Golden Lion wasn't particularly patient. It was hard to imagine that someone like him could remain silent for twenty years after escaping from the deep sea prison in the future.
A swordsman who could fight evenly with Kaido - this made him very eager to obtain Kozuki Oden. Moreover, this person was about the same age as Kaido, and might very well grow into a powerhouse no weaker than them in the future.
So he couldn't wait any longer. He used his ability to control the unconscious Kin'emon and the others, making them float over. His Devil Fruit ability had awakened, but even so, he couldn't make living beings other than himself float.
However, he didn't necessarily have to control Kin'emon and the others themselves.
Kin'emon and his companions, covered in blood stains, had rocks locking their hands and ankles. These rocks were like handcuffs, making them unable to struggle. Shiki looked up at the sky. The sky was somewhat dim, looking like it was about to rain.
"Let's go, Linlin. The farce should end."
"Mama, mama, I won't go. The mousse cake is about ready." Charlotte Linlin licked her lips. