What the hell is going on with this brat's body, defense, and strength!?

I'm the one who awakened a Mythical Zoan-type ability!

So why is it that, in pure close-quarters combat... he's even more savage, more brutal than me!?

This completely unrestrained fighting style ignores all forms, techniques, or strategy—he's turned every part of his body into a lethal weapon.

"This can't be..."

A glint of crimson flared in Saturn's eyes. His black spider legs whipped forward like venomous serpents, stabbing viciously at Daren's throat.

"Don't underestimate the Five Elders!"

A strange red gleam flashed in Daren's eyes. In that instant, he perfectly tracked the strike's trajectory.

"Your movements are getting slower."

Without warning, he tilted his head, narrowly dodging the blow—then slashed down with his hand like a blade, grinning wickedly.

Shhhk!

A spider leg, bristling with coarse black hair, was cleaved off clean. Green venom sprayed into the air. Now down to four legs, the Gyūki form finally lost its footing and collapsed with a thunderous crash.

Blood rained from the sky. Daren—soaked in gore—strode forward like a war god, then slammed his foot brutally onto Gyūki's swollen spider abdomen. Thick splashes of blood burst out in all directions.

"The Five Elders... is this all you've got?"

Another punch came down, blasting out a fresh fountain of green blood.

Like a rabid beast, Daren went wild—arms and legs hammering away, frantically dismembering the mythical monster as if determined to tear it apart with his bare hands.

By now, Daren had figured it out.

This so-called Warrior God of Science and Defense—Saturn—was all about Devil Fruit development, not Haki, physical combat, or raw endurance.

By digging into the powers of the mythical Gyūki, he'd crafted several nightmarish abilities: Explosive Gaze, Suppression, and that insidious venom. In terms of versatility and danger, he was top-tier.

With suppression to control the battlefield, Explosive Gaze for ranged pressure, and poison to weaken or outright kill his foes—plus the natural resilience of a Mythical Zoan—Saturn could dominate anyone below Admiral level with ease.

Even against full-fledged Admirals, that mysterious "immortality" of his could drag them into a war of attrition.

Make no mistake: Saturn Saint absolutely wielded combat power on par with an Admiral.

His regeneration made him a nightmare to face.

But the person he ran into... was Daren.

Saturn never dreamed anyone on this sea could forge their body into something so monstrous.

The unbreakable toughness of Indestructible Body. Poison resistance that defied logic. Brute strength surpassing even the giants. A savage, domineering fighting style—and a beast-like instinct for bloodshed.

In that moment, as Saturn stared at the crazed, grinning Marine in front of him, his mind hazed. Behind Daren, he seemed to glimpse a blur of legendary figures...

Kaidou. Big Mom. Roger. Whitebeard. Shiki...

All those unruly faces flickered behind him—until they merged into one firm, unwavering expression.

"Iron Fist" Garp!

The whirling shockwaves gathered into a single black fist, crackling with dark lightning.

And in Saturn's aged, constricted pupils... it was getting bigger and bigger.

"Y-you bastard..."

Saturn let out a strangled roar.

Daren's black hair whipped wildly as he hurled his punch.

"You call yourself a Five Elder?!"

Genkotsu: Blue Hole!

A fist like a meteor—powerful enough to shake the sea itself—slammed into Saturn's chest like a supermassive cannon.

Crack!

The sound of bones shattering echoed in rapid bursts.

Saturn spewed a torrent of blood. His chest caved in and his body curled like a boiled shrimp.

The sheer force of the impact made his pupils tremble uncontrollably. He could no longer maintain his beast form. In the blink of an eye, he reverted to his human shape—then shot backward like a rag doll.

He hurtled through the air like a falling star—straight toward the icebound mountain range in the distance.

BOOM!!

The earth shook as a deafening crash split the air. The roaring shockwave tore across the landscape, blasting snow high into the sky.

From afar, the majestic mountain looked as though it had been smashed clean through the center, triggering a chain reaction of avalanches.

A wave of snow burst upward. Blizzards cascaded down like rolling titanic wheels—as if a colossal fortress wall were crumbling.

The sheer scale of the explosion drew instant attention.

At the far edge of the island...

On the warships stationed offshore, every Marine jolted as if struck by lightning. They stared, slack-jawed, at the distant peaks deep within the island.

Amid the sweeping storm, a massive rift had opened in the very heart of the mountains.

"What… what exactly is happening?"

"These shockwaves from battle..."

"What kind of twisted game are the Celestial Dragons playing?"

...

The thought that the Celestial Dragons might actually be using weapons of mass destruction to "hunt" slaves and civilians on that island made the Marines' eyes redden. They clenched their jaws tightly, seething with anger—but not one dared to speak out.

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! Are we really just going to stand here and watch!?"

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku! I recommend we go ashore!"

"Fleet Admiral Sengoku...!"

A few Marines finally couldn't hold back and shouted out—but Sengoku, face dark as iron, snapped coldly in return:

"Our orders are to blockade the island and allow no one in or out! That is our mission!"

"If additional forces are needed, we'll receive word through official Den Den Mushi channels!"

His bloodshot eyes glared at them, chest rising and falling with rough breaths.

"Have you received any communication from military Den Den Mushi?"

"No orders have come down. If we land without authorization... that's a direct violation of the World Government's command!"

"Can you bear that responsibility?"

His furious roar hit like ice water poured over their heads, sending chills down every Marine's spine.

The will of the World Government...

That iron-cross flag of supreme authority...

Many Marines gulped nervously. Their mouths opened... then closed again. In the end, silence fell like a shroud.

The authority of the World Government could not be questioned. No matter how strong the Marine Headquarters became, at its core, it remained the sword and shield of the World Government.

Eight centuries of entrenched power and dominance had already imprinted itself into the hearts of every Marine present.

"Hold your positions. Keep the coastline sealed... I'll take full responsibility!" Sengoku bellowed, rage boiling in his voice.

But just then—

A sudden cry cut through the air.

It came from a Marine stationed in the lookout post atop one of the warships. His face had gone pale as chalk as he pointed shakily toward the distance.

"Th-that's...!"

...

(100 Chapters Ahead)

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