As he spoke, the figure in the sky casually tossed something down.
A metallic object plunged from that great height and smashed into the ground with a heavy thud.
The World Government soldiers and CP agents froze for a moment, their expressions shifting as they recognized what it was.
A pair of Mechanical Wings, complete with a propulsion system.
Streamlined and gleaming, the wings were packed with delicate inner mechanisms and jet-like thrusters—a clear product of cutting-edge technology.
Yet now, this piece of high-end tech was twisted and mangled, its internal parts spitting sparks and thick smoke.
Saint Michael's face grew steadily darker.
"It seems the North Blue Fleet's reputation still means something to your World Government," the figure said with a cold chuckle. "To think you managed to develop high-speed flight gear like this in just a month..."
He slowly raised a hand and pulled back his hood, revealing a handsome, sharply defined face full of masculine charm—a face strikingly similar to Saint Michael's.
But unlike the cultured elegance and inherited arrogance of the Celestial Dragons, this man's features radiated a raw, predatory edge, an untamed, domineering pressure that seemed to fill the whole sky.
"Rogers Darren!"
"Commander of the North Blue Fleet!"
"One of the world's most dangerous criminals!"
"H-how did he get here?!"
"That madman actually killed two Excellencies of the Knights of God!"
...
The moment they saw that face, the CP agents and soldiers turned ashen. A chill raced up from their soles to the crowns of their heads, leaving their scalps numb.
Just a month ago, they had mocked this black-haired youth, flaunting the authority and status of the World Government at him, sneering that "the Marines are just the Government's public front."
But after this month-long war, the entire World Government had been forced to recognize the terror this man represented.
Many of these very men were survivors of the Mary Geoise bombardment. No one feared the North Blue Fleet's overwhelming might more deeply than they did.
"Don't forget about me."
The figure beside Darren impatiently threw back his own hood, revealing a stern, domineering face etched with crimson tattoos.
"The leader of the Freedom Fighters... Dragon!"
Some of the CP agents glanced at him—but their eyes inevitably slid back to Darren, their expressions twisted with an even deeper dread.
Dragon said nothing.
Across from them, Saint Michael finally lifted his gaze toward Darren, his voice as cold as ice.
"I'm curious," he said calmly. "How did you find them? With their combined strength, even the finest Observation Haki shouldn't have been able to detect their presence, as long as they didn't reveal killing intent."
"That's true," Darren nodded lightly. "Those two little bugs were hiding very well. Even my Observation Haki couldn't pick up their auras."
"According to your original plan, you were going to dangle Ginny, the Freedom Fighters' East Army Commander, as bait," he continued slowly. "Then you'd keep picking off the executives who came to save her, drawing their leader, Dragon, into the open. At that point, your two Knights of God would show themselves, and you'd launch a coordinated strike. That about right?"
Ginny and Kuma's hearts lurched.
Especially Kuma's—cold sweat trickled down his back as a chill settled over his chest.
Now he understood.
He finally realized why this Celestial Dragon, even with such intimate knowledge of his Paw-Paw Fruit, had been toying with him so casually.
He had been waiting for more Freedom Fighters to arrive.
"The Government's scientists have done impressive work," Darren remarked, clapping slowly with a mocking smile. "When they built these Mechanical Wings, they clearly took my Magnet-Magnet Fruit into account. They replaced a large amount of metal with cutting-edge synthetic materials to reduce my influence."
"Unfortunately for you, your tech still hasn't reached the point where metals can be completely removed."
A smirk tugged at Darren's lips.
"I see..." Michael murmured, frowning slightly before letting out a soft chuckle. "So that's how it is. It seems we still underestimated you."
"But there's one thing I'm particularly curious about." He fixed Darren with a long, probing stare. "Those two weren't weaklings. How did you manage to eliminate them both in just one minute?"
Darren grinned and narrowed his eyes.
"You'll understand soon enough."
As his voice faded, crimson-black lightning began crackling around his fists.
---
One minute earlier, on a deserted island in the waters near the World Government's official ship.
Deep inside a rocky cavern, two shadowy figures lounged against the damp stone wall, smoking idly.
As members of the Knights of God, both men were elites chosen from among the twenty Celestial Dragon families. In terms of strength, talent, intellect, and even character, they far surpassed the average Celestial Dragon who lived only for indulgence and idleness.
They had received the finest education and training since childhood and held deep contempt for the standard Celestial Dragon garb—the diving suits and air bubbles. Instead, they graciously chose to breathe the same air as the common rabble and "vermin" they despised.
"The Commander must be enjoying himself by now," the green-haired Celestial Dragon said with a wry smile. "He really doesn't mind going to such lengths—this whole elaborate bait-and-switch scheme."
"It can't be helped," the blond Celestial Dragon replied, frowning as he exhaled a smoke ring. "Vice Commander Garling's ambition is getting more overt by the day. Factions are already forming within the Knights."
"...Even His Excellency the Commander has to take that seriously now and secure tangible results."
"The North Blue Fleet and Rogers Darren are entrenched too deeply," he went on. "They're hard to touch. The newly emerged Freedom Fighters, on the other hand, are much easier prey."
"Once we get that woman under control, Bartholomew Kuma won't escape. Using them as bait, we might even lure out more executives—maybe even wipe out the Freedom Fighters' core forces in one go."
"So we just sit here and wait?" the green-haired Celestial Dragon grumbled.
The blond one shrugged. "What else? If the infiltration fails, neither of us could withstand His Excellency's anger."
"Don't forget, for this operation the Commander didn't even consult the Gorosei. He invoked his powers as Commander of the Knights of God on his own. He mobilized a battleship and over a hundred elite troops, and even deliberately let that woman intercept classified intel."
"On top of that, he requisitioned the experimental Flight Wings ahead of schedule."
As he spoke, his eyes narrowed slightly, as if triggering a mechanism. With a sudden rip, the cloak on his back tore, revealing a pair of sleek, jet-black Mechanical Wings unfurling through the shredded cloth. The wings spread open, their metallic surfaces glinting with a cold, eerie light in the dim cave.
"For this mission, success is our only path," he said quietly. "Failure is not."
"...I see. Thanks for the explanation."
A deep voice, laced with mild amusement, echoed from the mouth of the cave.
The two Knights of God went white on the spot.
To be continued...