The warship sailed smoothly.
Daren stood at the bow with his hands in his pockets, a lit cigar in his mouth, gazing out at the endless sea ahead, lost in thought.
The sea breeze blew cold and sharp against him, making the large cloak of justice behind him flap wildly.
"Vice Admiral Daren, how should we proceed next?"
A young Marine captain quickly walked over. His slightly immature face held a calmness and determination beyond his years, and he raised his hand in a crisp salute.
The look he gave Daren's back was filled with bright admiration.
Daren snapped out of his thoughts, turned his head, and smiled slightly.
"You seem very excited about this mission, Arthur."
Arthur said excitedly,
"Yes! After all, this is my first time going to sea on a mission with Vice Admiral Daren!"
Daren smiled.
He had a good impression of Arthur, a young man full of youthful energy, especially that gentle temperament so reminiscent of Dragon before his "defection."
Optimistic, positive, and brimming with life.
Most importantly, Arthur had earned Daren's recognition for the courage and willpower he showed during the battle on Coin Island against the Charlotte brothers.
As promised, Daren had asked Sengoku to transfer Arthur under his command.
"This mission is very complicated. I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."
Daren chuckled and patted Arthur's shoulder.
"Go on. Do your job well. I'm looking forward to your performance."
Flushed with excitement from Daren's friendly pat, Arthur saluted again.
"Yes, Vice Admiral Daren! I will do my best!!"
Watching the kid rush off full of energy to his patrol duty, Daren shook his head with a laugh.
Just then, the Den Den Mushi in his pocket suddenly rang.
Daren paused, took out his military Den Den Mushi, and answered the call.
"Momonga, what's wrong?"
"Are you back in North Blue?"
Momonga's odd tone came through the Den Den Mushi.
"Yeah, but something strange happened here. I thought about it and figured you'd better handle it."
Daren was taken aback.
With the competition for the Shichibukai candidates heating up, he was just about to act, putting pressure on the few he'd selected.
He was right in the middle of it.
"What happened?"
The Den Den Mushi vividly mimicked Momonga's odd expression as he said in a low voice,
"One of the people you're after showed up in North Blue. He attacked a small Marine base. No casualties so far, but he's shouting about challenging the famous 'King of North Blue.'"
What?
Daren was genuinely stunned.
Someone actually had the guts to invade North Blue and declare a challenge to him, the "King of North Blue"?
For a moment, he found the news so ridiculous it was almost funny.
"So... who's the idiot?"
Momonga said in a deep voice,
"Gecko Moria."
Daren: "..."
This guy... still stubborn before getting crushed by Kaidou, huh.
"Alright, got it. I'll head back."
Daren sighed, feeling like the whole situation was absurd.
He hadn't even gone looking for Moria yet, and Moria had already delivered himself right to his doorstep.
Well, it certainly saved him a lot of trouble.
...
North Blue.
327 Marine Base, a branch of the 321 Marine Division.
Three conventional warships docked at the port had been completely dismantled, their wreckage scattered across the sea, thick black smoke billowing into the sky.
Atop the collapsed gun emplacements and shattered military fortifications, a towering figure nearly seven meters tall sat among the ruins, an enormous sawtooth blade slung casually over his shoulder, wearing a sinister smile.
He had dark red hair like burning scallions, skin so pale it seemed almost sickly from years without sunlight, and a thin, gaunt frame. Two pale horns jutted from the sides of his forehead, and his pointed ears and fanged grin made him resemble a demon from legend, terrifying to behold.
The man wore a bat-collared shirt and Gothic-style clothing. His chilling presence, paired with such eccentric attire, gave off a bizarre, almost artistic aura.
"Gecko Moria, you heard me."
Momonga put down the Den Den Mushi in his hand, stared at the man with a cold, expressionless face, and said sharply,
"I've already informed Daren. Now, shouldn't you keep your promise and return the soldiers' shadows?"
He was in a foul mood, blue arcs of electricity crackling faintly from his fingertips.
He had rushed back to North Blue from the New World without even stopping for a sip of tea, only to be immediately called to handle this mess.
Gecko Moria. Originating from the West Blue. Bounty: 148 million Belly.
This guy, who should have crossed the Grand Line straight into the New World, had instead foolishly barged into the North Blue, even attacking one of their small Marine branches.
As if to mock or humiliate the North Blue Marines, Moria hadn't killed anyone—he had simply stripped every Marine at the 327 Base of their shadows, using them as leverage to issue a challenge to the so-called "King of the North Blue."
"He's really asking for death..."
Momonga looked at the smugly grinning Gecko Moria, this thought rising in his mind.
He glanced off to the side.
The Marines, stripped of their shadows, were now hiding in dark corners or within ruined fortifications to avoid the deadly sunlight.
This was Gecko Moria's ability.
The Kage Kage no Mi... Gecko Moria could steal the shadows of others, and once someone's shadow was taken, they could no longer withstand direct sunlight. Exposure would reduce them to ashes.
In a way, once someone's shadow was stolen by Moria, their very life was firmly in his grasp.
"Kishishishi, no need to rush. He's not even here yet..."
Gecko Moria laughed arrogantly. Behind him, a writhing, pitch-black shadow rose like liquid darkness, twisting and shifting shapes as it pushed away the surrounding sunlight. The eerie scene sent chills down the spine.
"I've heard the name 'King of the North Blue' many times, even way out in the West Blue. I've always been curious just how strong the man who killed the legendary Great Pirate, Shiki the Golden Lion, really is..."
Moria sneered, looking down at the Marine Captain before him.
"I set sail from my homeland, fought my way through the West Blue and into the Grand Line. I never once encountered a worthy opponent... I conquered the West Blue, and Paradise..."
"But just as I was about to step into the New World, I heard about the death of Shiki in the North Blue."
"Shiki the Golden Lion... Kishishi, he was someone I always wanted to challenge."
"That's why I came here. Before entering the New World, I must conquer the North Blue to prove myself!"
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake