Whoosh…
A curtain of green foliage parted, and suddenly the path ahead opened up.
Jagged brown rocks jutted unevenly from the ground, and the uneven terrain stretched right up to the edge of the sky.
Luffy and the others reached the island's edge, ready to look down below, when a figure suddenly appeared directly above them in midair!
"Greetings, members of the Starry Sky Pirates!?"
A golden lion, so covered in thick fur it nearly brushed the ground, slowly descended from the sky. Its voice carried the arrogance of a ruler looking down upon the world as it addressed Luffy and his crew.
A thick cigar protruded from its mouth, the smoke swirling quickly in the thin high-altitude air.
So it's really you!
Luffy, who had long suspected who it might be, immediately smiled upon seeing the newcomer.
After all, on this vast ocean, those worthy of addressing the Starry Sky Pirates were becoming fewer and fewer…
Stepping forward from the crew, Luffy looked up at the golden lion standing in the sky. Twin swords strapped to its legs, the lion's expression showed mock surprise as he said:
"Never thought I'd meet the legendary pirate Golden Lion Shiki here!"
"Golden Lion!?"
Robin froze at Luffy's words.
Most of the crew might not know the old legends, but Robin did…
Golden Lion—Shiki of the Flying Pirates!
Alongside the Roger Pirates and Whitebeard Pirates, he had been hailed as one of the few who could rival the Pirate King.
A silver-tier contender of the previous generation.
Of course, in the end, he had come remarkably close to the Pirate King, forming a complex relationship with Roger, both friend and rival.
"Hey, hey…"
From behind, Usopp nudged Brook's arm and asked this living history book of the Starry Sky Pirates:
"Brook, do you know this Golden Lion?"
Brook revealed his gleaming black bones and scratched his skull, thinking for a while before saying slowly:
"Hmm… I think…"
"There was a rather famous newcomer back in the day."
"But it's been so long, and he wasn't exactly a major figure… my memory's a bit fuzzy…"
"Though I don't really have a brain, yohohoho~"
…
Arrogantly, the golden lion looked down on Luffy and the others. The twin swords slowly pressed into the soil beneath him.
"Truly unexpected!"
"This 'Emperor of Paradise' long lost to the seas… appears here of all places!"
"Huh? Emperor of Paradise?"
Luffy frowned slightly, confused.
When the Seven Warlords were disbanded, they had just reached Sky Island.
Although the flow of information on Sky Island wasn't completely cut off, news traveled slowly.
Combined with Luffy and the crew being focused on training and paying little attention to the outside world, this piece of news—closely related to the Starry Sky Pirates—had completely escaped their notice.
Golden Lion had no intention of explaining to Luffy.
The sharp edge of his sword caught the air, reflecting a cold glint. Arrogant and indomitable, Golden Lion rose once more, gazing at the youthful faces of Luffy and the others, and remarked nostalgically:
"The seas these days… how adorable. Even kids like these call themselves emperors."
Recalling his days competing with Roger, Whitebeard, and others on the seas, Golden Lion unconsciously assumed the posture of a senior.
But to the Starry Sky crew, his words sounded far less flattering.
Feeling slighted, and catching the condescending undertone, an invisible pressure erupted violently from Luffy's body.
The immense force bore down entirely on Golden Lion, causing the air to crackle with sounds like lightning exploding.
"Golden Lion, I don't know much about the seas, but some things… are better left unsaid!"
"An elder should behave like an elder!"
"Think carefully before pointing fingers at the young!"
"Oh? The kid from the Garp family has some nerve!?"
Golden Lion's expression instantly grew serious.
Facing Luffy's Conqueror's Haki—a level already rivaling an Emperor—this legendary pirate showed no trace of fear.
Forget mere Emperor-level Haki… Golden Lion had seen far stronger forces in his time!
Looking at Luffy's overwhelming aura, he felt a spark of admiration.
"Kid, how about joining my crew?"
It just so happened he was preparing to execute a plan, and gaining a capable ally would make things much easier.
Unfortunately…
Golden Lion's small temple couldn't contain Luffy and his crew's ambition!
BOOM!!!
From behind Luffy, a godlike aura suddenly erupted, pressing down…
Zoro stepped to Luffy's side, raising his chin and squinting his eyes as he smiled at Golden Lion:
"Recruiting our captain… in front of us?"
"That's a bit too disrespectful, don't you think?"
Intense heat surged violently.
The rising flames nearly singed Shiki's Super Saiyan 3-like mane.
Sanji lit a cigarette, observing Golden Lion from head to toe.
"Wonder what a lion with its mane gone can even do."
"Yohohoho~"
Brook slowly drew his soul sword, releasing a chilling spiritual force.
The icy aura instilled an inexplicable terror in Golden Lion.
Even a skeleton's presence radiated a fear deep from the soul.
BOOM!!!
A wave of raw energy erupted from the entire Starry Sky crew.
Golden Lion's golden mane rippled like waves in the wind.
The legendary pirate's expression began to shift.
"What an enviable group of kids!!!"
The aging Golden Lion let out a heartfelt exclamation.
Facing the Starry Sky Pirates, he felt a spark of the old days.
A strong captain, dependable comrades, brave youths trembling yet standing against enemies, and bizarre yet courageous people…
For some reason, a surge of pride welled up in Shiki's chest.
Years of dormancy were swept away.
Under the overwhelming presence of the crew, Golden Lion finally unleashed the immense power he had wielded across the seas for decades.
"Seems I've been too quiet for too long!"
"These young brats already dare to show up at my doorstep and challenge me!?"
"Let me show this 'Emperor of Paradise' what true strength looks like!!"
Shiki's swords slashed downward in a cross.
The terrifying strikes churned the earth below.
The power of the Vision-Vision Fruit instantly activated!
The lifted soil swirled together, forming a gigantic lion head dozens of meters high, charging toward the Starry Sky Pirates!
No introduction needed—fight was on!
This was the previous generation's pirate!
A true pirate!!!