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"Charge!!!"
On the other side of the island, Gan Fall, riding a flying horse, led the Sky Island guards in a fierce battle against the remnants of the Flying Pirates.
After learning from Conis that Zyhark's group had already launched an attack on the Blue Sea Beast Island, Gan Fall wasted no time organizing his troops. (I forgot her name, lol, so lets leave it as Conis)
Due to the heavy losses from previous encounters with the Flying Pirates, assembling personnel and replenishing weapons took considerable time, preventing them from arriving at the battlefield immediately.
"Phew, we're saved."
A scrawny Escanor slumped to the ground, watching the powerful presence of his allies surge under the night sky, quietly thanking the goddess of fate for her favor.
When Gan Fall initially encountered Escanor, he didn't recognize him as one of Zyhark's companions and mistakenly thought he was just another bystander from the Flying Pirates.
After a bit of explanation, Escanor managed to allay the Sky Island guards' suspicions, thanks to his frail appearance and seemingly weak strength.
Feeling the growing power of faith on the island, Aqua, who was stuck between mountain crevices, became highly motivated. She unleashed a charged Divine Punch, shattering the solid mountain and freeing herself from her awkward predicament.
"Charge forward, my faithful followers! This goddess will bestow upon you the greatest blessings!"
Standing atop the shattered peak, Aqua radiated a holy glow, enhancing all of Gan Fall, Wiper, and others' attributes.
After all, the opponents were core members under the Golden Lion's command, skilled in both types of Haki. With their current strength, Gan Fall and his team still found it too challenging to fight them.
Only when it involved her followers did this clumsy goddess seem even remotely reliable!
In the distance, a massive steel hammer swung, sending a violent storm that blew the approaching guards away, slamming them heavily into the ground.
"Hey, you losers better not get too cocky! I'm not the kind of guy who goes easy on weaklings!"
Yersin Karny, a lieutenant of the Flying Pirates, grinned ferociously as he charged through the encirclement of guards.
Even with Aqua's buffs, the basic power gap between the two sides was still too vast. Gan Fall and the priests could barely hold their own, but the regular guards stood no chance!
The captain of the guards, blood spurting from his mouth after being hammered, looked back and saw a small, cute girl walking towards them with tiny steps.
"Why is there a child here? Quick, I'll hold off this monster. Anyone who can still move, get her to safety! This place is too dangerous!"
The sight scared the guard captain out of his wits, hastily shouting orders to his nearby comrades.
"You still dare to look around?! Hey, what do you think I am?!"
A gigantic, terrifying shadow blocked his view as the guard captain turned back sharply.
A massive steel hammer came down on his head with lethal intent!
"Damn it!"
The guard captain's pupils contracted violently, realizing it was too late to dodge.
In his moment of despair, he saw the seemingly harmless figure of the small girl cross dozens of meters in an instant, appearing right in front of him.
Bang!
The little girl's seemingly soft punch lightly swung, shattering the heavy steel hammer forged from alloy into countless fragments as if it were a fragile balloon!
"No way?!"
Yersin Karny, clutching the remaining handle of his hammer, was startled.
Wasn't this the same kid he had been chasing around earlier? How could she shatter his Haki-covered weapon with a single punch?
No, something was wrong!
Yersin quickly noticed the little blackened fist, his face showing a terrified expression as if he had seen a ghost.
Armament Haki!
A seven-year-old kid who could use Armament Haki so skillfully?!
"Annoying guy, shine!"
Without giving him much time to be shocked, the emotionless Kanna adjusted her stance and swung another punch with her other hand.
"Iron Body: Steel!"
Almost out of instinct, the intense sense of danger made Yersin tense all his muscles, using the Marine Six Powers he hadn't used in a long time.
This guy used to be a Navy branch Rear Admiral, who, attracted by the Golden Lion's charisma and prestige, defected to the Flying Pirates and became a lieutenant.
'To think you made me use my proudest defensive technique, but once I endure this punch, I'll make you taste the depths of hell, you damned brat!'
Filled with confidence from his use of Iron Body, Yersin smugly gave himself a "Confidence MAX" buff.
Then, in the next second, he, who had confidently faced Kanna's punch, was sent flying over a thousand meters, blood gushing from his mouth as he crashed into a large crater.
With a twitch of his mouth and a tilt of his head, he lost all ability to fight...
A gentle breeze blew, causing the little cape on the tiny body to flutter slightly.
Kanna the One Punch Girl isn't just messing around!
"Uh, um…"
The guard captain, in his shock, was at a loss for words and stood there unable to speak.
Who could understand this?
Just a moment ago, this little girl needed their desperate protection, yet now, she casually punched and took down the formidable enemy they struggled to contend with?!
"Don't worry, Zyhark's friends, the bad guy's been punched away by Kanna~"
Kanna clapped her small hands, turned around, gave a thumbs up, and her cute face broke into a radiant, heart-melting smile.
"So, so adorable!!"
Even the seasoned, battle-hardened guards were healed by this smile, their eyes brimming with little hearts.
With Yersin Karny defeated, more forces poured into the other battlefields.
