Gecko Moria crashed down from midair like a cannonball, smashing a massive crater fifty meters wide into the ground with the force of his fall.
He coughed up a mouthful of blood and tried to struggle upright, but a heavy, polished black military boot stomped down hard on his head.
His skull collided brutally with the ground once again, sending the earth within ten meters cracking and heaving with jagged stone.
Blood poured from Moria's mouth and nose, and his pupils instantly glazed over.
"If you want to die, I have no objection."
Daren ground Moria's head deeper into the dirt with his boot, a lit cigar clamped between his teeth as he grinned menacingly.
"So this time... which arm should I take?"
He exhaled a long stream of smoke like a coiling dragon, his eyes narrowing as he sized Moria up with a look of cold disdain.
"Oh, right. Looks like you only have one arm left now."
Gecko Moria's pupils shrank sharply.
The way this man was looking at him—it was like he was nothing but meat on a chopping block. Cold. Ruthless. Completely devoid of emotion.
A bone-deep chill shot up from his feet to the top of his skull.
His face flushed red, and he stammered helplessly, unable to form a sentence.
In his heart, Moria was howling.
This wasn't how it was supposed to go!
Wasn't the story supposed to be that Daren admired his courage and spirit, exchanged a couple of moves with him, and then invited him to join the Shichibukai?
And more importantly, why hadn't he "understood" anything yet after getting beaten up so badly!?
So how exactly did Mihawk "understand"!?
Off to the side, Momonga wore a helpless expression as if he had seen it coming a mile away and sighed.
You just had to try copying that brat Mihawk... and look where it got you.
"Hmm? Cat got your tongue?"
Daren lifted an eyebrow, clearly displeased.
"In that case, I'll just take your other arm too..."
Moria trembled violently, gritting his teeth and struggling madly.
He only had one arm left — if he lost this one too, his pirate days were over.
What New World, what freedom and dreams, what domination of the seas... all of it would be finished!
He suddenly let out a desperate roar, baring his bloody, jagged teeth in a fiendish snarl.
A surge of powerful energy exploded from his battered body, sweeping outward in a violent purple storm.
At the same time, countless shadowy bats screeched out from beneath him, weaving into a massive black death net that rushed to envelop Daren.
Daren frowned slightly, a flicker of surprise flashing across his eyes.
This guy's Conqueror's Haki and Devil Fruit abilities... were clearly stronger than the last time they fought!
'Mihawk is one thing—that brat was already a monster... but now even this lazy fat Moria is showing growth. Could it be I really have the makings of a great teacher?'
Daren thought to himself with a bit of helplessness.
His eyes sharpened, and in the next moment, he unleashed his own Conqueror's Haki, brutally suppressing Moria's rising aura.
He twisted the heel of his military boot hard, looking down coldly at Gecko Moria, who was coughing up blood.
"Gecko Moria, listen carefully..."
"From this moment on, you must become stronger... You must claim the title of Shichibukai!"
"If you can't, I'll kill you!"
With that, Daren raised his foot and mercilessly stomped down again.
The ground exploded into a cloud of dust. Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on ɴovelfire.net
When the dust finally cleared, Gecko Moria was sprawled there like a dead dog, completely unconscious.
Not far away, Momonga's mouth twitched. He couldn't help but ask,
"You didn't cripple him, did you?"
Daren smiled and shook his head.
He looked at the mangled, mud-covered Moria and muttered to himself,
"You call that holding back..."
"Besides," Daren said casually, "if he stays down, someone else can take the Shichibukai seat."
Indeed, there was never a shortage of strong pirates in this sea.
Gecko Moria becoming a Shichibukai was never a necessity.
After thinking for a moment, Momonga asked,
"So what do you plan to do next? What about the government's mission?"
"Just go through the motions. The government doesn't really care about those unlucky fools who got killed..."
A mocking smirk played on Daren's lips.
"...Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if the Five Elders have already drafted a new list."
Momonga had no words to refute that.
"But you reminded me," Daren said, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully, "I'll need to get my hands on the new list soon."
"If that brat Doflamingo still isn't on it, then it's time to push him into executing the plan."
Momonga's gaze sharpened instantly, his expression turning extremely serious.
Once it was set into motion, it would cause a storm that could shake the world.
If handled poorly, the consequences would be unimaginable.
"I understand," Momonga said, clenching his fists tightly.
"Relax a little," Daren chuckled, reaching out to pat him on the shoulder.
"I'm heading out. In a few days, I'll be reporting to G5. Can't keep dragging this out, or it'll be like slapping myself in the face."
"Yeah..." Momonga nodded. Daren had publicly announced his posting to the G5 branch in the New World back at the training camp graduation ceremony.
Even though countless unexpected events had delayed it and made everyone forget, dragging it out any longer would really be a bad look.
"By the way, there's something I wasn't sure if I should tell you..."
Momonga suddenly remembered and lowered his voice.
"Doflamingo had one of his officers... Vergo—you know, the guy who always has food stuck to his face—enlist in the Marines."
"I know," Daren said, smiling.
"You know?" Momonga looked at him in surprise.
A strange light flickered in Daren's eyes.
"...He's going to be my student soon."
Was this guy seriously planning a long-term career in "teaching"?
Seeing Momonga's stunned face, Daren laughed and explained,
"Zephyr-sensei is planning to expand the training camp enrollment and explore new teaching methods. He invited me to be a special instructor at the camp."
p@treon com / PinkSnake