Flying Fleet Attack!

In Episode 44, Qi Yuan immediately raised both legs, instantly coating them in Armament Haki. With a flying leg clamp, she shot out like a cannonball.

Jia Ji was still shouting in midair when, the next second, a deafening boom rang out. It was so loud that it sounded like the blast of a cannon.

Qi Yuan, go easy with your feet!

Mu Chen instinctively thought Qi Yuan's kick had been too heavy, but the next second, he realized something was wrong. It wasn't me!

Qi Yuan also looked puzzled. The sound had not come from here—it seemed to be cannon fire from the harbor.

Several more cannon blasts followed, and only then did everyone realize that the firing was indeed coming from the harbor.

Only then did Mu Chen realize what was wrong.

Something was wrong. Mu Chen's face turned grave. Golden Lion had come after all. Marine Headquarters had already been on wartime alert during this period, and cannon fire had arrived at such a time. There was no need to think about it—it could only be Golden Lion Shiki. At the harbor, every cannon had failed to find its target, while several enormous shells had blasted huge craters throughout Marineford's port.

At the same time, alarms began blaring throughout Marineford. Where were the cannons firing from?

Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Where is the enemy?

All the Marines instantly entered combat mode. Each of them anxiously gripped their weapons and took up defensive positions, yet they could not find the enemy anywhere.

Then someone suddenly looked up and shouted, "The sky! Look at the sky! The enemy is in the sky! It's Golden Lion's Flying Fleet!"

What?

None of the Marines could believe their eyes. A floating island slowly emerged from the clouds above Marineford's harbor. The enormous Floating Island was incomparably spectacular. At its forefront stood a gigantic golden lion's head, majestic and imposing. The entire island resembled a pirate ship and even flew a pirate flag. Dense rows of cannons lined both sides of the island, and its massive bulk blocked out the sunlight, plunging the whole harbor into semi-darkness.

The Marines throughout the harbor were stunned by the shocking sight, beads of sweat as large as raindrops forming on their faces.

Th-That's Golden Lion Shiki's Flying Fleet.

Golden Lion! Golden Lion has come! Everyone was utterly shocked.

Many more Marines at Marineford had not known Golden Lion would come. Their orders had only been to enter wartime readiness because an enemy attack might occur. Yet when the enormous Floating Island appeared, every Marine was instinctively stunned. That was Golden Lion Shiki, a great pirate on the same level as Pirate King Roger!

Meanwhile, in the Fleet Admiral's office, Kong, Sengoku, and Zefa all wore grave expressions.

Sengoku slowly said, "He came after all. Since Golden Lion dares to come, then let's make sure he stays!"

Zefa clenched his fists and strode straight out the door.

Zefa!

Kong had just tried to stop Zefa, but Zefa had already left.

"Forget it. Sengoku, go with Zefa."

As Kong spoke, he unconsciously picked up a special Den Den Mushi.

"Attention!"

This Den Den Mushi was connected to every loudspeaker in Marineford.

Atop the Floating Island, Golden Lion Shiki wore a yellow-orange striped coat, his golden hair draped down his back and over his shoulders.

Holding two swords, he stood atop the gigantic golden lion statue head on the island.

Shiki raised his right hand and touched his forehead, muttering, "Roger, you were an opponent I acknowledged. I, Golden Lion, have never suffered such a grave injury before. But how could you be executed by such insignificant Marines?"

The wound on Shiki's head had been inflicted during his battle with Roger. Even now, a broken ship's wheel remained embedded in his skull.

"I don't believe it! I'm definitely stronger than you! So what if you were the Pirate King? Just watch me wipe out this damned Marine Headquarters today!"

"Hahaha!"

Shiki burst into wild laughter.

At the same time, Mu Chen and the others, who were on a back street in Marineford, also saw the island in the sky.

Golden Lion... Mu Chen's expression was grave. He was even somewhat nervous. He knew just how powerful Golden Lion Shiki was. Not only did he possess all Three Types of Haki, he also had the Float-Float Fruit, which allowed him to fly.

Moreover, Golden Lion possessed formidable swordsmanship. His two weapons were also among the twenty-one Great Grade Blades: Kogarashi and Oto.

Jia Ji had just crawled out of the rubble. When he saw the flying island, terror filled his eyes.

No way... Golden Lion really came?

Even now, he could not believe that Golden Lion had truly come. This was Marine Headquarters—Marineford had never seen any pirate daring enough to attack it.

At first, he had thought it was all just boasting and that Fleet Admiral Kong had been overly nervous. But the moment he saw the flying island, Jia Ji felt as though his head were about to explode.

At that moment, Kong's voice rang out from every loudspeaker in Marineford.

"I am Kong. I order all cannon batteries to aim at Golden Lion's island and prepare to fire at any time. All Marines are also ordered to assemble at the harbor."

After Mu Chen and the others heard Kong's voice, Qi Yuan prepared to set off, while Jia Ji had yet to recover from his shock.

"Wait!"

Mu Chen stopped Qi Yuan. Qi Yuan turned back and asked in confusion, "What is it?"

Being stopped so suddenly, Qi Yuan instinctively wondered whether Mu Chen was afraid of death, but he did not seem like that sort of person.

"Don't rush. Based on what I know of Golden Lion, he could not possibly place all his main forces at the harbor. And haven't you noticed that there is only one sky island?"

"Where is the rest of the Flying Fleet?"

Mu Chen laid out his analysis.

Someone as powerful as Golden Lion could indeed choose to launch a frontal assault, but Mu Chen did not believe Golden Lion could really be that foolish.