"—Arrest the criminal who slaughtered the Celestial Dragons... Rogers Daren!!"

Admiral Sengoku's icy order cut through the air like the frigid winds of this snow-covered land, sending chills down the spines of every Marine present.

Vice Admiral Daren... a criminal!?

Even though they had just witnessed that demon-like figure brutally massacre the Celestial Dragons with their own eyes, they still couldn't fully process it.

He was their Navy's brightest star—unmatched in talent, commanding power and influence, a rising legend among the young generation!

The man everyone believed would become the next Marine Admiral—Rogers Daren!

And yet, with a single command, Sengoku had branded him as the criminal who killed the Celestial Dragons.

Shock and fear rippled through the ranks, quickly followed by disbelief and confusion.

Arrest Vice Admiral Daren!?

Us!?

They were being told to arrest the man who took down Byrnndi World, the "World Destroyer," and Shiki the Golden Lion, the "Flying Admiral"—a Marine so powerful he could go toe-to-toe with Roger, Kaidou, and even Whitebeard?

And beyond that—how could they raise their weapons against a former comrade?

This was the man who had led them to countless victories, created miracles, and even saved all their lives during Shiki's attack on Marineford!

The Marines looked at one another, uncertain and hesitant, their minds overwhelmed with doubt. No one moved.

Sengoku's face darkened, and a sharp pang struck his chest.

But then he met the gaze of Saint Saturn, still watching from afar—stern and filled with silent menace. A cold dread seeped into Sengoku's heart.

Gritting his teeth, he forced the words out in a furious roar.

"Do you intend to defy my orders... to defy the command of the World Government!?"

The moment he said it, every Marine froze. Faces turned pale. Bodies trembled.

Defying the World Government...

As the military arm of the World Government, no one knew better than them what that meant.

To go against the government was to become an enemy of the monstrous power that had ruled the world for 800 years.

Not only would they be condemned, but their families, their friends—even their children—would all be reduced to ashes under the fury of the World Government and the Celestial Dragons!

That thought alone made their expressions twist in torment. Their eyes reddened, blood vessels bulging with inner conflict.

They didn't want to strike down Daren—but they didn't dare oppose the government either.

"This really is a headache..."

At that moment, a laid-back mutter echoed faintly from the deck.

Everyone turned in surprise as Borsalino's body suddenly burst into golden light and shot into the sky. Arms spread, fingers forming a sign.

His broad white cape fluttered in the wind behind him.

"Sorry, Daren... From now on, you're our enemy."

A mocking smile curled on Borsalino's lips as the golden glow around him intensified.

In a flash, a barrage of golden light bullets exploded from his body, forming a downpour that rained like a storm toward the blood-soaked Vice Admiral.

"Yasakani no Magatama!"

Countless golden light bullets exploded around the Vice Admiral, erupting into blazing fireballs that triggered massive detonations.

Flames shot skyward as black smoke billowed.

A moment later, Borsalino landed back on the deck, scratching his head with an exaggerated sigh.

"An Indestructible Body really is terrifying... he didn't even try to dodge."

Sengoku's eyelid twitched violently.

He wanted to scream:

You bastard—your barrage didn't land a single hit!

But this wasn't the time to call him out.

The surrounding Marines, however, suddenly perked up as if a lightbulb had gone off. Their expressions lit with realization as they manned the cannons and rifles, "aiming" at the Vice Admiral's silhouette.

"Arrest the criminal Rogers Daren!"

"Open fire!!"

"Take him down!"

"For the honor of the World Government!"

"..."

The Marines pulled their triggers and lit the cannons with feverish zeal, roaring as if unleashing all their pent-up frustration and fury.

In an instant, the distant land transformed into a war zone of bullets and fire. Explosions lit up the ground, flames swirling in the chaos.

Amid the flickering inferno, Daren looked calmly at the shells bursting around him... and smiled.

"This won't cut it. They'll see through it soon enough."

It should be... just about time, right?

A wave of scorching air rushed toward him as the Vice Admiral slowly raised his head.

At the same moment—

Sengoku, Borsalino, Sakazuki, and Kuzan all sensed something and simultaneously looked up toward the sky above the sea.

The snow-filled, gloomy sky suddenly turned pitch black.

Thick clouds, as dark as ink, twisted violently into a colossal black vortex.

Within the swirling mass, lightning cracked and thunder roared. A hellish wind tore through the heavens.

From within those clouds, an enormous figure slowly emerged—so vast it seemed to blot out the sky itself.

Its teal scales shimmered with a steely coldness, trailing arcs of purple lightning. A massive tail, brimming with raw power, churned the clouds into a storm.

Then its head—mountain-sized—pushed through the sea of clouds. Blood-red, slit-pupiled eyes locked onto the Marine fleet below with a ruthless, oppressive stare.

The aura of a predator—undeniably dominant—blanketed the entire sea.

The legendary beast... the Azure Dragon!

"Worororo!! Marines, we meet again!"

The dragon's thunderous laughter split the skies, the sound waves shaking the sea into crashing waves and fierce gales.

The warships rocked violently. Sengoku's expression turned dark the moment he laid eyes on the dragon.

"Kaidou of the Beasts!"

The Marines' faces paled in shock, cold sweat running down their backs.

They were all too familiar with that overwhelming presence.

Just two days ago, they had clashed with Kaidou on the battlefield of Miracle Island in the New World. They knew exactly how terrifying he was—and yet here he was again.

"Kaidou... Didn't expect him to join the party,"

Borsalino mused with a smirk, fingers stroking his stubbled chin.

"But one Kaidou probably won't change the outcome. We'd need at least a Big Mom too..."

The moment the words left his mouth, Sengoku's heart sank.

A sharp sense of foreboding pierced him.

And sure enough—

Another familiar high-pitched laugh rang out from above the clouds.

"Mamamama! Who would've thought we'd see a repeat of what happened at God Valley!"

A flamboyant figure soared from the cloud sea atop a black cloud, a massive sword slung across her shoulder. Her pink bodysuit and rose-colored boots accentuated her voluptuous, intimidating form.

An aura as intense as the dragon's burst from her and pressed down on the world below.

The moment the Marines saw her silhouette, a collective gasp swept across the fleet.

Big Mom, Charlotte Linlin!

"She really came, huh..."

Borsalino muttered under his breath.

Sengoku: "..."

Now—

Two of the most ferocious pirates of the New World stood high above, gazing down at the tense and battle-ready Marines with menacing grins.

"Sengoku, hand over the prize from the hunting competition—the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi!"

As their voices rang out, torrents of Conqueror's Haki exploded from their bodies, surging into a sky-wide lightning storm that blanketed the heavens.

"???"

Sengoku reeled, as if struck by lightning, utterly stunned.

Fuwa Fuwa no Mi?

What Fuwa Fuwa no Mi?

The final prize of this World Noble hunting competition... is actually Shiki's Fuwa Fuwa no Mi!?

How the hell didn't I know about this!?

...

(100 Chapters Ahead)

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