pirates, said to surpass even their own captain and Mama—had unleashed a full-powered strike... and it was actually blocked by that Marine Commodore!?
From the rubble of a collapsed building, Bullet, having just climbed out, paused at the sight. Then, blood dripping from his mouth, he broke into loud laughter:
"Kahahahaha!! I knew it! Daren, you bastard—only you are worthy of being my rival!!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!!
The raging shockwaves continued detonating like a chain of bombs, casting darkness over the sky.
Shiki looked at the Commodore in front of him, a trace of surprise flickering in his eyes, pupils slightly narrowing.
Was it just his imagination? That brat's punch just now… had a faint echo of that bastard Garp's presence.
"Did he inherit Garp's legacy?"
But in the next breath, Shiki grinned again.
"Even if he did, that's just a sliver of it! Not even Garp himself could stop me!!"
Shiki's body shot upward, then came crashing down from above!
Black and red lightning roared again. Wrapped in Conqueror's Haki, an overwhelming force like a collapsing mountain and surging tsunami bore down on Daren!
Crack! Crack!
The black Armament Haki covering Daren's fist began to fracture, fine cracks spreading out.
With a heavy thud, his feet were driven deep into the ground like nails, sinking past his knees.
The earth itself buckled under the pressure.
"Jihahahaha!! Now this is a strength worth praising!!"
Shiki laughed madly and slashed upward, sending Daren's bloodied arm flying.
The Marine Commodore was left wide open!
An opening!!
At that exact moment, a red gleam flashed simultaneously in both Daren and Shiki's eyes.
Observation Haki!
A sharp sword wind shrieked—Shiki, one of the strongest swordsmen alive, attacked with ruthless precision, his strike as fast as lightning.
"Die!!"
He brought the sword down in one swift motion!
Shish!!
The Meito sword "Kogarashi" pierced deep into Daren's chest, unleashing a burst of blood.
The world fell into a moment of silence...
Then Sengoku's anguished and grief-stricken cry echoed across the island.
"Daren!!"