"Is this your purpose? Robbing the Dials of the Skypiea?!"
Boom!!!
With an explosive roar echoing out, a figure shot out from the dust and smoke. There wasn't a single wound on Rowen's body, but his cape's hem, unable to dodge the attack in time, had become tattered under the pressure of the thousands of tons of Island Cloud.
With the support of the Heart Network, the movements of the pirates couldn't escape Rowen's perception. Each one had a clear objective, heading straight for the opulent residences of the Dial suppliers on Angel Island.
If Rowen wasn't sure that they had nothing to do with him and Golden Lion Shiki, he would have thought they were his hired helpers!
Naturally, the current focus wasn't on this. It was why Golden Lion Shiki was seizing the Dials.
Admittedly, as weapons, the Dials of the Skypiea had their merits. In a world where even Marine Headquarters soldiers commonly used flintlock firearms as individual equipment, Dials surpassed them in both destructive power and convenience. It was only natural that they drew attention.
But there was a quantity issue!
These were weapons slightly superior to ordinary firearms but they couldn't play a decisive role in a war. If they could be mass-produced like firearms, it would be a game-changer.
However, Dials couldn't be produced on the same scale as firearms. Their quantity was limited. Even the Marine Headquarters, which controlled a large number of Dials, only allowed a small number of officers to apply for them.
"Hmph! That's none of your business!" Golden Lion Shiki snorted coldly without answering, and the Island Cloud, like a giant lid, suddenly flipped over.
Lion Majesty · Govern Place Cloud Coiling!
A massive Island Cloud Mighty Lion roared again as it pounced towards Rowen.
The obscuring white Island Cloud weighed not just thousands of tons. However, in the presence of Golden Lion Shiki, it was still manipulated like a swinging arm.
Initially, the Float-Float Fruit couldn't achieve this level. This showed how deep Golden Lion Shiki's proficiency was in the Devil Fruit development.
200 Million Volt · Thunder Dragon!!
Boom! Boom!
A muffled thunderous sound echoed through the sky. A Thunder Dragon, over a thousand meters long, materialized out of thin air. Faced with the imposing Island Cloud lion, it swung its tail vigorously.
Snap!
Zi Zi Zi...
Fierce electric currents tore a large gap in the Island Cloud, shattering pieces of it on the spot, and falling towards the sky.
If the earlier Thunderlight Penetration Cannon was a small-range attack from point to point, which failed to erase the Island Cloud entirely and led to Rowen's disadvantage, he was now surprised to find that when he enlarged the area, his thunder couldn't completely erase the Island Cloud!
Golden Lion Shiki didn't merely let the Island Cloud float and form a lion's head; he continuously compressed and solidified it during the floating process, giving it an even sturdier texture than before.
"No wonder he was once considered the strongest man in the world twenty years ago!"
Seeing only a part of the picture, one could imagine how magnificent Golden Lion Shiki was in his prime!
If Golden Lion Shiki hadn't suffered a defeat in the Edd War, he might have really become the man who could change history, despite the Yonko, Revolutionary Army, and Shichibukai. However, now it was the year 1518 of the Sea Calendar, and two years later, he would even be defeated by Strawhat Luffy, who was considered a newbie pirate at the time. His strength was no longer what it used to be.
This move was an attack intensity change derived from the increase in fruit development level. But compared to sheer attacking power, as a Goro Goro no Mi (Thunder Thunder Fruit) Ability user, Rowen had never been afraid of anyone!
Overload Esoterics · Eight Dragon Grasping Gems!
Boom! Ka Cha!
The sky suddenly darkened, and bolts of thunder struck down, with electric light flashing. The thunder didn't disappear after striking; it crawled on the Island Cloud Mighty Lion like tangible pillars, plowing out scorched ravines.
However, this wasn't an attack; it was just the accompanying electric current.
Bang!
Rowen raised his fist, which had turned into a ball of light almost devoid of any flesh tone. Eight mighty lightning dragons, winding out for over a thousand meters, circled and danced in the air several hundred meters above his head.
Then... a meteor fell!
Roar!
The resounding roar of the Thunder Dragon shook the earth and heavens. Rowen transformed into a dazzling Thunderlight, with eight Dragons swirling behind him, and descended with a resounding crash.
His target was directly Golden Lion Shiki!
