"Admiral Sengoku!! What is that!?"
"Someone suddenly appeared on the island! He's fighting the World Pirates!"
"In an instant! In just one moment... aside from Byrnndi World, hundreds of pirates on the island were wiped out!!"
Out at sea, several nautical miles from the target island, a Marine soldier standing on the observation deck and monitoring the island through a telescope suddenly shouted in excitement:
"It's Captain Daren!! He's appeared on the island!!"
"In a flash, he took down hundreds of Byrnndi World's men!!"
"—What!?"
Sengoku's face twisted in shock as he hurriedly snatched the telescope from his adjutant, scanning the area quickly.
But right then...
Borsalino, who had been casually picking at his nails, suddenly looked up with a faint smile.
"No need to look. They're here."
Sengoku froze for a moment, then instinctively activated his Observation Haki.
Sensing something unusual, his pupils shrank into pinpoints as his gaze shot toward the cloud layers above the island.
And then—every Marine on the warship widened their eyes, mouths agape, minds blank as if witnessing something beyond belief.
From the distant sky, one naval warship after another pierced through the clouds, gliding in formation at high altitude as if unaffected by wind or gravity.
Massive, pitch-black cannons extended from the ships.
A moment of silence passed...
Then—fire erupted!!
A storm of firepower engulfed the island's harbor, scouring it like a tidal wave. Crimson explosions bloomed across the landscape, followed by a raging sea of flames.
Tremors rumbled across the ocean, and towering waves churned visibly near the island.
"The four pirate ships of the World Pirates... all... all destroyed..."
In the dead silence, someone on deck finally swallowed hard and muttered hoarsely.
As the silence broke, cheers erupted across the warship.
"Those are our Navy ships!"
"That's right! The flag of justice, the seagull emblem!!"
"But where did this fleet come from!?"
"A flying Navy fleet!?"
"We haven't received any reinforcements from Headquarters..."
"Wait a minute! We're in the North Blue!!"
"Could it be..."
The Marines started murmuring among themselves, then suddenly realized something and turned their eyes in unison to their Admiral.
"Well done!!!"
Sengoku suddenly punched the air with excitement, his Justice cloak billowing behind him.
His eyes burned with desire as he stared at the fleet lined up in the sky, heart pounding wildly.
A flying Navy fleet!
That brat Daren... he's been hiding this the whole time!!
Sengoku couldn't help but grin with satisfaction.
As a Marine Admiral and the most "strategic" man in the Justice camp, Sengoku knew better than anyone the immense strategic value of an airborne fleet.
Take their old nemesis, Shiki the Golden Lion—he used the power of the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi to lift his pirate fleet into the sky. His movements were elusive, his strikes unpredictable. Even when outnumbered, he could retreat with ease.
With his overwhelming combat strength, Shiki became virtually untouchable.
Thanks to that power, Shiki even surpassed Roger and Whitebeard in notoriety, becoming the Marine's most dreaded enemy.
The Marines had been powerless against him, forced into a purely defensive posture.
But now... things were different!
If they could harness that brat Daren's abilities...
Maybe—just maybe—they could forge an invincible "flying fleet" of their own!
A fleet of justice that could traverse the New World without restriction, reaching every corner of the globe unhindered by sea currents or trade routes, executing swift, strategic strikes to bring down evil!
The thought made Sengoku's blood boil with excitement.
He even momentarily overlooked the terrifying, excessive firepower that the North Blue Fleet carried.
"Admiral Sengoku, shouldn't we act now?"
Borsalino asked with a laid-back smile.
Sengoku snapped out of his thoughts and suddenly realized—this was the signal to attack!
"All units, attack!! Full speed ahead!!"
He raised his hand and gave the command, his expression turning serious.
As soon as the order was given, the Marines sprang into action, raising the sails and pushing the engines to full throttle.
"And Borsalino—what are you still doing!? Go assist immediately!"
Sengoku suddenly turned and shouted angrily at Borsalino, who was still leisurely straightening his suit.
"If anything happens to Daren, I'll hold you personally responsible!"
With four pirate ships sunk in an instant, Byrnndi World was cornered with nowhere to run.
What kind of desperate counterattack would a trapped beast unleash?
Right now, Daren was the only one on that island!
Borsalino raised both hands as if surrendering and muttered under his breath:
"Yes, yes... if I hadn't reminded you, you would've been too excited to even give the attack order..."
With that, his figure scattered into golden photons and shot off toward the distant island.
Watching the golden light speed away, Sengoku broke out in a cold sweat. He clenched his fists so tightly that the veins bulged on the backs of his hands.
No matter what... Daren must not be harmed!
...
"You little Marine brat, you're asking for death!!"
A furious roar thundered through the air.
Byrnndi World's eyes burned red, blood vessels densely covering the whites of his eyes.
Seeing the coastline erupting in flames, he immediately realized—he'd been completely surrounded by the Marines!
Four pirate ships, thousands of subordinates—all obliterated in an instant by the North Blue Fleet's overwhelming firepower.
And this brat in front of him was just a Captain—no way he could take him down alone.
Which meant... that bastard Sengoku had to be nearby!
And his escape route... was gone!
No—
Suddenly, Byrnndi World remembered something. A twisted smile crept across his face.
"Daren, you brat... you think you've cut off all my exits?"
He pulled out a Den Den Mushi from inside his coat.
"Hahahahaha!! Bet you didn't expect this—I've still got one ship left!!"
He dialed the call.
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds...
No response.
Byrnndi World froze.
"Looks like your Den Den Mushi signal's not too good..."
The Marine Captain said with a smirk.
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake