Daren's footsteps suddenly halted.

A fierce wind swept past, lifting red-brown dust from the land like a wave of blood-colored mist.

He silently stared at the military Den Den Mushi in his hand, its surface vividly displaying Momonga's grim expression.

A faint smirk began to form at the corner of Daren's mouth, slowly stretching until it warped into a manic grin.

"Heh... hahaha... hahahahaha!!"

He suddenly threw his head back and burst into laughter, shaking with it, until tears welled up in his eyes.

"Didn't they say my honor was worth nothing?"

"And now they've mobilized the entire main force of the Marines—what a grand gesture!"

Daren laughed freely, uncontrollably, with an absurd sense of satisfaction.

He had single-handedly intercepted the Whitebeard Pirates outside Miracle Island, while Sengoku's elite force had achieved nothing.

And before he'd even had a chance to settle things with Sengoku, the Five Elders had turned around and let him lead a fleet—fresh from that war—straight into Daren's territory?

Even if it was just a warning not to make any "irrational" decisions, the whole thing was ludicrous.

So ludicrous, in fact, that Daren didn't even have the strength to be angry—only to laugh.

"Obstacles at every turn…"

His laughter slowly died down. Shaking his head, he sighed.

"So… what exactly is going on?"

Momonga, sensing something was off, spoke hoarsely,

"This isn't normal."

The Marine Headquarters fleet had entered the North Blue in full force without even notifying him, the Admiral of the region.

Instead of answering, Daren asked,

"Besides the Marine warships, were there any other unusual vessels entering the North Blue?"

Momonga paused, as if searching for information. After a few seconds, his voice grew heavier.

"There were a few secret ships… but they're flying the World Government flag. Initial assessment says they're slave transport vessels."

"Makes sense..."

Daren lit another cigar and slowly exhaled a puff of smoke.

There was no way the native population of Philseque Island alone could satisfy the "refined tastes" of those elite Celestial Dragons.

To make this grand tournament exciting, enjoyable, and sufficiently "challenging," the government would have to bring in high-quality slaves from across the world to Philseque Island—as prey.

That was the real event.

Hearing this, Momonga grew increasingly anxious over the Den Den Mushi.

"Daren, what's really going on!?"

Daren gave a faint smile.

"Remember the God Valley Incident I mentioned before?"

"I do. But that war happened twelve years ago."

Momonga answered without hesitation.

"The Celestial Dragons took heavy losses back then and swore never to hold such events again—"

His voice cut off.

As if something clicked, Momonga's pupils shrank into pinpoints. His hand gripping the Den Den Mushi began to tremble uncontrollably.

"Daren… don't tell me…"

Daren slowly exhaled.

"I'm in Mary Geoise right now. Just finished meeting with the Five Elders. I'm about to board the World Government's official ship to the North Blue."

"And along with me… is a whole group of 'noble' Celestial Dragons."

Momonga felt as if he'd been struck by lightning.

In that moment, he understood everything.

That pack of idiotic Celestial Dragons—those fools—were really planning to restart that horrific racial extermination tournament!?

And they had chosen the North Blue as their battleground!

"But… why!?"

He stared at the Den Den Mushi in disbelief.

"Because this is the test they've given me for my promotion to Admiral."

Daren's smile twisted into mockery.

"I've been made the official escort for the mission. I'm responsible for the safety of this… slaughterfest."

Momonga drew in a sharp breath.

The Five Elders' arrangement—was a death sentence for Daren.

They were using the most absurd, tyrannical, and irrefutable form of authority… to force Daren to bow that proud head of his in humiliation.

A long silence followed.

Then, after a few seconds, Momonga's voice returned—now hoarse and strained.

"There's no room to negotiate? Or are you refusing the promotion to Admiral?"

Daren shook his head, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips.

"No. The government has already begun to fear me... and suspect me."

"Why?"

"Because they know I killed Saint Xildes."

Another silence fell—longer this time. Heavy and oppressive.

