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The red figure was forcefully smashed down by the immense, blazing slash, crashing heavily onto the ground.
"Huff... huff..."
Dust billowed, the ground cracked inch by inch, and the airflow raged uncontrollably.
"Hahaha, truly worthy of being the world's greatest swordsman of the previous era! Even slashes delivered with legs are still astonishingly formidable..."
Showing no sign of suppressed anger, Ichiji's figure shot up electrically, laughing somewhat excitedly: "Even having lost your fangs and claws, you old, decrepit lion still retain some lingering might, huh?"
His right fist was actually bleeding! Even covered in Armament Haki, the defense had been breached by that terrifying slash.
"Sharp-tongued brat! Your Haki cultivation isn't bad, actually managed not to get split in two by me..." Eyebrows knitting together, Golden Lion Shiki bit down on his cigar, his eyes glinting coldly as he spoke with a sneer.
He pointed downwards with his right hand, simultaneously curling his fingers slightly.
Piece by piece, stones suddenly began to jump.
"Rumble..."
The entire landmass trembled, large swathes of ground were violently ripped up, the terrain constantly changing, moving rapidly without Ichiji needing to move.
"Bang!!"
On the other side, sharp tiger claws lashed out fiercely, slamming onto the ground, causing it to shatter. Countless fragments flew, and the gale raged relentlessly.
"What's wrong? Weren't you going to block me? Kid......" Boris mocked. The moment Gin's figure retreated explosively, the massive tiger tail whipped out violently.
Gin, rapidly retreating, had a drastic change in expression. He quickly hardened his chest with Armament Haki for protection!
"Boom..." The massive tiger tail lashed against the pitch-black chest. He felt as if struck by a heavy blow, sent flying backward forcefully.
"Truly worthy of the 5th Division Captain, strong to an somewhat exaggerated degree..." Using Geppo (Moonwalk) to forcefully buffer the astonishing force, Gin wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, his expression extremely grim.
Although struck by the tiger tail, his injuries weren't particularly severe.
He held no advantage in speed, strength, or even Haki!
In reality, having followed Ichiji for merely a few years, reaching this level of strength was already incredibly impressive.
But he was still somewhat lacking compared to Doflamingo's highest Heart executive, Vergo¹, let alone the even stronger 5th Division Captain of the Flying Pirates, "Raging Tiger" Boris, whose Devil Fruit ability was already "Awakened."
No matter what, he was the 5th Division Captain during the Flying Pirates' peak. Comparing him to the Whitebeard Pirates' 5th Division Captain, Flower Sword Vista², one could tell – how could he possibly be weak?
"Gulp!"
"This is too exaggerated..."
Cavendish³ and Law⁴, having just stepped onto this area, couldn't help their expressions changing drastically. Watching the land being continuously ripped up, cold sweat dripped down as they were left somewhat speechless.
"Don't just stand there Staring, hurry up and help!" Griz Bode⁵ continuously kicked out Rankyaku slashes, detonating the explosive spheres thrown over by Dr. Indigo, shouting loudly at the two newcomers.
He certainly wasn't afraid of this guy with bizarre methods, but it was obvious Gin was being suppressed by the Flying Pirates' 5th Division Captain "Raging Tiger," struggling somewhat desperately.
Neither he nor Law and the others were qualified to participate in a battle of that level, but they could definitely finish off this weakest executive quickly. Then, the three of them could team up to hold off "Steel Drill" Blair, freeing up Captain Byrne to help Gin.
"Stay away from them? Suits me just fine!"
Soaring into the air with Geppo, Ichiji saw the land split cleanly in two below, completely separating him from the area where Gin, "Raging Tiger," and the others were fiercely clashing. Now, neither Shiki nor he would have significant reservations; they could finally let loose.
"Shishi Odoshi: Jijuan! (Lion Threat: Earth Scroll!)"⁶
Golden Lion Shiki let out a savage grin, clenching his right fist tightly.
"Roar——"
Sheets of earth, resembling small mountains, suddenly curled up, transforming into several enormous lion heads that lunged towards Ichiji!
"Rumble rumble rumble..."
Majestic and imposing, the giant lion heads, tens or even hundreds of meters tall, formed a circle, constantly writhing and charging, crushing and tearing towards Ichiji from high above.
The sky instantly darkened, aiming to trap him completely inside.
"Shuaaa——"
Endless dark matter madly surged out from Ichiji's body, continuously spreading and spreading out from the ground, seemingly swallowing the light, turning the entire space incomparably gloomy, like an abyss...
"Hmm?"
Shiki, in mid-air, narrowed his eyes slightly. "No matter how you look at it, it resembles a Logia-type⁷..."
"However, before my ability..." He grinned savagely, clenching his fists tightly, "...all struggles are futile!"
Those enormous, terrifyingly savage lion heads pressed down relentlessly.
Staring directly at the lion heads madly biting towards him, trying to trap him inside, Ichiji, surrounded by roiling darkness, remained expressionless.
"Darkness Descends!!! (Hei'an Jianglin!!!)"⁸
Rampant darkness surged towards the heavens, filled with a bizarre and ominous aura, making one shiver involuntarily.
The sky-filling darkness billowed violently, like fiercely burning black flames, or perhaps like rolling black waves, continuously gathering and compressing.
"What is that?"
"The sky has darkened..."
"That abyss-like darkness, what the hell is that thing?"
The entire sky darkened at this moment. Even "Raging Tiger," Gin, and the others engaged in fierce combat couldn't help but be drawn by the sight.
"Shua..."
The endless darkness converged, forming three enormous spheres of darkness.
They looked exactly like giant black suns, constantly devouring light, inspiring despair and fear!
They shot directly towards the numerous lion heads that had fully pressed down from above, about to close in and crush him, striking them violently!
"BOOM BOOM!!!"
Earth-shattering booms resounded; huge rings of explosion manifested.
"Whoosh~ Whoosh~"
Powerful shockwaves continuously impacted and swept outwards, making it difficult to keep one's eyes open.
Rampant darkness surged skyward.
"It's useless, Golden Lion..."
The crimson figure, wreathed in black mist, filled with strangeness and ferocity, stood imposingly amidst the thick waves of darkness, his aura soaring.
"Before this endless darkness, you will soon feel just how powerless you truly are!"