In that instant, beneath the pitch-black sky, the killing intent that had soared to its limit erupted like a volcano, dyeing the entire Onigashima and Flower Capital a deep crimson.
Then, amidst a roar like thunder, a giant purple spiral-shaped impact transformed into a destructive torrent, surging mightily.
Beneath the wills of the two overlords, a brutality surpassing any before was ignited, stirring up a terrifying storm capable of shaking the entire sea!
Dark thunder and the roar of destruction raged together in the void. In the spreading aftermath, the earth melted into magma, and the drifting clouds shattered into powder.
The water vapor cycle in the torn sky was disrupted, and gradually, a sticky, suffocating rain began to fall.
"Not good, that technique!"
Having come all the way from the Rocks era, Shiki had naturally witnessed Kaido and Linlin using this combined attack many times on the ship.
Its principle and essence were not difficult to understand. It was an imitation and reshaping of the giant race's legendary spear, with the addition of Conqueror's Haki to transform it.
Taught to Kaido by Linlin, who had stayed in the giant village and witnessed their battle techniques, the two of them together had popularized this move.
Even in the Rocks Pirates, where chaos and betrayal were as common as eating and drinking, few were willing to provoke these two, and this was the reason.
Although, as comrades in the past, seeing the two of them join forces to unleash this strike, destroying ships and tearing apart the sea, was very reassuring.
But now, as an enemy, facing this island-sized impact, one couldn't help but... feel fear.
'Wait, I'm afraid? I, Shiki, am afraid?'
"Old lion?"
Sakura's Observation Haki suddenly sensed an anomaly in his spirit and looked at him questioningly.
"Ha, hahahaha!" Letting the rain falling from the storm-tossed surroundings beat against his face, Shiki looked up and couldn't help but burst into loud laughter.
He was afraid, he was frightened, but this was also an opportunity for him to break through his limitations and continue moving forward.
Even if his body was gradually aging, if his will decayed with it, then this old man would truly be left behind by the new era!
"Don't interfere, Sakura. Even if I die here today, don't interfere!!" Shiki's slightly turned cheek revealed a domineering eye.
The old man, his coat and long hair fluttering in the wind, spread the blades on his hands and feet. The power of floating wantonly distorted reality, sweeping snow and rain to coil around the blades. Dark thunder leaped between the rain and fierce wind, rapidly enhancing the power of his swordsmanship and ability.
"...May you have good fortune in battle!"
Sakura was silent for a moment, then offered a blessing.
"Shihahahaha!"
The lion, no longer aged, laughed as he charged forward, rushing like a mayfly trying to topple a tree toward the Combined Haki unleashed by Linlin and Kaido.
Dark thunder gathered to its extreme. The flow of Armament Haki also broke free from the constraints of his own blood. Finally, a thread of crimson thunder began to be born.
Shiki spread all the blades on his hands and feet. With the boost of his floating power, his entire body spun, transforming into a crimson-red vortex that charged toward the purple impact.
With this sacrificial strike, he sought the greatest power.
—Lion Menace: Govern Place Earth Coiling!!!
Boom!
In an instant, the long-range clash of Haki kicked up a terrifying wind pressure. A dazzling white light, impossible to look at directly, rose. Rampaging lightning burst forth, trampling scorched marks upon the two floating sky islands.
Sakura raised her hand and crushed a falling bolt of lightning. Her gaze never relaxed as she watched the crimson vortex and purple impact locked in intense conflict.
Destructive flames and light spread like a tide. Amidst the constantly gathering, reality-distorting buoyancy, the crimson vortex slowly sawed through the shockwave. Finally, amidst the thunderstorm woven from countless lightning bolts, a loud crash erupted, tearing a giant hole in the sky.
"Huff... huff... huff!"
His golden kimono haori was ragged. His inner clothing was soaked with overflowing blood. His hair had been cut off by a large amount.
In a pitiful state, Shiki drifted down from the sky, quietly hovering before Sakura.
"Shihahahaha! I won!!"
Having swept away the confusion and gloom in his heart, though his vital signs were extremely weak, his spirit, on the verge of transforming into crimson thunder, was extremely excited.
"Congratulations!" Sakura slightly nodded, offering her respect to the warrior who had returned after defeating fate.
"I didn't expect you to be stupid enough to specifically take that attack~."
Linlin, riding the dark cloud Zeus, rapidly flew toward the two. The greatsword Napoleon in her hand had a ferocious expression, coiled with thick two Haki. "Don't blame us for taking advantage of your weakness, Shiki!"
Kaido, also stepping on flame clouds, rapidly weaved through the void, transforming into a straight line, dragging lightning, his massive body covering Sakura and Shiki, his kanabo raised high.
"How could that be? As pirates, shouldn't we be immeasurably joyful to be able to sacrifice everything for the fight?"
Trapped between the two, Sakura raised her green eyes, adding Shiki's answer for him, as he was too exhausted to even speak.
At the same time, a large amount of Natural Energy gathered instantly. The sage-transformed cells within the girl's body began to activate.
As if countless verdant giant trees were growing from the void, the vitality, too vast to be fully contained even by the girl's powerful body, rolled and drifted to the surroundings, forming emerald green stars emitting a delicate fragrance.
The flames of Senjutsu Chakra burned, expanded, and spread, shrouding the two figures within, unseen by the outside.
"Great Virtue: Thunder Bagua!" / "Emperor Sword - Ikoku Sovereignty!"
Spewing brutal killing intent, the weapons of the two Emperors arrived before Sakura, unhesitatingly delivering judgment upon the enemy.
Clang!
The mighty combined attack, as it fell, erupted with a thunderous crash. At the same time, two clear cracks were forced open on the kanabo and greatsword by the powerful recoil.
"What?" / "How could this be?"
Their pupils simultaneously contracted. Linlin and Kaido instinctively wanted to put distance between themselves and the monster whose aura was constantly rising.
However... arms reached out from the burning fierce light, simultaneously grabbing the arms of Linlin and Kaido.
The flames dissipated. The emerald feather robe, attached to the girl's body with Senjutsu Chakra as its framework, emitted a dangerous aura. The two horns protruding from her forehead leaped with cherry-pink flames.
The cloud rope greatsword she had been holding had disappeared, replaced by a straight wooden spear floating behind her with an emerald green tassel.
"This technique again?"
Once again witnessing the technique that had caused his defeat last time, Kaido's eyes burst with excitement.
"Indeed, stamina is accelerating its loss?"
Linlin clenched her fist, sensing the anomaly, and almost instinctively spread Armament Haki to every part of her body.
Taking a deep breath, the girl's hoarse voice sounded in their ears.
The Haki radiance condensed by her will burned fiercely in the girl's eyes, stinging the eyes of the other two:
"I'll use this Sage Mode to bring our war to a close!"