Speeding through the sky!

The sea of clouds and air blurred behind him at an astonishing pace as the wind, sharp as blades, lashed against his skin and face. Daren's eyes gradually turned cold and sharp.

The power of the Nikyu Nikyu no Mi was undeniably strong and bizarre—capable of "repelling" people for instantaneous short-range teleportation or even long-distance, cross-island travel. But it wasn't without limitations.

If the destination wasn't precisely known in advance, recklessly using the ability could easily send someone off course, dropping them into the sea.

That was why, even though Dragon and the others had received the coordinates to Philseque Island directly from Daren, it had still taken them a long time to arrive. It wasn't because they were stalling, but because they had to make multiple short jumps instead of one long flight, ensuring a safe landing and avoiding the risk of falling into the ocean.

But if it was a place Kuma had personally visited, things were different—he could send someone directly and accurately to their "destination."

Unfortunately, Kuma had never been to Marine Headquarters, Marineford. To be safe, Daren chose to return under his own power.

"Wait for me, Toki."

He muttered softly, his fists tightening instinctively.

The injuries on his body hadn't completely healed, but most wounds had already been treated by Kuma and Ivankov. The bleeding had stopped, and the cuts had scabbed over.

While he was far from being at his peak and it might hinder him in a life-or-death fight, his mobility wasn't affected.

More importantly, Daren knew he didn't have much time left.

The North Blue Fleet's relentless bombardment of the World Government might make the Five Elders hesitate to leave Mary Geoise.

But the CP agents under the World Government were spread across every corner of the sea—and with Sengoku's blind loyalty to the regime, he was very likely to make a move on Toki.

Daren trusted that Zephyr-sensei would protect her.

But how things would unfold wasn't something even Zephyr-sensei could fully control.

"Don't do anything stupid, Sengoku."

The icy wind howled like knives, and silent killing intent spread.

The magnetic field around Daren's body grew increasingly violent, boiling with power.

The silhouette of the Marine Vice Admiral rocketed through the sky like a missile, bursting through the atmosphere in a flash of white shockwaves, tearing through the heavens.

...

Marine Headquarters, Marineford.

A massive wave of pressure erupted, black and red lightning intertwining with a hellish gale, scattering the torrential rain in all directions.

The shock was so great that every Marine present changed expression in an instant.

"What the hell…"

"Conqueror's Haki!"

"No way!"

"Zephyr-sensei awakened Conqueror's Haki at a moment like this!?"

"But at his age…"

"..."

All the Marines stood frozen in disbelief, staring at the former Admiral who was releasing his overwhelming aura without restraint. Instinctively, they raised their arms to shield their faces from the crushing force.

Even Sengoku was visibly shaken, taking a step back in sheer astonishment.

Unlike the others, he had long since awakened Conqueror's Haki himself and understood its nature better than most.

Conqueror's Haki—was the rarest form of Haki, impossible to attain through training. Simply put, it was a power only those born with the qualities of a king could wield.

Typically, those with the disposition of a king would awaken it during their youth, often triggered by intense emotion or external provocation.

If someone didn't awaken it during their prime, the chances of doing so would steadily drop over time—eventually nearing zero.

In all the years Sengoku had worked with Zephyr and fought side by side with him, he had never once sensed the presence of Conqueror's Haki in him.

Not even when Zephyr's wife and child were mercilessly slaughtered had he awakened it.

That's why Sengoku had always assumed Zephyr lacked the traits of a king.

And yet now...

Confronted by his former comrade, Zephyr had awakened Conqueror's Haki!

"This is what the awakening of Conqueror's Haki looks like!!"

At the back of the crowd, Kuzan stared at the commanding, purple-haired old man, his eyes blazing with admiration, fists clenched tight.

"...To protect the families of his students, he didn't hesitate to sever ties with his old comrades just to uphold his own sense of justice... Zephyr-sensei is seriously cool!"

A nearby Marine, face red with panic, tugged at Kuzan's nearly flailing arm and whispered frantically:

"Shh, shh, shh!! Vice Admiral Kuzan, please! Keep it down—don't get so excited… Admiral Sengoku might hear you!"

Not far away...

Sakazuki stood with arms crossed, his expression as cold and stern as always. But beneath the brim of his cap, his eyes lingered on the purple-haired figure, flashing with a complicated emotion he couldn't quite name.

"To think it's come to this... When Zephyr-sensei gets angry, he really is terrifying."

Beside him, Borsalino casually stroked the stubble on his chin with interest. It wasn't clear if he was talking to Sakazuki or just musing aloud.

"Sakazuki, you're not planning to step in, are you?"

Sakazuki replied flatly,

"I don't see any evil pirates."

Borsalino blinked, then narrowed his eyes and gave a quiet chuckle.

The world trembled as the storm grew fiercer.

"Zephyr, are you really going through with this?"

The cold rain pelted down as Sengoku's expression darkened further, his tone grave.

He hadn't expected Zephyr to go this far for Daren.

"Spare me the lectures, Sengoku,"

Zephyr said between breaths.

"Losing your wife and child is a blow that can break a man."

"No one understands that pain better than I do."

He suddenly clenched his lone fist, and crackling black lightning surged upward.

"You have no idea how many times I've dreamed of this moment!"

The words had barely fallen when—

With a furious roar, the purple-haired giant burst forward like a raging tiger, stomping down with such force the ground cracked beneath him. He tore through the pouring rain, launching himself straight at Sengoku!

"Come, Sengoku! Show me that 'justice that reigns over the world' of yours!!"

The air thickened with crushing pressure. Sengoku's heart pounded violently, cold sweat dripping down his back.

As someone who had once fought alongside him, no one knew better than he did—when this man got serious, his power was truly terrifying.

The kind of power that could tear through an entire battlefield single-handedly.

"Don't get cocky, Zephyr!!"

Sengoku roared as his body surged upward, radiating blinding golden light.

The golden Buddha form shimmered like a blazing sun, briefly illuminating the storm-darkened sky.

The two men charged, bloodshot eyes locked in mutual fury. In the split second their gazes met, they both saw it—pure, unshakable fighting spirit.

They swung their fists at the same time—

Boom!

Boom!

A black iron fist.

A golden Buddha punch.

They crossed paths...

And slammed into each other's faces at the exact same moment!

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