A bone-chilling cold pressure crashed down from above.
Daren's eyes lit up with battle fervor. As he stepped back, he didn't dodge—he struck.
"Genkotsu Meteor!"
His fist, wreathed in black lightning, collided head-on with the Ice Iron Fist, unleashing a massive shockwave.
Crack—crackle...
Fine fractures spread across Kuzan's frozen gauntlet, but instead of worry, his eyes gleamed with wild joy.
"Dahahaha! You actually managed to suppress this new technique of mine... Daren, you really are my greatest rival—"
Bang!
Before he could finish, Daren's boot slammed straight into his face, launching him hundreds of meters through the air.
Boom!
Kuzan crashed into an armory. Just as the stored ammunition was about to explode, a sheet of snow-white frost swept through the depot, instantly freezing everything in place.
"A weakness!"
Right then, a towering Giant Vice Admiral—already poised—saw his moment. The massive, fifteen-meter warrior stepped forward with a boom, raising his colossal battle axe and bringing it crashing down toward Daren.
Daren arched a brow and reached out with three clawed fingers.
Clang!
He caught the massive weapon cleanly in midair.
"Not bad strength," the Vice Admiral muttered calmly. Veins bulged on the back of his hand.
Then—raw, overwhelming power surged forth.
The steel axe splintered like wood under Daren's crushing dragon claws.
The Giant Vice Admiral's pupils shrank. His face paled in alarm.
Before he could react, Daren had already seized his arm and yanked him forward with tremendous force!
The giant's face turned crimson as he realized, to his horror, he couldn't resist.
The next moment, the world spun.
A large, rough hand clamped over his face, gripped his skull—and slammed it into the ground with brutal force!
Boom!!
Rubble exploded outward. A massive crater opened up in the earth.
Blood streamed from the giant's nose and mouth. His teeth were shattered, his eyes dull and unfocused.
"You don't find openings with your eyes," Daren said coldly, standing over him. "You sense them through presence."
"One hit..."
"He took down a Giant Vice Admiral in a single strike!"
"Just how strong is he!?"
"Vice Admiral Daren—no, Rogers Daren's strength… he's even stronger than before!"
"A monster among monsters!"
Around them, the Marines stared in stunned silence, unable to believe what they were witnessing.
It was overwhelming.
Borsalino, Sakazuki, Kuzan—three of the Marine Headquarters' famed "monsters" had all attacked in turn, and yet none of them had managed to leave so much as a scratch on him. He had handled them all with ease.
Even the titanic Giant Vice Admiral, normally unstoppable on the battlefield, was nothing before Daren's might.
How were they supposed to fight that!?
"Damn it—open fire!!"
One of the headquarters Vice Admirals bellowed, his eyes bloodshot, and gave the order.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Hundreds of elite Marines immediately raised their rifles. Some shouldered rocket launchers, others manned mounted cannons—all unleashing a torrent of firepower at the Vice Admiral!
A storm of bullets engulfed him. But as the rounds struck his body, they ricocheted like pebbles against diamond, bouncing off and kicking up craters across the battlefield.
A rocket screamed through the air, trailing flame—slamming directly into Daren's face.
Boom!
Flames and smoke billowed high into the air.
But then, through the rising black smoke and fire, a figure emerged—cigar clenched between his teeth, not a scratch on him.
Vice Admiral Daren walked forward slowly, through bullets and explosions alike, as if on a peaceful stroll. His gaze was calm, his expression ironclad.
"You should know very well that guns and cannons won't do a thing to me."
The Marines' hearts pounded wildly as anxiety filled their bloodshot eyes.
Watching the figure standing unharmed amid the sweeping bombardment, they felt a crushing pressure bearing down on them, making their scalps go numb.
Even Kaidou of the Beasts, hailed as "the strongest creature on land, sea, and air," probably couldn't have stood there this easily, right!?
After all, the firearms and cannons used by Marine Headquarters were the most advanced and powerful in all the seas—far beyond anything pirate crews or mafia syndicates could match.
Even though they already had a solid understanding of Daren's monstrous physique and had mentally prepared themselves... they never expected sheer physical durability to reach this level!
Especially on a battlefield of this scale, gunfire might be limited in power, but it's still the best way to suppress top-tier fighters and drain their stamina.
Even legendary Great Pirates like Shiki and Whitebeard, when facing Marine firepower, had to keep their Observation Haki and Armament Haki constantly active to evade or block bullets and cannon shells.
Because no matter how powerful they were, they were still flesh and blood.
If they bled out, had their hearts pierced by bullets, or were too badly injured… they would still die!
But for that demon-like man, even the Marines' firepower advantage meant nothing!
He didn't need to block, didn't need to dodge—he could just stand there, motionless, and the Marines' weapons wouldn't touch him!
That was the most hopeless part!
"Only attacks coated in Haki can pose a threat to me."
Daren exhaled a puff of smoke.
"Then I won't hold back, Daren!"
A raspy voice suddenly echoed from behind.
A twisted shadow rose, and wild, writhing hair gripped eight sharp military swords, casting a spider-like silhouette.
Rear Admiral Onigumo!
The eight swords, guided by his flowing hair, stabbed down swiftly and precisely!
Daren tilted his head slightly, dodging the strike, and then grabbed Onigumo's hair with one massive hand, yanking him toward him.
"Your swordsmanship is as vicious as ever, Onigumo."
Watching Onigumo fly toward him, face contorted in fear, Daren laughed.
"But if you don't have the guts to face your opponent head-on, you'll never get stronger."
With that, he hurled Onigumo forward by the hair with full force!
Boom!
Onigumo's head slammed into the ground, his legs twitching and dangling in the air.
Everyone gasped sharply.
That looked painful.
But just then—
A grim figure shot out from the ranks, the sword at his waist ringing as it was drawn!
"Coming in, Daren!"
Doberman shouted coldly, unleashing a textbook iaido slash!
A green sword wave split the earth—but it was caught and stopped barehanded by the Vice Admiral.
The moment the blade shattered, Daren rocketed forward like a cannonball, appearing right in front of Doberman in a flash.
He was so fast that Doberman froze for a split second, his pupils contracting.
Too close.
In that case, there was only one option…
Doberman clenched his teeth.
"Armament Haki… Tekkai!"
Boom!
Daren's fist smashed square into his gut, and a shockwave of white air exploded out from Doberman's back.
Doberman stood rigidly, unmoving, his eyes trembling uncontrollably.
Then—
His sword clattered to the ground as he slowly curled forward, clutching his stomach, dropping to one knee and retching violently.
"How many times have I told you? Tekkai is only good for bullying the weak."
Daren sighed, visibly disappointed.
Doberman let out a garbled sound before rolling his eyes and collapsing on the spot.
For a moment, the entire battlefield fell silent.
Then—
A thunderous war cry erupted, loud enough to shake the sky.
"I'm going too!"
"Kill!!"
"Charge him!"
"Take down Vice Admiral Daren!!"
"..."
The Marines' eyes burned red as they drew their swords with fervor and charged at Daren.
By now, they had all realized the truth—
This wasn't a fight.
This was Daren, the special instructor appointed by Marine Headquarters, giving every single one of them their final lesson!
...
(100 Chapters Ahead)
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