At this moment, Kai's form had undergone an earth-shattering transformation.
His body had grown nearly a third larger, but that was just the beginning. Where strange ring patterns had once marked his scales, glowing golden gems now sat embedded in his flesh. His forehead bore a brilliantly shining triangle symbol that pulsed with divine light.
His horns had changed dramatically. The upper pair remained in position but became more slender and sharp, like sacred spears pointing skyward. The lower pair extended forward past his mouth, forming a protective arch of bone.
But most eye-catching were four long, flexible ribbon-like tendrils extending from the horns, radiating pure golden light. They moved without wind, slowly dancing behind him like living creatures, full of sacred and extraordinary aura.
His awakened form didn't have the flame cloud ribbons typical of Mythical Zoan awakenings. Instead, these four light tendrils were his unique manifestation!
"So this is awakening?"
Kai felt the surge of new power coursing through him. Understanding clicked into place.
'So that's it—when your body and mind finally catch up to the Devil Fruit's power, it awakens!'
This sudden, perfect control over everything felt incredibly satisfying. He involuntarily raised his head and released a dragon roar that echoed through the clouds, shaking the very heavens.
Finally. He had finally reached this step.
His choice wasn't wrong! Look, hadn't the foreseen future come true?
That's right. He had deliberately gotten hit.
With his future sight Observation Haki, he could have forcibly broken through before Golden Lion closed the islands around him. But the future told him that Golden Lion's desperate strike, bringing ultimate external pressure, was precisely the key to unlocking his awakening door!
So Kai went with the flow, borrowing this legendary pirate's final strength to assist his breakthrough.
"So cool!"
Aboard Rayquaza, everyone gazed at that godlike figure in the sky, majestic and sacred, almost falling into rapture.
"Good! I've decided. I'm going to awaken too!"
Yamato's eyes sparkled with stars as she made her new bold declaration.
Kai temporarily had no time for his companions' cheers because he discovered something troubling. Golden Lion seemed somewhat dead.
In the sky, the floating islands maintained by the Float-Float Fruit had begun shaking violently, losing control, about to crash into the sea.
Golden Lion was directly shutting down!
Kai couldn't leisurely play with his newly acquired power. He dove down immediately.
If Golden Lion died, his Rusukaina Island would be buried too. Kozuki Hiyori's ability currently couldn't transport a large island.
"Hey, Golden Lion, don't die! At least wait until these islands are safely on the sea surface before dying!"
Kai grabbed the collapsed, barely breathing Golden Lion from the ground and gave him two firm slaps. The force was perfectly controlled, refreshing and mind-clearing.
Super effective!
Golden Lion was really slapped into slightly opening his cloudy eyes. His lips struggled to move but couldn't make any sound. He seemed to want to say something but ultimately gave up.
Using his last bit of strength, trembling fingers dipped in ground blood drew two extremely abstract circles with random dots on top. Like two heads?
"Write in language that I can understand!"
Seeing Golden Lion is about to faint again, Kai thought nothing of it and raised his hand for another two slaps.
Golden Lion was forcibly awakened again, still unable to speak. His eyes nearly spewed real fire as he glared at Kai.
You bastard, I'm dying, and you still want to hit me?!
Seeing Golden Lion's pupils starting to dilate, Kai panicked and simply hoisted him up, racing toward Rayquaza.
"Hang in there!"
Kai used every ounce of urgency he had.
Meanwhile, on a pirate ship-shaped island, Flying Pirate crew members watching through surveillance Den Den Mushi instantly became chaotic!
"The captain was captured!"
"What do we do?! What do we do?!"
They ran around like headless chickens.
Then Indigo stepped forward. Wearing his squeaky shoes, he jumped before everyone, gesticulating an incomprehensible complex hand signal routine with an extremely serious expression.
The panicked pirates involuntarily quieted, holding their breath and watching carefully.
After a long time, Indigo finally stopped, expectantly scanning everyone.
Flying Pirate crew members looked at each other. After a long while, they spoke in unison, "What the hell are you gesturing?!"
"I mean, we need to rescue the captain!"
