Golden Lion...
At this moment, as this name echoes across the globe.
Everyone is taken aback!
Even though many years have passed without its mention, countless are hearing it for the first time.
Or it's as if memories of him are being dredged up from the depths of their minds...
Golden Lion Shiki!
The Flying Pirates!
The trio of legends once as renowned as Roger and Whitebeard!
Terrifying pirates who shook the seas, threatening the entire world. Even the World Government had to regard them with utmost seriousness!
Though this pirate had vanished from the seas for so long, his reappearance still commands attention from all!
Numerous spectators, from various corners of the world, are now reminded of the dread inspired by Shiki the Lion!
The terror of that legendary pirate is palpable. Compared to Bullet, Golden Lion Shiki is evidently more renowned and infamous worldwide. Similarly, many big players in the seas now recollect the lion!
Whitebeard Pirates!
"Shiki…"
In this moment, Whitebeard sits stunned upon his throne.
For the figure appearing in the image now leaves him in a state of shock.
He hail from days of yore, acquainted with few in this era, and Shiki... is one of those few!
Though we were enemies back then, to see him after so many years is indeed a sight.
Clearly, it brings him joy.
"I never imagined he'd still be kicking after all these years!"
"I had thought him long gone in the depths of Impel Down City, hahaha…"
After Shiki was defeated by Garp and Sengoku, he was imprisoned within Impel Down City.
As for his subsequent whereabouts, others remain unaware...
With no news of the Golden Lion for so many years, it's natural to assume he's met his end!
Yet here he stands, much to the delight of his former compatriots. Marco and many other crew members join in laughter.
After all, they are the most seasoned crew members of the Whitebeard Pirates.
They are intimately acquainted with the tales of the Golden Lion...
Red Haired Pirates!
At that instant, Shanks gazed up at the sky, his expression a mix of confusion and recognition.
As one of the original members of the Roger Pirates, Shanks was intimately acquainted with that era—the era of a man as formidable as his own captain, whose terror resonated through the seas.
The name Golden Lion stirred memories deeply etched within him. He was a superlative pirate, entwined in numerous encounters with his captain. Like Whitebeard, Shanks too shared a similar reaction upon encountering the words "Golden Lion" anew:
"He is still alive!"
"?"
"After years of absence from the seas, I presumed he was long dead!"
"What a revelation..."
Yet swiftly, solemnity replaced surprise on Shanks' countenance. His past as a Roger Pirate crew member afforded him intimate knowledge of the Golden Lion Pirates.
He understood, perhaps better than most, the fearsome prowess of the Golden Lion, the soaring pirate, who posed a threat surpassing even that of Whitebeard at the time and came perilously close to matching their own captain.
"Every time, Luffy's enemies are truly staggering!"
"Even with a behemoth like Bullet, there's now the Golden Lion..."
"Luffy faces dire straits this time!"
It wasn't disbelief in Luffy's capabilities that troubled Shanks; rather, it was his intimate acquaintance with the terror the Golden Lion evoked.
Hence, his worry for Luffy's impending trials was profound.
Onigashima!
"Could that truly be Shiki?"
"After years of silence, is he orchestrating something monumental in the shadows?"
"If he crosses paths with the Straw Hat Kid, given his nature..."
"The Straw Hat lad will assuredly meet a gruesome fate!"
"With that, I needn't concern myself with targeting the Straw Hat Kid any longer..."
With this realization, a sinister grin crept onto Kaido's visage.
The Golden Lion, renowned as an adversary of Roger himself.
One of the three legendary pirates on par with Whitebeard.
Yet there existed another facet of his identity, known to few—only to seasoned veterans and those well-versed in pirate lore...
For the Golden Lion was once a member of the most formidable pirate crew in history—the Rocks Pirates!
And Kaido himself, too, bore the mark of the Rocks Pirates!
Once upon a time, the Golden Lion and Kaido were comrades sailing together on the same ship. It was the demise of the Rocks Pirates that led to the Golden Lion and Kaido fleeing and establishing their own ventures.
Hence, Kaido is well-acquainted with the character and prowess of the Golden Lion.
It's apparent that the Golden Lion is resolute in becoming the strongest in the world.
After years of no communication with his old comrade, Kaido had presumed him long deceased, or perhaps he had ventured beyond these seas.
But now, Kaido is certain!
Encountering his old friend, the Straw Hat boy, would reveal a stark contrast from his former self.
It's bound to render one unable to digest or fathom the situation!
"Straw Hat boy, whom do you wish to provoke? Are you aware of whom you're provoking?"
"In that case, prepare yourself for the terror he brings."
The Navy Headquarters!
Which faction reacts most vehemently upon the Golden Lion's appearance during the live broadcast of Luffy's pinnacle battle?
It's the Navy Headquarters!
At this moment, within the Navy Conference Hall, the five highest-ranking officers—Sengoku, Garp, Akainu, Kizaru, and Aokiji—gazed bewilderedly at the golden lion soaring in the sky.
Everyone was petrified...
They stood with widened eyes, speechless!
No one could gauge how much time elapsed while they remained in this state.
Garp was the first to snap out of it, rising from his seat. "Could it be?" he exclaimed with astonishment. "Golden Lion Shiki!?"
"Luffy has engaged in combat with this individual?"
"How can this be!?"
Garp's shock was understandable.
After all, it was he and the Warring States who defeated the Golden Lion and imprisoned him in Impel Down. Garp had firsthand experience, realizing the formidable strength of the Golden Lion!
The difficulty of dealing with this individual!
On the other side, Sengoku's expression mirrored Garp's astonishment.
His sentiments echoed Garp's.
The dread the Golden Lion instills surpasses ordinary comprehension. Sengoku knew it, but he preferred not to dwell on it!
All he could muster was a wry expression.
"If this individual reappears, the seas will undoubtedly be thrown into turmoil once more, hmph!"
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