The city was in flames, thick black smoke billowing into the sky.
Cries for help and sobs echoed from every corner of Marine Headquarters. From the direction of the civilian district came the desperate weeping of the people. Marines had quickly formed into small squads, rushing to organize evacuation efforts.
"This is getting way out of hand..."
In the churning, bubbling magma, Sakazuki's form reemerged.
Molten lava dripped from his cheeks as he adjusted his military cap, eyes locked coldly on Shiki.
"Don't forget—this is Marine Headquarters."
Countless golden photons gathered in a flash, forming the silhouette of a tall man. Borsalino rubbed the stubble on his chin, remarking with mild amusement,
"The legendary Great Pirate... Scary stuff. I can't believe he actually invaded Marineford."
Bit by bit, ice crystals crept across the ground and spiraled upward into the shape of a human. Kuzan exhaled a breath of frosty air, then looked at Shiki, face flushed with excitement.
"Dahahaha! Finally, it's my turn!"
He turned to Daren, grinning wide.
"Daren, this is our moment to fight side by side!"
The three imposing figures stepped forward, taking position beside Daren, standing shoulder to shoulder in a line.
Their wide capes bearing the word "Justice" billowed in the wind. Just their presence alone gave off an unshakable sense of security.
The scene left everyone stunned.
"It's Rear Admiral Sakazuki!"
"Rear Admiral Borsalino!"
"And that's... Captain Kuzan!"
"All four of the Marine Headquarters' 'monsters'... They're all here!"
"We're saved! We're actually saved!"
The surrounding Marines, seeing the four towering figures, clenched their fists in exhilaration, unable to suppress their cheers.
"I thought you three were taking a nap."
Daren glanced at them, his tone deadpan.
Sakazuki stayed silent.
Borsalino shrugged with a lazy grin.
"I got here as fast as I could..."
Kuzan scratched his head sheepishly and laughed.
"I really was asleep just now."
Daren: "..."
"Jihahahaha! A bunch of snot-nosed Marines..."
Up in the sky, Shiki suddenly burst into arrogant laughter.
"You think the likes of you can stop me?"
Whoosh!!
A piercing whistle sliced through the air.
An icy white spear shot toward Shiki, cutting him off mid-sentence.
Kuzan had moved first, unable to hold back his eagerness to fight!
The freezing spear tore through the sky. Shiki's eyes narrowed as he swiftly drew his blade.
Clang!
The spear shattered on impact—but from the fragments, a chilling frost surged out, creeping toward his sword.
A layer of visible frost quickly coated the blade of the Meito Kogarashi, threatening to freeze Shiki's entire arm.
"Hmph!"
With a cold snort, Shiki unleashed a swirl of fierce Haki, blasting the ice away in an instant.
"Hahaha! With the four of us here, that's more than enough!"
Kuzan laughed loudly, pointing straight at Shiki, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.
"There's no way you're taking Marineford down on your own!"
The moment those words left his mouth—
Sakazuki frowned.
Borsalino's face twisted into something between amusement and dread.
Daren felt a familiar chill run down his spine.
Hey now... don't go setting up a flag like that...
"Oh?"
Shiki's lips curled into a sly grin, a glint of mockery flashing in his eyes.
"Who said I came alone?"
The moment the words left his mouth, a vast, suffocating aura of dread suddenly swept in from another direction in the sky.
Sakazuki: "..."
Borsalino: (￣︶￣)
Kuzan: ???
Daren's mouth twitched.
I told you not to tempt fate!!
"Wororororo!! Daren, you brat—long time no see!!"
A thunderous, guttural laugh boomed across the sky like rolling thunder, filled with snarling hatred.
From the thick storm clouds, a black shadow slowly emerged—and then rapidly expanded at a terrifying, visible pace.
In the blink of an eye, it blotted out the sky.
"What the hell is that..."
"No way..."
"That size... that shape..."
"...Damn it!"
Marines stared at the sky, dumbstruck with horror.
Crackling bolts of lightning streaked across the clouds, arcs of purple electricity dancing wildly amid the roaring winds.
Within that chaos of storm and light, a massive shadow loomed—and from the sea of clouds, a colossal head emerged, the size of a mountain.
Savage fangs. Razor-sharp horns. Long, flowing whiskers. Blood-red, slit-pupiled eyes...
"It's a dragon!!"
"A giant dragon!!"
"The strongest creature in land, sea, and sky—Kaidou of the Beasts!!"
"Kaidou is here too?!"
"This... this can't be happening!"
Gasps and shouts rippled through the ranks of Marines as a massive, green-scaled dragon cloaked in wind and lightning slithered from the clouds. Each shimmering scale glinted coldly under the flash of lightning.
In that instant, a crushing pressure—s dragon's might—descended with terrifying force.
Hurricane winds surged through the base, knocking thousands of Marines off their feet. The weaker ones simply collapsed on the spot, eyes rolling back as they fainted.
Kuzan's eye twitched.
"You just had to say something..." Daren sighed.
Sakazuki and Borsalino both turned to stare at Kuzan with increasingly strange looks.
Flushed with embarrassment, Kuzan snapped back stiffly,
"He's not here for me! He's here for you, Daren!"
Daren: "..."
The colossal dragon Kaidou exchanged a glance with Shiki, then growled,
"Shiki. Leave that brat Daren to me."
"I've still got a score to settle with him for destroying my base."
Shiki grinned wide.
"Not a chance. These kids look like prime Marine talent... I wanna kill them all."
Kaidou roared, "That's not what we agreed on!"
Shiki chuckled dismissively.
"If you've got what it takes to take his head from me—try."
"Are you kidding me?!"
Kuzan suddenly exploded with rage.
"You think so little of the Marines?! There are four of us, and you guys only—mmph!"
Daren hurriedly slapped a hand over his mouth.
But it was too late.
"Ma ma ma ma..."
A hoarse, cackling laugh echoed from the opposite side of the sky.
Rip!!
Bolts of purple lightning tore through the clouds, crisscrossing and flaring violently.
As the storm clouds were blasted apart, a curvaceous silhouette descended from above, standing atop a swirling black thundercloud. She carried a colossal blade over her shoulder as she swooped down toward them.
"Kaidou, Shiki—you can handle the others. But Daren..."
With flowing pink hair, crimson lips, and long, curvy legs clad in red fishnet stockings, she looked down at Daren, licking her lips with a smile full of lust and malice.
"He's mine."
For a moment, Marine Headquarters went dead silent.
Then—complete chaos.
"It's Big Mom!!"
"One of the legendary pirates!"
"Big Mom, Charlotte Linlin!!"
"All three of the New World's Great Pirates are here!!"
"..."
Daren's mouth twitched uncontrollably.
Borsalino grinned with amusement.
Sakazuki turned, deadpan, to glare at Kuzan, who immediately felt a chill crawl up his spine.
Kuzan: "..."