**CHAPTER 4: THE AWAKENING OF DARKNESS**
The moment arrived. Vice Admiral Doberman had armed himself with his ultimate technique. "**Sword's Dominance!**" he roared, closing in on Morde at lightning speed and landing a double-slashing attack from above.
Realizing there was no escape, Morde responded instinctively: "**Black Fist!**"
The two attacks clashed, but the Vice Admiral's experience prevailed. Morde minimized the damage, but his bones ached; he was dazed and shaken. Doberman was about to deliver the final blow when he suddenly paused.
**Morde's eyes turned pitch black.**
"Hey, rookie! What the hell is this? What the hell are you up to?!" Doberman cried.
Doberman concentrated all his muscle strength, breath, and inner energy into his right fist for one last demonstration of the Navy's might. "**Judgement Fist!** Let this be the end! **DESTROY!**"
Morde calmly opened his eyes. Dark energy practically gushed from his eyes. He brought his fist down. The impact of the blow enveloped the entire area in a cloud of dust. When the dust settled, a shockwave engulfed everyone.
"I didn't expect a rookie to survive that punch," Doberman admitted in surprise. "Frankly, you've impressed me."
"**You haven't seen anything yet, you so-called Marine!" Morde roared arrogantly.
Doberman went berserk. "All soldiers, get him!"
Morde launched into battle against the entire unit. At first, he struck solely out of survival instinct. But then... something changed. Every blow, every scream, brought a poisonous joy that filled the void within him. It was no longer escape, but pleasure, a catharsis. With incredible speed and fury, he neutralized 200 marines.
He was at the limit of his strength, but he had one thing to his advantage: Doberman's strength was also exhausted. Knowing this, Morde charged at Doberman at high speed. Doberman, exhausted, didn't notice, and Morde seized the opportunity.
"**BLACK FIST!**"
The punch struck Doberman's jaw, knocking him down. The remaining marines tried to flee, but Morde's rage remained unabated. Driven by the dark passion within him, he ruthlessly hunted each one down. Then, he sped away.
The semi-conscious Doberman called the Navy base, breaking the news: "He... isn't a rookie... he's a monster..."
**Morde was now an officially wanted criminal of the World Government. His fate had been overtaken by the shadows.**
At that moment, as Kai was walking away from town, a mysterious blonde-haired woman appeared in front of him.
**And who was this woman?**