This also led many people, who believed they were in peak condition, to get carried away and eagerly sign up for the fighting competition.
Of course, there was another reason why people loved watching top fighters clash.
It was because such battles transcended reality. Watching these titanic clashes felt like witnessing gods waging war, offering a sensory experience unlike any other.
To put it bluntly, it was like watching an epic, larger-than-life film—one that thrilled and captivated them.
The reason was simple, yet undeniably true.
---
At this moment, after seeing that the person stepping onto the battlefield was none other than Caesar, the self-proclaimed Heavenly King, excitement surged through the crowd.
The women, in particular, could hardly look away.
Strong, handsome, and possessing unparalleled status—how could they not be enamored by such a man?
Posters of Caesar's bounty were plastered across the arena, akin to the adoration of a devoted fanbase.
Yet, as the roars of admiration filled the air, another realization dawned upon the spectators.
Caesar's opponent—this man would have to be someone of immense stature.
And then they saw him.
A legendary figure, one whose name had been whispered across the seas for decades.
Golden Lion Shiki.
The crowd fell into a brief silence before understanding set in.
---
With this battle, Caesar would cement his place not just as a great pirate but as a true ruler.
To the world, he was no longer just a marauder—he was a king of justice. And under his command, the Central Navy had emerged as an independent force, mirroring the World Government's own navy but with a mission to enforce its own brand of order.
This was exactly the moment Caesar had been waiting for.
An opportunity to shape the world's perception.
An opportunity to forge the Central Navy's reputation in fire and blood.
And what better stage than this live broadcast?
---
Return to the Battlefield
Despite the Golden Lion's infamy, he found himself outmatched.
Caesar's relentless assault pushed Shiki back, forcing him onto the defensive.
However, Caesar didn't seek to corner him too quickly. A desperate animal was the most dangerous—he knew better than to give Shiki a reason to fight like one.
So, he kept him suppressed.
"Damn you, Caesar! Taking advantage of an old man's weakness—is this how you fight?!" Shiki spat, his eyes burning with defiance.
Caesar merely smirked. "Shiki, the whole world is watching. Today, you have nowhere left to run."
Shiki's pupils contracted slightly at those words. He could feel the weight of countless gazes upon him, broadcasted across the seas.
A legendary pirate, backed into a corner.
And yet, his pride refused to let him crumble.
"Don't fool yourself, brat! I am the Golden Lion! There's no way I'll lose to the likes of you!"
With a furious roar, Shiki shot into the sky, his twin sabers gleaming ominously.
"Chop!"
A monstrous double slash surged forward, carving through the air with an earth-shattering force.
The sheer power of the attack could have sliced through an entire island—a testament to the legendary swordsman's might.
Had there been clouds, they would have been cleaved apart, leaving the heavens divided.
But Caesar was unmoved.
He raised his own blade, unleashing a mighty counter-slash.
BOOM!
The two devastating forces clashed in midair, sending a terrifying shockwave across the battlefield.
The sea beneath them churned violently, gouged by the impact, leaving behind a bottomless scar.
But… it wasn't over.
As the seawater rained down, Caesar's slash tore through Shiki's attack, cutting straight toward him.
A glimmer of purple-gold light flashed in Shiki's eyes.
His instincts screamed at him to react.
With gritted teeth, he raised his swords in defense.
CLANG!
The force of the collision sent Shiki skidding back hundreds of meters, barely managing to stop himself midair.
---
The world erupted.
"As expected of the strongest swordsman!"
"King Caesar is truly invincible!"
"He's so powerful… and so handsome!"
The spectators were completely enthralled.
Across the world, people watching the battle were unable to remain calm. Men and women alike were mesmerized by Caesar's overwhelming display of power.
---
The Final Clash
As time passed, Shiki's exhaustion became apparent.
His movements grew sluggish.
His once-flawless technique began to falter.
The vicious cycle of fatigue and mistakes took hold.
And Caesar saw his opening.
With a decisive strike, he shattered Shiki's final resistance.
The Golden Lion had fallen.
Without hesitation, Caesar shackled him with Sea-Prism Stone chains.
Shiki could not struggle.
His legendary strength was utterly drained.
Meanwhile, his subordinates had already been subdued—either captured or eliminated by the navy under Admiral Fujitora.
---
A World in Shock
The moment the broadcast showed Golden Lion Shiki in chains, silence fell across the seas.
Then, it was replaced by an uproar.
Particularly in the territories Shiki once dominated, the people cheered with unrestrained joy.
Caesar's forces secured the captive aboard their ship, locking him away in a reinforced Sea-Prism Stone prison within the vessel's depths.
At that moment, the camera turned.
Admiral Fujitora appeared on the screen.
With a composed expression, he made an announcement that sent further shockwaves across the world.
"Citizens of the world."
"I am Admiral Fujitora of the Central Navy."
"By decree of the Central Kingdom, the great pirate Golden Lion Shiki shall face the death penalty."
"The exact date of execution will be determined after deliberation."
---
This declaration cemented the Central Navy's authority.
The fall of Golden Lion Shiki marked the end of an era.
The Central Kingdom and its navy had declared their justice to the world.
People no longer placed their faith solely in the World Government's navy.
Especially in the New World, where chaos reigned—there, the Central Navy had become a force to be reckoned with.
And what better proof of their power than the capture of a legendary pirate?
---
Meanwhile, Elsewhere…
In stark contrast to the Central Navy's triumph, the World Government's navy found itself struggling.
They had been chasing the Roger Pirates for over a day.
But after hours of relentless pursuit, Roger's crew had begun to recover.
Their chances of escape were growing.
Yet, as they evaded the navy, their eyes were drawn to a screen aboard their ship.
And there, they saw it.
The Golden Lion, captured.
Sentenced to die.
A legendary rival, undone.
The sight filled Roger's crew with unease.
The World Government had failed to seize their moment.
The Central Navy had won the day.
But in doing so, they had set something far greater into motion.
For in the seas to come, a new force had risen.
A force that did not answer to the World Government.
A force that now stood as justice itself.
The Central Navy had announced its presence.
And the world would never be the same.L
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