"This is the [Float-Float Fruit]!"
Storm held a peculiarly shaped Devil Fruit in his right hand. Its skin bore irregular, cloud-like protrusions, resembling clusters of white clouds, adorned with intricate spiral patterns that added an air of mystery.
The corpse of Golden Lion Shiki, now stripped of the [Float-Float Fruit]'s power, continued its descent toward the vast ocean below.
Plop—
The body of Golden Lion Shiki plunged into the boundless sea, sending up a small splash upon impact.
A few waves rolled over the spot, churning up bubbles in their wake.
The once-feared "Flying Pirate" was now reduced to a relic of the past, his legacy buried beneath the ephemeral foam—a simple, almost poetic, sea burial.
This time, Storm paid no further attention to the lifeless corpse. Instead, he summoned several slender, serpentine strands of clay, directing them to retrieve the two renowned blades that had once been wielded by Golden Lion Shiki.
The Named Sword—[Cherry Ten].
The Named Sword—[Withered Tree].
As the signature weapons of the legendary Flying Pirate, [Cherry Ten] and [Withered Tree] were widely recognized across the seas. Though they didn't rank among the "Twelve Supreme Grade Swords," they were still celebrated as "Great Grade Swords."
Unlike the more common katana found on the seas, [Cherry Ten] and [Withered Tree] resembled what Storm recognized as "swords"—double-edged, straight-bladed, with razor-sharp points.
"Fine weapons!"
Storm couldn't help but praise them aloud.
What truly impressed him wasn't just their appearance—it was the [Grand Prize Trophy]'s definitive assessment of their quality.
Both [Cherry Ten] and [Withered Tree] were rated as seven-star blades!
Storm himself owned a melee weapon—the [Goethite Sabre].
Ever since he learned that the [Grand Prize Trophy] could enhance an item's quality and star rating, he had been using his stockpile of low-tier trophies (now utterly useless to him) to "upgrade" the sabre relentlessly.
Originally just an ordinary Marine Headquarters-issued blade from the Equipment Department, the [Goethite Sabre] had been elevated to a "five-star" weapon through repeated enhancements.
Yet, the gap between it and [Cherry Ten] or [Withered Tree] remained undeniable.
Storm had never been particularly obsessed with "Grade Swords."
Whether it was the "50 Skillful Grade Swords," the "21 Great Grade Swords," or even the "12 Supreme Grade Swords"—these blades, so revered among swordsmen, were nothing more than ordinary weapons in his eyes.
Back when Storm was still weak, he had trained diligently in swordsmanship and even spent his fortune commissioning custom weapons.
At that time, whether it was a blade or a gun, their damage output far surpassed that of his fists—they were simply more effective in combat.
But now, having awakened his [Haki], the boost that weapons provided to his strength had plummeted dramatically.
After all, precedents like the "Supreme Water Pipe" and "Supreme Flip-Flops" spoke for themselves…
What does it matter even if it's a [Black Blade] painstakingly forged by Great Sword Masters?
[Armament Haki] counters all flashy tricks.
Besides, the so-called [Black Blade] might not even be what it seems!
Apart from the Great Sword Master who forged the [Black Blade], when others wield it—are they truly using the blade, or is the blade using them?
In any case, Storm obtained the two great-grade swords, [Cherry Ten] and [Withered Tree], and while he was pleased, it was nothing more than that.
The most important "legacy" left by Golden Lion Shiki was still that one—
[Float-Float Fruit]!
In Storm's eyes, the significance and value of the [Float-Float Fruit] far surpassed that of the [Flame-Flame Fruit], a Logia-type Devil Fruit.
What even is the [Flame-Flame Fruit]?
Many people can unleash fire-based abilities without even eating the [Flame-Flame Fruit].
Even the ASL trio (Ace, Sabo, Luffy) could "share" fire-based abilities.
A single "Fire Fist" technique was passed down from Ace to Sabo, and from Sabo to Luffy—truly a "passing of the torch."
But what about the [Float-Float Fruit]?
On these seas, possessing the [Float-Float Fruit] practically guarantees absolute aerial dominance!
Aside from natural super storms, the [Float-Float Fruit] has almost no natural "predators" to speak of!
And let's not forget—
Golden Lion Shiki's method of making this new pirate era suffer was to use biotechnology to create beasts, release them into the East Blue, and destroy human civilization.
But…
The guy could have just dropped islands on them!
Yet he insisted on playing with technology!
Storm couldn't help but wonder if Golden Lion Shiki's brain had rotted from having that ship's rudder lodged in his skull for too long.
Wouldn't dropping an island cause far more destruction than releasing beasts?
But now, this [Float-Float Fruit] had become Storm's property, and he certainly wouldn't waste such a strategically invaluable Paramecia-type Devil Fruit.
