Don't Underestimate the Bonds of the Rocks Pirates

Golden Lion's heart jolted. Almost the instant the black mist spear closed in, he drew the twin blades at his waist and slashed backward. Yet his flight speed did not slow in the slightest, and he continued charging forward at high speed.

Swish! Swish!

Two crescent-shaped sword slashes flew out in crossing X-shaped trajectories, precisely meeting the black mist spear bearing down on his back.

Boom!

The two forces collided violently in midair, and explosive shockwaves surged outward.

Yet the black mist spear did not disperse. It burst out from the center of the explosion and continued pursuing Golden Lion.

Golden Lion's gaze darkened sharply, cold sweat beading on his forehead. As he accelerated, he cursed at the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox Demon ahead, "Damn it, Ron, just what the hell did you provoke?!"

As soon as the curse left his mouth, Golden Lion's mind spun rapidly. Wait, this thing was chasing Ron. If he just moved aside, wouldn't it have nothing to do with him?

"Jiehahaha..." A smile returned to Golden Lion's face. He swiftly sidestepped the incoming black mist spear, then immediately changed direction and flew toward the other side. "Ron, Kaido, have fun by yourselves!"

Sure enough.

Imu did not even spare him a glance. Those indifferent eyes remained fixed on the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox Demon as he continued the pursuit.

Inside the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox Demon, Kaido had been watching the situation behind them. Seeing Golden Lion move aside, he hurriedly called to Ron, "Hey, Ron, Shiki didn't stop that guy called Imu. Still, that smug look on his face is really damn irritating."

Ron's gaze sank slightly. It was not that he cared about Golden Lion failing to stop Imu. It would have been strange if that guy had managed to stop him. What truly concerned him was that he had not seen Whitebeard or Rocks.

If he spotted them, he could pull them into the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox Demon and flee into the sea.

"Keep an eye out," Ron quietly instructed Kaido. "If you see Newgate or Rocks, tell me immediately."

Ron knew a little about Imu's abilities.

He possessed the ability known as Black Conversion Domination. In the original story, Rocks had been controlled by that Black Conversion Domination and had ultimately met his downfall.

After spending this time together, Ron had developed a fairly good impression of Rocks. He did not want the Rocks Pirates to come to an end here.

"What?" Kaido suddenly became much more alert. "Newgate and Rocks came too?!"

"That's not a good thing." Ron's tone carried a hint of helplessness. "Rocks came to beat you up."

"..."

Half of Kaido's excitement instantly vanished.

During their conversation, the pursuing Imu suddenly erupted with even more massive amounts of black mist.

The black mist twisted and writhed like living creatures. In an instant, it condensed into a gigantic black mist bow, its body curved like a crescent moon while dark red arcs of lightning danced across its string.

Imu drew the bowstring, and three sharp arrows formed from black mist appeared out of nowhere upon it, their tips aimed at the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox Demon's back.

Swish!

The moment Imu released the string, the three black mist arrows shot out, their air-rending shrieks exploding through the surroundings.

"They're coming, Ron! Behind us!" Kaido forgot his earlier disappointment and hurriedly shouted a warning.

Ron reacted instantly. The Golden Nine-Tailed Fox Demon leaped fiercely from the ground, and the three black mist arrows grazed its belly before slamming into the earth.

Boom!

In an instant, a deafening explosion rang out. The violent aftermath threw up all the surrounding trees, grass, and broken stones, leaving behind three enormous charred craters in the ground.

Ron frowned deeply. Without realizing it, he had reached the edge of the coastline. Ahead lay the vast sea, while soft sand stretched beneath his feet.

The instant the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox Demon landed, it made a sharp turn and sprinted wildly toward the other side of the coastline.

Imu remained in relentless pursuit, constantly launching attacks to disrupt Ron's path forward.

Not long after Ron and the others left, two figures arrived at the shore.

Rocks carried a long blade over his shoulder, his steps swift and his eyes locked on the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox Demon ahead. "That brat Ron runs too fast. We can't catch him at all."

Whitebeard ran shoulder to shoulder with him, but his eyes were fixed on the black figure. "Behind Ron... there seems to be someone terrifying."

"I know." Rocks nodded. "That aura is extremely similar to the one I sensed from that person in the Room of Flowers back then."

Whitebeard tilted his head slightly, glancing at Rocks from the corner of his eye. "Who?"

Rocks did not look at him. His gaze remained ahead, and rare solemnity filled his voice. "The World's Summit."

"..."

Whitebeard fell silent for a moment and did not ask further.

Golden Lion floated in midair, looking down from above at the devastated, crater-riddled ground below, his eyes carrying an indescribable disappointment.

He knew he had arrived too late. That legendary Devil Fruit was no longer destined for him.

Still, as things stood, this outcome was within the range he could accept.

Because that fruit had not been taken by Kaido, nor had it been taken by Ron. It had been taken by that neither-human-nor-ghost thing.

As long as it did not fall into the hands of his own people, he would not feel too bad about it.

"Rocks really is a bastard," Golden Lion muttered. "Telling me this so late."

Thud! Thud! Thud!!!

Suddenly, heavy footsteps sounded in the distance, drawing closer and denser by the second.

Golden Lion slowly turned around and looked toward the source of the sound. Then his face froze.

That Golden Nine-Tailed Fox Demon had made a huge circle and was sprinting straight toward him.

"Hey, Shiki!" A booming voice came from inside the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox Demon. "I came to pick you up!"

Golden Lion's expression stiffened. Almost instinctively, he turned and accelerated toward the side, cursing over his shoulder, "Get lost, Ron! Don't lead that thing over here!"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Ron's voice came from within the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox Demon. "I, Ron, will never abandon a companion!"

As soon as he finished speaking, two golden chakra arms extended from the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox Demon like two agile giant pythons, reaching for the flying Golden Lion ahead.

Inside the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox Demon, Kaido was deeply moved by Ron. "Ron, you... Shiki that bastard is inhuman through and through, yet you're still willing to lend him a hand in a crisis!"

Ron listened with a baffled look on his face as he glanced at Kaido, unable for a moment to tell whether this guy was deliberately stirring things up.

"Who the hell is your companion?!" Golden Lion cursed loudly as he dodged left and right through the air, then up, then down, then left, then right. "Get the hell away from me! That thing behind you is damn sinister!"

After cursing, Golden Lion ranted wildly in his heart: Ron, are you even human? Why didn't you remember we were companions when you were handing out the loot? The moment danger shows up, you remember we're all part of the Rocks Pirates?!

"Shiki, don't underestimate the bonds of our Rocks Pirates!!" As Ron spoke, even more chakra hands extended from the Golden Nine-Tailed Fox Demon.

Golden Lion was utterly speechless at the sight. Bonds? Rocks Pirates bonds? Was this bastard insane?

"Ron, can you get the hell away from me? Don't force me to kill you!"

(There would be another chapter later.)