After a long pause...

"I understand."

From the Den Den Mushi came the sound of Momonga taking a deep breath.

Daren noticed it immediately—his voice no longer carried the slightest tremor or hesitation.

He smiled, satisfied.

"Are you ready, my comrade?"

He asked.

A calm, firm, and unwavering response followed:

"Just waiting for your command."

"Good..."

With a quiet murmur, the Marine Vice Admiral exhaled a stream of smoke like a dragon's breath and ended the call.

Then, without delay, he dialed another signal.

Within seconds, the Den Den Mushi connected.

Before the other party could speak, Daren smiled and asked,

"Wanna kill some Celestial Dragons?"

"This time, I'll lead."

The breath on the other end caught audibly—clearly stunned for a few seconds—then came a hesitant question.

"You want me to take action?"

"No."

Daren shook his head.

"This time, I'm leading the team."

He stated the time and location, then ended the transmission and began making several more calls.

Raising his head, the Vice Admiral took in a long breath.

A breath that seemed to expel all the humiliation he'd been forced to swallow.

His battered, scarred body straightened, spine snapping upright.

He turned around and looked once more at the distant, towering city of grandeur—ancient and oppressive.

In his mind, the sneering, mocking, indifferent smiles of the Five Elders kept flashing.

And then it came...

That uncontrollable rage.

That long-suppressed fury.

That volcanic wrath brewing deep in his chest.

It all surged upward—unstoppable.

A savage, twisted grin slowly spread across his face.

"…Then I'll play along."

...

At the same time...

North Blue.

A massive steel shipyard loomed like a monstrous iron beast—colossal and suffocating.

Thick high-voltage cables snaked into the hulls of massive warships, crackling with blue electricity.

Atop a steel platform dozens of meters high, a rough hand rested firmly on the railing.

Momonga exhaled a long breath, tucked away the Den Den Mushi, and stared sternly down at the vast, disciplined formation below.

Over ten thousand elite North Blue Marines packed the dock to its limits.

Armed and alert, they stood straight and resolute, murderous intent surging skyward.

"An unprecedented war is about to begin."

Momonga spoke coldly.

His voice wasn't loud, but it rang out through the air like a steel anchor dropped into the sea—sharp and heavy.

His eyes swept across every Marine below.

"I can't tell you the time, the location, the objective, or even the target of this mission."

"Your only duty… is to follow orders."

"But I will say this—after this battle, we may face consequences beyond imagination. Total annihilation is a real possibility."

"If anyone wants out, you can leave now. I swear on my life… there will be no repercussions."

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

Not a single figure moved.

Each soldier stood like an immovable stone, unwavering and silent.

"Very good."

Momonga raised his arm, eyes narrowing as he snapped a solemn salute.

"Fleet… launch!!"

In the next instant—

Over ten thousand Marines raised their swords in unison.

Countless blades gleamed coldly in the light, ringing with deadly resolve.

All of them raised their weapons skyward, unleashing a thunderous roar that shook the heavens.

"North Blue Fleet... Victory!!"

No one needed orders. No one needed direction. Every soldier moved with practiced speed and purpose, boarding the warships in an instant.

Boom...

The hum of floating engines began to swell, growing louder and more deafening with each second.

Above, streamlined warships—bristling with the menace of war—ripped through the sky, breaking free from the dock one after another and soaring into the heavens.

Watching them rise, Momonga's eyes turned bloodshot. His fists clenched unconsciously.

The ace hidden for so many years... was finally stepping into the light.

And what awaited them was a titan that had ruled the top of the world for eight hundred years.

The thought of going up against that flag sent a strange, electric thrill through him.

His entire body trembled slightly. His Goro Goro no Mi sparked and crackled with restless lightning, barely held back.

"Bring it on."

His figure blurred into a streak of lightning and vanished into the sky.

"This is... the North Blue!!"

...

(100 Chapters Ahead)

p@treon com / PinkSnake