"Seastone bullets, not bad, old man Shiki." Roa chuckled.
He hadn't had a chance to use them before, but now they were finally coming in handy. Indeed, Seastone bullets and a gear-based Doffy were a perfect match.
"Ugororororo! Shiki, I thought your subordinates were impressive, but is this all they've got?" Kaido scoffed without hesitation. "They can't even handle these brats under Roa?"
Roa couldn't help but glance at his good brother. How could you say that, Brother Kaido? Old Man Shiki's cadres are undoubtedly tough; they're leagues above your motley crew, aren't they? You're really leaning into this big brother act.
"So the situation now is," King interjected, "one draw, one win."
"This is a bit of a headache," Roa rubbed his smooth chin. "That means if Old Man Shiki wins, it's a tie, no clear victor."
"A tie?" Golden Lion slowly floated up, looking down at Roa and Kaido from mid-air. "If I win, then I've obviously won."
"Such a cunning old man, deceiving the feelings of youngsters. We agreed to a best of three, didn't we?" Roa sighed helplessly.
"It was expected," Kaido stood up, casually hanging his gourde back on his waist. He then pulled out his spiked club from some interdimensional space. "Did you really expect a pirate to keep his promise?"
"You're right about that." Roa placed his hands on the table and slowly stood up. As he did so, black fur sprouted across his body, and large black wings unfurled from his back. When he stood upright, his massive horns pointed to the sky. "Promise me, Old Man Shiki, even if you lose, don't let it hurt our friendship."
"Stinking brat," black-and-red lightning crackled in Golden Lion's eyes, "do you think I'll lose?"
Boom!
Terrifying Conqueror's Haki suddenly descended, with Golden Lion at its center. Streaks of black-and-red lightning ceaselessly flickered, and for a moment, the entire island trembled, cracks even appearing on the ground.
Without any hesitation or discussion, equally terrifying auras surged from Roa and Kaido, and the three formidable wills immediately clashed.
"Waaahhh!!"
Below, Doflamingo, who had been a little smug from his victory, groaned, feeling his mind go blank as if he was about to faint from the shock.
Fortunately, merely unleashing Conqueror's Haki was just an emotional release and had no impact on the battle itself.
Thus, the trio's Conqueror's Haki quickly dissipated.
Golden Lion drew the two swords from his waist, the tip of his right sword pointing at Roa. "Come, kid, let me see your blade."
"That brings back memories." Roa slowly drew the two swords from his waist, scarlet lightning gradually coiling around both famous blades.
Conqueror's Haki coiling around a sword? Golden Lion raised an eyebrow.
No wonder he could defeat Zephyr. Had this kid truly grown to such an extent at this age? It made even him feel a surge of excitement!
With a flap of his wings, Roa slowly ascended. Beside him, Kaido's body was already covered in blue scales, and he synchronously ascended, riding the flame clouds that erupted from beneath his feet.
Three monsters faced off in the sky.
"When I can't hold on, you'll come to support me, right, Brother Kaido?" Roa feigned weakness before the battle.
"You damned brat, when you say that, keep your smirk down a bit!" Kaido glared at Roa, who wore an exhilarated smile, and snorted irritably.
"Haha!"
Roa transformed into a black meteor, instantly streaking towards Golden Lion. His two swords crossed at his chest, suddenly drawing two intersecting crimson sword slashes, named:
"Lion's Might—Dust-Sealing Oblivion Slash!"
Golden Lion, whose expression had been stern, now unconsciously curved his lips into a smile.
Clang!
Twin swords against twin blades. The moment the four blades collided, powerful Haki lightning spread across the sky.
Below, Headcracker Hyde's face was grim. So strong! As expected of a man with a 2-billion-berry bounty! Such power, such Haki!
"I told you, didn't I? Don't embarrass yourself with such inexplicable moves!" Golden Lion exerted force with both arms, directly sending Roa flying back.
"Still no aesthetic sense after all these years, Old Man Shiki? Then try this: Tiger's Maw!"
Flapping his wings, Roa flipped in the air. Crimson auras spread from his two swords, transforming into two giant crimson blades, dozens of meters long. Roa swung them, chopping consecutively at Golden Lion, dancing two crimson crescent moons in mid-air.
Golden Lion took two hits, still standing firm, while Roa's two giant crimson blades instantly shattered.
"Tsk! Is the difference that big?" Roa clicked his tongue.
"Rather, how did a brat with such half-assed Haki defeat that Zephyr fellow? Wave Slash!"
The Golden Lion continuously swung his swords, and two massive flying slashes instantly shot out.
"Haha, perhaps Mr. Zephyr is someone who respects the old and cherishes the young?" Roa also swung his sword, "Wave Slash!"
The crimson flying slash immediately collided with Golden Lion's golden slash. The sky trembled, and the shattered air currents seemed to transform into blades that cut through everything.
"Gyahahahahaha! Then I think I understand!!" Golden Lion instantly swept forward, appearing right in front of Roa in a blink.
