"I never thought it," Golden Lion laughed, his voice echoing through the smoke-filled battlefield. "You're still this damn strong, Zephyr."
His laughter abruptly cut off.
With a flick of his wrists, the two famed blades—Sakura Ten and Withered Wood—slid cleanly back into their scabbards with a sharp clang.
"Alright. Let's call it here for today."
He casually brushed the dust from his cloak, as if the brutal clash moments ago had been nothing more than a warm-up.
"Shiki…" Zephyr's fists remained clenched, though the tension in his shoulders eased ever so slightly.
More than anyone else, he understood the truth—at this stage, he no longer had absolute confidence he could defeat Golden Lion head-on.
"Zeff-sensei…" Gern took a step forward, but Zephyr halted him with a single glance.
That tiny movement did not escape Golden Lion's notice.
His golden brows arched high, and the next second, laughter exploded from his throat.
"Zeahahaha!"
Rising into the air, his golden hair burned like living flame beneath the setting sun. From above, he gazed down at Gern with eyes full of cruel amusement—like a cat tormenting its prey.
"Where'd that bravery go, brat?"
The sea wind carried the metallic scent of blood as every word he spoke slithered straight into Gern's ears.
"Gern, was it?" Shiki sneered. "Heh. I thought you might actually be interesting."
"I didn't come here for that worthless trash they caught. I came because I heard you once crossed fists with Newgate."
That was the only thing that intrigued him.
"But now?" His grin twisted with disdain."Other than that one surprise punch, you're not even worth taking seriously."
He scoffed loudly.
"No—wait. A brat without even Conqueror's Haki thinks he can stand against Whitebeard? What a joke!"
A harsh laugh rang out.
"He must've taken pity on you and let you live—just like I'm doing right now! Hahahaha!"
The mockery cut deep.
Gern's fist clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.
Every word stabbed into him like a blade.
Beside him, Sakazuki's magma arm flared violently—only to be stopped by Zephyr's outstretched arm.
Zeff shook his head slightly, the dark lenses of his glasses glinting coldly.
Then he looked at Gern.
He knew this boy too well.
Three years of training—of watching him fight, endure, grow.
On the surface, Gern appeared calm and restrained.
But beneath that composure burned a fierce, untamed will.
Whether it had been his clash with Whitebeard or his relentless duels in training, Gern had never once backed down.
And now, faced with Golden Lion's humiliation—
"What? Not happy?" Shiki laughed again, drifting closer until he hovered just ten meters away.
He raised a finger and wagged it mockingly.
"Remember this—next time you see my flag…"
A chunk of rubble suddenly scraped past Gern's cheek.
"…you'd better crawl away like a dog!!"
The words slammed into him like a hammer to the soul.
"Zeff, teach your brat some manners!" Shiki roared. "Weaklings should know their place!"
Satisfied, he turned away and ascended into the sky, his laughter echoing alongside the crushing pressure of his Conqueror's Haki.
It wasn't just intimidation.
It was domination.
A declaration of superiority.
The wind froze in Gern's ears.
Golden Lion's laughter and lingering Haki clung to him like rust.
Blood trickled from the shallow cut on his cheek, burning hot—but it was nothing compared to the agony swelling inside his chest.
"Crawl away like a dog."
The words detonated in his mind.
Fragments of memory burst forth—
The slums of the West Blue, curled in filth and rot, gnawing on moldy bread.Believing the system would awaken—only to accept survival by becoming a Marine errand boy.Bowing his head in training camps, scraping together savings, desperately trying to change his fate.
And then—
Golden Lion's mocking golden eyes, staring down at him from above.
If only I'd stayed quiet like back then.
His fingers creaked under the strain as his nails bit into his palm.
Back then, he had survived by lowering his head.
By crawling.
Like a rat in the gutter.
I don't have a system.I only have one life.
But if even the me of "now" can have my spine snapped so easily…
The golden light of the sky stabbed into his eyes.
Then what were all those years of struggle for?!What was that gamble against Whitebeard for?!What were the countless nights of agony and training for?!
His blood began to roar.
Something ancient and violent tore itself free from the depths of his bones—like a beast ripping apart its cage.
Golden Lion was already rising into the sky, contempt etched into his back.
But then—
Gern smiled.
Slowly.
Blood traced the curve of his lips as he lifted his head.
Sakazuki's magma hissed.Zeff's arms trembled.Even Gern's own knees shook.
And then—
Everything fell silent.
Only the thunder of his heartbeat remained.
I deny it.
The air froze.
"Hm?" Golden Lion paused mid-flight and turned.
The young man he had dismissed now stood tall, crimson light burning deep within his black pupils.
In my world, you're nothing more than ink on a page—someone I once read about.
So tell me…
What gives you the right?
"I reject your rules!"
"When I step onto this stage, I become the protagonist!"
"All rules exist for me to rewrite!!!"
The moment his roar erupted—
The world shattered.
A tidal wave of Conqueror's Haki exploded outward, warping the air itself.
The ground fractured. Stones levitated.The clouds split apart as if torn open by an invisible hand.
Zeff and Sakazuki staggered back simultaneously, shock flashing across their faces.
Golden Lion's cloak shredded to ribbons.
Zeff's sunglasses cracked with a sharp crack.
This was Conqueror's Haki.
Not inherited.Not gifted.
But born from a soul that had been crushed… and refused to break.
"Kings don't bow to kings," Gern stepped forward, the earth collapsing beneath his foot.
His gaze locked onto Golden Lion's shrinking pupils as their wills collided violently.
"So let's see—""—who's the one that kneels!"
Black-and-red lightning wrapped around him as pale vibration particles spiraled outward.
At that instant, Bahuang trembled violently.
Dark crimson veins crawled across the black blade as though it had awakened from a long slumber.
BZZZZ—!
Lightning danced across the sword, resonating with Gern's will.
He gripped the hilt.
The blade erupted in blinding black-and-crimson light as Conqueror's Haki and vibration energy fused into something entirely new.
Gern raised his eyes to the heavens.
Thunder split the sky.
A king awakened.A black blade answered.
The monster spoken of by Rocks—the ignorant, uncontrollable aberration—
had finally awakened.