Flash Step: Empty Cicada

"Pfft..."

With a scalp-tingling sound, the ship's rudder, deeply embedded in the head of "Golden Lion" Shiki, was pulled out.

A large amount of blood spurted out, but "Golden Lion" Shiki's smile became even more unrestrained and heroic.

"Hahaha, I really didn't die! It's just a mere ship's rudder!"

The next moment, Armament Haki, as dark as ink, covered the "Cherry Ten" and "Withered Wood" held in "Golden Lion" Shiki's hands.

Then... he swept them towards the countless falling cherry blossoms that had already surged before him!

"Wave Slash!"

The same sword technique, but this golden Flying Slash was incredibly brilliant, instantly wiping away a swathe of the Sea of Cherry Blossoms before his eyes!

!!!

Yaen.

Is this the peak combat power of the Great Pirates?!

The Great Swordsman "Golden Lion" Shiki, using Armament Haki with all his might?

"Terrifying. It's true. The "Golden Lion" Shiki just now was far weaker than I imagined, so weak that I was even a little disappointed. So this is what a legendary Great Pirate looks like at full power?" Yaen muttered to himself, his spirit completely tensed, and he began to actively control the Sea of Cherry Blossoms with both hands.

The overwhelming Sea of Cherry Blossoms moved with him, with shattered cherry blossoms constantly regenerating, and boundless cherry blossoms from all directions converged to strangle "Golden Lion" Shiki.

"Kid, I'll tell you now, these tiny blades, no bigger than cherry blossoms, can't cut anything!" "Golden Lion" Shiki said arrogantly, having long since discovered the nature of the endless Sea of Cherry Blossoms. The blood flowing from the wound above his head only served to accentuate his imposing aura.

"Conqueror's Haki!"

The next moment, Conqueror's Haki, as if it were tangible, erupted from "Golden Lion" Shiki's body, forcibly repelling the cherry blossoms drifting near him and creating a small space within the Sea of Cherry Blossoms.

Immediately, "Golden Lion" Shiki lunged towards Yaen like a golden streak of light.

Under Yaen's full control, the endless Sea of Cherry Blossoms continuously obstructed and strangled "Golden Lion" Shiki.

However, protected by Armament Haki, "Golden Lion" Shiki was like a sailboat braving the wind and waves on the Sea of Cherry Blossoms. The golden Flying Slashes he unleashed from time to time wiped away swathes of cherry blossoms.

In just a few breaths, the distance between "Golden Lion" Shiki and Yaen had been reduced by more than half.

"Kid Yaen, die for me!"

With another tremor of Conqueror's Haki, which briefly provided "Golden Lion" Shiki with a space, the "Famous Swords - Cherry Ten" and "Famous Swords - Withered Wood," covered in dense Armament Haki, were suddenly swung repeatedly towards Yaen.

"Lion - Thousand Grain Valley!"

In the next moment, hundreds and thousands of golden Flying Slashes flew wildly towards Yaen, like a lion's roar.

Dodge?!

Yaen had been maintaining a wide range of Observation Haki, rapidly searching for a flaw in "Lion - Thousand Grain Valley."

In an extremely short period, Yaen made a judgment through Observation Haki.

However, there was none!

No, to be precise, the only flaw was to charge forward into the lion's roar!

The space covered by these thousands of Flying Slashes was vast, and "Golden Lion" Shiki was continuously using the Float-Float Fruit to control the air and influence the path of these Flying Slashes.

Therefore, the more he retreated, the less room he had to dodge!

Was this the dominance of the Great Pirate "Golden Lion"?

In the face of the Lion King, one could only court death by constantly retreating!

Instead, charging forward into the thousands of Flying Slashes that roared out from the lion, forcefully breaking through one or two of them, was the only way to dodge this attack.

But...

"To cower and dodge in front of a lion would be too unsightly!!!"

Yaen suddenly extended his palm forward, chanting rapidly.

"Child of Heaven, walls of iron, dragon's stride, lion's roar, tiger's howl, wolf's charge, sever heaven and earth before collapse!"

"Kidō #81 - Dankū!!!"

Instantly, an invisible barrier appeared abruptly in front of Yaen.

"Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom..."

Hundreds and thousands of golden Flying Slashes landed on this invisible barrier, shattering into golden petals.

He blocked it!

"Kidō #81 - Dankū" was the strongest Kidō Yaen could currently master. As long as its limit was not reached, even if the number of these golden Flying Slashes were several times greater, they would not possess the ability to break this invisible barrier.

Just then, through the gaps formed by the aftershocks of the golden Flying Slashes shattering against the barrier, Yaen saw a black shadow rapidly approaching.

In the next moment, the "Famous Sword - Cherry Ten" and "Famous Sword - Withered Wood," covered in dense Armament Haki, heavily slashed down upon "Kidō #81 - Dankū."

"Crack!"

A crisp sound rang out, and cracks instantly appeared on "Kidō #81: Dankū," then spread across the entire barrier.

Immediately, "Kidō #81: Dankū" shattered with a resounding crack!

"Yaen, got you!"

A triumphant smile flickered across the imposing face of "Golden Lion" Shiki, and his twin swords, "Meitō: Sakura Tō" and "Meitō: Kareki," slashed towards Yaen at extreme speed.

At this moment, Yaen's pupils constricted. He couldn't fathom how "Golden Lion" Shiki had bypassed his Observation Haki to close the distance so rapidly.

Yaen was acutely aware of his greatest, even fatal, shortcoming: his physique!

If he were to be hit by the twin blades wielded by "Golden Lion" Shiki, it would be far more than just a couple of new scars, nor would it simply result in being cut into three pieces.

His body... might very well be instantly obliterated into nothingness...

The sense of danger, along with Yaen's suddenly constricted pupils, deeply stimulated his nerves.

"Meitō: Sakura Tō" and "Meitō: Kareki" continued their advance, the chilling coldness of their approach already felt by Yaen's hair.

"Whoosh!"

The next instant, "Meitō: Sakura Tō" and "Meitō: Kareki" swept through with fierce momentum, slicing across Yaen's abdomen and chest respectively.

Wrong...

"Golden Lion" Shiki quickly sensed something was off with the feel of "Meitō: Sakura Tō" and "Meitō: Kareki."

And at some unknown point, where Yaen had been standing, only a piece of clothing remained.

"Shunpo: Utsusemi."

Immediately, "Golden Lion" Shiki snapped his head upwards. Yaen had already appeared a hundred meters away.

"Such speed..." "Golden Lion" Shiki marveled inwardly.

"Those twin blades are so fast..." Yaen felt a lingering fear.