Smoke and dust swirled as the ground trembled violently.
Above the deserted island, the sky darkened further, thick with the heavy scent of blood.
"You damn Marine brat!! I'll kill you!!"
"You talk too much, Shiki!"
Boom!!
Two figures collided like meteors slamming into the earth. The clash of Armament Haki exploded into a violent shockwave, spreading outward from the center of their impact.
The ground roared and churned like a stormy sea, flinging up dirt and debris in all directions.
"You think trapping me here means you can kill me!?"
Shiki's bloodshot eyes blazed as he slashed down with a roar.
Daren's eyes glowed crimson. His Observation Haki clearly foresaw Shiki's attack—but he didn't dodge.
Slash!
The Meito blade tore into flesh, splattering a thick cloud of blood.
Expressionless, Daren staggered back a step. His right boot stomped the ground hard, kicking up mud, and with that recoil, he launched a clawed strike toward Shiki's heart.
Clang!!
The heavy blow was intercepted as Shiki crossed his blades, another blast of wind and force erupting between them.
Yet Daren's dragon claw scraped down the sword's edge, sparks flying as it raked Shiki's abdomen—ripping away a bloody chunk of flesh.
Shiki grunted through clenched teeth.
The two sprang apart, landing several meters away.
No pause. No hesitation.
They charged at each other again, snarling like wild animals!
Boom!!
...
Far away.
Momonga and Doflamingo stood frozen, eyes locked on the brutal clash between the two monsters. The sheer savagery of it rocked them to their core.
Every move targeted a vital spot.
Every blow left deep, bloody wounds.
Defense was all but abandoned. This was a brutal slugfest—trading injuries for injuries in the rawest, most merciless way.
This was real combat.
Like two wild beasts locked in a death match, using the Torikago as a giant jungle coliseum for their final brawl.
Watching that savage, blood-soaked battle unfold, Doflamingo nervously swallowed.
He'd lived through hell growing up—blood, insults, contempt, murder.
But never had he witnessed something like this... something so primal.
It was as if instinct alone drove their every move. Even when badly wounded, they still clawed to tear flesh from one another.
He might act mature, but Doflamingo was still just a fourteen or fifteen-year-old kid. He'd never seen anything like this before.
"Snap out of it. I need to prep something."
Momonga's brows were furrowed tightly, his voice low and grim.
His expression said it all—Daren was not winning.
And that... was terrifying.
With his Observation Haki nullified, stamina nearly gone, Conqueror's Haki unusable, a ship's steering wheel stuck in his head, and a mind clouded by delirium...
Even in this condition, Shiki could still fight him evenly.
In fact, Shiki might even have the upper hand.
Even if Daren wasn't at his peak, it was still nearly unthinkable.
If it weren't for his "Indestructible Body," if he were just a normal man, he'd have been torn apart by that rabid lion long ago.
"Don't get caught in what's coming."
With those words, Momonga's body turned into a flash of blue lightning and shot skyward, slipping through the gaps in the Torikago and disappearing into the clouds above.
Don't get caught in it?
Doflamingo blinked.
He looked up toward the dark, churning sky...
And suddenly saw something that made his eyes widen behind his sunglasses.
...
"Jihahaha!! You see that, Daren, you little brat!!"
"Sure, your strength's shot up fast—you've made it into the top-tier ranks... but killing me, Shiki the Golden Lion? You're still way too green!!"
Shiki roared with bloodshot eyes, laughter echoing as he swung the two famed Meito blades, Oto and Kogarashi, whipping up a terrifying storm. His slashes rained down like a hurricane, engulfing the Marine Vice Admiral in a relentless assault.
Blood sprayed from Daren's body, scattered by the wind into a faint crimson mist.
Clang!
Slash!
Suddenly—
Shiki's assault halted.
Both blades had just carved into Daren's chest, but were now gripped tight in his hands.
"Huh?"
Shiki's pupils narrowed.
Before him, Daren raised his head, breathing heavily. His mouth dripped with blood, yet he smiled.
"This kind of thing…"
His eyes blazed with fire.
"Of course I knew!"
"That's why… I prepared a little surprise for you!"
Surprise?
What surprise?
Shiki blinked, confused.
Rrrrumble...
A deep roar began to rise from the distant sky.
Shiki instinctively looked up—and the sight hit him like a lightning strike.
The rumble grew louder. Overwhelming. Thunderous.
Massive shadows began emerging from the sea of clouds above.
First came a towering ship's bow, slowly piercing through the cloud layer.
A sleek steel warship emerged, its design reminiscent of a Marine vessel—but its hull gleamed with a cold, metallic luster, built from some unknown alloy.
At its center rose a massive smokestack crackling with blue lightning.
The deck and sides bristled with heavy cannons of all types, giving the ship the look of a compact floating fortress.
One ship.
Two.
Three...
One after another, warships burst from the clouds.
Fifteen flying battleships in total stretched across the sky, forming a fearsome fleet that loomed high above the island, casting long shadows over the land below.
Snow-white seagull flags snapped in the wind above each ship, drenched in the iron and blood of battle.
As Shiki stared in utter shock and Doflamingo watched in disbelief...
Wave after wave of elite Marines emerged on the decks, led by the Admiral of North Blue—Momonga—his gaze sharp and icy as it locked onto the island below.
Then—
Shff!
Nearly 20,000 elite North Blue Marines raised their hands in salute with grim, murderous resolve.
"All personnel of the North Blue Fleet... salute Vice Admiral Daren!"
Shiki's pupils shrank to pinpoints.
That's... a flying fleet!?
This brat Daren... he secretly built an airborne fleet!?
How the hell is that possible!?
"Familiar sight? You were the one who gave me the idea... Shiki." Daren grinned.
"You bastard!!"
Shiki roared, trying to wrench his blades free—but Daren's arms swelled with the raw strength of a giant, locking the swords in place.
Then, for some reason, a chill colder than death crept through Shiki's chest.
"The North Blue Fleet, all units..."
Blood trailed from the corner of Daren's mouth.
He stared Shiki down, gaze blazing.
Then, with a twisted smile, he said:
"Fire on me."