Staring at the young Marine frozen in candy before him, Darren could already imagine the scene playing out in his mind:
Just as Perospero and Daifuku were escaping amid the chaos, Arthur — stationed at the perimeter for security — happened to cross paths with them.
Driven by an unshakable sense of justice and a burning conviction to eliminate pirates, Arthur had charged in like a young, reckless version of Dragon himself, determined to stop the fleeing enemies.
He must have known full well that he was no match for the Charlotte brothers.
And yet… he still raised his saber and rushed forward.
—To uphold the justice in his heart.
Darren let out a quiet sigh.
Guys like this… it's hard to be mad at them.
He reached out and gently touched the surface of the candy. After a moment's thought, he turned to the anxious Marines nearby and said:
"This candy — its hardness and tensile strength are both incredibly high. What you're doing won't help. Only high heat can melt it."
"Let me handle it."
A slow, leisurely voice sounded from behind.
Darren turned around, surprised to find Borsalino had somehow appeared without a sound.
Seeing Darren's puzzled look, Borsalino smiled lazily and raised his hand.
Golden light began to glow from his palm. The surrounding air shimmered under the terrifying heat.
"Easy now, Rear Admiral Borsalino…"
Darren's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't help but issue a warning.
The destructive power of Borsalino's Devil Fruit was no joke. One slip, and Arthur would be incinerated into nothing.
Borsalino smirked and said teasingly:
"Relax. I'll be careful not to melt him too."
Darren: ...
The surrounding Marines: ...
That tone only makes us more nervous, okay?
As everyone held their breath and watched in tense silence, Borsalino slowly pressed his glowing palm against the pink transparent candy.
There was no sudden piercing burst. No violent reaction.
The crowd's eyes widened with astonishment.
From Borsalino's hand, heat radiated outward — gently and evenly.
The massive candy wall began to melt at a speed visible to the naked eye, flowing down to the ground in syrupy streams.
Darren's pupils contracted slightly.
Watching Borsalino's effortless expression, Darren felt a chill deep in his chest.
He knew all too well the destructive potential of Borsalino's Devil Fruit.
A casual attack could pierce through a hundred-meter-tall red mangrove.
To wield such terrifying power and yet control it with such delicacy — that required an extraordinary level of Devil Fruit mastery, and a terrifying degree of control over one's strength.
—To step on an ant without killing it… That's a feat not many could manage.
…Just how powerful had Borsalino become?
Darren narrowed his eyes.
In less than two minutes, the entire massive candy barrier had melted into syrup.
"We did it!!"
"Quick! Medic, over here!!"
"How's Arthur!?"
"He's not breathing!! Damn it!!"
As the candy dissolved, the Marines rushed forward to support Arthur, gently laying him flat.
But no matter how they called his name or shook him — he didn't stir.
Not even the faintest sign of breath.
The medic quickly examined him, his brows knitting tighter with each passing second.
"Doctor, how is he?"
Sengoku had hurried over by now, his voice tinged with worry.
The medic looked at him grimly and shook his head.
"Admiral Sengoku… Lieutenant Arthur has stopped breathing. We can't detect any signs of life. I'm afraid…"
The mood turned heavy in an instant.
"Damn it!!"
Sengoku cursed under his breath, his eyes dark.
He'd had high hopes for Arthur. In both training and combat, he had excelled.
His innate sense of justice, his sincere bond with his comrades — he had earned the respect of all those around him.
And now…
"Let me try something."
Darren suddenly stepped forward.
"You have a way?" Sengoku asked, stunned.
Darren shook his head.
"I'm not sure. But trying something is better than doing nothing."
"This condition of his…"
As he spoke, he knelt beside Arthur and raised a hand.
Faint sparks began dancing across his fingers.
"Electric shock?" the medic's eyes lit up.
"Do you think it'll work, Darren?" Sengoku asked curiously.
Darren said nothing.
He carefully controlled the power within his body and pressed his hand against Arthur's chest — directly over his heart.
The core ability of his Magnet-Magnet Fruit was manipulating magnetic fields, but it could also generate small electric currents.
Though not strong enough to harm, it might just be enough — for this.
He'd never tried it before.
But this was the moment to find out.
"Electromagnetic… Resuscitation!"
Darren's gaze sharpened as he thrust his hand downward.
Electricity surged!
Arthur's rigid body jerked violently.
Everyone held their breath.
One second.
Two.
Three.
No response.
Gritting his teeth, Darren tried again!
Blue electricity arced out.
Arthur's body convulsed again.
One second.
Two.
Three…
Just as despair began to settle over the crowd—
Arthur suddenly let out a violent cough, liquid candy gushing from his mouth and nose.
"He's alive!!"
"We did it!!"
"Arthur, are you okay?!"
The Marines burst into tears of joy, rushing forward to hug their revived comrade.
Sengoku, too, let out a long, relieved breath.
…
One hour later.
Aboard the returning battleship.
Darren and Borsalino lounged comfortably in deck chairs, each holding a glass of watermelon juice.
"Rear Admiral Borsalino! Commodore Darren!!"
Arthur ran over to them, his youthful face flushed with emotion. Bowing deeply, he choked out:
"I owe you both my life — thank you!!"
Borsalino shrugged.
"Wasn't me… All the credit goes to Commodore Darren."
He gestured toward Darren.
Darren smiled.
"How's the body?"
Arthur straightened and saluted.
"No issues at all, sir! Ready for duty anytime!"
Darren chuckled.
"Just don't be so reckless next time. That was a senior officer of the Big Mom Pirates — you're nowhere near ready to face someone like that."
Arthur flushed red, scratching his head sheepishly.
"I just didn't want to shame you, Commodore… You said we were going to take down every pirate on the island…"
Darren blinked.
That was just a motivational line — and this kid actually took it literally?
"..."
He sighed helplessly and waved his hand.
"Get back to work."
"Yes, Commodore Darren!"
Arthur saluted again and quickly jogged to the ship's gun deck, pulling out a paintbrush to start his regular cannon maintenance — focused, serious, and meticulous.
"…You can tell," Borsalino said suddenly with a smile. "He really admires you."
Darren stood watching Arthur in silence for a long moment.
Then, all at once, he downed his juice and rose to his feet.
"Tell Admiral Sengoku I've got something to take care of. I'll be back soon."
Borsalino's lips curved upward.
"Need me to tag along?"
Darren shook his head, his gaze turning ice cold as it swept across the distant sea.
"No. Arthur is my subordinate."
With that, he summoned Enma and shot into the sky — vanishing into the horizon.
Borsalino watched him go, a faint smile playing at his lips.
"Where's Darren headed?"
Sengoku walked up, frowning.
Borsalino raised both hands innocently.
"Beats me… Though before he left, he said something like… 'Arthur is my subordinate.'"
Sengoku paused.
Then, as if realization struck, his face changed.
Darren…
He was going after the Charlotte brothers.
Wait a minute—
Sengoku suddenly remembered something.
The Charlotte brothers were blood relatives of Big Mom.
If Darren killed them…
A drop of cold sweat rolled down Sengoku's temple.
This damned brat… he's going to end up making enemies out of every pirate emperor in this sea!!!
---
To be continued…