Chapter 86: Welcome to My Territory

Byrnndi World slowly turned around. A tall, imposing figure came into view.

His short black hair stirred slightly in the snow. The sharp lines of his suit gave off a wild, violent aura, while a wide snow-white cloak flapped furiously in the wind behind him.

"Marines…"

Byrnndi World narrowed his eyes, his expression darkening.

With a twist of his hand, the metal streamline skateboard bent and warped like twisted rope. At the same time, he gently lifted Byojack from his shoulder and set him down.

Byojack hobbled away on his crutches.

Swish!

The hundreds of pirates nearby paused for a moment, then broke into cruel grins as they raised their brand-new weapons. One by one, their hollow muzzles locked onto the Marine Captain.

"Daren... I think I've heard that name before…"

Byrnndi World squinted at the black-haired Marine in front of him, and a mocking sneer slowly crept across his face.

"Hmph, I remember now."

"A big shot in the North Blue, huh? Rumor has it even the World Government Member Nations around here have to show you some respect… Rogers Daren, Supreme Commander of the North Blue Marines."

"If I'm not mistaken, that'd be you, wouldn't it, kid?"

Daren didn't respond. He simply glanced down at the lifeless mafia member on the ground. The man's eyes were wide and vacant—completely devoid of life.

"That's not how business is done," he said suddenly.

"What was that?"

Byrnndi World blinked, confusion creasing his face.

"There are rules in the North Blue. And rules in business. I also don't like having guns pointed at me."

The Marine Captain's voice was flat as he looked at the corpse, his tone calm and cold.

The moment the words left his mouth...

Clack, clack, clack…

Dozens of pirates' eyes widened in horror as the guns in their hands suddenly flew away, as if yanked by invisible force, too hot to hold.

The weapons spun through the air with terrifying speed, barrels swiveling midair. In the blink of an eye, they aimed not outward—but back at their former owners.

And then… they fired.

Bang bang bang bang!!

Gunfire erupted.

The sound of bullets tearing through flesh echoed without pause. The snow-covered ground exploded with craters, and red blood sprayed like blooming flowers on the convulsing bodies of the pirates, staining the air with mist.

Byrnndi World's pupils shrank.

When the gunfire stopped, hundreds of mangled corpses hit the ground in heavy thuds. The pristine white snow was now soaked in deep red.

Hundreds of smoking guns hovered midair.

Then slowly... they turned.

One by one, their muzzles swung toward Byrnndi World.

"Well, now it's fair."

Daren slowly looked up.

"Metal manipulation, huh?"

Byrnndi World narrowed his eyes, then let out a contemptuous laugh.

"Arrogant little Marine brat. Think a Devil Fruit makes you my equal—"

He didn't finish the sentence.

The mangled skateboard at his feet suddenly squirmed like a living thing. Silver-white liquid metal coiled and twisted upward, tightly binding around Byrnndi World's legs.

His expression changed slightly.

Daren gave a faint flick of his finger.

A faint blue arc of electricity flickered in the air.

The hovering weapons flared again—hot tongues of flame shooting out wildly.

A storm of bullets turned into a metallic hurricane, swallowing Byrnndi World whole in a barrage of deadly force.

"Does that even work?"

Byrnndi World sneered. A layer of invisible black armor with a metallic sheen rapidly spread across his body.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Bullet after bullet struck him, bouncing off harmlessly like pebbles hitting steel. Not a single mark was left. The impact pelted the snow with shallow craters.

As he stood in the firestorm, Byrnndi World's face twisted into a furious, mocking grin.

"Marine brat, you've got no idea what the real terror of this sea looks like."

"The North Blue's a small pond. You've never even set foot on the Grand Line... Just a frog at the bottom of a well!"

With a roar, he stomped the ground. His legs, coated in Armament Haki, exploded with strength.

The ground groaned beneath him, cracking audibly.

The metal bindings twisted and stretched—until he finally tore free with brute force.

But Daren's expression didn't change.

"No. You're the one who doesn't understand the true terror of the North Blue."

He suddenly smiled.

Byrnndi World froze.

That smile tugging at the Marine Captain's lips filled him with unease. An ominous premonition surged in his chest.

He instinctively pushed his Observation Haki to the limit—and his face instantly changed.

Daren raised his arm and swung it with enough force to whistle like thunder.

Swish!

Snow in the sky suddenly scattered, then reversed course—spiraling upward under some strange, invisible force.

Byrnndi World instinctively looked up.

Far off, hidden beneath a tree, Byojack looked up too. The blood drained from his face, leaving him pale.

"What… is that…"

One...

Two...

Three...

...

One warship after another broke through the clouds like icebreakers.

Ten Marine warships lined up in perfect formation, looming above in the sky.

From the bow and sides, pitch-black cannon muzzles jutted out, staring down coldly at the island below like brutal beasts of war baring their fangs.

"Times have changed, Byrnndi World."

Daren spoke softly.

In Byrnndi World's shrinking pupils—and in Byojack's horrified gaze—

Daren raised his hand, fingers spread wide, and gave a commanding gesture.

He clenched it into a fist.

BOOOOM!!

A deafening roar thundered from the sky. Orange-red flames gushed from the cannon barrels, and a storm of shells rained down from above—like a net of death and destruction.

Their target—was the four pirate ships docked at the harbor, belonging to the World Pirates.

The next second—

Explosions erupted in waves across the port. The narrow dock turned into a string of fiery blasts as each pirate ship detonated in sequence.

Red flames soared into the air, sweeping across land, shoreline, and sea, licking the sky with howling wings of fire.

Shockwaves rippled outward, flinging dirt, debris, and waves into the air.

Faint screams of dying pirates echoed from the inferno.

Thick black smoke billowed skyward, coiling and churning.

The flames painted the sky a deep crimson—nearly blood red.

With his back to the blazing fire, the Marine Captain stood tall. His billowing white cloak reflected the blood-red light.

Rogers Daren, the Admiral of the North Blue, spread his arms wide as pillars of fire surged behind him.

With an arrogant smirk, he looked down at the legendary pirate before him.

"Welcome to the North Blue."

"Welcome to... my territory."

(40 Chapters Ahead)

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