The instant Darren launched himself forward at blinding speed, a gleam lit up in Dragon's eyes. He moved just as quickly.
Their forearms collided mid-charge with thunderous force, releasing a shockwave visible to the naked eye.
In midair, they shifted stances. Fists clashed. Elbows struck. A symphony of sharp cracks rang out.
The Marines on deck stared, eyes wide, holding their breath as the two powerhouses exchanged fierce, blistering blows.
Dragon's eyes sparkled. He dodged Darren's heavy straight punch with a slick pivot, then stepped in and threw a force-packed uppercut.
A white ripple bloomed across Darren's chiseled abs. He slid backward several meters—then grinned savagely.
The deck split beneath their feet. The warship itself dipped half a meter into the sea from the recoil.
Using that backward momentum, Darren launched himself forward like a cannonball, a predatory gleam in his eyes.
He closed the distance in an instant, ghosting to Dragon's side. With a lowered waist and a sharp twist, he swung a whip-like kick at Dragon's face.
Dragon swayed just enough—his boots scraped past Darren's leg, and the gust of wind blew his long black hair aside.
His hand shot out and caught Darren's leg mid-air.
With a deep inhale, he prepared to slam Darren into the deck.
But Darren flipped the momentum, using Dragon's grip as a fulcrum. His right leg came crashing down like a battle axe.
Dragon blocked the strike with one arm.
Darren used the moment to break free and land. Then, like a tiger leaping from the mountain, he pounced again.
His fists blurred, attacking with terrifying speed—a storm of punches turning the air into shadows, descending upon Dragon.
"Hahahahaha! This is great!!"
Dragon roared with laughter, not backing down an inch as he countered with his own barrage.
Like heavy rain on steel, their strikes pounded each other's bodies without pause.
Captain Tokikake and Gion stood on the sidelines, stunned. Their mouths twitched.
Neither man was aiming for the other's fists.
Every hit landed on flesh.
Full-contact. No guard. No dodge. Pure madness.
Half an hour later...
Darren and Dragon lay sprawled on the deck, limbs outstretched, chests heaving.
The entire warship looked like it had been trampled by giants. Craters scarred the deck. One of the cannons had been punched straight into the floor.
Sweat poured from their battered bodies, blood staining the corners of their mouths.
The Marines stared in blank disbelief.
They had never seen a fight in their entire lives.
Correction: they had never seen a fight this stupid in their lives.
No defense. No evasion. Just raw fists to the body and face, over and over. Absolute idiocy.
"Damn, your body's hard as steel..."
Dragon sat up, wiping the blood from his lips with a laugh.
Though he had the advantage in strength and speed, Darren's defense was on another level.
Even without Armament Haki, he couldn't break through Darren's iron body.
It was infuriating—and exhilarating.
"Your punches aren't too bad either."
Darren sat up too, grinning.
Sparring with someone trained by both Zephyr and Garp was the perfect way to refine his stats. This match had been anything but a waste.
Dragon looked at Darren's smile and chuckled to himself.
Maybe this mission to the North Blue wasn't so bad after all. This guy... felt like someone he could really get along with.
"But still... fists cover too much surface area. I can't break through."
Dragon muttered to himself, studying his own hands.
Thick knuckles. Power packed in every inch.
Darren, wiping sweat from his face, replied lazily, "If you want a smaller contact area, maybe... try using your fingers."
That was the core idea behind Shigan, one of the Six Powers.
Dragon's gaze sharpened. A thought clicked.
"—That's it!! Hahaha! Darren, you genius!!"
He slapped his thigh and burst out laughing.
Darren swore he saw a lightbulb appear over his head.
Dragon raised his right hand.
He twisted his fingers into an awkward gesture—index and middle fingers together, ring and pinky together, thumb curled slightly inward.
Three-finger form. Slightly claw-like.
Darren's pupils shrank.
"Using finger strength... yes, that's it. The thumb's naturally strong, and grouping the fingers improves joint support. That should make it easier to coat with Armament Haki..."
Dragon murmured feverishly. Then, suddenly, he thrust the claw down toward the deck.
Darren grabbed his wrist just in time to redirect the strike.
Even with the shift, the partially focused blow grazed Darren's upper arm.
A gash opened on his bicep. Blood sprayed.
Dragon stared, stunned.
"I... I broke through?"
That attack had only been at half power—and he'd pierced Darren's defense!?
Darren rolled his eyes. "If that claw had landed on the ship, the whole thing would've split in half."
Dragon scratched his head sheepishly, grinning. "Sorry, Darren..."
Darren waved it off. Flesh wounds were nothing—he'd scab over in minutes.
But inside... he felt like a herd of wild seakings was stampeding through his mind.
That attack... that gesture...
That was Dragon Claw Fist—the very technique Dragon would one day teach to Sabo, the one that would shine in the Dressrosa arena.
It was rough now, sure. But the foundation was unmistakable.
And all it took... was one spar.
Darren pressed his fingers to his temples.
Looking at Dragon's dopey smile, a terrifying realization struck him—
Had he just become... Kaido-sensei!?
"Hahaha, Darren, seriously—thank you! I never thought sparring with you would help me invent a brand-new technique."
Dragon threw an arm around his shoulder, beaming.
"Once I've polished it, I'll teach it to you as thanks!"
"What do you think we should name it?"
Darren stifled the urge to facepalm.
"...Dragon Claw Fist."
"Dragon Claw Fist... yeah! That's perfect!!"
Dragon cheered, eyes sparkling.
Suddenly, the Transponder Snail rang.
Dragon quickly pulled it out and answered.
A deep, commanding voice came through, tinged with killing intent.
"Fleet Admiral Kong!"
Dragon shot upright, his tone sharp.
"Report your current sea zone," Kong barked. Direct. No nonsense.
Dragon scratched his head and looked at Darren.
Darren sighed, lowering his voice. "We're about to leave the North Blue and enter the Grand Line."
Dragon repeated the same words to Kong.
"...Good. I have an urgent mission for you."
Kong's tone was iron.
"You are to safely transfer the North Blue officers under your escort, then proceed into the Grand Line at full speed."
"Island coordinates will follow shortly."
Dragon looked at Darren. "Fleet Admiral, what's the mission objective?"
"...Assist Vice Admiral Garp. Seal the target sea zone..."
"...And arrest Gol D. Roger."