"Go!"
"Let me go first!"
"Damn it, I was here first!"
"Let me take down Vice Admiral Daren!!"
The Marines surged forward in a frenzy, eyes blazing with fanatic excitement, their momentum suddenly skyrocketing.
Even in the face of that demon-god-like Marine, they charged ahead without hesitation.
Why hesitate now?
Rogers Daren was one of the strongest forces in the world today.
He effortlessly suppressed the three "monsters" of headquarters, clashed evenly with legends like Roger, Whitebeard, and Kaidou, and took down both Shiki the Golden Lion and the "World Destroyer" Byrnndi World...
Many of the Marines here had personally witnessed his terrifying feat of tearing apart one of the Five Elders—the highest authority in the World Government!
Now, a powerhouse practically standing at the peak of the sea was personally stepping in to guide—no, fight them. Why would they hesitate?
From what they'd seen with the giant Vice Admiral, Rear Admiral Onigumo, and Rear Admiral Doberman earlier, Vice Admiral Daren was clearly holding back!
Even if they didn't gain anything from Daren's "guidance," at worst, they'd just get beaten up and still be able to report it as experience. So why not?
With that thought, every Marine's gaze burned with resolve as they charged all at once!
"Rankyaku!"
"Shigan!"
Two Commodores flanked Daren from both sides with their strongest attacks.
But just as they made their move, Daren reacted faster—grabbing their arms and legs in an instant, twisting his body, and hurling them both through the air.
"Your intent the moment you struck... was way too obvious!"
The two Commodores crashed into a nearby building like cannonballs, smashing it into rubble as dust exploded into the air.
Wincing in pain, they instinctively tried to crawl from the debris—only to lock eyes accidentally and freeze.
Their eyes met. They blinked.
Then, in perfect sync, both collapsed backward, shut their eyes, and "fainted."
The other Marines watching lit up with realization.
They followed suit, charging at Daren one after another, unleashing their strongest techniques. And one by one, they were blown away after receiving his "guidance," blood spurting from their mouths as they hit the ground, "gravely wounded," unable to rise.
And so, a strange scene unfolded on the battlefield.
Marines rushed at Vice Admiral Daren like lunatics, only to be knocked flying in a single move.
From afar, it looked like Daren was untouchable, weaving effortlessly through a crowd that couldn't lay a finger on him.
"What in the world are these brats doing?!"
Sengoku's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
With his experience and judgment, how could he not see through this charade?
Sure, they couldn't do anything to Daren, but Daren clearly wasn't even going all out—was it really necessary to flop down and play dead?
And that damn Strawberry—did you really think I didn't see you lying there scratching your belly!?
As time passed, more and more "bodies" piled across the field, scattered in all directions, some even forming small mounds.
At this point, Sengoku couldn't hold back anymore.
If this went on, the entire Marine Headquarters would be wrecked by Daren!
How would the Marines ever show their faces again? Where would justice stand?
That thought sparked a flash of resolve in Sengoku's eyes as his body suddenly blazed with brilliant golden light.
Radiant golden Buddha light bathed the land, and the golden battle Buddha's form rose from the ground like a towering mountain.
"Daren! I can't let you keep going!"
Boom!
The earth beneath his feet crumbled under the sheer force of his leap.
The golden battle Buddha let out a thunderous roar, launching into the air before slamming a massive shockwave down at the Marine Vice Admiral!
"This is our Holy Land of Justice!!"
The roaring shockwave burst forth, shattering the very air like solid glass as it barreled toward the Vice Admiral.
Impact Wave!
"But Admiral Sengoku..."
A sharp glint flashed in Daren's eyes. Armament Haki surged across his arms, black lightning crackling in dense arcs as he launched a fierce punch!
"In this so-called Holy Land of Justice, I see no justice at all!"
Blue Hole!
Boom!!
Fist and golden palm collided with crushing force, detonating a shockwave like a nuclear blast.
The ground within hundreds of meters buckled and collapsed, rock layers torn up by the raging winds. Marines caught off guard were flung through the air like scraps of cloth.
Rip!!
Black and red lightning flashed and fizzled beneath the clashing shockwaves.
Hellish gales shredded the sea of clouds, and a massive, jagged ravine split the sky.
"They're evenly matched!"
"This is insane!"
"Vice Admiral Daren's power… is he really going toe-to-toe with Admiral Sengoku?!"
"..."
The Marines staggered back under the violent shockwave, shielding their faces with their arms as they stared in disbelief at the two figures radiating an overwhelming aura.
Vice Admiral Daren's short black hair whipped wildly in the wind as he grinned defiantly at the admiral before him.
"All I see is submission to tyranny, blind obedience to rules, and a complete disregard for justice!"
Sengoku's eyes burned red as he roared back.
"At your age, you know nothing about what true justice means!"
"To maintain peace and stability in this world, sometimes justice must yield under extreme circumstances!"
Daren let out a cold laugh. A dark, ink-like blackness spread rapidly from the center of his forehead, engulfing his entire body.
Black-red lightning surged around him, his aura turning hellish and violent—like a demon loosed from the underworld.
Devil Form!
"That's because your justice just isn't strong enough, Admiral Sengoku!"
With a furious roar, Daren's right arm suddenly swelled, sinewy muscles bulging like molten rock!
Giant's Strength!
He brought his fist crashing down!
"Devil Form: Giant Impact!"
Crack!
The deadlock shattered.
A massive black fist, brimming with inhuman, unstoppable power, smashed straight through the golden palm of the Battle Buddha—blasting it away!
Boom!
Sengoku's body was hurled like a cannonball into a distant military fortress, slamming into its central wall and blowing open a massive crater.
Daren stepped forward, just about to press the attack—but then, a piercing cold surged up through his legs.
In an instant, everything around him turned stark white.
The ground, the buildings, the crumbled ruins—everything was suddenly frozen over by a wave of bone-chilling frost.
Glittering ice crystals spiraled upward from his feet, rapidly climbing as if to entomb him in a frozen sculpture!
"You've gotten stronger, Kuzan."
A slight smirk tugged at Daren's lips as he turned toward a certain direction.
Kuzan knelt on one knee, one hand pressed to the ground, chest heaving.
"Ice Age!"