Under the sheer numerical superiority and the cooperation of the Baratie companions, the remnants of the Flying Pirates quickly became overwhelmed, getting defeated one after another and collapsing to the ground.
In the sky above, the final decisive battle was also reaching its conclusion.
The Golden Lion was indeed powerful, having temporarily suppressed Zyhark, but he was no longer in his prime, hindered by the rudder in his head and his amputated legs.
Moreover, Zyhark, who possessed the Devour ability, grew stronger the longer he fought. His defense was unbreakable, never giving the Golden Lion a chance to deal a fatal blow!
Boom!
Endless lightning illuminated the night sky as Zyhark's full-force attack landed. The Golden Lion, exhausted, took the full brunt of the damage and fell like a cannonball from the sky, crashing into the ground and creating a massive, terrifying crater.
Seeing this, the last shred of hope in the hearts of the Flying Pirates' officers, who had been controlled, completely collapsed.
Their myth, the great Golden Lion Shiki, who once dominated the seas... had lost!
"Cough, cough."
Lying in the ruins, the Golden Lion mustered the last bit of his strength, using his Float-Float Fruit powers to make his body float, maintaining a proud, upright stance.
Though the battle was decided, this inherently rebellious legendary pirate would never allow himself to appear before his opponent kneeling in submission!
Sensing this dignity, Zyhark, who was high in the sky, didn't immediately appear. He waited until the Golden Lion had steadied his faltering figure before descending in a flash of electricity.
"Golden Lion, you've lost."
His voice was somewhat low, as if holding back something.
"Jihahahaha, what a satisfying battle! Since Roger died, it's been a long time since I fought such an exhilarating fight!"
The Golden Lion, still the same Golden Lion, laughed heartily, accepting his defeat.
Even though he was covered in wounds and filled with resentment, the reality was undeniable. Saying more pointless trash talk would only make him appear more pitiful.
"The new era, with someone like you, will be incredibly thrilling. Knowing this, I can die content."
"Go ahead, brat. Take my head. Your name will resound across the entire sea!"
The Golden Lion opened his arms wide, exposing his unguarded chest to Zyhark, ready to embrace the end of his life.
Under his fearless gaze, Zyhark stepped forward, slowly raising his dual swords.
Clang.
The swords were sheathed, making a crisp sound.
"If you're so concerned about the new era, then live on with that hope, Golden Lion."
"??"
The Golden Lion, who had been prepared to die, blinked in confusion.
From their deeply intense battle, he knew well that the young man before him was no merciful soul.
He had seized the young man's territory and claimed the City of Gold, which could drive any pirate mad, yet this guy didn't show any killing intent?
"I think you've misunderstood something from the start. We are just good people doing honest business on the sea, not like you ruthless pirates with no bottom line."
Feeling the unbearable pain and backlash from his injuries within, Zyhark took a deep breath.
"You, good people?" The Golden Lion's eyes were filled with even more confusion.
What kind of international joke was this!
You even killed the Celestial Dragons without a second thought, and you describe yourselves as "honest"?!
If you're honest, then Shiki might as well be a model citizen!
"If I recall correctly, Golden Lion, your bounty is about —4.2 billion, right?" Zyhark suddenly remarked.
Golden Lion: "..."
Damn it, after all this talk, it turns out you're just eyeing my bounty?
Ugh, typical money-grubbing business scoundrels!
Though Zyhark, who controlled the Golden City, hardly needed to worry about money, gold in the world of pirates was more valuable than steel due to its strategic value over paper currency.
Furthermore, they were now individuals under close scrutiny by the World Government. Frequently exchanging gold for money would eventually raise suspicions about Sky Island.
Therefore, cashing in on the Golden Lion's bounty seemed necessary!
As for why not take his head directly to Marine Headquarters? Naturally, capturing him alive would yield a higher reward.
The Golden Lion was already past his prime, whereas Zyhark's strength would only continue to grow, eliminating concerns about any future threats.
If this guy managed to escape from prison again and came looking for trouble, Zyhark could simply defeat him the same way and cash in on another bounty!
From the perspective of sustainable resource development, Zyhark even hoped the Golden Lion could manage a second prison break. That way, capturing him again would bring in yet another substantial bounty.
After all, it was the World Government's wool he was pulling; there was no guilt in taking advantage of them!
However, given what had happened before, if the Golden Lion tried to escape again, the difficulty level would be significantly increased.
Whether the Navy and Impel Down would choose to eliminate the threat on the spot to prevent future issues remained an unknown factor.
Of course, that wasn't Zyhark's concern.
"Sigh, the taste of defeat is truly bitter," the Golden Lion sighed deeply, imagining himself possibly returning to that dark, damp prison, devoid of good wine and cigars, and feeling a profound sense of gloom.
"Kid, just as you wish, I'll continue to survive in the shadows, keeping a close eye on how you plan to upend this world!"
Soon enough, a renewed glint of enthusiasm appeared in his eyes.
Just as he had mentioned earlier, he was filled with boundless expectations for this new era that brought forth a super rookie like Zyhark.
