Daren had no time to bother with whatever schemes Tokikake and Gion were cooking up in their heads.
Standing at the bow of the warship, he squinted out across the harbor, taking in the sight of one warship after another, fully prepped and ready to go. From his vantage point, he could clearly see the countless North Blue Marines stationed across the decks.
He spoke with confidence, but no one understood the strength of Byrnndi World better than Daren himself.
He had to stay sharp. One misstep, and this mission could cost him his life.
"Daren, all the warships for the mission have been fully outfitted."
Momonga's steady voice came from behind. Wearing his officer's cap, his face was heavier than Daren had ever seen it.
Daren nodded with a smile.
"Good work."
Momonga looked at Daren's broad back. After a moment's hesitation, he couldn't hold back anymore.
"Time was tight, but we made it. The ten medium-sized warships assigned to this mission have all undergone the Germa 66 upgrades. Their keels were reinforced with large amounts of lightweight metal."
"But Daren... I still don't understand why you spent so much to modify the ships."
"You know the cost of modifying one ship could easily cover building a brand-new one of the same size."
Warships were outrageously expensive.
Though the North Blue Fleet used medium-class vessels—not nearly as large as the Marine Headquarters' main warships, let alone on par with Buster Call-class ships—each still cost over 50 million Berry.
Normally, the more ships you could field under the same budget, the better. That way, you could form a proper fleet combat group and establish firepower superiority.
Daren chuckled.
"It's not about quantity. You'll understand why I did it soon enough."
He paused, then asked,
"How's Doffy's side looking?"
Momonga replied after a moment of thought.
"According to intel from the Donquixote Family, there's been no change to the time or place of the deal. So far, the World Pirates haven't made any major moves. The trade's going ahead as planned."
Daren clenched his fists.
"What about the warships' armaments?"
Momonga responded seriously,
"Each warship is equipped with ten heavy cannons, and the hulls have been fitted with compact ballistic missiles from Germa... As for the crew, beyond standard sabers and long rifles, the North Blue Fleet's elites are armed with electroshock guns, portable artillery, flamethrowers, and other Germa tech."
Daren gave a satisfied grin.
"Perfect. Let's move out, then."
"Hey, Daren! Are we really gonna make it in time? The target island is—"
Tokikake came rushing over, panting, waving a crumpled nautical chart in his hands, flailing around in a panic.
"—more than three hours away," Gion said quietly, right behind him.
Seeing the worry on their faces, Daren raised his hand and smiled.
With that gesture, a series of sharp, urgent bugle calls rang out from the warship's lookout tower, spreading rapidly through the fleet.
That hand signal...
Tokikake, Gion, and Momonga all froze.
They turned their heads just in time to see Marines on each ship rapidly furling the sails on the masts.
"Ready? Hang on tight."
Daren exhaled a thick puff of smoke and said calmly.
Before anyone could react, dazzling arcs of purple electricity sparked between the fingers of the Marine Captain. In the next instant, a strange, invisible magnetic field erupted from his body.
Boom!
A deep rumble echoed from the hull beneath their feet. Tokikake and the others staggered as a powerful centrifugal force suddenly gripped the warship.
"No way..."
Tokikake's eyes widened in disbelief.
Momonga's expression shifted—he realized something too.
"We'll make it."
The Marine Captain raised his head, his voice brimming with vigor. A raging magnetic field poured from his body, whipping his wide white cloak into a frenzy.
He turned, grinned at them, and said,
"Oh, right. I forgot to mention..."
A sharp light and blazing ambition lit up his deep eyes.
"I never said the North Blue Fleet's power is limited to the sea."
With that, he clenched his fist.
Rumble—!!
Another wave of deep vibrations surged through the hull. The deck beneath their feet shook violently, and a massive whirlpool erupted on the ocean's surface.
In the stunned gaze of Tokikake, Gion, Momonga, and countless North Blue Marines, the world around them seemed to begin sinking.
No—it wasn't the world that was sinking.
The warship they were on... was rising!
Boom!!
Pillars of water and towering waves exploded upward from the naval port.
Ten warships—forming the North Blue Fleet—rose from the churning sea, wrapped in a violent magnetic field, and rocketed into the sky at a breathtaking speed!
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"
Tokikake's scream echoed from the main battleship's deck.
The accelerating warship sent gales ripping across his face, twisting it beyond recognition. He was frozen with an exaggerated, slack-jawed expression, his mind blank.
They were flying!
This fleet Daren built wasn't some ordinary naval force!
Gion gripped the railing tightly, staring at the thick sea of clouds ahead. Though her face was still pale with shock, a flush of exhilaration slowly spread across her cheeks.
A flying naval fleet... the strategic implications were unimaginable!
Unmatched mobility. Near-perfect stealth. Free from the sea's constraints. Capable of surprise aerial assaults...
She could already picture the dumbfounded look on Sengoku's face when he saw this fleet in action.
Next to her, Momonga gave a helpless, bitter smile.
Now he understood.
This was Daren's true purpose.
His Devil Fruit power.
With the Jiki Jiki no Mi, he could use magnetic force to levitate the metal-reinforced warships, launching them into the sky like cannonballs!
"Everyone!"
As the Marines around them stared in awe at the sky receding behind them, Daren's voice rang out.
At once, he had their full attention.
There he stood at the bow, straight and unyielding like a battle lance, facing the wind.
A fearless, determined smile tugged at his lips.
"Our goal is simple."
"To bring down the legendary pirate... Byrnndi World!"
Silence fell across the sky.
Then—
"Kill!!!"
The roar burst forth like thunder, shaking the clouds and echoing across the heavens.
Back at the naval port...
Thousands of Marines stationed at Branch 321 watched in awe and frenzy as the fleet ascended into the clouds. As rain from the sea showered down, they all raised their hands in a solemn salute.
Each of them knew—whatever happened in today's battle—the North Blue Fleet's fangs had already left their mark.
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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