Chapter 165Nami thought it could work.At least they wouldn't encounter all those chaotic weather phenomena in the sky. She glanced at the log pose; their course hadn't deviated.It was also good for Vivi to hone her abilities under these circumstances.Chapter 240 Encounter, The Living Legendary PirateEveryone had been training harder and harder.Luffy was already being called a candidate for the fifth Emperor of the Sea. His crewmates couldn't afford to fall too far behind.Especially the two combatants, Zoro and Sanji, who had been training intensely lately.And they were seeing results quickly. After Zoro, Sanji had finally become the second crewmate to master Armament Haki.But the pace was still too slow...That was the thought in everyone's minds.The problem was, Luffy was pushing himself so hard, sleeping only one hour a day and training constantly. Even if they tried their best, they couldn't catch up.They just needed so much more time!On the deck.The wind blew.Nami brushed a strand of hair from her temple and looked up at the higher sky.They were already in an area near the cloud layer. Aside from the occasional oddly-shaped high-altitude birds flying past, there was only an endless sea of white clouds like cotton wool.Unless they had arrived at another Sky Island, all they could see here were clouds. However, within this seemingly calm sea of clouds, another anomaly occurred.An irregular, massive shadow slowly emerged from behind the distant cloud layer, growing larger and larger.It wasn't a single shadow, but several enormous shadows connected together."What is that?"Usopp was the first to notice. He raised his slingshot and looked through the scope, his voice trembling with disbelief,"There are islands... islands floating in the sky?!"As the distance closed, everyone could see clearly.They were several lush, massive islands with distinct mountains and vegetation. Defying all logic, they hung silently in the sky ten thousand meters high, like mythical hanging gardens."Is it a Sky Island?"Luffy and the others had been to a Sky Islandbefore, but Sky Islands were ecosystems based on special island clouds and sea clouds. This sight of solid earth, rock, and forests being lifted and suspended in the air was completely different."Probably not. It looks more like some kind of Devil Fruit power,"Sanji lit a cigarette, his brow furrowed. "But aside from Miss Vivi's Wind-Wind Fruit being able to lift things briefly, what other fruit could do something like this? Keeping islands floating permanently?""There is one person who can do it."Robin stared at the floating archipelago, her voice low. A trace of gravity was in her eyes.In her past within the underworld, she had gathered a considerable amount of intelligence, which naturally included the histories of various legendary pirates. She had once heard the legend of a certain pirate who could manipulate islands like toys, making them float in the sky permanently."Golden Lion Shiki. His Float-Float Fruit ability can do it.""Golden Lion?!"Zoro's hand rested on the hilt of his wado ichimonji, his eyes sharpening.He had heard that name before. It represented the peak power of the previous era.Nami, Usopp, Chopper, and the others also paled, clearly having heard of this name.This was a weak point in Luffy's knowledge base, because Teacher Robin hadn't covered this yet!"Is that guy strong?" Luffy asked.Most of the top pirates he had encountered were from the middle generation, like Shanks. He didn't know much about legends like Roger, Whitebeard, and Golden Lion, who dominated an earlier era.So, Robin turned to Luffy to explain: "Golden Lion Shiki is the Captain of the Flying Pirates, a figure on par with Whitebeard Edward Newgate and the Pirate King Gol D. Roger. Together, they ruled the Great Pirate Era before."Not only that.Robin paused, then dropped even more shocking information: "At the same time, this man is also the only prisoner in the history of the underwater prison Impel Down to have successfully escaped. Once, after Roger was captured, he single-handedly charged into Marineford, the Marineheadquarters. He fought Vice Admiral Garp and Admiral Sengoku of that time, destroying half of Marineford before finally being subdued.""Oh?"Luffy's eyes instantly lit up,"He fought with Gramps? And wrecked half the Marine headquarters? Sounds like a pretty awesome old guy."Just as Robin was explaining.On the other side, within the floating archipelago.On the largest of the islands, a figure stood on a steep hillside, looking displeased towards the distant storm clouds that hadn't completely dissipated.He had long, thick hair like a Golden Lion's mane, reaching down to the ground. A ship's rudder was comically embedded in his head. He wore a traditional Japanese kimono and had a thick cigar in his mouth.It was the legendary great pirate—Golden Lion Shiki!"Tch, almost got caught in that storm again."Golden Lion clicked his tongue, an unhappy expression on his face. He turned his head and complained to several people in white lab coats shivering behind him, "I hired so many climate experts, and not a single one could accurately predict that storm! I spent so much money keeping you all, and you're just eating my food for nothing?!"Although his Float-Float Fruit power was strong, allowing him and any non-living thing he touched to float free of gravity, what he feared most was extremely unstable weather, especially violent storms. They could easily cause the islands he controlled to lose balance or even collide and break apart."Lord Shiki, weather prediction is inherently a matter of probability,"one expert dared to argue."Probability? I don't want to hear about probability!"Golden Lion waved his hand impatiently, "I want accuracy! One hundred percent accuracy!""If you fail to predict it next time, you'll become test subjects."The experts' faces turned ashen.Just as he was still annoyed about the weather, a subordinate suddenly scrambled out of the woods, his face filled with shock and panic."Lord Shiki, it's terrible! There's a ship flying in the sky over there!""What's the big deal? My ship..."Golden Lion instinctively started to say it was one of his ships, but the words died on his lips as he suddenly realized—his own fleet was anchored by the island shores or hidden within the mountains. What ship was flying around up here?"Not our ship?"Golden Lion frowned, feeling somewhat surprised. "Which direction?"After receiving directions from his subordinate, Golden Lion, cigar in mouth, effortlessly floated into the air without any movement. He traced a smooth arc, swiftly flying to the edge of the island, squinting into the distance.There, amidst the swirling clouds and mist, he could indeed vaguely make out a strangely shaped twin-masted ship that looked like a sunflower. It was climbing diagonally towards the higher sky at an astonishing speed.Golden Lion was absolutely certain that ship was not part of his forces."How interesting."A glint of interest flashed in Golden Lion's eyes. "An ability to make a ship fly? Or has the Navy developed some new technology?"As one of the legends who once reigned over the seas alongside Whitebeard and Roger, a flying ship wasn't enough to shock him.He knew of quite a few methods to make objects fly.Such as certain specific paramecia-type devil fruits.Like gravity or attraction, those could do it.Or, from that Rocks Pirates crew he was once part of, that unremarkable cabin boy who later ate that Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit—it seemed to have the ability to ride clouds and mist too.Flight was a basic skill for the strong; staying airborne briefly was easy.But to make islands float permanently and on a large scale in the sky, and to control them as easily as one's own limbs—in his view, only he, having developed the Float-Float Fruit to its peak, could achieve that.A Devil Fruit's power ultimately depends on its user!Whoosh!After a moment of thought, Golden Lion decided to go investigate.An ability to control a ship and make it fly was undoubtedly a perfect fit for the philosophy of his Flying Pirates.If the other party was reasonably strong, recruiting them could not only replenish his depleted officer ranks after his escape from prison but also help share the burden of controlling the islands to avoid natural disasters.On the other side, aboard the thousand sunny.As Golden Lion became aware of the ship's presence, Nami and the others looked at the several massive floating islands with unconcealed shock."Is this the power of the Float-Float Fruit?"Nami gazed at the islands, murmuring.Vivi also concentrated, sensing the air currents around them. "I might be able to lift an island with a whirlwind for a short time, but to maintain it nearly permanently like this, and control several at once... I'm still far from capable of that. The demands on stamina and control are too high.""The only escapee from Impel Down, a legendary pirate who fought the Navy Hero Garp and Fleet Admiral Sengoku... Why would such a monster appear here?" Even Franky's modified body felt a slight chill."Seems we've accidentally trespassed into some incredible territory," Zoro said, a battle-hungry smile curling his lips. His three swords were already in place.Robin's expression was grave as she said, "A legendary pirate of this caliber should, in theory, be active in the New World, managing his vast influence. I never expected to encounter him in the first half of the Grand Line. We don't need to conflict with him.""Hard to say now."Luffy looked ahead and said, "Someone's coming. And they're fast."His Observation Haki was the first to detect a powerful, swift presence approaching.Almost the moment Luffy finished speaking, Zoro, Sanji, and the others also saw the figure that made no attempt to hide itself.The next moment, a golden figure streaked across the sky like a meteor. With a wild, unrestrained laugh, it landed firmly in the center of the thousand sunny's deck. The powerful impact even made the ship sway slightly."Gyahahaha! Not bad, an ability to make a ship fly!"Golden Lion Shiki, cigar in mouth, grinned widely. His gaze swept over the Straw Hats, who were on guard, and finally settled on the Straw Hat-wearing Luffy. "Who's your Captain?"Although he wasn't deliberately releasing his aura, the terrifying presence of a legendary pirate, tempered through countless battles, spread out like a tangible force, instantly enveloping the entire deck.The air seemed to grow thick and heavy.Thanks to having personally felt the mountain-like pressure of the Navy Hero Garp not long ago, the Straw Hats felt the weight on their hearts but didn't lose their composure.Chapter 241 Golden Lion: The Height of Filial Piety"I am. Are you that Golden Lion, old man?"Looking at this old man with the exaggerated hairstyle and a ship's rudder stuck in his head, Luffy didn't pay much mind to the other's intimidating presence. He just adjusted his Straw Hat, his tone casual, as if he wasn't meeting some legendary pirate."Gyahahaha! It seems my name hasn't been completely forgotten by the times."Golden Lion laughed heartily. He looked at Luffywith a bit more respect for this unusually calm demeanor in his presence.Knowing his name and still maintaining such an attitude was not something an ordinary pirate could do.Moreover, his gaze lingered on the Straw Hat on Luffy's head for a moment. It felt familiar, as if in some distant memory, he had seen someone wearing a similar Straw Hat.Ugh, thinking about the past made his head hurt."State your name, kid."Golden Lion reined in his laughter somewhat, his tone commanding."Monkey D. Luffy," Luffy said with a grin. "The man who will become the Pirate King!""Monkey D. Luffy?"Golden Lion repeated the name, narrowing his eyes slightly.Although he spent most of his time in the sky plotting his IQ plan, and his mind was sometimes clear, sometimes foggy due to the rudder in his head, he wasn't completely cut off from major events on the seas.The recent uproar over the Enies Lobby incident, challenging the World Government, fighting the Buster Call... the protagonist seemed to be a rookie called Straw Hat.Enies Lobby, Buster Call... to be honest, the trouble he'd caused was almost on par with his own.He had thought it was just some lucky, gutsy nobody. To think it was one of the most talked-about rising stars lately. For him, this was undoubtedly a pleasant surprise, and his desire to recruit grew stronger.And the fact that Luffy could name his title showed he wasn't completely ignorant of him either.Wait... Monkey D.?The name made Golden Lion pause. In an instant, the image of a certain bastard flashed into his mind—a man in a Marine justice coat, swinging pitch-black fists, who only knew how to smash things with his fists no matter the foe, and who particularly loved hitting people in the head!