Indigo shouted loudly.
The scene fell deathly silent. The next second, even louder complaints nearly blew off the castle roof.
"So you can talk!"
But complaints aside, the Flying Pirate crew still moved into action. Preparing weapons, preparing mounts. Vowing to fight Beast Pirates to the death!
On Rayquaza's deck, Kai immediately shouted upon landing, "Quick! Healing tears!"
At his request, Princess Mansherry had successfully extended healing tears' active preservation period through developing her ability. Though effectiveness decreased, the base value was so high it was more than sufficient for sustaining life and stabilizing injuries.
Robin immediately retrieved a carefully preserved small glass vial, dropping one tear into Golden Lion's nearly stopped breathing mouth.
A miraculous scene occurred.
Golden Lion's weak breathing visibly stabilized at an observable speed. Simultaneously, those floating islands in the distant sky that had begun shaking and falling due to the ability user's near-death suddenly stopped their turmoil and firmly floated again as Golden Lion's life stabilized.
Golden Lion's heavy eyelids trembled slightly, slowly opening. He looked at Kai in confusion, unconsciously muttering, "How come I can still see you, this annoying brat, in heaven? Did I die for nothing?"
Kai's mouth twitched as he retorted irritably, "Heaven? You're thinking quite nicely. In my opinion, hell is where an old guy like you should go."
"Hmph! Even if it's hell," Golden Lion instinctively replied, that unruly spirit returning, "I'll fight my way up to heaven!"
After speaking, he gradually understood. He wasn't dead yet?
"Did you save me?" Golden Lion asked warily. "What do you want, brat?"
"Very simple."
Kai was direct, pointing into the distance. "Safely place Rusukaina Island on the sea surface. That's the only thing your remaining life can accomplish."
"Heh. What if I refuse?"
Golden Lion snorted coldly, completely rejecting threats.
"Then I'll kill all your loyal subordinates! Won't even give them the chance to be slaves!"
Kai didn't coddle him. Standard villain dialogue came naturally. He understood Golden Lion too well.
This old lion was a tyrant, true, but like many true heroes on these seas, he cared for his subordinates. Especially this batch of pirates he had recruited in his later years.
Kai would force his compliance.
Before Golden Lion could respond, angry, resolute shouts suddenly came from the sky!
"Release Captain Shiki!"
Kai looked at the approaching group, lips curving slightly. Look, the bargaining chips delivered themselves.
In the sky, Flying Pirate crew members rode various oddly-shaped flying beasts, launching desperate charges at Rayquaza!
Leading them was Indigo. He shouldered a peculiarly shaped rocket launcher-style weapon, aiming at Rayquaza's deck and unhesitatingly pulling the trigger.
A specially-made projectile whistled out, not directly hitting the deck but exploding mid-air!
Instantly, a large mass of dense, unsettling emerald green poison fog rapidly spread, covering half the deck.
"Taste my specially made daftgreen poison gas bomb!"
Indigo wore a gas mask, releasing smug laughter.
However, the panicked, chaotic scene he envisioned didn't appear.
Reiju elegantly stepped forward. Facing the deadly poison fog, far from dodging, she parted her crimson lips and took a deep breath.
Like a whale drinking water, the dense green poison fog was entirely absorbed into her body. Her skin instantly turned emerald green, but after just moments, that green rapidly faded, restoring her original healthy rosy glow. She looked even more radiant.
The poison gas had absolutely zero effect on her.
Reiju let out a satisfied sigh. It had been ages since she'd tasted such an interesting poison.
"Well done, Reiju."
"So reliable!"
The deck immediately erupted with sincere praise.
Kai stood in place from beginning to end, not even his clothes moving. He amusedly shook his head.
This was the result of staying isolated for too long. Thinking your little inventions were invincible.
Since Indigo's proudest daftgreen poison gas bomb had no effect, the rest needn't be mentioned. With beasts unable to board, Ace, Zoro, and Sanji alone were enough to annihilate all attacking Flying Pirates.
Soon, the invaders were completely subdued, kneeling in defeat on deck.
