Thunder Beast VS Lion Pack

Hachinosu Port

At this moment, "battlefield" was no longer enough to describe it. It was more like two calamity-class lifeforms destroying a corner of the world.

Golden light blazed like flames burning across the sky, while lightning flashed like Heavenly Punishment tearing through the air.

The port, the sea, and the sky were all dyed in two disastrous colors: gold and silver.

High above the battlefield, Shiki's golden hair burned in the wind like a lion's mane as he dove down with wild laughter.

"Gyahahahaha!! Brat!! You think eating a Logia means you can strut around like you own the place?! How naive!!!"

He crossed his twin swords, and for an instant, all of Hachinosu seemed to be wrenched.

"Lion's Majesty: Ground Roll!!!"

"BOOM—!!!"

The earth rolled up like a carpet seized by a god. The entire port's ground was forcibly "pulled up" by Shiki's Float-Float Fruit ability!

Earth and stone were kneaded into dozens of savage lion heads. Their huge jaws roared, rock grinding against rock and spraying crimson sparks.

The next second, the lion heads howled as they lunged at Rock in the center of the battlefield.

"ROAR!!!"

The sight was like a tide of hell beasts descending upon the world.

Rock stood at the heart of the lightning, his black hair whipping wildly, battle intent blazing in his eyes.

"Good—"

He lightly tapped the ground with his foot.

"Thunder—Beast!!!"

"BOOM!!!"

Lightning erupted from his body, rolling in every direction like a raging tide!

Thunder tigers roared, thunder wolves sprinted, thunder dragons soared, and thunder hawks spread their wings. Countless savage beasts made of pure lightning shattered the air as they charged forward with the sound of destruction!

The air burned hazy, while thunderbolts carved deep fissures into the ground.

Pack of Golden Lions VS Army of Thunder Beasts.

—A confrontation never before seen in the annals of piracy.

"ROAR—!!!"

"RAAAH—!!!"

"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM BOOM BOOM—!!!"

Explosions connected into streaks of blazing white flashes, shaking the waters beyond Hachinosu until they surged backward three meters high!

Countless pirates were blasted away, frightened limp, or scared pissless.

Some screamed, some fell to their knees, and some fainted on the spot.

The explosions shook all of Hachinosu. The entire port was blasted into a blurry haze, leaving no visibility at all.

The next instant, a golden slash tore through the sky from within the smoke!

"Chop Wave!!!"

The golden sword energy shot straight at Rock's forehead, carrying the destructive force of a collapsing mountain and raging sea!

Immediately afterward, Shiki himself burst through the smoke and dust, flying toward him at tremendous speed. "Brat!!! Can you still take this!!!"

Rock raised his head, irrepressible excitement and battle intent flashing in his eyes.

The instant before the golden sword light struck him—

"Bzzzt—"

His entire body instantly transformed into lightning and dispersed into an electric current! The sword energy passed through the lightning, slicing apart more than half the rock wall!

Shiki's pupils contracted. "He transformed in advance, predicted it with Observation Haki?!"

But the next second, Rock's voice sounded above his head—

"I'm up here."

Lightning gathered once more. Rock pressed his palms together and pulled out a longsword condensed from pure lightning.

Patterns of lightning danced over the blade, chirping like a thousand birds! The two shot into the sky and entered the airspace above Hachinosu!

"CLANG!!!"

Gold and lightning exploded into rings of shockwaves in the air, forcing countless buildings across Hachinosu to shatter outright!

A violent storm rose, seawater rushed backward, and rocks fell from above. Every collision was like two islands smashing into each other.

The pirates all looked up at the sight. "H-Heavens..."

"Two monsters!!!"

"Captain Shiki has been forced to go all out?! Who the hell is that brat!!!"

Meanwhile, the Golden Lion and the lightning-wreathed boy continued to cross paths, flash, and collide in the sky, scattering even the clouds!

From afar, it looked as though two giant stars were endlessly crashing into one another in the heavens!!

All the pirates on Hachinosu had their scalps go numb from this sudden battle.

