Silence.
Dead silence.
They stared at Saka and Kark, both driven deep into the solid wall, their bodies slick with blood and clearly unconscious. The criminals in Eternal Hell couldn't help but shiver.
As fellow inmates locked in the sixth underground level, they weren't exactly close—but they weren't strangers either. Years spent here, trading curses and taunts, had given them a rough understanding of each other's abilities and combat strength.
"Brute Strength" Saka and "Ghost Shadow" Kark—armed with formidable Devil Fruit powers—might not match legendary Great Pirates like "Red the Aloof" Patrick Redfield, but within Eternal Hell their ranks were near the top. Yet these two, who outside could have leveled a small nation, had been cut down by that brat in a single exchange, crumbling like ants under a single, clean strike.
The worst part was that they lost using the very abilities they were strongest at. Monster strength and shadow speed—both crushed utterly. That kind of overwhelming dominance sent a chill through everyone present.
The brutal contrast hit like a shockwave, reverberating through every mind there. Watching Daren stand casually, smoking, the criminals swallowed hard.
One second.
Two seconds.
Then suddenly—
"Damn it! What are you all just standing around for!? He's only one person! If we all go at him together, we can take him down!"
A bald inmate, unable to contain his rising panic, ground his teeth and roared. The moment the words left his mouth, he lunged forward.
Daren glanced at him.
When faced with fear people usually feel two impulses: flight or fight. Most, driven by instinct, choose to run. A very few, provoked by terror, unlock hidden potential and choose to attack.
Admittedly, the inmates locked away in Impel Down of Eternal Hell were hopeless scum and criminals—but in certain ways they were stronger than most ordinary people.
Hearing the bald man, the others jolted awake. Right—no matter how strong this brat was, he was still only one. They had hundreds of "cellmates" here; even if they had to throw lives at him, they could wear him down, exhaust him, and pile on until he fell. Kill him, and they could taste freedom.
"Take him down!"
"Freedom's within reach!"
"Hahahaha! Rip his head off!"
"Even Garp wouldn't dare stand here and claim he could one-on-one all of us!"
"Kill him!!"
Frenzied, manic roars erupted from all sides, killing intent swelling like a tide. In the murky darkness, twisted faces hungrily closed in.
Daren's smile only grew more insolent.
"Come on."
He lunged forward abruptly, sidestepping the bald criminal's side kick while delivering a powerful strike that smashed into the chest of a man ahead.
With a thunderous crash, the shockwave exploded. The criminal hadn't even registered Daren's movement before his chest caved under the blow. Blood spurted from his mouth as his body flew backward like a cannonball.
Such overwhelming force stunned the criminals at the forefront. Only at close range did they truly understand what kind of terrifying monster "Brute Strength" Saka and "Ghost Shadow" Kark had faced moments ago.
Before they could react, Daren let out a savage grin and charged into the crowd.
Like a tiger among sheep, his movements were blindingly fast. The sheer dominance of Ryusoken, the brutal ferocity of Honesty Impact Fist techniques, the supreme Rokushiki kicking arts—every form of top-tier martial skill erupted from his body, amplified by the dual power of "Lightning Armor" and "Giant's Body," creating an unstoppable storm of destruction.
Most of these so-called "world-class" criminals couldn't even see his movements before being kicked away, bones snapping like twigs. Blood splattered as Daren's silhouette in the darkness resembled a predatory beast, tearing through the mob with ruthless precision.
What truly drove the criminals to despair was this: even surrounded and under siege, Daren didn't dodge at all. He didn't even blink. He took their attacks head-on—and they had absolutely no effect.
"Hard as diamond!"
"How is this possible?!"
"Even my Armament Haki can't pierce his defense!"
"A monster! He's a freaking monster!"
"..."
Before they could even process their shock, darkness swallowed their vision as they were sent flying once again.
In that instant, the agonized screams of the prisoners echoed endlessly through Eternal Hell, chilling to the bone.
"Don't come any closer!"
"Aaaahhh!!"
"Monster! You monster!"
"Don't—don't hit me!"
"..."
Not far away, Magellan stared blankly at the figures flying through the air and the criminals now "embedded" in the walls, floor, and iron bars. His mouth twitched uncontrollably.
He never could have imagined things would unfold like this. Too strong!
Facing the horde of criminals, Daren-sensei didn't even need to defend or evade. He simply charged forward, conserving enormous amounts of stamina as he tore through them.
Just then—
A streak of crimson light sliced through the air, reaching Daren in an instant with terrifying speed.
Clang!
Boom!!
The ground beneath his feet collapsed half a meter, yet Daren didn't take a single step back as debris and dust exploded outward. Sparks illuminated his face, defiant and wild, smeared with a trace of blood.
A black-glowing three-fingered dragon claw clashed hard against a blood-red umbrella.
The collision of their Haki unleashed violent shockwaves, sending every criminal within ten meters hurtling through the air.
"I thought you'd just sit back and watch until I beat them all down?"
Daren licked his parched lips, eyes burning with fighting spirit.
"Red the Aloof," holding the umbrella in one hand, smiled faintly.
"I was merely waiting for your warm-up to end."
Daren froze for a moment, then laughed.
"They say Kong fought you for days and nights when they tried to arrest you. If Garp hadn't arrived in time, he might've lost to you... Is that rumor true?"
A refined smile curved Redfield's lips.
"Why don't you try it and find out?"
As his words faded, the bat-shaped umbrella slashed forward.
A crimson blade of light soared skyward.