"Oh? Unlocking your seastone cuffs... are you sure that's a good idea?"
"You're a pirate, and I'm a Marine. We're enemies, aren't we..."
Hearing Bullet's angry roar, Darren turned back with a smile and winked playfully.
His face flushed a furious red, nearly coughing up blood.
This bastard!! Aren't we supposed to be allies right now!?
Seeing Bullet's expression like he'd just swallowed manure, Darren couldn't help but laugh. He lifted Señor from the ground with one hand and vanished from the spot in a flicker.
His speed reached the pinnacle—like a black phantom, he flashed straight into the crowd.
"Stop him!! You idiots!!"
Queen cried out in alarm, his dizzy head spinning.
But the pirates surrounding Bullet didn't even catch a glimpse of Darren's movements. All they felt was a blur—and then a crushing impact, as if struck by a speeding train. Blood spewed from their mouths as they flew back like broken kites.
Darren appeared ghost-like beside Bullet, tossing him the ring of keys.
Bullet rolled his eyes, caught the keys with his teeth, and shoved one into the lock.
Click. The seastone cuffs dropped from his arms and hit the ground.
"Heh heh... Kahahaha... Kahahahahaha!!"
Soaked in blood, Bullet slowly stood, raising his single arm and covering his face with his hand. He threw his head back and laughed maniacally.
"Finally... Finally... my power is back!!"
A tidal wave of raw, oppressive aura exploded from his body. His bloodied golden hair whipped about wildly.
Like a mighty tide, his presence surged outward, sweeping across the battlefield.
Gales roared. Lightning danced across the sky. Sparks crackled in the void.
Pirates trying to surround him froze mid-step, their movements sluggish and heavy—like wading through glue. Their faces turned ghostly pale.
All dropped to one knee, gasping in agony.
Those weaker fainted outright, eyes rolling back as they collapsed.
Darren narrowed his eyes at the sight, countless thoughts flashing through his mind.
The Beasts Pirates were only a mid-tier force in the New World right now—nowhere near their strength in the canonical timeline.
Aside from Kaido, the only real powerhouses aboard were the All-Stars: King the Wildfire and Queen the Plague. Beneath them were three cobbled-together Headliners.
And judging by that lizard-man who guarded the prison, those Headliners weren't exactly awe-inspiring.
At this point in time, the Tobiroppo hadn't yet emerged—much less the Gifters or Numbers.
Which meant that the Beasts Pirates were sorely lacking in mid-tier combat power!
No wonder Kaido was so desperate to recruit them both.
Just then, Queen's voice rasped through the dust and wind.
His massive form stepped forth from the swirling haze, mechanical arm rotating with cold menace. The metal claw clicked and clacked.
"So it's Conqueror's Haki... No wonder Kaido went through so much trouble to recruit you two..."
Feeling the wild aura blasting toward him, Queen's expression turned grim.
"But this ends here."
"Unforgivable... You bastards didn't just humiliate the genius Queen—you've turned our base upside down..."
Queen's bloodshot eyes locked onto the three, nostrils flaring with fury. He was gritting his teeth so hard they might shatter:
"I'll wipe you out!!"
The moment he finished, Queen's eyes glowed crimson.
Countless red laser blasts ripped through the air like a torrential storm, engulfing Darren and company.
That's... Germa 66 tech!!
"Kahahaha!! Leave it to me!!"
Bullet cackled and stepped forward, slamming a hand into the ground.
The earth seemed to come alive—under Bullet's control, a massive stone shield erupted to block the front.
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!
Red lasers struck relentlessly, detonating chunks of stone into the air.
But the stone shield reformed rapidly under the power of the Clank-Clank Fruit.
Explosions unleashed blazing heat. Crimson flames roared, thick black smoke curling.
A giant figure burst through the smoke, soaring into the air.
Queen, straining his black-and-white suspenders to the limit, roared and brought a massive blade down toward Darren's head!
The greatblade snapped in two.
The broken edge spun and embedded in the dirt.
"Impossible!! How can your body's defense be this strong?!"
Queen's bloodshot eyes bulged in disbelief.
He clenched his fists, Haki enveloping them.
His arms whipped forward in a flurry, sending a storm of punches at Darren.
Darren sneered, meeting the attack head-on!
Fist clashed with fist!
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!
The heavy sound of blows echoed like pounding rain.
Each impact unleashed shockwaves, forcing nearby pirates back.
The earth cracked beneath their feet. Stones flew.
Queen's heart pounded with unease. His blows were having no effect!
This damn Marine—in sheer physical ability, he matched Queen's own hybrid form. His defense was even greater!
He was an Ancient Zoan Brachiosaurus!!
This guy... Is he even human!?
Their fists collided again, locked in stalemate.
Suddenly, Queen's head launched from his body, mouth open wide with razor fangs—
—and bit down on Darren's shoulder!
"Let's see you escape this!! Taste Queen-sama's electric shock!!"
Queen's eyes gleamed with cunning, grinning from between his teeth.
High-voltage electricity burst from his modified mouth, crackling blue.
The heat seared Darren's skin, muscles, and organs, smoke rising.
"Muhahaha, how's that?! Let's see you handle—"
Queen froze. His voice broke.
Darren stared at him like nothing happened. He even exhaled a lazy black smoke ring.
"Germa's tech, huh... Brings back memories."
Darren smiled, eyes flashing. He grabbed Queen's head—
—and slammed it hard into the ground!
A pillar of dust soared ten meters high.
Queen's skull embedded into the earth, eyes spinning, blood spraying.
His Brachiosaurus body convulsed violently from the pain.