A black-haired youth stood atop the Holy Land, gazing down upon the "gods" revered by the world.
A reckless, almost flippant smile tugged at his lips.
Set against the sanctity of Pangaea Castle and the Stairway to Heaven, his defiant stance—bathed in brilliant sunlight—created an overwhelming, almost blasphemous visual shock.
It felt as though the Sea's highest laws and order had been turned upside down and reduced to ash.
As the representatives of the Member States, the guests, and the reporters stared at the figure at the summit, their minds went blank. Their faces twisted with disbelief.
What…
What are we looking at?
Responding at the speed of light?!
Every jaw dropped.
"It's over now…"
Cobra twitched violently.
He had long known Darren's arrogance and disregard for rules—but he never imagined it would reach this level.
He actually infiltrated Pangaea Castle!
Others felt the same shock. King Riku, the other leaders, nearly every representative gasped.
That man—
Commander of the world's strongest fleet.
A figure comparable to the Pirate King Roger.
Labeled the World's Most Dangerous Criminal, with a bounty of 5 billion berries…
Rogers Darren, the King of the North Blue.
How could he be inside Pangaea Castle?
Was the World Government's security really this weak?
And he had taken down Steel Bone Kong?
Why appear now—during the Knights of God's inauguration? What was his goal?
Most importantly—
Just after Figarland Garling and the Gorosei had officially declared war on the North Blue Fleet in front of the entire world…
He appeared instantly, sending Steel Bone Kong flying.
This was—
The representatives' gazes flicked toward the Gorosei and Garling, baffled and suspicious.
That bastard… he really came!
At the back of the plaza, Stussy stared, stunned, unable to comprehend what she was seeing.
This was Mary Geoise—the world's most heavily defended place! The Gorosei, the Knights of God, even the Fleet Admiral himself were here.
What was that idiot thinking, showing up now?
Even Darren couldn't survive long surrounded by so many monsters.
And as far as she knew, he still hadn't found a way to break the Gorosei's "undying" ability.
A knot tightened in her chest.
That damned fool. He didn't even tell me he was coming.
Instinctively, she glanced toward Doflamingo—and froze.
The proud Flamingo stood tall, head raised, eyes bloodshot, staring at Darren with barely restrained exhilaration. Beneath the surface… admiration churned. Worship. A primal hunger.
His hands trembled. His grin looked ready to tear through his cheeks.
Stussy was speechless.
That brat Doflamingo's expression…
Admiration?
Worship?!
Could it be…
Her eyes widened.
---
A suffocating silence gripped the world.
Not only the plaza, but the entire globe watching through Visual Den Den Mushi held its breath.
An invisible dread slithered into every heart.
The Holy Land Guards trembled violently, knuckles white around their weapons.
Until—
"Attack!!"
A Guard captain cracked under the pressure, screaming the order.
Like a snapped bowstring, panic surged through the ranks. Hundreds of Guards raised their rifles and opened fire, their eyes filled with terror.
Human instinct under overwhelming fear.
Gunfire erupted in a deafening storm.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Black-rain bullets streaked across the air toward Darren.
Chaos exploded among the Member State representatives.
"Run!"
"It's going to turn into a battlefield!"
"Protect me!"
Reporters refused to retreat, snapping photos with trembling hands—risking death for the story of the century.
Through the storm of bullets, Darren's smile never faded. A crimson glint flickered in his eyes.
His mind detached from his body.
The world slowed—then froze. Every bullet's path and impact point appeared vividly before him.
Absolute control.
Unshakable confidence.
This… this was the realm of Future Sight.
He moved like a phantom, weaving through the bullets with effortless grace. Each shot narrowly missed, whistling past his skin.
Even the Gorosei looked shaken by the sheer ease of his evasion.
"What a nuisance," Darren muttered—and suddenly stopped dodging.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sparks scattered as bullets slammed into him, ricocheting off his skin and tearing holes in the stone around him.
Not a scratch.
"Hm. Much easier this way."
He smiled through the barrage, ready to act—
Boom!!
A sudden blast of force detonated around his head.
Black smoke and flames surged upward in a column, engulfing him completely.
"His head… it exploded?!"
A representative cried out.
"Protect the Member State representatives! Begin evacuation!"
A rasping, ancient voice echoed through the plaza.
A massive shadow rose, radiating a chilling aura straight from the depths of Hell. A monstrous creature appeared—black spiderlike lower body, ghostly black flames licking its form, horns curling like a bull.
The Gyuki had descended.
Saint Saturn's eyes glowed crimson, his "Evil Eye" fully awakened as he stared into the roiling flames where Darren stood.
His voice dropped into something grave and final.
"The war… is about to begin."
To be continued...