"Even someone moving at the speed of light shows up late, huh... Rear Admiral Borsalino."
Daren trembled as he reached out, trying to grab a crack in the rock wall to steady himself, but failed.
Thick drops of blood dripped onto the white snow, blooming into glaring red stains like plum blossoms.
He could feel the searing, metallic taste of blood in his shattered ribs and lungs. The massive blood loss had left his mind hazy, and waves of excruciating pain surged through every muscle and bone in his body, crashing over him again and again.
Yet, despite his pale face, he still managed a smile and spoke in a teasing tone.
"If you'd taken any longer, I might've had to file a complaint with HQ."
Borsalino scratched his head like he was troubled and raised his hands in mock surrender.
"Well, what can I say..."
He turned toward the dark-faced Byrnndi World and smiled slowly.
"Long time no see, Byrnndi World. Looks like you've healed up well. You've got one hell of a monster body..."
"You brat! You're asking for it!!"
Byrnndi World's eyes blazed with fury. In a flash, he vanished from sight.
In an instant, he reappeared beside Borsalino, his Haki-wrapped fist crashing down like a mountain, sweeping in with a surge of wind.
"More-More Hundredfold Speed!"
A golden lightsaber suddenly materialized and blocked Byrnndi World's punch head-on.
The violent shockwave from the collision burst outward, sending snow within a hundred meters flying like a tornado.
Sparks exploded where the sword and fist clashed, illuminating Borsalino's face behind his sunglasses.
"Pretty fast, huh..."
"Bullshit!!" Byrnndi World snarled. His figure flickered again, appearing on Borsalino's right side. Planting one foot firmly on the ground, he twisted his waist and lashed out with a heavy whip kick toward Borsalino's head.
Borsalino raised an arm to block. A dull thud sounded—then in the next moment, his body turned into a golden beam and shot into the distant mountains.
A massive explosion erupted across the mountainside. The deafening crash of collapsing rock echoed as snow and debris tumbled in a roaring avalanche.
Seeing the hit land, Byrnndi World didn't hesitate. Radiating killing intent, he charged at Daren.
If he took out this Marine brat, the Den Den Mushi jamming would vanish. Then he could contact the patrolling pirate ship—and escape!
But in the next instant...
Specks of light gathered behind him again.
"That really hurt... But hey, ever been kicked at the speed of light?"
Blinding golden light flared behind Byrnndi World's head. A foot clad in white leather, wrapped in searing light, tore through the air and aimed for his skull!
Byrnndi World caught a glimpse of the Marine Captain just inches away. Grinding his teeth in frustration, he barely managed to use Soru to pull back. The most update n0vels are published on novel-fire.net
The kick missed, the golden beam slicing through the air and vanishing into the jungle.
A colossal explosion followed by a blaze of orange-red flames erupted into the sky. The fireball consumed a wide swath of forest instantly.
Borsalino's form reappeared, still wearing that trademark teasing grin.
But Daren noticed the slight tremble in his right hand.
Clearly, while Borsalino was powerful at this point in time, he wasn't yet the bottomless force seen in the original storyline.
Taking a full-force blow infused with Armament Haki from Byrnndi World had clearly taken a toll.
"You doing okay, Rear Admiral Borsalino?"
Daren asked with a half-smile.
Borsalino shrugged helplessly and pointed toward Byrnndi World, who had reappeared a hundred meters away.
"That guy's the 'World Destroyer" after all..."
Suddenly, distant artillery roars echoed from the coastline, and Byrnndi World's expression darkened.
From that direction, a massive Marine battleship was charging into the harbor. Elite Marines with grim faces poured from the deck, storming the flaming coastline and launching a final assault on the surviving pirates from the North Blue fleet's bombardment.
At the same time, a towering figure leapt from the warship's bow, his wide cloak billowing behind him. Using Geppo, he rocketed toward the three at stunning speed.
Marine Headquarters Admiral—the World Government's top military power...
Byrnndi World's heart sank like a stone.
His escape was completely cut off. He was already injured, and now with Sengoku, his longtime rival, and Kizaru...
There was no hope of a comeback!
"Sorry, Byrnndi World. You're under arrest,"
Borsalino said with a grin, swinging his Ama no Murakumo Sword.
Byrnndi World suddenly grinned hideously, eyes burning with madness.
Sengoku, still racing toward them, seemed to realize something. His pupils shrank as he shouted in alarm:
But before the words finished, Byrnndi World had already disappeared again, reappearing at the edge of the jungle with blinding speed.
"What difference does it make how many of you there are!?"
In Sengoku's horrified gaze, Byrnndi World let out a loud roar and raised an enormous cannon over his head.
The nearly ten-meter-long black barrel, like the gaping maw of a war beast, reeked of gunpowder!
"Everything will be destroyed by my power!!"
"I'll crush anything that stands in my way!!"
Byrnndi World suddenly raised his head, eyes bloodshot, and laughed maniacally.
"—The World Destroyer!!"
As the words fell, a terrifying, searing red light—like it could consume everything—began rapidly condensing inside the massive barrel.
Seeing it, Sengoku felt a chill crawl up his spine. An ice-cold dread spread from his feet to his skull.
He had just seen Byrnndi World's "test shot" through his scope, and if that terrifying firepower was enhanced by the Moa Moa no Mi's hundredfold effect...
It would obliterate the entire island in an instant!
Byrnndi World's pupils twitched, blood veins popping.
But out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the battered Marine brat suddenly smirking. The boy clenched his five fingers into a tight fist!
The cannon's massive barrel suddenly twisted like a pretzel.
A towering inferno rose thousands of meters high, transforming into a sky-darkening mushroom cloud that erupted on the spot.
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