Unlike the [Flame-Flame Fruit] or the [Tyrannosaurus Fruit], Storm's stance on the [Float-Float Fruit] was—personal use.
Since it was for personal use, he would need a [Devil Ring].
"Right now, I have four [Devil Rings], each containing the powers of the [Clay-Clay Fruit], [Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit], [More-More Fruit], and [Rumble-Rumble Fruit]."
"If I want to use the [Float-Float Fruit] but don't have a new [Devil Ring], I'll have to free up one of the existing four rings."
Storm currently had no spare six-star [Grand Prize Trophy] to wish for another [Devil Ring].
He did have one seven-star trophy—a "Death [Constellation Trophy]."
But he had other plans for that and wouldn't use it for a "wish."
"Then… it's decided! The [Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit]!"
Storm had possessed the [Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit] for quite some time.
He initially thought hunting down this Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit meant securing the ultimate advantage.
But as it turned out…
Even among Mythical Zoans, there were gaps in power.
Aside from the [Clay-Clay Fruit], which Storm had been using all along…
Other Devil Fruits, whether it was the More-More Fruit or the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, had significantly boosted Storm's strength.
But when it came to the Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit—
Aside from its "illusionary transformation" ability, Storm had barely utilized the Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit.
This rare Mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit, in his hands, felt almost like a useless burden...
"One last time, then!"
Storm activated the power of the Clay-Clay Fruit and layered it with the Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit's mimicry ability.
In an instant.
A lifelike Clay Doll of Golden Lion Shiki materialized before Storm.
"The replication isn't bad, but this 'Golden Lion'... is way too old! And way too ugly!"
Storm scrutinized the Clay Doll of Golden Lion Shiki.
This was a doll he had crafted by touching and replicating the real Golden Lion Shiki moments ago.
Not only did the doll perfectly mimic Shiki's appearance, but it even copied the ship's rudder embedded in his head.
At a glance.
The Clay Doll of Golden Lion Shiki resembled a giant yellow rooster.
Storm casually smacked it, flattening the doll into a pancake.
He planned to mold a new "Golden Lion Shiki" later...
For now, he needed to extract the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit first!
Determined, Storm wasted no time.
The power of the Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit was released from the Devil Ring, reverting back into a Devil Fruit.
Simultaneously.
In Storm's ability panel, the once six-star, perfectly Awakened Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit ability dimmed and became unusable, stripped of its Devil Fruit power.
Storm continued his operation.
An empty Devil Ring began absorbing the power of the Float-Float Fruit.
Before long.
A new ability appeared in Storm's panel.
[Float-Float Fruit: ☆]
He summoned the Golden Trophies he had obtained from harvesting low-tier pirates and immediately boosted the Float-Float Fruit to five stars.
Then, he called upon the unused Platinum Trophies—one from Marine Headquarters Vice Admiral Grizly and another from Germa Kingdom's King Judge—and poured them into the Float-Float Fruit.
Within seconds.
Storm had acquired yet another brand-new, Awakened-level Devil Fruit ability!
[Float-Float Fruit: ★★★★★★] (Six Stars)
"Traded an Awakened Mythical Zoan for an Awakened Paramecia!"
Storm carefully savored the power of the Float-Float Fruit stored within the Devil Ring, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.
Though he had lost the Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit's power, it was only temporary.
As long as he obtained another Devil Ring, he could reclaim the Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit's full abilities.
With virtually no loss, he had gained an Awakened Float-Float Fruit.
A double victory.
Storm won twice!
After briefly experiencing the Float-Float Fruit's power, Storm resumed molding Clay Dolls.
This time, the Clay Doll he molded was still—
Golden Lion Shiki!
Even without the [Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit], Storm couldn't achieve a perfect one-to-one replication of the original appearance.
But the seven-star [Clay-Clay Fruit] ensured sufficient precision.
Storm also didn't need another old and ugly Golden Lion Shiki…
Time passed bit by bit.
A familiar yet unfamiliar figure took shape before Storm.
He was tall, his muscles coiled like steel, his thick and fierce golden mane cascading down to his waist. In each hand, he wielded the renowned great swords [Cherry Ten] and [Withered Tree], his entire body radiating the ferocious aura of a primordial beast.
Slowly, Storm removed the [Float-Float Ring] from his finger and tossed it to the man before him.
The latter mirrored his movement, raising his right hand to catch and don the [Float-Float Ring].
Storm examined the golden-haired man with satisfaction.
[Float-Float Fruit], [Cherry Ten] and [Withered Tree], Great Sword Master, Sky-Pirate…
All these elements combined.
This was not Golden Lion Shiki.
This was Golden Lion II!
"Gehahaha—"