—Hachinosu · Spectator Area

The port had been reduced to a charred wasteland. The smoke had yet to disperse, and not a single lackey dared take another step forward.

Those who could still stand here were all monster-class beasts of the old era.

Newgate carried Kaido over one shoulder. Kaido was blackened all over, his hair a mess as if he had been struck by lightning.

He panted heavily, his eyes fixed on the lightning flashing through the sky.

"That brat... can actually clash head-on with Shiki?"

Even he was unwilling to believe the sight before him.

Seeing how miserable he looked, Linlin nearly laughed herself breathless. "MaMaMaMa! Kaido, you look more ridiculous than my pile of newborn babies!!!"

Kaido did not want to deal with her. "Shut up."

John staggered to the edge of the crowd with a bottle in hand, scratching his head drowsily. "Too damn noisy... Can't even drink in peace."

Ochoku stared at the two figures continuously colliding in the sky and murmured softly, "He can actually force Shiki to get serious... This brat isn't ordinary."

Buckin folded her arms as she stood beside Whitebeard, lifting her chin toward the sky. "Who exactly is this brat?"

Whitebeard's tone was unusually grave. "He's not simple."

Gloriosa elegantly crossed her arms, though she was clearly suppressing her curiosity. "Shakuyaku, do you know this boy?"

Shakuyaku took a deep drag of smoke and rubbed her forehead. "No."

Gloriosa frowned. "Then why did he show up with you?"

Shakuyaku spread her hands with a helpless expression. "He came down from the sky himself. Then he jumped onto my ship... and said he wanted to 'catch a free ride' to Hachinosu."

The air fell silent for three seconds.

The expressions of the officers around them all became identical: "Are you kidding???"

Was Hachinosu the kind of place one could casually hitch a ride to?!!

The sea wind howled, yet it could not drown out the rumbling of the entire island trembling faintly.

Above, lightning and golden light tangled like two giant dragons tearing apart the heavens;

Below, a group of calamity-like monsters from the pirate world had all been drawn in by this battle.

All because of that Lightning Boy who had suddenly barged into Hachinosu, instantly defeated Kaido, and clashed head-on with Captain Shiki.

In the sky, lightning tore through the clouds, while the Golden Lion's slashes ripped through the air.

"BOOM!!!"

Every collision between Rock and Shiki shook all of Hachinosu without end!

Everyone held their breath.

Shakuyaku gazed at the black-haired boy shining with lightning high above, an indescribable premonition rising in her heart.

—This boy might change the entire era.

Just as everyone was fully focused, heavy, slow footsteps sounded from the other side of Hachinosu.

They were not as violent as Kaido's, not as flamboyant as Shiki's, and even less upright and imposing than Whitebeard's.

Those footsteps carried an extreme pressure that made the air instinctively part, the ground sink slightly, and every strong person's heart tighten.

The officers all turned around. A tall black silhouette slowly emerged from behind the crowd.

The man was bare-chested, his muscles like a demon's sculpture, while a long dark coat draped over him snapped wildly in the wind;

His messy blue-and-white hair flew madly. A long lock hung down the right side of his face, while a purple lightning-shaped mark on his left cheek seemed to split his face in two;

Rough, unruly beard covered his chin and both cheeks, while short stubble around his mouth made him appear even fiercer. Golden earrings flashed with a cold gleam beneath the sunlight.

With every step he took, the ground trembled as though it could no longer bear his weight.

The pirate madmen of Hachinosu all fell silent, chills running down their spines.

Even Linlin stopped laughing, a rare wariness appearing in her eyes.

Every hair on Kaido's body stood on end as instinctive tension seized him.

Whitebeard, meanwhile, frowned slightly and muttered, "He's here."

Rocks raised his head, his golden eyes locking onto the lightning-wreathed boy in the sky.

At that instant, everyone on Hachinosu felt as if the air had frozen solid.

The corner of Rocks's mouth slowly curled into an incomparably dangerous arc. "So this is the brat causing such a commotion on my island."

He raised a hand, his knuckles cracking. "Good."

"Lightning brat, let me see whether you're qualified to..."

"Pique my interest."