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"No good. I can't open the eighth gate."
Dan tried to push it, but it just wouldn't open.
The Seventh Gate… that was his absolute limit right now.
Even without the usual side effects, he was still only a year and three months old. Even with a body that surpassed normal human limits, he couldn't keep burning through energy like this forever.
"But… this is enough."
Dan's gaze locked onto the one figure below that posed the greatest threat to him.
Doberman.
The musclebound beast who had almost killed Sasaki a moment ago.
Perfect.
You'll be my test subject for the power of the Seventh Gate!
"Yahhh!"
A short, guttural cry tore from his throat, packed with raw force.
And then—
BOOM!
His tiny frame shot downward from the sky like an arrow loosed from a bow, like a cannonball blasting out of its barrel.
Blindingly fast.
So fast that the naked eye could barely track him.
All he left in the air was a streak of blue afterimage and the piercing shriek of air tearing apart under the sheer speed of his dive.
"Shit! He's coming straight at us!"
Spider Vice-Admiral (Onigumo) roared, crossing all eight of his bladed arms in front of him, trying to block.
Squirrel's reflexes were just as sharp—he stomped hard, preparing to use Soru to intercept Doberman's front—
But it was too late.
Dan's speed had already broken past their ability to react.
SWISH!
His tiny form appeared right in front of Doberman as if he'd just teleported.
Doberman's pupils shrank to pinpoints.
There was no time to think—instinct took over, every muscle in his body going taut, Armament Haki coating his skin in an instant.
"Iron Body!!"
He bellowed, throwing up his strongest defense to take the hit head-on.
But—
Dan's tiny fist, shrouded in blue steam, slammed into his chest with unstoppable force.
BOOOOM!!!
The impact rang out like a warhammer smashing into steel.
Doberman's proud "Iron Body" shattered like wet paper under that fist.
CRACK—CRACK—
Bones snapped audibly.
Doberman's massive frame arched backward, muscles twisting in agony, eyes wide with shock and pain.
SPLURT!
Blood mixed with bits of organ burst from his mouth as if a freight train had slammed into him. His body was hurled away like a ragdoll, crashing straight through the fortress wall, gouging a trench in the ground before finally vanishing into the rubble.
The entire sequence happened in the blink of an eye.
From Dan's dive to Doberman's body flying—less than a second had passed.
The battlefield fell silent again, deathly still.
Every conscious person—Spider, Squirrel, everyone—just stood there frozen, like statues.
Their eyes went from the baby floating in midair, blue steam rising from his body… to the direction where Doberman had vanished.
Their minds went blank.
Doberman.
A Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral.
Known for his skill in martial arts and sword techniques. The "Fighting Dog."
And he had just been—just been sent flying by a one-year-old.
With a single punch.
While using Iron Body.
What… what kind of monster was this kid?!
Sasaki stood there slack-jawed, mouth open wide enough to fit a watermelon.
He already knew Dan was strong—Conqueror's Haki strong, could fly and all that.
But open some mysterious "Gate" and punch a Vice Admiral into the horizon?
If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he'd think it was a dream.
One punch to blast Doberman away.
The battlefield was silent enough to hear a pin drop.
Every gaze—Marine or Beast Pirate alike—was glued to the small figure in the air.
Blue steam coiled around him, his pure-white eyes cold and emotionless.
Dan looked less like a child and more like a god—or a demon—descending upon the earth.
And then—
A cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Host has defeated a Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral in direct combat!]
[Quest "Leapfrog Challenge"… Completed!]
[Evaluation: Perfect!]
[Reward Granted: Significant increase to Conqueror's Haki potential!]
A wave of warmth flooded his body, like dry earth drinking in the rain.
The mental exhaustion from forcing his Conqueror's Haki earlier eased slightly.
But—
It still wasn't enough.
Dan's small face stayed tense.
He could feel it clearly—the wild, raging power of the Eight Gates inside him was draining away fast.
Opening the Seventh Gate—Shock Gate—was simply too much for his tiny body to bear.
Even this "optimized" version couldn't stop the massive toll it was taking.
That last punch had already pushed him to the edge.
His chest heaved, gulping air like he'd just run a marathon.
Each breath came out as white-hot steam.
The blue mist around him visibly thinned, its glow dimming.
That soul-crushing pressure he radiated began to fade.
"H-he's… weakening?"
One Marine officer, voice shaking, pointed up at Dan.
It was like a boulder had been dropped into a still pond.
"Yeah! Look! The steam's fading!"
"His aura's weaker too!"
"Holy crap—I thought I was done for just now!"
Relief washed over the Marines, some of them nearly crying from the adrenaline crash.
Spider and Squirrel locked eyes, both seeing the same thing reflected back—terror giving way to renewed fighting spirit.
"This brat… he's burning himself out!"
Spider's eyes turned cold.
"That last hit must've been his final burst!"
"Exactly."
Squirrel's gaze hardened, voice low. "Doberman's down, but this kid's not unscathed either."
"He's at his weakest right now."
"Catch him."
"If we take him alive, even if today's assault on G-58 fails, it won't matter."
"With him as leverage against Kaido… the entire sea could finally know peace."
Their fear was gone now—replaced with blazing, righteous resolve.
"All units still breathing—listen up!"
Spider roared, all eight bladed arms pointing at Dan.
"Capture that brat alive at any cost!"
"Take him, and we secure at least a decade of peace for this sea!"
"Yes, sir!"
The remaining Marines shouted back.
They raised rifles and blades, rallying, charging toward Dan's position once more.
They were still terrified, but they all understood how much this moment mattered. For justice. For peace. They'd risk everything.
"You damn Marines!"
Sasaki's eyes went bloodshot. Dragging his battered body, he raised his spiral blade and charged.
"Protect Dan!"
But the Beast Pirates left standing were few, most of them wounded and barely standing. They couldn't stop the Marine assault.
The encirclement closed in.
Up in the sky, Dan's pure-white eyes flashed with a mad, reckless resolve.
Think you can kill me while I'm down?
Not that easy.
Then we fight to the death!
"ROAR!!!"
Dan threw his head back and let out a primal scream that no baby should be able to make.
His tiny body jolted violently.
The last of his power—every drop of it—ignited like fuel tossed into a fire.
"Eighth Gate… Death Gate—"
"..."
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