"Damn it!"
Nami let out a sharp growl.
She hadn't expected that Golden Lion would summon such a massive lion… only for it to charge straight at her for hand-to-hand combat!
Caught off guard, she could only form half of her Sky Dragon Armor.
The thin hurricane-shell armor immediately revealed its fragility against the dozens of terrifying slashes.
Although it absorbed most of Golden Lion's attacks, several sword energies still slipped through the armor's seams, striking Nami directly.
Even the dragon's tough skin could not withstand strikes far beyond those of a normal master swordsman—cut easily by his ruthless slashes!
Hoo~
Nami drew in a deep breath. Taking advantage of the brief respite after Golden Lion unleashed so many attacks, she instantly activated her lost Ancient Sky Magic: [Healing]!
A soft blue light spread across the Sky Dragon's body.
The beam, like a spotlight from the heavens, immediately drew Golden Lion's attention.
Moments later, the light faded.
The deep, bone-exposing wounds on Nami's body miraculously vanished!
Golden Lion froze, staring in disbelief at the divine dragon before him, asking in shock:
"You… what kind of Devil Fruit is this!?"
With all of Golden Lion's experience, it was rare to encounter something like this.
Yet in all his years dominating the seas, he had never heard of any creature capable of both manipulating hurricanes offensively and forming armor defensively…
And now, this massive white-winged dragon had added self-healing to its abilities!
By all logic, such a perfect fruit would be coveted by everyone in the world.
And judging by Nami, she couldn't even be twenty years old.
Meaning the previous user of this fruit would belong to their generation… yet he had never heard of anyone wielding such power.
It had been hidden—until this kid discovered it.
Thoughts flickered through Golden Lion's mind as the legendary pirate spoke again, in words Nami could barely understand:
"Lucky young one…"
Nami, fully healed, hovered in midair, her face a mask of confusion as she looked at the golden-haired man.
Golden Lion ignored her, continuing to examine the Sky Dragon's body with fascination, muttering to himself:
"Let's see…
…if you can dodge my attacks in this sky!!!"
The moment he finished speaking, Golden Lion vanished from Nami's sight!
He was right—the sky was his battlefield.
Compared to Golden Lion, Nami's massive body lacked flexibility.
But!!!
Golden Lion didn't know one thing…
Where there was air, it was all Nami's territory!
A streak of golden lightning shot toward the Sky Dragon's abdomen.
This time, Nami did not dodge.
Although the Ancient Sky Magic had consumed a large portion of her energy, the pure air at high altitudes allowed her magic to regenerate astonishingly fast!
Using her Observation Haki, she caught a glimpse of Golden Lion's attack.
Her wings flapped violently, lifting her massive body higher with the air's buoyancy.
Golden Lion, attempting a lightning strike from a blind spot, was caught fully in Nami's sight.
The dragon's jaws opened wide!
The sky BOOMED, becoming heavy with pressure!
The air surged violently toward them.
A streak of cyan light flashed across Nami's dragon eyes!
Golden Lion, charging upward, suddenly halted.
Instinct screamed danger if he continued!
The colossal earthen lion shattered instantly.
Golden Lion removed his Devil Fruit enhancements, letting his body fall freely toward the ocean below.
Golden strands of his mane flared upward like a peacock's tail in the wind—but his face bore only gravitas, no trace of courtship joy.
Shattered chunks of earth piled above him, forming a thick wall as a shield.
A piece of an island's soil—just to block a single attack!
Escape was futile!
A user of Observation Haki could predict any trajectory.
Golden Lion, also skilled in Observation Haki, understood this well.
Above, Nami lifted her head. Her dragon jaws brimmed with terrifying, overwhelming power.
Without hesitation, the force focused on Golden Lion's earthen shield. The massive jaws opened wide.
WHOOSH!!!
A beam-like wind pressure shot from Nami's mouth, tearing through the sky like lightning—unstoppable!
The entire sky seemed to surge with it!
Whoosh!
A spiraling tornado descended from above!
BOOM!!!
A muffled, massive crash shook the battlefield.
Nami's attack, fueled by nearly all her remaining magic, struck the earthen wall.
"Ah!!!"
Golden Lion suddenly raised his palms, bracing the wall with full Devil Fruit power.
The floating island instantly solidified into an impenetrable defense!
He could no longer descend!
Below lay the vast ocean.
Without the advantage of the sky, he was merely a top-tier master swordsman!
The grey-blue wind column, radiating divine power, surged like a magnificent force.
The sky darkened under its brilliance, even the rising sun appeared small and distant.
"Tch!"
Golden Lion's lips curled into a smile.
Sweat streaked his aged face.
His body, past its prime, could no longer sustain such intense combat.
He simply refused to admit it.
Or perhaps…
He refused to lose to an unknown kid!
Originally, he wanted to showcase the might of the old era to the Starry Sky Pirates.
But these sudden little brats revealed the strength of the new generation!
A proud, unyielding smile still lingered on his face.
The shield-island crumbled under the raging hurricane, turning to dust and scattering into the distance.
"Starry Sky Pirates!!!"
Golden Lion roared, the sound shaking the heavens like rolling thunder!
Even the howling wind, violent impacts, and flying debris…
Could not stop his voice!
"Within my hands…"
"Lies a power capable of destroying the world!!!"
"Use it well!!!"
"The world will bow beneath your might!!!"
"And…"
The corners of his mouth stretched wider, more arrogant than ever!
"Do not harm my friends!!!"
BOOM!!!
The floating island collapsed, losing all support, crashing violently into the ocean below.
At that instant, Golden Lion's feet touched the water.
A dense mist rose, completely obscuring Nami's sight.
Golden Lion's body floated like a free fish, yet streaked across the ocean like a golden lightning bolt, spraying waves in his wake.
Just like in his youth, he soared across the seas again.
Beneath the dome of sky, Nami's Observation Haki locked onto the Golden Lion, unaffected by the mist and debris.
The roaring wind above intensified.
Nami lifted her jaw; a beam of divine-like wind pierced the ocean, lifting white-capped waves skyward toward Golden Lion's retreating path.
The violent wind formed rising currents across the sea, creating a vacuum zone!
Golden Lion's body was instantly enveloped by this converging draconic magic.
Yet he did not fall.
Instead, amidst the raging hurricane, he gradually rose!
Wind blades sliced through his golden mane, striking mercilessly.
Blood gushed outward like fountains, dyeing the incoming wind blades scarlet!
Golden Lion, undaunted, gazed at the sunlit sea and roared once more!
"Roger!!!"
"I have lost to no one!!!"
"I have only…"
"…been defeated by time."
Kehehehehe!
Kehehehehe…
......
BOOM!!!
A golden-flaming meteor suddenly plummeted!
The vast ocean split open, as if welcoming him…
Returning once more to the seas…
A legend of the sea, a hero, a tyrant!
The legendary pirate Golden Lion Shiki disappeared completely today!
But a new legend quietly began to rise.