“I didn’t expect Golden Lion to be hiding here.”

Shakky and Charlotte Linlin gazed at the cluster of floating islands before them.

It was immediately clear—this was Golden Lion’s stronghold.

Only his ability could accomplish such a feat.

Thundercloud Zeus and Thundercloud Mother.

Both transformed into storm clouds.

Lifting the Radiant Eclipse into the sky toward the islands.

Just in time to hear Golden Lion mocking the Four Emperors and ridiculing the Sun and Moon Pirates.

Kuke didn’t care.

But his crew?

They wouldn’t let it slide.

Hmph!

A cold snort.

Four powerful bursts of Conqueror’s Haki descended like an unstoppable tide.

Charlotte Linlin, Gion, Hancock, and Yamato.

All wielders of Conqueror’s Haki.

Unleashing it at Golden Lion all at once.

“Who’s there?!”

Golden Lion tensed.

He countered with his own Conqueror’s Haki and turned his gaze toward the Radiant Eclipse, rising through the storm clouds.

An unfamiliar flag.

Unrecognized.

But he did recognize Shakky and Charlotte Linlin.

Though they looked younger.

That only made it easier for Golden Lion to recognize them—

Because in the Rocks Pirates, they had once looked exactly like this.

“Charlotte Linlin… Shakky… So you’re both still alive?”

Golden Lion’s eyes gleamed.

Greed flashing within them.

Shakky’s unparalleled navigation skills.

Charlotte Linlin’s overwhelming power.

Both were things he wanted.

“Golden Lion, anyone who dares mock my captain… is as good as dead.”

Charlotte Linlin raised her hand, her fingers crackling with electricity and flames.

“Captain?”

Golden Lion was stunned.

As the Radiant Eclipse landed, he finally saw Kuke.

“Charlotte Linlin, you—someone like you—actually serves under someone else?”

Golden Lion couldn’t believe it.

He turned to Shakky.

“Shakky, I once invited you to my crew, and you refused. But now, you’ve joined someone else’s? Damn it—who is he?”

His murderous gaze locked onto Kuke.

He didn’t recognize him.

But it didn’t matter.

In Golden Lion’s mind, there was no one in this era worthy of comparison to himself.

“I’ll leave him to you.”

Kuke glanced at Golden Lion.

He didn’t even have the interest to fight.

An old relic of a bygone era, hiding in the sky, clinging to the past.

In the original story, he had been defeated by a fresh-out-of-the-East-Blue Straw Hat Luffy.

A disgrace.

“So you’re the so-called Sun and Moon Pirates?”

Golden Lion wasn’t stupid.

Even if he didn’t recognize Kuke, he could put the pieces together.

His lips curled into a sneer.

“Fine. I’ve been wondering what kind of people the current Four Emperors are. If you’re weak, then kneel before me—”

BOOM!

Gion had no interest in hearing his arrogant prattle.

A fiery phoenix slash surged forward, scorching the sky.

“Heavenly Fire!”

Charlotte Linlin attacked as well.

Stussy’s palms crackled with lightning.

Golden Lion’s face changed.

Using the swords strapped to his legs, he unleashed a massive flying slash to intercept the attack—

But he couldn’t block Gion’s fiery strike.

Crossing his legs to absorb the blow.

The impact sent him flying backward.

“Such… powerful attacks?”

Golden Lion crashed into the ground, only to be engulfed by Linlin’s massive flames.

Lightning rained down from Stussy’s fingertips.

Golden Lion was mercilessly ravaged by fire and electricity.

“You old fossil, I’ve had enough of you! You dare insult our captain?!”

Yamato charged in, Kanabo raised high.

“Hell’s Road!”

BAM!

Golden Lion was sent flying.

Smashing through the palace behind him.

He lay in the ruins.

Questioning his entire existence.

Slowly crawling back up.

Golden Lion couldn’t believe what had just happened.

He stared at Gion and the others in disbelief.

“How… how can you all be this strong?”

