This was the intense confidence of Saint Warcury, one of the World Government's top martial gods. Even when facing the brat Daren on Philseque Island in the North Blue, the defensive power inherent in his "Houki" form proved completely unmatched by Daren's "Indestructible Body"!

Raging Armament Haki swiftly covered the enormous boar monster's head, the overwhelming impact force causing ripples in the very atmosphere around it. Such an exaggerated force made it easy to imagine: if Houki's headbutt had struck a fortress as solid as steel, it would likely have been shattered to pieces by this mountain-crushing impact!

"You're centuries too early to take us down, Daren!" Houki roared fiercely, slamming his head into Daren with brutal force.

Boom! A violent whirlwind erupted outward, the shockwaves from their clash of Conqueror's Haki radiating as countless black-red lightning bolts.

Caught off guard, Daren was sent soaring into the air, his head snapping back as his black hair whipped around, a flash of blood appearing at the corner of his mouth. Dazed by the massive impact, he shook his head slightly. Then, the bloodstained corner of his mouth lifted into a grin.

"You're one tough bastard, you wild boar."

The low murmur made Saint Warcury's pupils constrict. His full-force strike hadn't even managed to seriously injure this guy!?

Before he could even react, Daren, suspended in mid-air, suddenly reached out and grabbed his tusks. Purple-black Armament Haki spread rapidly across his forehead, forming a cold, metallic texture that exuded an extreme hardness.

With the tusks firmly controlled, a sense of foreboding washed over Saint Warcury.

Then, he saw Daren's young, rebellious face flash a sneer at him.

"But are you as hard as me?"

As soon as the words left his lips, Daren tilted his head back slightly. Then, like a rocket launcher, his forehead slammed into Houki's massive brow!

Indestructible!

BOOM!

The onlookers were left in stunned silence as they saw Daren's tiny figure, in comparison to Houki's towering form, smash the massive boar's skull into the ground with a deafening crash, creating a huge crater. Cracks spread rapidly across the earth, and rocks flew everywhere.

The immense impact left Houki's brain reeling, his pupils dilating wildly, and bloodshot veins creeping across his eyes. An indescribable disbelief flashed in his gaze. His defense and strength had been completely overwhelmed!?

What in the world was this brat's ability!?

This scene caused the other Five Elders to freeze, their pupils narrowing.

Breathing heavily, their colossal forms burned with black flames upon the earth, tirelessly regenerating their wounded bodies, their gaze locked on Daren.

The all-encompassing breakthrough of Observation Haki, the ability to foresee the future;

A speed surpassing that of Nusjuro, the Saint of "Bakotsu";

A strategic prowess beyond Mars, the Saint of "Itsumade";

The suppression of the strength and defensive power of both Peter, the Saint of "Sandworm," and Warcury, the Saint of "Houki"...

The wide plaza fell into a brief, tense silence. Five monstrous beings, as terrifying as abyssal depths, stood upon the cracked, ruined earth. Yet the "tiny" black-haired figure in the sky seemed to cast an even greater shadow over them.

"You think you can win, Daren, you little brat?"

"Gyūki" Saint Saturn slowly emerged from a deep pit, his black spider legs shuffling forward. Half his face, once mangled, regenerated in the black flames as he spoke coldly, his expression dark and foreboding.

Daren wiped the blood from his lips and smiled.

"You've got some nerve. The ones beaten like dead dogs right now are you five old farts, not me."

Without any visible movement, four razor-sharp blades pierced through the clouds one after another, their tips pointing upward as they hovered steadily beside him.

The four Meito renowned across the seas—"Kogarashi," "Oto," "Ame no Habakiri," and "Enma"—now circled him like loyal servants, their cold, predatory gleam flickering in the dim sunlight.

Saint Saturn didn't even glance at the four blades. Though these blades, driven by the brat's power and Haki, could unleash terrifying and astonishing destructive force, they still couldn't break through the abilities of the five of them.

He merely sneered coldly.

"Our abilities are far beyond what you can contend with. No matter how many powerful attacks you unleash, no matter what methods you employ, you cannot truly threaten us."

"Let's go together. We can't let this brat keep causing trouble."

"Figarland Garling, haven't you watched enough of this spectacle?"

He suddenly turned his head, his gaze cold and piercing as he fixed it on a certain direction.

Perched atop a colossal statue flanking the Celestial Stairway, a figure with hair styled like a crimson crescent moon sat elegantly. Bored, they gazed this way, a faint, ambiguous smile playing on their lips.

"My apologies, my apologies. I figured you old codgers could handle him yourselves."

Saint Figarland Garling spread his hands, shrugged, and turned his gaze to Daren.

"It's been an age, Daren."

Daren smiled.

"Indeed, it has been a long time, 'Saint Garling'."

Saint Figarland Garling slowly rose, drawing the Western sword with its Gryphon hilt from his waist. He smiled faintly.

"I had high hopes for you, after all. A talent like yours is truly rare in this world."

"But I never imagined you would disappoint me in the end."

"I must say, you made a very foolish decision."

Daren chuckled.

"I wouldn't quite put it that way."

As the words fell, Figarland Garling's eyes sharpened.

Clang!

The Western sword in his hand shot out, sparks flying as it blocked the black long sword tearing through the air.

"Cursed sword… Enma."

Saint Garling narrowed his eyes at the Cursed Sword shrouded in black light, sneering coldly.

"Such a treasure should never be in your hands. It's a waste."

"Is that so? But I have four Cursed Swords like this."

Daren swept his hand, and the remaining three Meito instantly transformed into piercing streaks of light, hurtling toward Saint Garling.

The four Meito intertwined, weaving a sky-filling tapestry of light and shadow. They formed a vast net saturated with the aura of death, enveloping the newly appointed commander of the God's Knights in an impenetrable embrace.

Saint Figarland Garling, wielding his Western sword with one hand, calmly parried Daren's assault, sneering.

"Such crude swordsmanship lacks any beauty. Do you truly believe this laughable trick will succeed?"

"No, I never expected it to."

A voice suddenly echoed behind Garling, causing his expression to shift.

How fast!

When did he get here!?

"Your speech earlier was enough to move hearts, but my dragon claw is no less so."

Saint Garling's pupils contracted. As his body erupted with Haki, he unleashed a skyward slash that repelled the four Meito, then spun abruptly.

What met his eyes was a pitch-black, three-fingered dragon claw closing in relentlessly toward his heart!

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