The ground trembled violently beneath their feet.
Staring at the two towering, suffocating auras clashing in the distant mountains, every member of the Whitebeard Pirates couldn't hide the shock on their faces.
They simply couldn't believe it—how could that Marine Vice Admiral, who once couldn't take a single blow from Oyaji, have raised his combat power to such a terrifying level in just a year or two?
"Kishishishi!! That guy's gone berserk!!"
Gecko Moria let out a shrill, ferocious laugh. With one hand, he raised his massive serrated blade, purple lightning crackling around it, and swung it viciously toward the stunned "Diamond" Jozu.
Clang!!
Caught completely off guard, Jozu's hulking body was sent flying, rolling across the ground several times before he finally stopped.
"Damn it!"
He clenched his teeth hard, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Out of the thick dust, Gecko Moria strode forward with his blade slung over his shoulder, laughing with a menacing sneer.
"Kishishishi, the age of Whitebeard is over!"
"You don't get to say that!"
Jozu's eyes flared with bloodshot rage as he let out a furious roar.
In an instant, most of his body transformed into solid diamond. With the force of a cannonball, he blasted straight toward Moria.
"You so-called Shichibukai are nothing more than lapdogs of the World Government!"
With that charge, he unleashed his full power, crashing forward with unstoppable momentum.
Moria was sent flying dozens of meters, coughing up blood.
"Diamond" Jozu gasped heavily and raised his arms high, shouting:
"Everyone, get it together!! We're the Whitebeard Pirates! Our Oyaji is invincible!!"
His battle cry roared like thunder, reigniting the spirits of every crew member.
Their eyes blazed with renewed determination as they charged toward the Shichibukai, their war cries shaking the skies.
Unlike the Shichibukai, who fought individually, the Whitebeard Pirates displayed exceptional coordination—turning the tide of battle in an instant.
But watching it all unfold, Doflamingo—manipulating pirates into killing one another with just a flick of his fingers—let out a cold, eerie laugh.
"Fufufufu... the Whitebeard Pirates... They're not as terrifying as the legends made them out to be."
His sunglasses flashed with a strange, sinister gleam, as if he'd stumbled upon an entertaining secret. His smile curled with mockery.
"Foolish devotion... comrade bonds... a fake family... sentimental attachments…"
"In the end, it's just an old man playing house with a bunch of kids."
"Fufufufu..."
…
Boom!!
With a violent shockwave, the two figures separated the moment they clashed and were blasted backward.
Whitebeard panted slightly, blood seeping from several wounds across his body, some shallow, some deep.
But his gaze remained fixed on the Vice Admiral in the distance—now drenched in blood, looking like a man carved from raw flesh. A grim, guarded look flickered in his eyes.
This guy... still isn't done.
He's still laughing!
Just then—
"Hahahahaha!! That was a hell of a strike, Whitebeard!!"
A wild laugh exploded through the jungle. In the next instant, the forest behind Whitebeard tore open with a violent explosion—Bullet shot out like a madman, closing the distance in a flash and throwing a punch straight at Whitebeard's head!
Clang!!
The massive naginata blocked Bullet's punch with a thunderous clash, sparks flying as it lit up his bloodstained yet battle-hungry face.
"Another monster..."
Whitebeard's heart sank. With a burst of force, he sent Bullet flying.
Even this one-armed brat had an insane body. He wasn't on par with Daren, but after taking a full-force Gura Gura no Mi punch head-on, he was still full of life.
When did the sea start churning out freaks like this one after another?
Bullet spun in midair before landing steadily next to Daren.
He gave the bloodied, battered Daren a sideways glance, then sneered.
"Hey, hey, hey, Daren... you're not gonna die on me, are you?"
Daren looked up, frowning slightly.
"How are you still alive?"
"..." Bullet's grin froze.
"You're the one who's dead!!"
He glared hard at Daren, teeth clenched.
Daren chuckled softly. His breath was chaotic, and his complexion had turned pale.
Whitebeard in his prime was truly terrifying—his strength definitely rivaled Roger's.
In terms of raw destructive force, he may have even surpassed him.
This brutal fight had certainly raised Daren's Armament Haki, but the toll on his body was catching up fast.
"By the way... once this battle ends, no matter the result, you're probably getting promoted to Admiral, right?"
Bullet seemed to recall something, and asked with a grin.
Daren wiped the blood from his face and smiled faintly.
"Maybe."
Establishing the Shichibukai system and successfully intercepting the Whitebeard Pirates… those achievements went far beyond what the title of "Admiral candidate" could reward.
Whether he would be promoted outright to Admiral would depend on how firm Sengoku and Kong's support really was.
Bullet nodded, then suddenly laughed again.
"So once again... I've gotta team up with your bastard ass, huh?"
Daren's lips curved into a smirk as if remembering something, too.
"Brings back memories... Though this time, we're not up against someone like Kaidou."
"Try not to slow me down, Bullet."
Bullet's severed arm rapidly reformed into a stony limb. Cracking his knuckles with a wicked grin, he replied,
"Right back at you."
The two stood shoulder to shoulder, eyes locked on the strongest man in the world—burning with fighting spirit.
...
Mary Geoise, Pangaea Castle.
Assembly hall.
Kong gritted his teeth, chest heaving with fury he could barely contain.
"Why?! The World Noble Hunting Tournament has been suspended for years! Why restart it now?!"
"Wasn't the last lesson painful enough, sirs?!"
The smiles vanished from the faces of the Five Elders.
"Kong. Watch your tone."
"Don't forget your place."
"You think we need you to lecture us on what to do?"
"Yes, God Valley suffered severe losses—but that was twelve years ago."
"The Nobles have grown dreadfully bored in the meantime."
Kong's expression froze. His jaw clenched so tight it looked like he might crack a tooth.
A genocide, just to ease the boredom of the Celestial Dragons...
He rasped,
"With Daren's temperament, he would never obey..."
Saint Saturn sneered.
"No, he will."
"That brat has always been clever. Obedient, even. Isn't that right?"
Saint Warcury spoke calmly.
"Kong, you've spoiled that brat Daren far too much."
"For two years now, you've allowed him to shape the North Blue into his personal domain."
Steel Kong growled back,
"He fulfilled his duties, didn't he?"
"Under his command, North Blue's crime and piracy hit historic lows. The region's royalty and leaders are fully satisfied with the policies he's enforced."
"Is that so?"
Saint Nusjuro, gripping a katana, slowly raised his head. His eyes glinted with menace as he stared Kong down, lips curling into a cruel smile.
"Then tell us—can you swear you knew nothing about that brat Daren murdering the Celestial Dragon, Saint Xildes?"
Kong's pupils contracted sharply.
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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