North Blue.

Philseque Island.

"...Eliminate anyone who dares to intervene. Secure the target at all costs!"

Saint Saturn's icy command echoed through the frozen landscape, colder than the howling winds of the North Blue.

Dragon’s pupils contracted, his entire body shuddering.

They’ve lost their minds...

The Five Elders were actually targeting Daren’s wife and child—with no regard for limits!

Trying to threaten Daren this way!?

“You filthy bastards!”

Fury erupted from Dragon’s chest. In an instant, a twisted, compressed hurricane swirled into his palm. He hurled it straight at Saint Saturn.

“Storm!”

As he struck, a flash of murderous intent gleamed in the eyes of the Five Elders.

The wind projectile expanded rapidly along its trajectory, boiling with power in the blink of an eye—morphing into a towering cyclone.

Everything in its path—rock, snow, trees, anything—was pulverized to dust.

“Garp’s son... Don’t get cocky!”

Saint Mars, in his Itsumade form, let out a piercing screech. Spreading his massive wings, he shot into the air. His gaping beak opened wide and spewed a blazing crimson firestorm that slammed directly into Dragon’s wind column.

Boom!!

Wind and flame collided in a deafening roar, erupting into a hellish storm of fire and heat.

Waves of scorching air blasted outward, forcing Dragon and the others to fall back.

In the swirl of smoke and ash, a sudden glint of red flashed in Dragon’s eyes—as if he had sensed something. His expression changed drastically as he shouted toward the Marine Vice Admiral locked in a standoff with Saint Warcury.

“Daren, watch out!”

The warning hadn’t even finished—

Boom!

The ground beneath the Vice Admiral’s feet exploded apart.

A grotesque Sandworm—dozens of meters tall—burst forth, tearing through the earth like paper.

Its gaping maw, packed with writhing, razor-sharp teeth, sprayed corrosive slime as it lunged forward and swallowed the Vice Admiral whole!

Dragon’s face paled in shock.

Ivankov screamed in horror, “He got eaten!”

But at that moment—

“Shoot it!”

A cold voice rang out from deep inside the creature’s belly.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Four streaks of razor-sharp phantom light shot across the ground, slicing through towering trees in an instant. They wove around the roaring Sandworm, crossing paths with blinding speed!

Slash!

Blood and gashes tore across the creature’s massive body. Yellow-green fluids splattered in every direction.

The Sandworm, transformed from Saint Peter, was nearly cleaved in half. Its massive head was sent flying into the sky.

The next moment—

The Marine Vice Admiral, his body steaming with white vapor, burst from the creature’s belly like a meteor—launching straight at the enormous boar “Houki,” the beastly form of Saint Warcury!

In Dragon’s stunned gaze, Daren struck a bold, dominant pose.

One hand forward, one behind—index and middle fingers together, ring and pinky curled—like a pair of crushing dragon claws!

Ryusoken!

“Hahahaha! That’s my technique!”

Dragon blinked, then roared with joy.

“Take him down, Da—!”

His shout was cut short.

Itsumade’s savage form slammed into Dragon, sending him flying into the distant jungle. Trees cracked and collapsed in his wake.

Boom!

Facing the ruthless Vice Admiral, Saint Warcury sneered arrogantly. His massive tusks gleamed as he charged forward!

He intended to clash head-on with Daren—who bore both the “Indestructible Body” and the “Giant's Strength”!

Boom!!

Two vastly different figures collided like meteors, sending shockwaves ripping through the battlefield.

Black and red lightning surged wildly with each clash of Haki, tearing through the sky.

Daren’s bare arms bulged with muscle. His fingers, thick and powerful, clamped down on Houki’s massive tusks. His gaze was cold and unflinching.

Beneath his skin, it was as if dragons coiled and surged. The sheer force radiating from his grip shattered the very air in thunderous blasts.

Smoke erupted, and the ground within a hundred meters crumbled beneath them—splintering and collapsing in every direction!

“Looks like you're not some brittle pushover like Saturn, Warcury-sama.”

Daren could feel the raw hardness and brute strength radiating from the monstrous beast before him. His eyes lit up with fiery excitement—like a hunter spotting worthy prey.

It had been a long time since he felt like this.

If Saint Saturn had pushed the limits of his Devil Fruit with sinister abilities like “Suppression,” “Explosive Gaze,” and “Venom,” then this wild boar “Houki” standing before him gave off only one overwhelming impression:

Uncompromising, absolute hardness!

From its diamond-like tusks to skin as tough as Kaidou’s dragon scales, just standing there, Houki exuded an impenetrable presence. Daren couldn’t find a single weak point.

Even when he unleashed the full force of Ryusoken, Daren clearly felt something strange—an uncanny recoil.

It was like most of the impact had bounced right back at him through Warcury's power as “Houki”!

If not for Daren’s monstrously durable body, that counterforce alone might have wrecked his arms.

It was like facing an “anti-damage” armor—combined with the overwhelming power of a Giant—and laced with that intense, almost physical Conqueror’s Haki from earlier. Warcury truly lived up to the title of the World Government’s supreme judicial authority, the “Warrior God of Justice” commanding the entire CP network.

But the more indestructible Warcury seemed, the more Daren’s fighting spirit blazed, surging like wildfire.

Because at the peak of their clash, he felt it again—

That elusive, mysterious sensation!

A faint but unmistakable pulse of warmth flowed through his muscles, like a spark of energy awakening.

Strength +0.03!

His power, which had remained stagnant since “graduating” from Saint Saturn, was finally moving again!

The thought made Daren’s gaze toward the towering Houki burn even hotter—so intense that even Warcury hesitated for a beat.

These Five Elders... what a bunch of unexpectedly delightful “treasure hoarders!”

“Though I really don’t know where your confidence comes from…”

A cold sneer flickered in Warcury's enormous lantern-like eyes.

“But do you really think some washed-up Marine Admiral can protect your wife?”

“Don’t be so naive, Daren.”