"Disappointed? No, I'd never be disappointed in you, my daughter," Michael said, shaking his head.
"Every path a person walks is a choice they make themselves. No one else has the right to feel disappointed. But... perhaps 'regret' would be a more accurate term for this emotion."
Michael swung his sword, deflecting a thrusting tentacle aimed at his chest, then retreated a few steps, settling amidst the flower garden that had stood for over eight centuries.
"Is that so? This emotion in your eyes... is it regret?"
"No... it's hatred and heartache," Michael replied, gripping his sword with one hand.
Violet-black Armament Haki enveloped Morning Star.
"Hatred for my choice not to take you with me back then... heartache for your endless descent into the abyss of corruption over these eight hundred years."
"Then you truly are... a magnificent adoptive father!" A flicker of emotion crept into Lily's voice.
How could Lily, who had become the embodiment of all the world's negative emotions, fight without any emotional investment? And once that sliver of "anger" surfaced, everything spiraled out of control.
"Michael! Since you can't love me! Then! Let this entire world burn to ashes in hellfire! Demon Form: Impaler!"
Tendrils erupted from her body, enveloping Lily.
The dense, tangible darkness solidified into her armor.
Sharp spikes coalesced in her hand, transforming into a peerless weapon, invincible and unstoppable.
They spiraled together, forming a massive, black lance.
Then... With a flap of her wings, she transformed into a streak of black light.
Michael's eyes widened in shock.
This was... Unprecedented speed!
Even he couldn't react in time to defend. What kind of speed was this? Even his Observation Haki struggled to track it. He barely managed to raise Morning Star before his chest.
The next moment, the accumulated momentum unleashed an unparalleled impact. The lance tip struck Morning Star.
Michael was sent hurtling backward, crashing into the wall between the Room of Flowers' blossoms.
Lily watched Michael fly through the air, her face devoid of pity or reluctance. Instead, she burst into wild laughter.
"Hahaha! Michael! My darling! This is my eight hundred years of longing! Eight hundred years of love! Accept it! Why won't you accept it?!"
Embedded in the wall, Michael raised his head, withdrawing the emotions he had shown earlier.
He had to admit...
Lily was the most formidable opponent he had ever faced.
While others could merely fight him... The power Lily now displayed threatened Michael.
"Lily, you're strong... Actually, I'm pleased." Michael pried himself out of the humanoid-shaped hole in the wall, exhaled, and his eyes filled with battle intent.
"At least now... before I kill you, I can let you experience what true power is."
"Michael, you're so arrogant," Lily sneered. "Over eight hundred years ago, you believed you could save the world by overthrowing the Great Kingdom and the Lunarian Tribe... Later, you thought you could save the world by overthrowing the World Government and the Celestial Dragons... Michael, my beloved... Tell me, isn't it possible that you're the most naive one here?"
"An eight-hundred-year-old can certainly call someone in their forties naive and innocent..." Michael replied.
"But as a father... shouldn't you show me some respect?"
Michael stretched his neck.
The Holy Flame, Judgment Flame, and Wrathful Flame—pure white, sky blue, and blood red—intertwined, their colors shimmering as the Holy Light around him intensified, coalescing into heavy, tangible armor.
The pure white Holy Light and Holy Flame formed the base, while the sky blue Judgment Flame and blood red Wrathful Flame etched intricate, glowing runes across the surface.
The perfect Six-Winged Angel wings retracted into his body, replaced by a single pair of massive, luminous wings.
Now that Michael's six wings had fully matured, it symbolized the complete awakening of his Human-Human Fruit ability.
In the blink of an eye, he could enter the Ascension to Godhood: Zenith Day state, without the time-consuming transformation sequence he had used on Onigashima.
Yet his power far surpassed that of his battle against Kaido.
But his opponent was also far stronger than Kaido had been.
Michael had no doubt that if Lily had faced Kaido, she would've defeated him just as quickly as he could. Her speed alone was beyond Kaido's ability to counter.
"You're finally getting serious..." Lily's excitement grew, her hand resting over her heart. "This battle will bring you immense joy, won't it?"
"Killing is never a joyful act. Killing one's own daughter is even less so." Michael's face, illuminated by the Holy Light, appeared resolute and compassionate.
"The Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Type, Model: Demon, and the Human-Human Fruit, Mythical Type, Model: Seraphim... Daughter, I never imagined we'd face each other in such a fated confrontation..."
"Fate... it happens regardless of your resistance or disbelief." Lily raised her black, spiraling lance, her demonic wings expanding.
"Just as you traveled back from the future to rescue me from that hell... It was destined to occur, impossible to resist."
"But I'll ensure this fate has a definitive end, Daughter."
Michael raised his sword, Armament Haki gathering within it before erupting in a burst.
The flowing Armament Haki resonated through the massive, soaring slash.
"Starfire Rune Blade - Divine Song."
...
"Hiss! The battlefield in the distance is heating up," Buggy the Clown hissed, turning his head to gaze at the chaotic, fire-swept Red Line and Pangaea Castle from his perch on a steep cliff.
An earth-shattering roar erupted from the depths of Pangaea Castle—a terrifying slash that seemed to cleave the heavens.
"Enough gawking, Buggy. Have you forgotten our mission?" Benn Beckman leaned in from beside him.
"Even though we aren't on the front lines, securing the Ancient Weapon Uranus remains our top priority—above all else."
"Of course I know that, Beckman..." Buggy forced a bitter smile.
"But I still don't understand why they made me commander... I'm a weakling. Wouldn't it have been better to dismiss me like a fart? And now I'm supposed to command these god-tier fighters?"
Buggy gestured behind him.
Momousagi Gion, Chaton Tokikake, the Charlotte Family's Three Sweet Commanders, the Whitebeard Pirates' Phoenix Marco, and Edward Weevil...
'What qualifications do I even have for this?!'