The "Golden Lion" Shiki was in terrible shape. Even Yahn could vaguely feel it—right now, Shiki was like a dying lion, roaring one final time toward the sea and sky.
"So this is your last attack?"
Yahn murmured to himself. "If that's the case… then allow me to send you off!"
"Bankai—Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō!"
As Yahn's chant rang out, the cherry blossoms that once filled the sky rapidly dispersed. In their place, a towering black-armored warrior began to materialize behind him—far taller than even the largest of giants.
Clad head to toe in thick, jet-black armor, with a crimson cloth veiling its face, the warrior gripped a massive blade that grew even more immense and heavy by the second.
Synchronized perfectly with Yahn's own movements, the Kokujō Tengen Myō'ō trembled slightly, and in that instant, the sheer force from the great blade tore through the air lions that had been clinging tightly to it.
With a sudden spin, the giant blade was raised high by Tenken, its edge aimed directly at the now-ant-like figure of "Golden Lion" Shiki below.
Seeing this, Shiki burst into booming laughter, his spirit as fiery as ever.
"Shihahahaha! Brat Yahn, don't tell me you ate two Devil Fruits?!"
"Who knows?" Yahn replied casually.
Then, gripping his zanpakutō in a phantom-like stance, he made a sudden motion as though slashing toward Shiki.
At the same time, Tenken mirrored his movement. The exaggeratedly large blade, carrying unfathomable power, came crashing down toward Shiki.
"Shihahahaha…"
Faced with such a colossal strike, Shiki only laughed harder, as though mocking the heavens. Coating both his swords in intense Armament Haki, he roared:
"Lion Menace: Govern Place Earth Coiling!"
(T/N: I will just translate the Bankai Names/Techniques in Romaji and the techniques for One Piece characters in English.)
A barrage of flying slashes exploded forth, near-endless in number, all hurtling toward the descending blade.
Each one had the power to cleave the very sea itself.
Yahn, who was in perfect sensory sync with Tenken, immediately felt a surge of pressure and tremors through his hands. Of course, these weren't direct—what the massive giant felt was scaled and transmitted to him.
If Yahn had to bear the force of those flying slashes with his own body, he'd have been pulverized instantly.
"Still…"
"Even for me… once my blade is swung, it doesn't stop halfway!"
Eyes narrowing in resolve, Yahn pushed his strength to its limit, synchronizing with Tenken. Despite the onslaught of flying slashes, the blade continued its slow, relentless descent.
As it neared Shiki, the frequency and intensity of the slashes increased dramatically. Even the monstrous strength of the giant was nearing its limit.
"Shihahahaha! What's wrong, brat? Can't keep up?"
Shiki, now nearly a man made of blood, was still laughing maniacally even as he teetered on the brink of collapse.
But then—
Shiki's voice cut off. His body froze mid-motion. The seemingly endless barrage of slashes vanished in an instant.
BOOM!
The great blade, now unimpeded, thundered downward with a gust that shook the sea. Just as it was about to crush the now-motionless Shiki into dust—
Yahn suddenly halted the blade.
Controlling Tenken with precision, he stopped it mere inches away from Shiki.
Even so, the shockwave it released blasted Shiki downward like a ragdoll.
Yahn frowned slightly and moved his hand. Tenken bent down, and with a massive palm, caught Shiki mid-fall.
Keeping a safe distance, Yahn prepared to crush Shiki in an instant if needed. He looked down at the still body resting in the giant's palm and called out:
"Are you dead?"
"You're the one who's about to die, brat…!"
Shiki's eyes snapped open as he shouted hoarsely.
"If I hadn't lost so much blood… I'd have cut you down just now!"
Only then did Yahn truly register the absurd amount of blood Shiki had lost.
Before their battle, Shiki was already injured. Both his legs had been severed at the knees. During the fight with Yahn, he sustained even more wounds.
Despite that, Shiki moved with relentless fury, never once tending to his injuries. The wounds kept bleeding, unchecked.
And then, Shiki had even ripped the rudder/helm from his own head—a massive bleeding wound that accelerated the blood loss further.
Without realizing it… Shiki had almost bled out.
Realizing this, Yahn couldn't help but look at Shiki with a touch of admiration.
"Shiki… You truly live up to the title my old man used when he called you a 'heroic pirate.' You're no ordinary man."
"…Who's your old man again?" Shiki asked weakly, his voice starting to fade.
"Oh? Did I not mention it earlier?"
Yahn paused, then remembered he had indeed forgotten to mention it. He shrugged and said casually:
"My old man's someone you probably know well. The one who personally locked you up in Impel Down.
The world calls him… 'Buddha' Sengoku, Fleet Admiral Sengoku."
"…What? That bastard Sengoku is your old man?!"
Shiki, who had been lying still and ready to accept his end, suddenly exploded with rage.
He struggled violently, trying to sit up as he roared:
"Even if I die… I'm taking that damn Sengoku's son with me!! I'll make him taste the pain of losing a child!!"
But at that moment—
"Chirp chirp."
The small golden bird perched on Yahn's shoulder chirped twice, then hopped into his hand. It opened its beak… and out came a Den Den Mushi.
"Brrru brrru~"
Yahn looked at the ringing snail phone and sighed.
"Tch, that old man's really got good intel, huh? Already calling me?"
He shifted Shiki further away, still keeping a wary eye on him, and then picked up the call.
"Moshi moshi?"
On the other end, a deep breath was heard, followed by the voice of Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
"Yahn… Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Feeling a little seasick, maybe," Yahn replied casually.
There was a short pause. Then Sengoku asked:
"Where's Shiki? Did he hijack your ship?"
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Currently at chapter 370 for advance chapters
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