Golden Lion struggled to break free from the rock wall and landed on the ground covered with rubble. It staggered a few steps before regaining its balance.
His arms trembled uncontrollably, and the throbbing pain made cold sweat bead on his forehead. He looked in horror at his still-humming twin swords, then at Law, who stood calmly in the distance with his fists clenched. A storm raged in his heart.
'How can this guy's Armament Haki be this strong?!' Shiki screamed inwardly, 'It's not just the hardness, but the penetrating power and devastating impact...it's clearly top-tier Armament Haki!'
A crystal-clear and cruel realization surfaced in his mind:
If he were in his prime, he might have been able to put up a good fight with his opponent, but now... after being seriously injured during his prison break, with a ship's wheel stuck in his head, and his strength no longer what it used to be, he absolutely cannot fight against a monster of this level for long!
If we continue fighting, defeat is the only outcome, and we might even lose our lives here!
Weighing the pros and cons happens in an instant.
The ferocity and anger on Shiki's face receded like the tide, replaced by an extremely complex sense of despair and dejection. Her voice was hoarse as she shouted:
"Stop! Stop fighting!"
Meeting Law's calm gaze, he repeated himself, his tone carrying a hint of the helplessness of a hero past his prime and a pragmatic decisiveness:
"I surrender! I surrender, okay?! We're not fighting anymore! We really aren't fighting anymore!"
Golden Lion Shiki raised his hands, his face no longer showing any of the arrogance and ferocity he had before, only a sense of lingering fear and a bitter resignation.
He watched Lawen slowly lower his fist, let out a long sigh, and spoke in a complex tone, as if he had aged considerably in an instant:
"Sigh... This time I'm really admitting defeat. I'm not fighting anymore, not at all!"
He shook his head and laughed self-deprecatingly, " Benn thought that after hiding in the heavens for so many years, suddenly encountering the legendary Pluton was a great opportunity given to him by God to make a comeback... Who would have thought that instead of the opportunity, he almost 'melted' himself!"
The words may be rough, but the reasoning is sound, and they come from the bottom of my heart.
Benn of Golden Lions thought he could regain his former glory with Pluton, but he didn't expect to kick a super iron plate that could shatter him completely.
After a pause, Shiki seemed to be trying to ease the tension, or perhaps she was genuinely sincere.
He abruptly changed the subject, his eyes, which had weathered countless storms, looking at Law with a hint of admiration:
"By the way, about the Enies Lobby incident that caused such a stir a while ago... that dilapidated island symbolizing the authority of the World Government was razed to the ground, wasn't that your doing? Hahaha! Well done! It's truly gratifying!"
He clenched his fists tightly, as if he had rediscovered some of the fearless spirit he once had:
"If I had known Pluton was in your hands, I definitely would have gone and blasted him a few times too! Blow up Enies Lobby? Good riddance!"
However,
Lawn was uninterested in Shiki's compliments and empathy. He calmly interrupted Shiki, his gaze deep and direct, his tone leaving no room for argument:
"Enough with the nonsense, Shiki. What I need is not just your surrender now, but a promise."
He leaned forward slightly and spoke clearly, word by word:
"When I gather my strength in the future and launch a formal attack on the core of the World Government — Holy Land Mary Geoise, you, Golden Lion Shiki, must come to my aid."
Shiki, who was still feeling a bit wistful and appreciative at Benn, was stunned for a moment when she heard the words " Mary Geoise." Then, her slightly dejected eyes suddenly burst with unbelievable joy and excitement!
Attacking Mary Geoise? What a stroke of luck!
This was the ultimate goal he had wanted to achieve but failed to reach back then! He seemed to see a stage far grander and more exciting than seizing Pluton!
"Hehehehehe!!!"
Shiki couldn't help but throw his head back and laugh wildly, his laughter filled with exhilaration and anticipation. "Attack Mary Geoise?! Good! Good! Good! No wonder he has Pluton, and such a man with such spirit! I knew I hadn't misjudged him!"
He slapped his thigh hard and roared decisively, his voice booming with renewed passion:
" How could Golden Lion Shiki be absent from such a momentous event that would upend the World Government's headquarters?! Don't worry! Just give the order, and I'll lead all my clansmen to lend a hand! I'll definitely be there!"
With Golden Lion Shiki's resounding guarantee, Lawon's last shred of doubt vanished. A meaningful smile appeared on his face as he nodded to the former legendary pirate.
"Then it's settled, Shiki- senpai. I look forward to the next time we meet, when the world will have been swept by new waves."
"Hehehehe!! Don't worry, Young Ron!" Golden Lion laughed heartily, his voice echoing across the land. He wanted to pat Law on the shoulder, but then thought better of it.
"I've been dormant for so many years, these old bones of mine are practically rusting! I never expected that today's fight would reignite my extinguished passion! It's exhilarating! It's truly exhilarating!"
His eyes gleamed with an almost fanatical light, as if he could already see a magnificent future unfolding before him:
"Kill those arrogant Celestial Dragons and drag them down from their pedestals! Overthrow this disgusting World Government! This is exactly what I wanted to do but failed to do back then!"
Hahaha! Just wait, this ocean will tremble again because of me!
These bold words, filled with unwavering determination and destructive power, truly exemplify the saying "no fight, no friendship." What was originally a potential deadly battle between Benn unexpectedly led to an alliance.
After saying goodbye, Law and the others returned to the ancient weapon. On the Pluton, Lawen stood on the bridge and calmly gave the order: "Prepare to submerge and leave the Sky Island area."
"Understood!!" Usopp and Chopper responded in unison, taking their positions.
Beneath Pluton's massive hull, the air suddenly rippled like water.
Immediately afterwards,
A colossal "door" with strange spatial ripples shimmering around its edges appeared out of thin air!
The door seemed to have been carved directly into the space itself, and inside was a deep, star-studded other-dimensional passage.
The massive pluto battleship began to slowly sink, landing precisely into the spatial gate. Its enormous hull was gradually swallowed up by the extradimensional space, creating a scene that was both spectacular and illogical.
After the last bit of the stern disappeared into the gate, the enormous spatial portal closed quietly like ripples and vanished, as if it had never existed.
....
The journey continues right now for our Jade Dragons! 🐉
For just $6/month, you can step into the advanced chapters and never face a cliffhanger again. Gain instant access to 50+ chapters immediately, support the story you love, and help decide its course.
🔗 Become a Jade Dragon:
https://patreon.com/J_Dragon