Summoned by Sengoku, Darren didn't waste a moment. He crouched beside the swollen, barely recognizable Tokikake and gave him a brisk slap across the face.
"Hey. Wake up. We've got a fight coming."
Tokikake's puffy eyelids fluttered open, his eyes still swirling in disoriented circles. "Fight...? What fight...?"
He shivered and whimpered, his bloated lips quivering like overcooked sausages. "Didn't you... already finish...?"
Two pitiful trails of tears leaked from his swollen eyes, making him look utterly pathetic.
Darren: …
"Never mind." He stood and looked to the surrounding Marines. "Take him to the Military Hospital. Thanks for the assist."
"Yes, Vice Admiral Darren! Leave it to us!"
The Marines saluted with overzealous fervor, as though receiving a divine mission.
Darren gave a curt nod and turned toward the towering structure at the heart of Marineford—the Fleet Admiral's Office.
As he moved through the corridors, he noticed the shift immediately. Marines rushed by, faces tight with urgency. The deeper he went into headquarters, the heavier the atmosphere became—oppressive with tension, thick with anticipation.
Marineford was in full mobilization. The buzz of coming war was everywhere.
They're really going all in this time, Darren thought, lighting a cigarette as he walked. Fleet Admiral Kong and Admiral Sengoku must be under immense pressure.
Golden Lion had gone mad in his pursuit of the Ancient Weapons, leaving shattered towns, scorched ports, and entire regions in ruin. Every attack he launched stoked public terror, sparking panic among civilians and outrage among world leaders.
The World Government was under siege—not by force, but by expectation. The longer Golden Lion rampaged unchecked, the weaker the Marines appeared in the eyes of the world.
Kong and Sengoku didn't just want a victory. They needed one.
And now, with Roger and Golden Lion moving to clash, the timing was perfect. If they played their cards right, they might wipe out both legends in a single strike.
So... will this still unfold at Edd War, like in the original events? Darren mused, frowning.
By the time he reached the Fleet Admiral's Office, Sengoku's furious voice was already thundering through the walls.
"Damn it, Garp! I wasn't finished talking!"
The door burst open with a crash.
"Bwahaha! You might not have been finished, Old Man Kong, but I've heard enough!" Garp barked, marching out like a man possessed. "Roger's already heading for the target zone. If I don't move now, he'll get away!"
Mentioning Roger always triggered something in Garp—the easygoing Vice Admiral vanished, replaced by a battle-hungry force of nature.
He spotted Darren in the corridor. "Yo! Young Darren, you finally showed up! Bwahaha! Sengoku and the others are inside."
Darren nodded. "Vice Admiral Garp, you're as energetic as ever."
Before he could say more, a loud, giddy voice echoed down the stairwell.
"As expected of the Marine's Hero! Vice Admiral Garp, ignoring direct orders—so cool!"
Darren sighed inwardly. That voice belonged to only one man.
Kuzan.
Sure enough, the lanky Marine bounded up the stairs, eyes wide with hero-worship.
"Yo, Kuzan!" Garp waved casually. "Come aboard my ship. Your powers could turn the tide in a naval battle."
Kuzan froze. "Wait—really? You mean it?! I can join your flagship?"
"Bwahaha!" Garp roared. "Did you see that, Darren? The kid's all fired up."
Darren smiled. "Then you'll have to prove yourself, Kuzan."
"I will!" Kuzan clenched his fist with shining eyes. "I'll catch up to you, Darren! You'll see!"
He turned, scrambling after Garp. "Oh, by the way, Vice Admiral Garp—did you really refuse another Admiral promotion? That's seriously amazing!"
Watching them disappear down the corridor, Darren chuckled quietly.
Garp and Kuzan... always disrupting even the tensest moments.
From the shadows near the doorway, Bogard stood silent and watchful, hand resting lightly on his sword hilt.
Just then, the office door slammed open again.
"Damn it! Garp, you bastard!" Sengoku stormed out, rage pulsing behind his glasses. But upon realizing Garp was already gone, he gritted his teeth and growled.
"Admiral Sengoku," Darren greeted calmly.
Sengoku let out a long breath. "Ah, you're here. Come on in."
Darren followed him into the dimly lit war room. The smell of smoke clung to the air.
Inside, senior officers huddled around a massive operations table, the surface strewn with markers, charts, and miniature ships. The atmosphere was heavy with frustration and unspoken arguments.
"Darren, good timing," said Kong, his deep voice laced with gravity. "Tsuru, bring him up to speed."
Tsuru nodded crisply. "Roger's crew entered New World waters five hours ago. Meanwhile, Golden Lion's Flying Pirates docked on a commercial island two days ago to resupply. He's made no effort to conceal his presence."
Sengoku's brow furrowed, fists clenched at his sides.
"He's gone completely rogue. He thinks a mere threat is enough to keep the Marines cowering."
Borsalino leaned lazily against the wall, his voice light as always. "If it weren't for Vice Admiral Darren's foresight, we'd be floundering right now."
Sengoku shot him a glare.
"Vice Admiral Borsalino," he growled, "when the battle starts, your job is to cut off Golden Lion's escape. No excuses."
Borsalino raised his hands innocently. "That's quite the task, Admiral."
"I. Don't. Care."
"Alright, alright... no need to get so worked up." Borsalino sighed, exaggerated as always.
Tsuru calmly refocused the room. "The key question now is: Where will Golden Lion choose to ambush the Roger Pirates?"
To be continued...