These three Vice Admirals, who had served in the military for twenty years, never imagined that after working diligently and loyally for so long, they would finally get the chance to execute a Buster Call—only for it to turn out like this.
On the deck of the flagship, several small tables were set up, with grills and hot tea laid out. Everyone was comfortably sipping tea, sitting on chairs as they watched the spectacle unfold.
In the distance, the island was engulfed in a hail of cannon fire, with explosions erupting in great clusters, causing the island to tremble violently... yet here they were, sipping tea and smoking, as if enjoying a moment of peace.
"...Vice Admiral Borsalino, is it really okay for us to do this?"
"Yeah, something feels wrong."
"The battle on Vice Admiral Daren's side is really intense."
"Maybe we should fire a few symbolic shots, or it'll be hard to explain ourselves to headquarters when we get back..."
The three Vice Admirals had no mind to enjoy their tea. As the bombardment on the island grew fiercer and the noise louder, they became more restless, shifting uneasily and voicing their concerns.
Mainly, the commotion from Daren's side was just too extreme!
Borsalino glanced at them with mild interest, shrugged, and smiled lightly.
"Don't be nervous. The battle won't last long."
"Trust in Vice Admiral Daren's strength."
Hearing Borsalino's calm words, the three Vice Admirals exchanged glances, and in the end, fell silent.
...
Boom, boom, boom...
Countless howitzers and rocket launchers tore through the sky, raining down like a torrential storm over the figure of the Marine Vice Admiral.
The earth cracked and caved in under the bombardment, roaring flames shooting high into the sky.
Thick smoke rolled across the entire island, hanging heavy and unmoving in the air like a massive black hood pressing down over the land.
"Kahahaha! How is it, Daren?"
Amid the roar of the war giant, Bullet's hoarse and savage laughter rang out, full of satisfaction at his overwhelming firepower.
At that moment, a low, calm voice echoed from within the burning sea of flames.
"I thought joining Roger's pirate crew would have helped you grow. I didn't expect you'd just turn into a war maniac who piles up firepower... You really disappoint me, Bullet."
Bullet's expression froze, his face darkening slightly.
Inside the war giant, he locked his gaze on the source of the voice.
The thick smoke began to disperse, and from the rolling inferno, a figure exuding a profound aura stepped out.
Polished black military boots emerged first from the flames, followed by long, powerful legs, a broad chest and shoulders, and finally a handsome, rebellious young face.
He looked about twenty years old, with short black hair whipping in the wind and sharp, unruly eyes that radiated a domineering, wicked aura—like an eagle in the forest or a lone, dangerous wolf stalking the jungle.
The Marine Vice Admiral, a cigar clenched between his teeth and a snow-white cloak draped over his shoulders, walked slowly out of the fire.
Except for his slightly torn uniform, he was completely unscathed.
As Daren's gaze swept over him, Bullet, inside the giant, felt a cold chill run down his spine. For a moment, it felt just like facing Captain Roger himself!
"This can't be possible!"
Seeing his former "cellmate" walking out of the barrage completely unharmed, with a relaxed demeanor, Bullet could hardly believe his own eyes. His bloodshot gaze widened in disbelief.
Bullet had always believed that the ability he had newly developed wielded firepower no less devastating than a Buster Call.
He had tested it multiple times before—whether against so-called major pirate crews in the New World or the pirate fleets under Whitebeard's command—not a single one had lasted more than a minute under his bombardment!
Any mighty fleet or army would be reduced to ashes beneath his onslaught!
But that bastard Daren had not only walked out of the barrage unscathed without even covering himself with Armament Haki, he even had the leisure to light a cigar!
What did that mean...
It meant that bastard used Armament Haki to protect his cigar!
He didn't even bother protecting his own body!
Blatant contempt!
At that moment, Bullet was so furious he could cough up blood, his face flushing deep red with rage.
He remembered it clearly—back when he and Daren had been imprisoned together by the Beasts Pirates, Daren's strength had been inferior to his.
And yet, how long had it been since then?
Seeing his former "cellmate" surpass and leave him behind like this was a humiliation worse than death.
"I don't believe it! Your physique is really that strong!"
Bullet roared, and once again, the war machine giant's body was covered with missiles, trailing flames as they rushed toward Daren.
"Haven't you learned your lesson yet?"
Daren shook his head in disappointment.
Without making a single move, an invisible, strange force suddenly spread out from his body.
The countless missiles falling from the sky seemed to be seized by an unseen giant hand, or as if they had fallen into a transparent net—their momentum halted all at once!
They hung motionless in midair.
The oppressive pressure of the incoming missiles and cannon fire, followed by their sudden suspension... the stark contrast between these two scenes left all the Marines aboard the ten distant warships wide-eyed and speechless, their hearts pounding furiously.
A boundless silence spread across the fleet, so quiet that one could even hear the Marines nervously gulping.
Daren casually flicked his hand.
His movement was as lazy as if swatting an annoying fly, or merely brushing away the smoke from his cigar.
Then, an incredible sight unfolded—
The countless missiles and shells hovering in the sky slowly, bit by bit, began to turn around under the Marines' stunned, frozen gazes.
Their new target... was the war giant towering like a skyscraper!
"Go."
Daren smiled and exhaled a cloud of smoke like a dragon.
As soon as he finished speaking...
The missiles and shells filling the sky shot out at twice their original speed, instantly piercing into the war giant's body.
Boom!!
Explosions burst forth in dazzling flashes, continuously erupting across the surface of the war giant.
Countless shards of steel, stone, and debris flew backward with the shockwaves, pelting the ground and blasting countless craters into the earth.
From afar, the once-unassailable war giant now seemed to be detonating from within, engulfed in raging flames that reached high into the sky.
On the ten Buster Call warships, the three Vice Admirals and tens of thousands of elite Marines stared blankly at the spectacle, unable to utter a single word.
They finally understood why Vice Admiral Borsalino was watching the show so leisurely.
Who needed a Buster Call?
Vice Admiral Daren was the Buster Call all by himself!
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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