"Calamity Two-Sword Style!" Roa's two swords crossed, sparks flying the moment they separated, immediately igniting roaring flames, and then, leaping lightning and swirling strong winds followed.
"Triple Annihilation!"
Lightning, fire, and wind, three elements, harmonized by bloodlust, intertwined around the two swords in Roa's hands, creating a violent elemental maelstrom!
"That's more like it!" Golden Lion laughed heartily, cleaving down with a sword. "You didn't disappoint me, Roa!!"
"Thanks for the compliment!"
The famous blades collided once more. Thunder cracked, flames surged, fierce winds howled, and the sky itself was in turmoil.
The two engaged in the fiercest clash in the sky. Each collision was a resounding thunderclap, a tremor shaking the very heavens.
Wave after wave of violent shockwaves swept downwards, causing the entire island below to continuously tremble.
"Ooh, to be able to fight the Admiral to this extent? Two billion is certainly well-deserved."
Max, the Flying Pirates' number four, known as "The Deceiver," yawned languidly. "Speaking of which, have they already fallen out? Should we not just stand here watching?"
Bullet's eyes instantly lit up. Was it finally his turn to act?
But.
"Don't act rashly." Headcracker Hyde, the leader of the three cadres, shook his head. "There is a deep camaraderie between the Admiral and Lord Roa. They are not enemies."
"That's good then." Max nodded in relief. "I thought I'd have to fight." He didn't like fighting at all.
In the sky, the fierce battle continued.
"Lion—" Golden Lion raised his sword.
Roa, understanding instinctively, made the same motion. "Chigiri Valley!"
Both simultaneously wielded their twin swords like the wind.
Two storms instantly formed in the sky. Countless crimson slashes and golden slashes each transformed into a storm, colliding fiercely in the sky.
For a moment, the world lost all sound, only the thunderous roar of explosions could be heard.
"Gyahahahahahaha! It seems I didn't teach you in vain back then, brat!" Golden Lion burst out laughing.
Roa's two-sword style had almost entirely evolved from his swordsmanship.
"The master-disciple assessment ends here. Next," Golden Lion's lips curled upwards, "I'm getting serious!"
Thick streaks of Haki lightning suddenly erupted from his twin swords.
Haki Infusion, activated!
Roa took a deep breath. Luckily, this island was floating thousands of meters in the sky, so the dark energy replenishment was abundant.
Then let's see the power possessed by a true top-tier expert!
Roa flapped his wings and charged forward without hesitation.
"Gyahahahahaha! Kid! You're still far from it!"
Amidst the wild laughter, in the next instant, Roa was directly sent flying by a single sword strike.
"Ouch ouch ouch ouch!!" Roa cried out in pain.
His wrist bones felt like they were about to shatter; Golden Lion's sword was impossibly heavy! It was just like when Kaido, getting serious, faced Garp and was sent flying by a single punch.
Golden Lion pursued him. "Kid, do you understand the gap between us now? The future belongs to you! For now, just follow me!"
"Heat Breath!"
Searing flames rushed towards him.
Golden Lion sneered, casually splitting the massive pillar of fire in two with a single sword slash.
But.
Roa's horns on his head began to exert force. "Flames!"
The already surging pillar of fire immediately became even more violent. To Golden Lion's startled eyes, the separated flames re-converged, completely engulfing him.
"Ugororororo! Go, Roa!" Kaido swept past Roa's side.
Roa took a deep breath, the injury on his wrist rapidly healing. "Getting excited now!"
Flapping his wings, Roa followed closely behind Kaido.
Next, it was time for a righteous two-on-one!
"Come on, you brats!"
The flames were completely torn apart the next second, and massive slashes, much larger than before, came rushing towards them.
"Bad Wind!" Kaido spun his body, unleashing sharp, enormous wind blades.
Roa's eyes widened. "I'll raise the stakes!"
The already fast, large, and sharp wind blades were further accelerated, enlarged, and sharpened under Roa's ability!
Boom boom boom boom!
Amidst earth-shattering roars, the wind blades and slashes continuously collided and annihilated each other, only shaking the sky fruitlessly.
"Ugororororo! Is this how our abilities were meant to be used?" Kaido laughed heartily.
His laughter transformed into thunder.
Then.
"This is our bond!" Roa's smile was equally bright.
Immediately, streaks of lightning abruptly expanded into gigantic thunder dragons, tearing towards Golden Lion from different directions.
"Bond? Let's see if it can block my swords!" Golden Lion swung his twin swords. "Lion: Hundred Waves!"
Golden light shimmered in the sky as two massive golden streams of light surged from Golden Lion's twin swords, like surging giant waves, instantly sweeping away everything in the sky. The thunder dragons were directly blown apart.
But at that very moment, Roa and Kaido had already linked up and arrived.
Both raised their weapons, a strange smile on their faces.
"Conqueror of the Sea!"
Though Roa could only use partial Haki Infusion with Enma, this was still Conqueror's Haki!
This time, they truly aimed to dominate the seas!