"So, Golden Lion, what now?"
Kai leisurely pointed at those tightly bound yet still glaring pirates, chuckling. "Their lives and deaths now rest entirely on your word."
"Captain Shiki! Don't listen to him!"
"Don't worry about us!"
"Having Beast Pirates buried with us, we're satisfied!"
Those bound Flying Pirates all spoke out, none begging for mercy. They would rather sacrifice their lives than see their captain threatened by Kai.
Watching these subordinates still loyal even at the end, Golden Lion's facial muscles twitched violently several times. Finally, all pride, unwillingness, and stubbornness transformed into a deflating, heavy sigh.
You idiots. How can I bear to be heartless like this?
"I'll do as you say." Golden Lion finally relented.
Not only that, he immediately offered a bargaining chip even surprising Kai.
"I discovered a plant called IQ on an island..."
He briefly described his post-prison history and thought process, finally saying, "I'm willing to trade all IQ plant research data plus my two swords for my subordinates' survival, letting them safely leave."
His gaze sharpened again. "If you don't agree, I'd rather die with those islands!"
"Then I'll gratefully accept. After all, I'm no demon."
Kai shrugged, agreeing. IQ plants weren't garbage. Making animals berserk was just its simplest, crudest application. It was somewhat similar to mutagen plants from various legends, capable of enhancing animals. Very promising research.
As for Oto and Kogarashi, they were also Great Grade Swords, treasures on these seas. This deal wasn't bad.
"But seriously, Golden Lion. I never understood why you would choose breeding beasts to destroy East Blue?"
Kai was genuinely puzzled. This was also fans' confusion. Golden Lion's thinking was truly peculiar. Possessing the Float-Float Fruit superweapon, instead of maximizing its destructive power, he obsessed over biological disasters.
"If you really wanted revenge on the world, you might as well drop small islands on the Red Line every few days. You can fly. Throw and run; who could catch you? Guaranteed to make Marines and Five Elders miserable."
Kai complained.
Did the ship's wheel affect intelligence this much?
Golden Lion listened with a blank stare, as if entering late-stage dementia. It could be done like that? How didn't I think of it?
Massive regret and the absurdity of fifteen wasted years instantly overwhelmed him. He wanted to implement Kai's plan, but his flickering life told him it was too late. Stop struggling.
"What a waste."
Golden Lion's eyes unfocused, muttering. He would ultimately die with regrets.
Suddenly, his unfocused peripheral vision inadvertently swept across a seemingly familiar young face on deck that inexplicably moved him.
"Hey, straw hat-wearing brat! What's your name?"
Ace heard this, turning confused, brow furrowing. He looked at Kai, then at the barely breathing yet intensely gazing Golden Lion. After brief thought, he answered frankly, "Portgas D. Ace."
Considering Golden Lion's identity, he probably knew why Golden Lion questioned him.
Sure enough, Golden Lion's next words were, "Age!"
"15."
Golden Lion smacked his lips, looking at Kai. "Hey, Kai brat. This kid is Roger's son, right?"
Though the surname didn't match, based on his relationship with Roger for years, he was 100% certain this kid was definitely Roger's bloodline!
"Yes." Kai nodded, confirming his guess.
"Heh heh. So that's it. That self-important freedom-seeker Roger also had days bound by family."
Golden Lion looked at nearby subordinates worriedly watching him, laughing once. Not knowing if he was mocking Roger or himself.
Thinking he had figured out Roger's real capture reason, Golden Lion seemed to settle his last concern, saying nothing more.
He closed his eyes, concentrating his minimal remaining mental strength, silently controlling islands to slowly move toward the sea.
Minutes later, successive deep, massive booms came from the distant sea. Islands brought skyward by the Float-Float Fruit successively fell into the sea.
When the last echo dissipated into sea winds, Kai sensed something and looked back.
Golden Lion had closed his eyes, head bowed, no longer breathing.
The legendary tyrant who once contested the seas with Pirate King Gol D. Roger and Whitebeard Edward Newgate, "Flying Pirate" Golden Lion Shiki, had here completely fallen!