Just Passing By, Goshikito

Sengoku and Garp led a large force of Marines in an assault on Vermeyo Island.

Faced with this situation, Golden Lion had completely thrown caution to the wind.

His eyes held only Roya.

Just like when he had single-handedly wreaked havoc at Marineford.

If he did not kill Roya now, he would not be satisfied!

Overwhelming sword energy surged toward Roya.

The Chicken Talisman activated, and Roya's body drifted aside, easily evading the slashing sword energy.

The sword energy struck the ground with a sharp hiss, carving a terrifying chasm before Roya's eyes.

Golden Lion's aura suddenly erupted. His long golden hair fluttered in the wind, and his kimono rustled loudly.

"You bastard, didn't you call me weak? Why do you keep dodging? Do you dare face me head-on?!!"

"This time, let's see how you dodge!"

As his words fell, Golden Lion's bloodshot eyes bulged like bronze bells, making him resemble a rampaging beast.

"Shishi: Senjindani!"

This was an upgraded version of Chop Wave, with even greater destructive power.

In almost an instant, Golden Lion unleashed several slashes powerful enough to cleave mountains apart!

Countless slashes erupted outward from Golden Lion, venting madly in every direction.

Even the Marines were caught in the attack.

"Garp, Aokiji!"

Sengoku turned to the two beside him and said, "That mysterious man looks like he wants to retreat. While Golden Lion is keeping him occupied, surround them immediately. This time, we must capture both Golden Lion and that mysterious man!"

"Yes, Admiral."

"Sengoku, just remember to treat me to rice crackers when we get back."

Aokiji and Garp answered briskly. At the same time, their figures flashed as they used "Soru!"

They rapidly advanced toward Roya and Golden Lion.

Watching the fierce battle before him, Sengoku prayed inwardly, This time, we have to succeed!

Because he had seen Roya's floating ability. He knew very well that if Roya escaped, tracking him down again would be extremely troublesome.

"Ice Block: Pheasant Beak!"

Four ice spears condensed beside Aokiji and shot toward the slashes, blocking the attacks before him.

"Iron Fist!"

Garp was far more violent. Armament Haki gathered around both his hands as he swung them repeatedly, smashing one slash after another to pieces!

"Buddha Form: Shockwave!"

Facing the storm-like assault, Sengoku directly transformed into the Mythical Zoan Human-Human Fruit's Buddha Form and thrust the shockwave from his palm outward.

Wherever the shockwave raged, Golden Lion's slashing sword energy vanished without a trace.

Sengoku stood like a towering wall, protecting the Marines behind him.

Only Roya used the Chicken Talisman's power to keep floating through the air and dodging.

Golden Lion cast a cold glance at Sengoku and the other two. He knew he could not drag this out any longer.

"Jihahahahaha! In that case, let this be my grand return to the world stage!"

"Whether it's you, you hateful bastard, or the Marines, all of you can die!"

Golden Lion Shiki felt as though he had returned to the bold days when he had single-handedly wreaked havoc at Marineford. His aura surged once more.

Dark clouds slowly covered the sky, and a chilling wind blew through everyone's hearts.

Sengoku furrowed his brow. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately gave the order. "Attack!"

As Sengoku's words fell, Golden Lion moved!

Using the Float-Float Fruit's power, Golden Lion directly took control of the clouds overhead. The clouds continuously gathered, arcs of lightning flickering within them. The thick lightning bolts were as wide as thousand-year-old trees.

Under Golden Lion's control, the thunderclouds took the shape of a lion's head.

"Lion's Might: Goshikito!"

Golden Lion's raised hand slammed downward.

The lion's head formed from dense thunderclouds and lightning surged viciously toward Roya.

Faced with this attack, Aokiji, Garp, and Sengoku could only retreat rapidly in helplessness.

Sengoku was so shocked that he blurted out, "I never expected Golden Lion's Devil Fruit power to have awakened!"

Garp grinned. "Wonder whether that guy can withstand it."

"Whether he can or not, it's good news for us!"

At that moment, Aokiji said from the side, "Golden Lion isn't that guy's match."

He had faced Roya before, and that terrifying attack had left a deep impression on him.

As if to prove Aokiji's words, the moment he finished speaking, Roya's figure suddenly rose.

The wild wind whipped Roya's cloak.

Roya raised one hand to hold down the brim of his hat, keeping it from being blown away. His tone remained calm. "I already said it, I was merely passing by. Why make things so troublesome?"

"Clang!"

A sword cry echoed in everyone's ears.

Even Golden Lion's "Lion's Might: Goshikito" could not suppress that crisp sword cry.

The next second, Roya's overwhelming aura shot straight into the heavens.

To their senses, that heavy spiritual pressure was an immensely powerful Conqueror's Haki.

When Golden Lion sensed this, his face filled with astonishment, and he blurted out, "Th-This is impossible!"

Ryujin Jakka was slowly drawn by Roya, its blade glinting with a chilling, blazing radiance.

"Flame Hell!"

As Roya's words fell, dozens of towering pillars of fire erupted from the ground around him!

They surged toward Roya.

Forcing Sengoku and the other two to repeatedly evade with "Soru."

This was the first time Sengoku had faced Roya head-on.

When he saw such exaggerated Heaven-Raging Flame, he was so shocked that he could not speak.

Aokiji stared at Roya in even greater shock, because he could sense that the might of Roya's attack far surpassed that sword strike at Ohara!

The flames filling the sky gathered into Roya's Ryujin Jakka. Then, Roya swung his blade fiercely through the air.

In an instant, the winds and clouds changed.

The surrounding space warped in the heatwave as flames merged with the slash, carrying astonishing momentum!

Sword energy shrieked, and flames blazed.

When Roya's "Flame Hell" collided with Golden Lion's "Lion's Might: Goshikito," the whole world seemed to abruptly fall silent.

All they could see was that blinding light.

Sengoku narrowed his eyes, trying desperately to see what exactly had happened before him.

Suddenly, his eyes widened in disbelief. He saw that single slash effortlessly shred apart Golden Lion's "Lion's Might: Goshikito," which had been condensed from storm clouds and lightning.

The dark clouds directly evaporated beneath the flames' intense heat!

The lightning was also easily consumed by the flames!

Carrying incomparable power, it cut toward Golden Lion with unstoppable force...