The howling from within the cavern even drowned out the thunder in the sky. A golden gleam lit up from the bottomless pit.
Kaido, Charlotte Linlin, and the others were drawn by the strange noise and turned their gazes toward the pit. The Whitebeard Pirates surrounding the edge of the cavern also froze. Their grief-stricken cries came to an abrupt halt as they looked into the hole.
Golden light shone within the pitch-black cavern. As the howling drew closer, that streak of gold gradually "blossomed," filling everyone's vision.
A powerful current of air surged out of the pit, carrying scorching heat as it shot toward the sky. Terrifying Conqueror's Haki suddenly descended upon everyone, and as the golden light neared the mouth of the pit, the ground began to tremble faintly.
"Whoosh—"
A piercing shriek tore through the pirates' ears as the golden light shot into the sky in an instant.
Kaido and Charlotte Linlin both frowned and quickly looked upward. Vista, Jozu, and the others could no longer spare any thought for mourning Whitebeard and stared into the sky in shock.
"You really did almost kill me—"
Tsugikuni Yoriichi, his clothes in tatters, hovered in midair with a pair of golden wings on his back. Golden flames swirled around his body, concealing one horrifying wound after another beneath their glow.
Blood continuously flowed from his wounds. Even with the restorative power of the golden flames, his injuries could not recover in a short time. He could not even stop the bleeding immediately. Blood gathered beneath his feet before dripping down below.
Any one of Yoriichi's wounds would have been fatal on an ordinary person. Yet at that moment, Conqueror's Haki surged from Tsugikuni Yoriichi's body, and overwhelming pressure descended upon every pirate.
Tsugikuni Yoriichi hung high above the clouds,