"Good, come!! Jihahahaha!"
Golden Lion Shiki's laughter was unrestrained as the Island Cloud, shattered by the impact, swiftly moved without any pause, quickly converging on the white cloud lion. This caused the previously single-headed Island Cloud Mighty Lion to instantly enlarge.
The mighty lion raised its head and let out a deafening roar. In the midst of countless astonished and shocked gazes, it took a step forward, like a carved relief coming to life, breaking free from the Island Cloud.
A complete Mighty Lion appeared!!
Its mane was clearly visible!
Lion Majesty · Cloud Lion King!
Confronted with Rowen unleashing his ultimate move, Golden Lion Shiki was undaunted. He intended to break through forcefully with an invincible frontal assault.
This was Golden Lion Shiki, the once Overlord of the seas with a power that seemed so strong that it could have ruled this world!
"Roar!!!"
The Mighty Lion roared on the spot, then kicked off the ground, fiercely pouncing towards the falling meteor. Above the sky, Eight Thunder Dragons chased after Rowen, who had transformed into a ball of light, twirling around the thunderous fringes Rowen conjured, gradually merging into one.
A larger Thunder Dragon appeared in the sky, carrying with it the power of boundless destruction, piercing down!
One up, one down, one Dragon, one lion, collided fiercely in mid-air!
Zi Zi...
Time seemed to freeze for an instant and the Thunderlight suddenly disappeared. The air around became extremely oppressive, devoid of any brilliance within the dark clouds.
Soon after, a speck of light emerged from the point of contact.
Before anyone could see clearly what it was, the Thunder Dragon's roar tore through the air!
Bang!!!
The thunderous explosion shattered the Island Cloud Mighty Lion, its entire body appearing slightly dim. But Rowen clenched his fist without hesitation. He swiftly arrived in front of Golden Lion Shiki, whose eyes widened in astonishment, and his fist ruthlessly struck the left side of his face.
...Crash!!!
There was no extra sound. Only the resounding echo of this tremendous impact reverberated through the heavens and earth.
Far away in Upper Yard, Gan Fall and others were momentarily deafened. They futilely and fearfully widened their eyes, staring at the world that was taken over by Thunderlight, yet remained eerily silent.
This was Rowen's power!
The power of Vice Admiral Soryu!!
In an instant, Gan Fall felt an extremely strong sense of dread towards Rowen. With this power, Rowen could easily destroy Angel Island, and he could do it as if it were child's play!
"Phew!!!"
With a fist carrying boundless monstrous power, Golden Lion Shiki's head was instantly clouded, and almost instinctively, he spewed out a gush of blood. Then, he was sent flying on the spot.
Bang Rumble!!!
A vast expanse of the White Sea exploded with a resounding explosion. A huge circular depression was deeply embedded into it. The fish that had inhabited the floating island for millions of years suffered calamity today.
Golden Lion Shiki was sent flying and directly crashed through the White Sea, causing a Tremor that killed a large number of marine creatures.
Whoosh...
An ear-piercing whistle made scalps tingle as the God's Officers and pirates fighting on Angel Island turned their heads in shock, immediately inhaling sharply.
What a massive hole!!
Starting from the still unscattered cloud lion's forehead, a circular passage, spanning over a thousand meters... no, perhaps over ten thousand meters, appeared in the air!
That passage with a diameter of over a hundred meters stretched across more than half of Angel Island. Even though the battle was on the north shore, a giant-scale breach was opened in the south shore's White Sea, revealing the Blue Sea below.
Golden Lion Shiki smashed through countless layers of clouds all the way, creating a path in the sky. In a straight line, everything vanished in an instant, becoming incredibly spacious!
"I remember causing a scene like this back in Birka, but it wasn't me who caused it."
Rowen flipped and landed on the remaining Island Cloud, kneeling down on one knee, his arm trembling slightly. "Overload," this unique technique derived from the Thunder-Lightning Stimulation Method was undoubtedly terrifying in terms of power, but its side effects were even more fearsome!
With this punch, regardless of Golden Lion Shiki's condition, Rowen knew that his hand bones were shattered.
But he wore a smile on his face as he watched Golden Lion Shiki, now transformed into a shooting star, disappeared into the distance.
"How does it feel, Golden Lion Shiki!!"
(End of this chapter)