The Snipe and the Clam Fight, the Fisherman Profits

Golden Lion's eyes remained fixed on the jungle not far away.

He felt an unprecedented sense of tension rising within him.

"Who's there?!"

The moment Golden Lion's words fell, his right leg lashed out like a whip.

Without mercy, he sent a Chop Wave toward the jungle.

In the blink of an eye, the Chop Wave howled toward the trees.

Using the Chicken Talisman's power, Roya floated directly into the air and easily dodged Golden Lion's attack.

As it traveled, the Chop Wave grew larger and larger, splitting the jungle in two. The houses behind it were also cleaved in half by Golden Lion's attack!

"What if I said I was just passing by? Would you believe me?"

Roya tugged at his cloak and spoke calmly to Golden Lion.

Golden Lion stared at the person floating before him, surprise flashing through his eyes!

He curled his lips and said to Roya, "If you tell me what Devil Fruit power you have, I'll believe you."

Looking at the person hovering in the air, Golden Lion felt as though this person could pose an enormous threat to him.

He did not know whether it was Roya's strangeness or that faint instinct.

In any case, Golden Lion thoroughly despised this feeling!

Because he was Golden Lion!

The legendary Flying Pirate!

How could he feel uneasy because of some mysterious person before him?!

Roya's eyes beneath his cloak calmly watched Golden Lion before he finally said, "My power is simple. I can float in the air and control objects, making them float and move."

As Roya's words fell, the anger in Golden Lion's heart was completely ignited.

"Jihahahaha! Are you messing with me? How could your power possibly be the same as mine?! I ate the Float-Float Fruit and became a Float Man! There can never be two identical fruits on these seas!"

"Lion's Majesty: Ground Roll!"

Golden Lion Shiki slammed both hands onto the ground. Using the Float-Float Fruit's power, he lifted the entire earth, shaping it into several lion heads before crushing them toward Roya.

"Didn't you say your power was the same as mine? Then let's see whether your power is stronger, or mine is!"

Five lion-headed masses of earth surged toward Roya amid violent winds.

Facing such a fierce attack, Roya merely tugged lightly at his cloak and pressed his other hand against the ground, imitating Golden Lion.

A blue, ghostly gleam flashed as the Chicken Talisman's power activated.

The ground before Roya began to float, forming a dragon head in an instant.

The dragon head looked incredibly lifelike. In terms of detail, it was even superior to the lion heads Golden Lion had created!

Golden Lion's pupils suddenly contracted as he instinctively exclaimed, "How is that possible?!"

"Boom!"

"Rumble!"

"Rumble!"

Roya's dragon head howled toward Golden Lion's lion heads.

It smashed apart the first four lion heads, then perished together with the last one!

As the two attacks shattered, dust filled the air.

Golden Lion absolutely could not accept such an outcome!

Faced with someone whose power was almost exactly the same as his, how could Golden Lion possibly let him go?

"You bastard, you've successfully enraged me. In that case, let me give you a taste of—"

Before Golden Lion could finish, the sound of distant cannon fire reached both their ears.

Looking toward the source, they saw black cannonballs raining down upon Vermeyo Island.

With each explosion, another crater appeared.

When Golden Lion saw the ten warships in the distance, cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Damn Marines! They actually sent ten warships just to capture me!"

Golden Lion even spotted Sengoku and Garp, two people he knew very well!

Standing beside Golden Lion, Roya immediately said, "You're overthinking it. Those ten warships aren't here just because of you. I'd say I deserve half the credit."

"Half the credit? Did you do something major before I broke out of prison?"

"Just a few minor things. I only snatched what the Marines cared about most right from under their noses, then destroyed a Buster Call with a single sword strike."

"Destroyed a Buster Call with one sword strike? Jihahahaha!" Golden Lion continued, "You sure talk big. Destroying a Buster Call with one sword strike is something even I can't do!"

After a pause, Golden Lion added, "But since you dare say such things, you must have some skill. How about joining my Flying Pirate Crew? I'll make you vice-captain! With the power of the two of us, we can definitely escape these damned Marines with ease! Then, with the IQ Plants on this island, we'll surely rule the world and accomplish what even Gol D. Roger could not!"

Hearing Golden Lion's words, Roya showed no interest. "I refuse. I was only passing by. Besides, you're too weak. Those who do not rely on themselves and instead borrow the strength of others are weaklings in the end!"

With that, Roya turned and left.

He had only come here to check in. He had no desire to get involved in a battle.

But Roya's words were like sharp swords, stabbing deeply into Golden Lion's heart.

The newly escaped Golden Lion instantly flew into a rage from humiliation.

He was the great pirate Golden Lion Shiki, fleet admiral of the Flying Pirate Crew, the legendary Flying Pirate!

And someone had actually called him weak!

He absolutely would not allow anyone to insult him!

"You bastard, you called me weak?! Then let me see just how strong you really are!"

"Chop Wave!"

Golden Lion used Oto on his foot to kick out a gigantic sword aura.

This sword aura was at least ten times larger than the previous one!

As far as the eye could see, everything was sword aura.

Even the Marines speeding toward Vermeyo Island in the distance froze for a moment.

Sengoku, standing aboard a warship, asked Garp beside him, "Garp, did they have some kind of conflict? Why are they fighting?"

Garp scratched his head, unable to react either.

He had feared that Roya and Golden Lion would join forces, but from the looks of it, they had worried for nothing.

Seeing this, Sengoku said, "When the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman profits. Everyone, prepare to attack! This time, we must capture both of them!"