Chapter 198: Volume 2 – Chapter 100: What a Blast from the Past

"Huh? Unlocking your Seastone shackles... Are you sure about this?"

"You're a pirate, I'm a Marine—we're supposed to be enemies..."

Hearing Bullet's roar, Daren glanced back with a grin and shot him a wink.

Bullet: ???

His face flushed bright red, nearly coughing up blood.

That bastard!! Aren't we supposed to be allies right now!?

Seeing Bullet's expression like he had just swallowed something vile, Daren couldn't help but laugh. He grabbed Senor off the ground with one hand, and in the next instant, vanished from sight.

His speed was pushed to the limit—like a black phantom, he dove straight into the crowd.

"Stop him! You morons!"

Queen, still dizzy and disoriented, shouted in panic.

But the pirates surrounding Bullet didn't even get a chance to react. All they saw was a blur before a crushing force slammed into them.

It felt like getting hit by a high-speed train. Blood burst from their mouths as they were sent flying like broken kites.

A moment later, Daren reappeared beside Bullet like a ghost and handed him the keys.

Rolling his eyes in annoyance, Bullet grabbed the key with his teeth and shoved it into the lock on the shackles.

Click.

The Seastone cuffs slipped off his arm and fell to the ground.

"Kahaha… KAHAHAHA… KAHAHAHAHA!!!"

Soaked in blood, Bullet slowly stood up, raising his lone arm. He opened his hand and covered his face, throwing his head back in wild, maniacal laughter.

"Finally… finally… my strength is back!!"

Boom!!

A powerful, deep aura exploded from his body, sending his blood-streaked golden hair flying wildly in the wind.

It surged outward like a roaring tidal wave, instantly sweeping across the world before him.

Gales howled, thunder cracked across the sky, and lightning flickered through the air like dancing serpents.

The pirates attempting to move in all froze mid-action. Their limbs stiffened as if trapped in molasses, faces instantly going pale.

One by one, they dropped to one knee, gasping in agony.

The weaker ones didn't even last that long—their eyes rolled back as they collapsed, unconscious.

Daren watched with narrowed eyes as countless thoughts raced through his mind.

Right now, the Beasts Pirates were only a mid-level force in the New World, nowhere near the scale they would reach in the original timeline.

Aside from Kaidou as captain, the crew's only real combat power lay in the two All-Stars—King of the Conflagration and Queen of the Plague. Below them were three Shinuchi, cobbled together with difficulty.

As for how reliable those "Shinuchi" were, just look at that lizard man guarding the prison earlier.

At this point in time, the Tobiroppo haven't even appeared yet, let alone figures like the Gifters or the Numbers.

Which meant that right now, the Beasts Pirates were sorely lacking in mid-tier combat strength!

No wonder Kaidou was so desperate to recruit the two of them.

...

Just then, Queen's hoarse voice rang out through the swirling wind and dust.

His massive body stepped forward from the storm, one heavy step at a time. His mechanical arm spun continuously, metal clamps clicking with a sharp, menacing rhythm.

"It's Conqueror's Haki... No wonder Kaidou-sama went through so much trouble to recruit you."

Feeling that wild, domineering aura slam into him, Queen's expression grew serious.

"But this is as far as you go."

"Unforgivable… You bastards didn't just play the great genius Queen, you also turned our base completely upside down…"

His bloodshot eyes locked onto Daren and the others, steam puffing from his nostrils. He was so furious he nearly ground his teeth to dust.

"Unforgivable!!"

"I'm going to wipe you all out!!"

The moment he finished, Queen's eyes flared with a crimson glow.

"Sparking Queen!!"

Biubiubiu!

Countless red energy beams exploded through the air like a violent storm, raining down on Daren and his group.

This is... Germa 66's technology!

"Kahahaha! Leave this to me!"

Bullet let out a crazed laugh, stepping forward and slamming a hand into the ground.

"Combine!"

Rumble...

The ground suddenly sprang to life. Under Bullet's control, a massive stone shield rose instantly, forming a solid barrier in front of them.

Boom boom boom boom!

The red energy blasts pounded the shield, scattering chunks of rock everywhere.

The massive shield shattered again and again but rapidly reformed under the power of the Gasha Gasha no Mi.

Waves of heat blasted through the air as crimson flames roared, thick black smoke billowing in every direction.

Then—

A huge figure burst through the smoke and leapt into the air.

Queen, his black-and-white overalls nearly torn apart, roared and brought down a massive blade straight toward Daren's head!

"WAHAHAHA! DIE—eh?!"

Clang!!

The blade snapped clean in two.

The broken tip spun through the air and stabbed into the ground nearby.

Queen: …

Daren: ???

Bullet: ???

"No way! Your physical defense—how can it possibly be this tough?!"

Queen's bloodshot eyes widened in disbelief, veins bulging as he screamed.

He clenched his fists, covering them in Armament Haki.

With a roar, he swung both fists like twin cyclones, unleashing a barrage of shadowy punches.

"Bry Pan!!"

Daren sneered and charged straight in—without hesitation!

Fist clashed against fist!

Bang bang bang bang!!

Each impact echoed like a torrential rain of thunderous blows.

Every punch from the two triggered shockwaves that spread outward, making it impossible for the surrounding pirates to get close.

The ground beneath their feet kept cracking open as shards of stone flew into the air.

As Queen's attacks failed to make a dent, he grew increasingly panicked.

This damned Marine—just in terms of raw physical strength, he was already on par with Queen's hybrid human-beast form. And his durability? Even tougher!

I'm in my Brachiosaurus form, an Ancient Zoan!!

Is this guy even human!?

If that's the case...

Bang!

Their fists collided again and locked into a stalemate.

At that instant, Queen's head suddenly detached from his body and launched forward. His jaws, filled with sharp teeth, clamped down hard on Daren's shoulder.

"Now you're finished! Taste Queen-sama's electric shock!!"

A sinister gleam flashed in Queen's eyes as a wicked grin spread across his face.

"Henry Queen!!"

Zzzzzzz!!!

High-voltage electricity burst from his modified mouth, glowing with intense blue light.

The searing current instantly engulfed Daren, whipping through his skin, muscles, and organs. Smoke poured from his body.

"Wahahaha! How does that feel? You can't possibly—"

Queen's voice cracked mid-sentence, stunned.

"—What!?"

Daren stood there like nothing had happened, calmly blowing out a ring of black smoke.

"Germa's tech, huh... Really takes me back."

He smiled coldly. Then his eyes turned sharp, and he grabbed Queen's head with one hand.

He drove it straight into the ground—

Boom!!

A pillar of dust exploded ten meters into the air.

Queen's head was buried deep in the earth, his eyes spinning and blood gushing from his mouth.

His Brachiosaurus body, still above ground, spasmed uncontrollably from the overwhelming pain.

...

(70 Chapters Ahead)

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