CHAPTER 644: CHAPTER 163: THAT’S ONE BIG, HARD FIST

"W-what’s going on...?"

"Did his arm just get bigger?"

"Is that muscle expansion? His strength is unbelievable..."

"He’s like a real Giant warrior!"

The assembled royals stared, stunned. Smoke and rubble writhed across the torn ground, curling back to reveal a crater gouged deep into the plaza.

"That brat Darren is out of control..." Garp muttered, eyelids twitching as he watched the chaos below.

Chinjao was an old rival and a monster in his own right—top tier on the Grand Line. In his prime, he’d stood shoulder to shoulder with Marine Admirals. Even with his drill flattened years ago, the force of his headbutt was nothing to take lightly. Garp had judged Darren strong enough to intercept it; that was why he let him step in. He hadn’t expected Darren to meet it so bluntly.

A voice, hot with excitement, burst in beside him. Kuzan—somehow free of ice—stood flushed and trembling.

"Incredible! He really is my ’archrival for life’!"

Eyes locked on Darren, he blurted to Garp, "Garp-san, do I stand a chance against him now?"

"No," Garp said without a pause.

Kuzan blinked, then grinned wider and squeezed a fist. "All the more reason to keep pushing!"

"Not only did he get bigger—he got rock-solid, too!"

"Now that’s a true man’s man!"

Tokikake, who had been cowering nearby, froze.

"Bigger... and harder?"

His eyes widened. Realization dawned; his mouth formed a horrified O.

"Could it be...?"

Color flared in his cheeks, then drained away. He suddenly slapped himself, making Garp and Kuzan jump.

"What’s he doing?" Garp muttered.

"Damn it! No wonder he turned down my medicine!" Tokikake wailed.

---

"Damn you... what’s wrong with you, brat?" Chinjao groaned, struggling to lift his head from the shattered stone. Stars swam in his vision.

"My apologies," Darren said, swinging a leg over and pinning him at the chest with Giant-forged strength until the breath hissed out of him. "Fish-Man Island isn’t the place for your tantrum."

He loomed with a reckless grin. "Normally, you wouldn’t walk away—let alone keep your arm. But today is King Neptune’s wedding. No need for blood."

Chinjao’s pupils shrank. He’s not bluffing.

"V-Vice Admiral Darren, mercy, please!"

A middle-aged man in ornate Chinese robes stumbled forward, breathless. "Chinjao acted on impulse!" the King of Kano Country blurted, voice shaking. "He did not intend to defy the Marines!"

Darren glanced his way.

Before he could answer, the king bowed low, setting dignity aside. "On behalf of Chinjao—and as King of Kano Country—I offer our sincere apology."

"Kano will fully compensate for damages."

Cold sweat slicked the king’s brow. Chinjao was the spine of the Happo Navy, commander of Kano’s forces. If he died here, the nation would reel—and opportunists would pounce.

He knows when to yield, Darren thought.

Given the attack on Garp and the disruption of Ryugu’s wedding, Darren could have executed Chinjao on the spot and faced little objection. The king’s personal apology, abandoning royal hauteur, was already a generous concession—and far wiser than some member-state monarchs Darren could name.

"This isn’t mine to decide," Darren said at last, smiling as he looked past the king to the other dignitaries. "I’m only a Marine Vice Admiral. Commander Chinjao’s breach offended many of you as well."

"If Your Excellencies are willing to forgive him, I’ll raise no objection."

Relief brightened the faces around him; admiration flickered in more than a few eyes.

Smooth. He had handled the politics without a seam, deferring to their judgment and preserving everyone’s face.

King Cobra and King Riku exchanged a look and both nodded, impressed. No wonder Rogers Darren was rocketing up the ranks. Even without his monstrous strength, this political sense alone would have carried him far.

The King of Kano quickly turned to the other delegations and bowed again. "Please forgive this offense. Kano Country will offer a token of sincerity."

"Your Majesty is too kind," one said at once. "Commander Chinjao was rash."

"No harm done," another offered. "Let’s not sour the occasion."

"Today is King Neptune’s day."

As fellow member states, they preferred a soft landing to a swollen incident. It was how the game was played.

"As you wish, Your Excellencies," Darren said, still smiling. He glanced down at Chinjao sprawled on the stone. "No capital punishment—but punishment nonetheless."

His grin tilted. "Hold still. Endure it."

Chinjao blinked, thrown. Before he could protest, Darren’s hands locked around his skull.

Zzzzzzz—

Power surged—raw strength braided with Haki—crackling in black arcs.

With a thunderous snap, Darren drove his palms down.

"Aaaaaaaaaah!"

Chinjao’s scream ripped through the plaza, raising gooseflesh along forearms and necks.

Then, slowly, people realized what they were seeing. Under Darren’s crushing grip, the collapsed brow began to shift... then bulge... until a hard, sharp cone pressed back into being.

Moments later Darren loosed his hold, exhaled, and stood. He clapped his hands, a smug glint in his eye.

"There. That should do it."

Gasping, Chinjao stared up. "What... what did you do to me?"

His hand flew to his forehead. Fingers met the old familiar spike. He froze, eyes widening, bloodshot and wet.

"M-my head cone... it’s back!"

The truth hit him like lightning. He lurched upright and bowed deeply to Darren’s retreating back, voice trembling. "Young Darren... th-thank you!"

Darren waved it off. "Think nothing of it."

A quiet sigh moved through the crowd like a tide. Smiles crept in, satisfied and relieved. Chinjao had his head back; Kano kept its pillar; the other royals had their dignity. Neat, clean, complete.

He really knows how to handle things.

They turned to look for the Vice Admiral again—and found him engulfed by a fluttering ring of beauty. Kings, nobles, and merchant princes twitched at the corners of their mouths while their wives, daughters, and favored companions crowded close, perfume thickening the air.

One stunning woman in a Western evening gown pressed a bold palm to Darren’s firm chest. Blushing to the ears, eyes hot, she giggled, "Hehe... Vice Admiral Darren is so big and hard..."

Spurred on, the others edged closer, hands and laughter following.

Faces along the dais went dark as pot bottoms.

"Bwahahaha!" Garp howled.

Kuzan’s eyes burned. "So cool!"

Tokikake seethed. "You bastards!"

Hidden in the crowd, Stussy pursed her lips, a curious unease stirring under her ribs.

To be continued...