Golden Lion, Battle!
The middle-aged woman turned pale with fright. She thought this outsider had completely lost his mind.
"Those who are arrested never come out!"
Yang Ning waved a hand without turning.
"It's alright. You should go quickly—don't get involved with me."
Her expression conflicted, but she obeyed, slipping away from his side.
Shiki's men arrived fast. A squad of muscular combat soldiers stormed into the village.
They stared in disbelief at Yang Ning, sitting atop the giant blue snail like a dazed lunatic. Had this man gone mad? Was he defying Lord Shiki's authority?
Seeing them arrive, Yang Ning—too lazy to care—jumped down and held out his hands.
"Didn't you want to capture men? Quick—take me to the palace."
The soldiers exchanged glances. One whispered to the captain:
"Captain… can we accept a crazy one like this?"
The leader hesitated—then gritted his teeth.
"Capture him. Lord Shiki said 'all men'—so it has to be all."
Yang Ning cooperated fully. He handed over Kotetsu, let them cuff his wrists, and followed without resistance.
Aboard a peculiar flying boat, he was swiftly transported to a much larger floating island.
This one dwarfed the others—yet its vegetation was sparse. From above, Yang Ning saw Gobi-like deserts and arid wastes. Shiki's palace lay hidden among distant mountains.
If I hadn't gotten "captured," I'd have searched forever.
He smirked. Truly, the brains of the Windbreaker Pirates.
After landing outside the palace, Yang Ning moved toward the grand gates—only to be blocked by a burly guard.
"What are you doing?! Laborers go to the back work area! Trespass here, and you die!"
"Hmm?"
Yang Ning slowly turned. His eyes darkened.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Hands cuffed, he used only his legs—kicking the squad into a heap of groaning bodies.
He found the key on one of them, unlocked the cuffs, and rubbed his wrists.
This physical weakness… really is my biggest flaw right now.
As he walked the straight path into the palace, he mused:
'Should I get a Zoan Devil Fruit? Ordinary Zoans are weak. Ancient or Mythical? Nearly impossible to find. Such a headache.'
Just then—a crushing aura descended from above.
He halted.
In the vast, snow-dusted courtyard of the ancient palace, his lone figure seemed tiny.
He looked up.
Floating in the gloomy sky—Shiki the Golden Lion: long blond hair, yellow cloak, cigar in mouth, sword-legs gleaming.
The old pirate gazed down—disdain and admiration mingling in his eyes.
Yang Ning met his stare, posture relaxed—but his grip on Kotetsu's scabbard tightened.
Two titanic auras clashed—stirring the falling snow into a whirl.
"Captain of the Windbreaker Pirates, Dragon Slayer, Extremely Evil Swordsman… Yang Ning."
Shiki's tone held no doubt—only recognition.
Yang Ning blinked in surprise. He didn't know his own title?
Then—a proud smile. Sounded impressive.
"Captain of the Flying Pirates, Flying Admiral, Golden Lion… Shiki."
Shiki threw his head back and laughed.
"Shiki, hahaha! I didn't expect a brat from the new era to remember an old remnant like me. Interesting."
Yang Ning grinned.
"Hahaha! Since you know you're an old fogey… stop jumping around in the new era, or you'll throw out your back!"
Whoosh!
Before laughter faded, they clashed.
Yang Ning reversed Kotetsu, slashing upward.
Shiki kicked down—his 21st Grade Great Sword, 'Withered Tree', flashing cold steel.
Sparks flew.
Shiki pressed down with his prosthetic leg, voice booming:
"Hahaha! 'Extremely Evil Swordsman'—what a grand title!
Let me, a swordsman of the old era, test if your strength matches your audacity!"
Blades met in a storm of light.
Kotetsu's white glow clashed with Shiki's twin swords—strikes too fast for the eye to follow.
Shiki moved like a swallow—soaring, spinning, legs carving precise, deadly arcs. He used the air to create distance, then unleashed flying slashes from above.
Yang Ning couldn't fly. He relied on Soul-Sucking Strike's recoil for short bursts—keeping him on defense. But his high-damage passive strikes made Shiki wary.
Dozens of blows exchanged in seconds.
Yang Ning stood firm—though his Soul Furnace Shield had been pierced four times. Thank goodness the damage was light.
He knew: his only hope was to outlast the old lion.
But Shiki wouldn't fight to the death. If pressured, he'd fly away—keeping the initiative.
Yang Ning couldn't help but admire him.
Even a crippled lion from the past… was still a lion.
His swordsmanship, his physique—far beyond Yang Ning's reach.
Only his system-boosted damage let him stand toe-to-toe.
After yet another Feast forced Shiki back, Yang Ning gripped his sword and sighed inwardly:
'I can't be picky anymore. I really need a Zoan fruit to cover my weaknesses.'
Across from him, Shiki was shocked.
A rookie pirate… matching him in sword combat?
This kid was terrifyingly strong.
Floating in the air, the Golden Lion's mind churned—confused by Yang Ning's power.
A weak body… yet such strength? But a weak body couldn't produce such strength!
The ship's rudder embedded in his skull for thirty years pulsed, shutting down his thoughts.
If I can't understand it… I won't.
"Lion's Roar – Imperial Palace Scroll!"
The snowflakes froze midair—then gathered before Shiki. In an instant, a colossal ice lion's head formed in the sky.
It opened its maw in a silent roar—and plummeted toward Yang Ning.
Yang Ning gave a wry, unsurprised smile.
"Hey—wasn't this a swordsmanship contest? You really are a true pirate. Unlike Roger or Whitebeard, you change your mind the second you speak."
He steeled himself, eyes locked on the lion filling his vision.
He raised Kotetsu high—white light blazing.
"One-Sword Style: Annihilation of Light – Heaven's Opening!"
A piercing white blade tore through the gloom—a rift of pure destruction.
In the palace square, the snow lion and light sword collided with a deafening roar!
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