Clang!
Boom!
First came the sharp clash of metal, followed by a violent shockwave that swept outward in all directions.
In the next instant, the prisoners stared in shock as two figures—one blue, one red—burst out from the cloud of dust. Their movements were so fast that even the naked eye, and those trained in Observation Haki, couldn't keep up. The two streaks of light collided again and again, clashing wildly through the vast corridor of Eternal Hell.
Every impact between the two figures exploded in dazzling sparks and surging airwaves, forcing the hardened criminals to retreat step by step, their faces pale with fear.
But for those who looked closely, it became clear—the violet streak was moving faster than the crimson one. Its strikes were sharper, more precise, weaving around its opponent and pressing the attack relentlessly.
That could only mean one thing... Daren had gained the upper hand—in both speed and strength!
"Unbelievable!"
"He's a monster!"
"No wonder this kid's bounty hit five billion Belly under the Navy and World Government!"
"I thought that was just inflation!"
"He's... he's actually suppressing that old demon, Red the Aloof!"
"Damn it! And here I was thinking I'd kill him and use the chaos to escape!"
"If you're not afraid of dying, you could always try it yourself..."
"You think I can?"
"I'm just saying... how will you know unless you do?"
"..."
The criminals murmured anxiously, exchanging uneasy glances. The shock and disbelief in their eyes were unmistakable.
"Red the Aloof" Patrick Redfield was one of the strongest men alive on these seas. With his unmatched swordsmanship and extraordinary Observation Haki, he could face any powerful foe with ease.
Even Fleet Admiral Kong, famed for his unparalleled Armament Haki and known as "Steel Bone," had been unable to suppress him. Instead, Redfield's evasive combat style had worn the Admiral down, nearly ruining his once-legendary reputation.
And now—this kid was managing to overpower "Red the Aloof."
The prisoners weren't the only ones stunned. Magellan, standing guard by the gate, stared in disbelief.
He knew Daren-sensei was strong—he had seen him "send Admiral Sengoku flying with a single punch" back at Marineford.
But he never imagined that in just a few short months, Daren-sensei's strength had grown so much that it defied belief.
"So... has Daren-sensei surpassed Fleet Admiral Kong?"
The thought struck Magellan out of nowhere, and his hands began to tremble with excitement, his face flushing red.
Amidst the rising shock of everyone watching—
Clang!!
A piercing metallic blast rang out as sparks scattered. The blue and red figures were sent skidding backward through the air before landing solidly on the ground.
Only then did the crowd finally see the two of them clearly.
What they saw made their hearts seize.
The dark-haired youth's body was covered in deep and shallow sword wounds, crimson blood slowly seeping down his skin—a sight both gruesome and awe-inspiring.
Steam rose from his body, his face twisted into a smile that was impossible to describe.
It was a smile of pure enjoyment—ecstatic, unrestrained, and wild.
But to the prisoners watching, that smile was the face of a demon.
Across from him, Redfield's body was just as battered, covered in countless wounds. The most horrifying one was near his ribs—his chest was caved in at an unnatural angle, with broken bones faintly jutting through the flesh.
It was a sight of raw, bone-deep horror.
"So this is the power you gained after awakening?"
Redfield gasped heavily, blood dripping from his arm and umbrella onto the cold ground.
"Strength, defense, speed beyond limits... truly unprecedented."
Daren grinned.
"Likewise. I've never seen an Observation Haki like yours either."
Redfield pressed his hand against his fractured ribs, and under Magellan's twitching gaze, he forcibly snapped the displaced bones back into place. The sharp pain turned his already pale face deathly white.
After taking several strained breaths, he flicked the blood off his umbrella and asked,
"So, shall we continue?"
"No. That's enough for today."
Daren smiled and shook his head, quickly withdrawing from his Magnetic Field Rotation state.
The crackling blue-purple lightning faded, coiling back into his body as he dropped to the ground, exhausted.
"Magnetic Field Rotation · Low Frequency · 10%"—this was the newest ability he had developed in recent months.
With guidance from Queen's scientific research theories, Daren had successfully discovered that by activating only ten percent of the Magnetic Field Rotation, his body could just barely endure the side effects.
This allowed him to unleash a controlled burst of power without sacrificing his lifespan.
The only downside was that his body would enter a temporary period of weakness after battle.
In a way, it was similar to how Luffy used Gear Fourth or Gear Fifth.
Of course, ten percent represented a clear and safe threshold. Exceeding that limit would still inevitably consume lifespan.
But for Daren, that was already more than enough.
Even at just ten percent, the low-frequency Magnetic Field Rotation granted him overwhelming strength and speed—enough to dominate even Admiral-level opponents.
As for the man before him, "Red the Aloof"...
At his peak, this old monster's power had indeed been among the greatest on the seas—comparable to Kaidou, Big Mom, or even brushing the level of Whitebeard himself.
But after losing to the Marines and rotting away in Impel Down for so many years, his strength had inevitably waned.
That was the only reason Daren had managed to bring him down so quickly.
"Out of respect for what you just said, I won't kill you today."
Activating his "Perception" ability, Daren sensed his Observation Haki increase by 0.2. A satisfied smile tugged at his lips.
Hearing that, Redfield's expression stiffened.
This damn brat was insufferable.
He stared at Daren, who was sitting casually on the icy floor, saying nothing for several seconds before finally speaking.
"Actually, you didn't need to take such extreme measures to improve your Observation Haki."
Daren froze for a moment, his eyes flickering slightly.
This guy... just as the rumors said—his Observation Haki could truly see through the human heart, piercing straight into another's thoughts.