"Jihahahaha! In the end, I'm still the better man, Roger. At least I have the chance to witness the future of this world!"
With hearty laughter and many mixed emotions, the Golden Lion's remaining strength was finally drained, rendering him unable to maintain his Float-Float Fruit power any longer.
With a "thud," the legendary pirate collapsed to the ground, falling unconscious on the spot.
Seeing this, Zyhark's tense nerves finally relaxed entirely, and a pained expression emerged on his otherwise calm face.
Without bothering to take the unconscious Golden Lion away, Zyhark vanished in a flash of lightning, disappearing from the spot, focusing on locating Aqua while moving.
Even though he had prepared for this, the backlash from using the Devour ability was far beyond his expectations.
His entire body felt as if it was being torn apart, with every muscle and nerve flooded with unbearable pain.
Only due to his enhanced Haki and resilient spirit did Zyhark manage to hold out until the Golden Lion fell!
And this was just the beginning!
"Strange, it looked like a short distance from up there. Why does it feel so long walking to the battlefield below?"
The clumsy goddess Aqua was wandering around the hillside, mumbling to herself, "No wonder Zyhark said this opponent was tough. They even anticipated my appearance and set up a mechanism to extend the path?"
"Hmph, clever people, knowing to trap the most troublesome goddess."
"Stop with the self-importance, Aqua! Quickly, give it to me!"
The sudden shout startled Aqua, making her look up to see a bloody figure appearing in front of her!
"Where did this bloody monster come from? Take this, my holy purification!"
Whoosh!
A dazzling blue purification light instantly formed, enveloping Zyhark's bloody figure.
Zyhark: "..."
If he didn't understand that this idiot goddess's brain had been waterlogged for years, he would have thought she was deliberately getting back at him!
Although he wanted to curse her out severely, his body had already reached its limit.
His vision gradually blurred, and his consciousness started to fade.
After all, his opponent this time was the Golden Lion Shiki, a master of Conqueror's Haki, and Zyhark had already sustained significant injuries during their fierce battle.
With the multiplied backlash, even with Zyhark's resilient physique, he finally reached his limit.
Death wasn't on the table, but under normal circumstances, injuries of this extent would require at least half a month of rest to recover!
In the last second of his consciousness, Zyhark, swaying, felt himself falling into something unreasonably soft.
Then, his mind went blank.
He had no idea how much time had passed before a cool breeze brushed against his cheeks, and the round, bright moon hung in the starry night sky. Only then did Zyhark's consciousness gradually clear.
It was already late at night.
"Wow, Zyhark, how embarrassing. You made such a mess out of fighting an old guy."
A disgruntled voice grumbled in his ear.
Zyhark slowly opened his eyes, his vision revealing the distinct outline of a goddess's robe.
"Aqua, where's your head?"
His mind was still a bit foggy, making him blurt out what his eyes saw.
Despite his usual disdain for the dumb goddess, he couldn't deny one thing: hearing her voice and knowing he was still alive indicated he was safe.
This was one reason he hadn't used time reversal to push his limits after finding Aqua, knowing that he probably wouldn't die.
"Huh? I worked hard to heal you, and this is the thanks I get? You curse me the moment you wake up?!"
Not hearing the heartfelt gratitude she had fantasized about, Aqua's face showed even more displeasure, her delicate brows knitting together.
As Zyhark regained full consciousness, he finally noticed the intelligent light blue eyes—it wasn't that Aqua's head was gone; it was just blocked by something large and unusual!
Yes, at that moment, his head was resting on the lap of the clumsy goddess.
"Hahaha, my apologies."
Zyhark slowly sat up, making a rare polite gesture of apology to the clumsy goddess.
The excruciating pain that had previously wracked his entire body had disappeared. Although he was still severely lacking in stamina, it was evident that the side effects of his Devour ability had been thoroughly neutralized.
"Thanks, dumb goddess." Zyhark said with a smile, waving his hand.
"That's it?" Aqua responded with disdain.
"I'll give you access to the ship's wine cellar for three days."
"Oh, Lord Zyhark! I knew you wouldn't forget to reward me!"
"..."
"By the way, the battles in the other areas should be over by now, right? Why don't I see Meowth and the others?"
Zyhark glanced around briefly, realizing they were still on the hillside. "Aqua, don't tell me you..."
"...don't know the way back?"
"Wh-what are you talking about! I—I'm right! I was just thinking about healing you first. Otherwise, I would've gone looking for them already! How could a wise and noble goddess like me get lost? That's simply impossible!"
Aqua's eyes were unfocused, and even her words were stumbling.
Case closed.
Zyhark sighed helplessly.
The clumsy goddess had strong abilities, but her pig brain was a complete lost cause—hopeless!
"Hey! Zyhark, what's with that look of contempt and disappointment for your savior?!"
Aqua, sensitive to his changing expression, immediately started her familiar and amusing tirade.
With a quick observation using his Kenbunshoku Haki, Zyhark confirmed that his companions had secured control of the island.
Feeling no urgency, he decided to leave this "trap-filled" small mountain with the chatterbox goddess.
(End of Chapter)