Sengoku and Garp led a massive force of Marines toward Verwe Island.
Faced with this situation, Golden Lion completely lost his composure.
His eyes were locked solely on Roya.
Just like when he had single-handedly stormed Marineford, he now felt an overwhelming urge to kill Roya.
A storm of sword slashes surged toward Roya.
Activating the Rooster Talisman, Roya's body floated sideways, effortlessly dodging the attack.
The slash struck the ground with a "shriek," carving a terrifying chasm before Roya's eyes.
Golden Lion's aura exploded, his golden mane billowing in the wind, his kimono flapping wildly.
"You bastard, didn't you call me weak? Then why keep dodging?! Face me head-on if you dare!!"
"This time, let's see how you dodge!"
With those words, Golden Lion's bloodshot eyes widened like bronze bells, resembling a rampaging beast.
"Lion's Thousand Slashes!"
An upgraded version of Slash Wave, far more devastating.
In an instant, Golden Lion unleashed countless slashes capable of splitting mountains apart!Countless slashes erupted wildly in all directions, centered around Golden Lion.
Even the Marines were caught in the crossfire.
"Garp, Aokiji!"
Sengoku turned to the two beside him and added, "That mysterious man seems to be trying to retreat. While Golden Lion has him pinned down, let's surround them immediately. This time, we must capture both Golden Lion and this mysterious man!"
"Yes, Fleet Admiral."
"Sengoku, just remember to treat me to rice crackers when we get back."
Aokiji and Garp responded crisply, their figures flashing as they used Shave, rapidly closing the distance toward Roya and Golden Lion.
Watching the intense battle before him, Sengoku silently prayed in his heart: This time, we must succeed!
Because he had witnessed Roya's levitation ability, he knew full well that if Roya were allowed to leave, tracking him down again would be an immense hassle.
"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"
Four ice spears materialized beside Aokiji, shooting forward to intercept and block the slashes aimed at him.
"Iron Fist!"
Garp's approach was far more brutal. Armament Haki condensed around his fists as he swung them repeatedly, shattering one slash after another.
"Buddha Impact!"
Faced with the storm-like onslaught, Sengoku immediately transformed into his Zoan-type Mythical Buddha form and unleashed a shockwave from his palms.
Wherever the shockwave raged, Golden Lion's slashing sword energy vanished without a trace. Sengoku stood like an impenetrable wall, shielding the Marines behind him.
Only Roya, utilizing the power of the Rooster Talisman, continuously floated and dodged midair.
Golden Lion cast a cold glance at Sengoku and the others, realizing he couldn't afford to drag this out any longer.
"Zeha ha ha! Very well, then! Let this be the stage for my grand return to the world!"
"Whether it's you damned brats or the Marines—perish!"
Golden Lion Shiki felt as if he had returned to the days of his audacious solo assault on Marineford. His momentum surged once more.
Dark clouds slowly veiled the sky, and a chilling wind swept through the hearts of all present.
Sengoku's brow furrowed. Without hesitation, he barked, "Attack!"
As his command rang out, Golden Lion moved!
Harnessing the power of his Float-Float Fruit, Golden Lion seized control of the dark clouds above. The clouds coalesced, crackling with arcs of electricity, forming bolts as thick as ancient trees.
Infused with lightning, the dark clouds twisted under Golden Lion's command, morphing into the shape of a lion's head.
"Lion's Roar: Imperial Wrath!"
Golden Lion's raised hand abruptly slashed downward.
The massive, lightning-charged lion's head of dark clouds surged toward Roya with devastating force.
Aokiji, Garp, and Sengoku had no choice but to retreat hastily in the face of such an assault.
A stunned Sengoku muttered reflexively, "I never imagined Golden Lion's Devil Fruit had awakened!"
Garp grinned wryly. "Wonder if that kid can handle it."
"Whether he can or not, it's good for us either way!"
At that moment, Aokiji interjected, "Golden Lion is no match for him."
Having faced Roya before, the memory of that terrifying offense was seared into his mind.
As if to validate Aokiji's words, the moment he spoke, Roya's figure abruptly ascended.
The gale howled against Roya's cloak.
With one hand holding his hat's brim to keep it from being blown away, Roya remarked in his usual calm tone, "I told you—I'm just passing through. Why make things so complicated?"
"Shiiing!"
A clear sword resonance echoed in everyone's ears.
Golden Lion's "Lion's Roar: Imperial Wrath" couldn't suppress that crystalline blade's song.
The next instant, an overwhelming surge of Roya's momentum pierced the heavens.
To their senses, that crushing Spirit Pressure was none other than the pinnacle of Conqueror's Haki.When Golden Lion sensed this scene, his face was filled with astonishment as he blurted out, "This! How is this possible?!"
Flowing Blade Like Raging Fire was slowly drawn out by Roya, its blade shimmering with a chilling, scorching radiance.
"Blazing Inferno!"
As Roya's voice fell, dozens of towering pillars of fire erupted from the ground, encircling him!
They surged toward Roya's direction.
Forcing Sengoku and the other two to continuously dodge using "Shave."
This was the first time Sengoku had faced Roya head-on.
When he saw such an exaggerated, sky-scorching inferno, he was so shocked that he couldn't even speak.
Aokiji, on the other hand, stared at Roya with even greater astonishment, because he could feel that the power of Roya's strike far surpassed that of the sword slash he had witnessed back in Ohara!
The flames gathered in the air, condensing into Roya's Flowing Blade Like Raging Fire. With a fierce slash from Roya, the heavens and earth seemed to shift.
In an instant, the surrounding space twisted under the scorching heat, as flames and slashing force merged into one, creating a terrifying momentum!
The sword energy howled, and the flames roared.
When Roya's "Blazing Inferno" clashed with Golden Lion's "Lion's Roar: Imperial Scroll," the entire world seemed to fall into abrupt silence.
In their vision, there was only that blinding light.
Squinting his eyes, Sengoku struggled to see what was happening before him.
Suddenly, his eyes widened in disbelief as he saw that slash effortlessly shred through the "Lion's Roar: Imperial Scroll" that Golden Lion had formed from the dark clouds and lightning.
The dark clouds evaporated instantly under the intense heat of the flames!
The lightning was also devoured effortlessly by the fire!
Carrying unparalleled force, the slash surged toward Golden Lion with unstoppable momentum...