It's about to happen. It's about to happen!
From behind their bars, the prisoners watched with burning eyes, barely containing their excitement.
That infuriating smirk. That vulgar, lazy grin. The syrupy drawl dripping with mockery—who wouldn't want to plant a fist right in his face?
With Darren's temper, a fight was inevitable.
Finally, some real entertainment.
No—more accurately: finally, it was their turn to enjoy the show.
For a moment, some of the inmates in Eternal Hell even felt their eyes sting. A few looked genuinely moved.
Only the gods knew what they'd endured these past few days.
Beaten senseless day after day… and now they could finally watch someone else get beaten senseless.
Darren stared at Borsalino's exaggerated show of fear, his fist tightening on instinct.
Yeah, right. Like I'd fall for that.
Still, he couldn't deny it—Borsalino, with the Glint-Glint Fruit and Future Sight, was a nightmare to pin down. His movement was flawless, his feints and angles as sudden as lightning. In Darren's normal state, he'd be forced to eat that man's sarcasm and grin through it.
But if he pushed Magnetic Field Rotation to full power, he could crush the gap with raw dominance.
What Darren hadn't expected—what genuinely irritated him—was that "light clone" trick.
The memory of that moment made his blood itch. Blue arcs danced over his skin.
Sensing the shift, Borsalino bared his teeth in a grin.
"Don't look at me like that, kid. I'm no match for you."
He lifted both hands, surrendering so theatrically it was almost insulting—then his body began to break apart into glittering gold.
"Against someone who's honed their Observation Haki to Future Sight… my Devil Fruit's basically countered…"
The smug voice drifted away, dissolving with his towering figure.
Countless photons streamed through the crack in the heavy metal gate and vanished without a trace.
It happened fast—too fast, too smooth—leaving Darren's mouth twitching and the prisoners gaping in disbelief.
They'd been braced for a spectacle. No one could've imagined a Marine Headquarters Admiral candidate would run that cleanly.
…How is he so practiced at slipping through gaps?
Redfield chuckled, shaking his head. "That brat never changes. Annoying to the bone."
A faint shadow sank over Darren's brow.
For an instant he considered chasing, but Borsalino's speed was worse than he'd expected. Even with his newly sharpened Observation Haki—wider, clearer, frighteningly precise—Darren could only "sense" the streak of light tearing upward.
Level Five to Level One in under three seconds.
Only after confirming Darren wasn't giving chase did Borsalino finally slow, straightening his collar and cuffs before sauntering onto the sea-facing platform like he had all the time in the world.
Darren couldn't catch up to that.
"I really don't get that guy," Darren said at last, the words edged with frustration. "He was actually trying to kill me just now."
Redfield's smile was calm. "Future Sight is an extraordinary thing. Unless you're facing someone who can 'kill' Observation Haki, a user who's awakened it can control a situation with absolute confidence."
He swirled the wine in his glass, the red liquid turning like a slow storm.
"When you can see the future, everything becomes child's play."
Then he winked at Darren. "You're still alive. And you broke through. That means this is the future Borsalino saw."
Redfield's answer was maddeningly roundabout, but Darren frowned and followed it through anyway. "So… the moment he attacked, he saw the future where I'd break through?"
"No," Redfield said, chuckling softly. "He attacked because he saw the future where you'd break through."
Darren went still.
He understood.
"With your talent and the training you've gone through these past few days," Redfield continued, "reaching Future Sight was only a matter of time."
Borsalino had simply forced it to happen sooner.
Redfield lifted his eyes, his voice echoing in the dim corridor.
"Darren, my boy… the future is a strange thing."
"Sometimes, a glimpse can be changed by what we do."
"And sometimes, no matter how hard you fight—no matter how desperately you struggle—the future won't budge."
"You may not understand what I mean now." Redfield's tone softened into something almost weary. "But one day, you will."
"The pain of seeing what's coming… and being unable to stop it." His gaze held Darren's for a breath. "You'll feel that for yourself."
He set the thought aside as if shelving a book. "But that's later. For now—enjoy the wonder of it."
Redfield raised his glass in a silent toast. He tipped his head back and drained it in one swallow.
Then he turned and walked toward the deepest cell, his figure sinking into the shadows until it disappeared.
Darren watched him go. After a long moment, he exhaled slowly.
"Thank you," he murmured, bowing once in the direction Redfield had left—a simple gesture, honest and respectful.
A crimson glint stirred deep in Darren's pupils.
Observation Haki Strength: 91.099!
Derived Ability… Future Sight!!
To be continued...