Above G-3 Base, the clouds were torn apart by violent air currents, and sunlight, like sharp swords, pierced through the clouds, scattering over the ravaged land.
Gern knelt on one knee, black blade eight desolations deeply embedded in the ground, supporting his tottering body.
Sakazuki’s upper body had turned into magma, but the Armament Haki on his right arm had already dissipated.
Golden Lion floated high in the sky, his golden hair wildly fluttering, his twin swords “sakura ten” and “Withered Wood” crossed before his chest, the Haki on the blade flowing like a tangible substance.
“Honestly, if I gave you two enough time, you might grow into terrifying individuals.”
Did you think Golden Lion would praise someone? No!
“So…” Golden Lion’s expression changed. He looked down at Gern and Sakazuki, slowly descending to the ground, a mocking sneer on his lips.
“You should have knelt and begged for mercy from the start!!
That way, I might have given you time to grow, gehahaha!”
“Bastard…” Gern gritted his teeth, the vibration particles on his left arm flickering erratically, like a candle in the wind without enough stamina to sustain them.
Sakazuki, beside him, was also breathing heavily, magma dripping from between his fingers, burning black scorch marks.
As for Golden Lion, apart from the one injury Gern inflicted using the Godfall Nail early on when he underestimated them, he hadn't sustained any other injuries.
For a moment, Gern and Sakazuki exchanged glances, both seeing determination in each other’s eyes—this was an unwinnable battle.
“However, if I kill you two…” Golden Lion muttered to himself, “The bounty the Marine puts on me will definitely surpass Roger, won’t it?!”
“If that’s the case, then, die.” Golden Lion casually swung his sword, and a slash spanning the sky roared down towards the two!
Instantly, the shadow of death loomed, but their bodies had already reached their limit.
Everyone knew that this one strike was enough to crush them…
“Boom!!” A purple figure descended like a meteor from the sky, a paint black fist wrapped in Black Spark, slamming hard onto the golden slash!
Amidst the deafening explosion, the slash was forcibly shattered, and the shockwave sent rubble flying for a hundred meters in every direction.
As the smoke and dust cleared, Zephyr stood in front of Gern and Sakazuki.
The Armament Haki on his arms shone like obsidian, and his cloak of justice flapped in the strong wind.
“Admiral Zefa… teacher?!”
Zephyr didn’t turn back, his gaze fixed intently on Golden Lion opposite him, his voice cold as iron.
“What are you trying to do to my disciples and students, Shiki.”
Facing this suddenly appearing man, Golden Lion narrowed his eyes, his expression grave, cigar smoke curling from the corner of his mouth: “Zephyr…”
“It seems we haven’t fought in a while, Shiki.” Zephyr slowly raised his right arm, Armament Haki spreading like a tide to his shoulder, muscles bulging from the concentrated power.
Then, he turned his head and low-growled to the two behind him, “Stand down, leave this to me.”
“Admiral Zefa…” Gern gripped his sword hilt, his knuckles white.
This was the peak Golden Lion! And Zephyr himself, ever since his promotion to Admiral, his strength peak had begun to decline.
The current him facing Golden Lion, one of the three top powerhouses of the current era, could not win head-on…
“This is an order!” Zephyr sharply interrupted, his gaze behind his sunglasses as sharp as a blade, “You’ve done enough.
This guy is not someone you can deal with at your current stage!”
Zephyr said, flinging his cloak, “Things from the old era should be handled by people of the old era!!”
“Zephyr, can you still deal with me now?” Golden Lion sneered, swinging his twin swords in a cross.
“Then let’s see, Shiki!!” Zephyr stomped fiercely, and the ground beneath him collapsed with a roar.
His figure shot towards Golden Lion like a cannonball, his pitch-black fist tearing through the air, emitting a piercing roar!
“Black Arm: Meteor!” Golden Lion swung his swords to block. The moment fist and sword collided, a visible shockwave exploded in the sky.
Zephyr’s fist remained unmoving, while Golden Lion’s blade was actually shaken slightly backward!
“What?!” Golden Lion’s pupils constricted.
Zephyr’s offensive was like a raging storm, every punch carrying the power to shatter mountains.
Golden Lion was forced to retreat repeatedly, his twin swords forming an impenetrable barrier, yet his tiger’s mouth was still numb from the vibrations.
Below, Gern stared intently at the battle. He had never seen Zephyr fight so all-out—no, this wasn’t even his full power.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a fight with you!” Golden Lion’s wild laughter echoed through the clouds, his golden hair flying wildly in the strong wind.
“Zephyr!!!” Before his voice faded, the twin swords in Golden Lion’s hands suddenly erupted with terrifying black-red lightning.
Conqueror’s Haki swept across the heavens and earth like a raging tide: “Lion: Thousand Cut Valley!”
Countless slashes, imbued with Conqueror’s Haki, tore through the sky, pouring down overwhelmingly.
Zephyr gritted his teeth, crossing his arms and hardening his Armament Haki to its limit.
Yet, he was still forced back repeatedly by the violent slashes, his military uniform instantly torn, and dozens of blood marks bloomed on his muscular body.
Golden Lion looked down at this scene, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes.
“Although not as strong as his peak, ‘Black Arm’ Zephyr is still not an opponent he can easily defeat…”
Thinking of this, Golden Lion’s gaze subtly swept towards the other side.
Gern had already risen, his left hand condensing vibration particles capable of shaking space, his right hand gripping black blade eight desolations.
Sakazuki’s upper body had turned into scorching magma, and the two stood on either side of Zephyr, protecting him.
“One with a Heaven Quake that can suppress his Devil Fruit ability, one with decent single-target lava damage, plus ‘Black Arm’ Zephyr…”
Looking at this lineup, Golden Lion quickly weighed his options.
He had flown ahead alone, his pirate fleet was still far away.
In this situation, plus the two brats had recovered some stamina, dragging it out further…
It would definitely be disadvantageous for him, and Garp, that guy, was probably already on his way.
At the same time, Golden Lion’s sudden thoughts were interrupted by a roar.
“Shiki!!” Zephyr’s furious roar boomed like thunder, his arm muscles bulging, Armament Haki covering his entire body like black steel, and the ground beneath his feet violently cracked!
“You’re distracted!!”
“Not good.” Golden Lion snapped back to attention, only to see Zephyr already rushing before him like a cannonball.
His right fist was ready, pitch-black Haki swirling into a spiral current, even the air twisting under this punch!
“Wha?!” Golden Lion hurriedly raised his sword to block, but Zephyr’s fist had already slammed into his chest a step earlier!
“Bang!!” A terrifying impact force instantly erupted, and Golden Lion’s body flew backward like a broken kite, crashing through several ruined buildings, and finally slamming hard into a distant mountain wall, sending rubble and dust flying into the sky!
“Cough!” A trace of blood spilled from Golden Lion’s mouth, and an expression of disbelief flashed in his eyes.
Zephyr’s fist, could it still possess such power?!
He struggled to stand up from the rubble, a sharp pain radiating from his chest, clearly, this strike had injured his internal organs.
“Heh…” Zephyr slowly retracted his fist, his breathing slightly ragged, but his gaze remained as sharp as a blade.
“It seems you haven’t gotten much stronger than you were back then, Shiki.”
Golden Lion wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, sneering: “Interesting… truly interesting!”
......
PS: Admiral Zefa’s current strength, in relation to the three top powerhouses of the modern era after the Rocks era—Roger, Whitebeard, and Golden Lion—
Zephyr indeed cannot match up (cannot win head-on). However, apart from these three contemporary tops, he can easily handle any other character. Even the current Rayleigh… Zephyr is not afraid.