Charlotte Linlin, sure, she was always a monster.

But the others?

He didn’t even recognize them.

And yet, they were this powerful.

“Golden Lion, you’ve become so weak.”

Charlotte Linlin sneered.

He was a shadow of his former self.

His peak had long passed.

The rudder stuck in his head.

His missing legs.

His old, aging body.

Even if they hadn’t fought together—

Gion or Linlin alone could have effortlessly crushed him.

“I am Golden Lion—Lion’s Might—Earth Howl!”

Golden Lion roared.

The ground trembled.

A tsunami of rock and dirt surged forward, forming massive lion heads that charged at his enemies.

It was futile.

Even in his prime, he wouldn’t have been able to handle them.

Let alone now.

Kuke had barely taken a short stroll around the island with Robin and Reiju—

And by the time he returned, the battle was already over.

“Kuke, I think they’re done.”

Robin sat on the grass.

Gently speaking to Kuke, who was resting on her lap.

Reiju withdrew her hands from his shoulders.

“It’s over.”

Kuke lazily opened his eyes.

Slowly sat up.

“Let’s go.”

When Kuke arrived at the battlefield with Robin and the others—

He saw the nearly obliterated island.

Golden Lion lay in a crater.

Defeated.

Motionless.

Gion and the others didn’t even look winded.

Even if he fought to the death—

Golden Lion was incapable of threatening them.

Kuke stood before him.

Golden Lion’s shattered psyche barely managed to focus on Kuke.

“Why… do you have such strong subordinates?”

Golden Lion roared.

He was jealous.

Once upon a time, Golden Lion commanded the largest pirate fleet in history.

But now, as he looked at Gion and the others—

He realized his former subordinates had only been strong in numbers.

Compared to them?

They were nothing.

He glared at Kuke.

Filled with envy.

And resentment.

He couldn’t understand it.

There was nothing special about Kuke.

So why?

Why did he get to command such monsters?

Kuke couldn’t be bothered with his nonsense.

He activated the Dark-Dark Fruit.

“Earth Roar!”

At the brink of death, Golden Lion unleashed one final attack.

Throwing caution to the wind, he activated his Float-Float Fruit.

The ground seemed to flip.

The floating islands shifted—

Over a dozen of them began plummeting toward the battlefield.

“Hahahaha! I am Golden Lion! You think I’ll die here?!”

Golden Lion laughed maniacally.

“You want to kill me? Then you’ll all die with me!”

His eyes gleamed with savagery.

“Beg for mercy. Leave now. And maybe I’ll let you live.”

Above them.

A dozen islands hovered in the sky.

At his command—

They would fall.

“You can’t kill me. If you do, no one will control these islands. They’ll still crash down.”

Golden Lion sneered at Kuke.

Kuke continued using his ability.

Darkness spread over Golden Lion’s body.

“You’re still going?! Stop!”

Golden Lion shrieked.

Did Kuke want to die with him?!

“Pathetic. You think this is enough to threaten our captain?”

Yamato scoffed.

Did he seriously think islands would scare them?

The crew remained calm.

Even Robin and Koala, who had no real defensive abilities, simply continued chatting.

The entire Sun and Moon Pirates—

Not one person reacted the way Golden Lion had expected.

No fear.

No pleading.

“Then let’s die together!”

Golden Lion roared.

The islands fell.

Kuke finally stopped.

He no longer focused on Golden Lion.

Instead, he looked up at the descending islands.

“It’s too late now! Even if you beg, I won’t stop them!”

Golden Lion laughed maniacally.

Kuke clenched his fist.

No grand display.

Just pure Armament Haki.

His fist crashed forward.

The sky shattered.

A single shockwave burst forth—

Tearing through the islands.

Reducing them to nothing but dust.

Golden Lion’s manic laughter died.

His face turned pale.

Mouth agape.

Unable to form words.

He stared blankly.

Shaking his head.

“No… This can’t be real… I don’t believe it…”

——

DONT FORGET POWER STONE

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep