Blood Dries Up

Golden Lion Shiki was in terrible condition. Even Yaen could vaguely sense that Golden Lion Shiki was like a dying lion, unleashing one final roar at the heavens and the sea.

"Is this your final attack?"

Yaen murmured. "If so, then let me send you off one last time!"

"Bankai—Black Rope Heavenly Punishment Myo-o!"

As Yaen chanted, the cherry blossoms that had blanketed the sky rapidly dispersed, while a Black Armored Warrior, taller even than an ordinary giant, began to materialize behind him.

Its entire body was clad in heavy black armor, its face concealed behind a red mask, and the enormous blade it held grew ever larger and heavier.

As Black Rope Heavenly Punishment Myo-o moved in sync with Yaen, a slight tremor sent power bursting from the giant blade, tearing apart the Air Lions that had been clamped tightly around it.

Then, with a turn of the blade, Black Rope Heavenly Punishment Myo-o raised it high overhead, its edge pointed directly at Golden Lion Shiki, whose body was as small as an ant by comparison.

Witnessing this, Golden Lion Shiki could not help laughing even more boldly. "Jiehahahaha! Yaen, Kid, don't tell me you ate two Devil Fruits?"

"Who knows?"

Yaen replied casually. Then, holding his Zanpakutō in an empty grip, he suddenly swung it down at Golden Lion Shiki.

At the same time, Black Rope Heavenly Punishment Myo-o, whose size rivaled that of a colossal giant, mirrored the motion. Its exaggeratedly massive blade descended toward Golden Lion Shiki with nearly immeasurable force.

"Jiehahahaha..."

Facing this overwhelmingly powerful attack, Golden Lion Shiki continued to laugh wildly, as if scorning everything. Dense Armament Haki coated his twin swords.

"Lion's Imperial Court Cut Valley!"

In an instant, nearly endless Flying Slashes blasted toward the giant blade.

Every single one possessed the power to cleave the sea apart!

Linked to Black Rope Heavenly Punishment Myo-o in sensation and damage, Yaen instantly felt the pressure and vibrations transmitted to his hands.

Of course, that pressure and vibration were what Black Rope Heavenly Punishment Myo-o experienced with its immense body, then synchronized onto Yaen.

Otherwise, if Yaen had relied on his own physique to withstand those nearly endless Flying Slashes in place of Black Rope Heavenly Punishment Myo-o, his body would have been shattered almost instantly.

"But..."

"Even I won't leave a slash unfinished halfway through!"

Yaen's gaze sharpened. Synchronizing Black Rope Heavenly Punishment Myo-o's movements with nearly all his strength, he slowly forced the giant blade downward through the barrage of countless Flying Slashes.

As it drew closer and closer to Golden Lion Shiki, the frequency of attacks striking the giant blade became increasingly terrifying. Even Black Rope Heavenly Punishment Myo-o's immense strength was beginning to struggle to keep it steady.

"Jiehahahaha! Kid, can't go on anymore?"

Golden Lion Shiki, now almost completely reduced to a bloody figure, was still laughing madly even at this moment.

The next instant, Golden Lion Shiki's laughter abruptly stopped. His body stiffened, and the seemingly endless Flying Slashes vanished in an instant.

Boom!

Just as the unobstructed giant blade crashed down with a tremendous wind pressure, about to utterly pulverize the suddenly motionless Golden Lion Shiki, Yaen abruptly withdrew his motion and controlled Black Rope Heavenly Punishment Myo-o to halt the blade in time.

Even so, the terrible shockwave raised by the giant blade sent Golden Lion Shiki plummeting downward like a scrap of tattered cloth.

Yaen frowned slightly, then moved his hand. Controlling Black Rope Heavenly Punishment Myo-o to bend down, he had its enormous palm scoop Golden Lion Shiki up in time, catching him in its hand.

Keeping a safe distance and ready to clench his fist and crush Golden Lion Shiki at any moment, Yaen looked at the seemingly lifeless figure lying in Black Rope Heavenly Punishment Myo-o's palm and called out.

"Dead?"

"You're the one who's about to die, Kid... I..."

Golden Lion Shiki suddenly opened his eyes and shouted at Yaen. "If my blood hadn't nearly run dry, I would've definitely cut you down just now."

Only after Golden Lion Shiki said that did Yaen realize just how absurdly much blood he had lost.

Before the battle had even begun, Golden Lion Shiki already carried numerous injuries, and both legs had been severed at the knees. During his battle with Yaen, he had sustained countless more wounds.

Yet under such circumstances, Golden Lion Shiki had continued moving with extreme intensity, with no time whatsoever to tend to his injuries, leaving the wounds to bleed without pause.

And afterward, Golden Lion Shiki had even pulled the ship's wheel out of his own head. The massive wound that continued pouring blood only accelerated the process.

As a result, without realizing it, Golden Lion Shiki's blood had... nearly run dry!

At that thought, Yaen could not help feeling a little more admiration for Golden Lion Shiki as he said, "Shiki, you truly deserve to be the Great Pirate Old Man privately praised several times as a 'Hero.' You really are remarkable."

"You... who is your Old Man?" Golden Lion Shiki asked, gradually growing weak and breathless.

"Oh, didn't I mention it before?"

Yaen thought carefully about it. It seemed he really had forgotten to bring up that powerful backer, so he immediately said, "My Old Man should count as an old acquaintance of yours. He's the one who personally locked you up in Impel Down—the Fleet Admiral Sengoku known to the world as Buddha Sengoku."

"What? That bastard Sengoku is your Old Man?"

Golden Lion Shiki, who had seemingly come to terms with things and had been quietly awaiting his final moments, immediately became agitated again. Struggling to rise, he roared, "Even if I die, I'll make Sengoku taste the pain of losing a son!"

And just then...

"Chirp, chirp."

Xiao Jin, perched on Yaen's shoulder, chirped twice before hopping into Yaen's palm and opening its mouth to release a Den Den Mushi.

"Ring ring~"

Yaen looked at the Den Den Mushi that kept ringing, picked it up, and glanced at it.

"Tsk, the Old Man's information network is really something. He contacted me this quickly?"

Yaen immediately moved the "Golden Lion" Shiki, who was still crying out excitedly yet weakly, a little farther away before answering the Den Den Mushi.

"Hello?"

A long sigh of relief came from the other end, followed by Fleet Admiral Sengoku's voice.

"Yaen, are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Pretty good, actually. Just a little seasick," Yaen replied.

Fleet Admiral Sengoku hesitated for a moment on the other end before asking.

"Where's Shiki? Did he hijack the Warship you're on?"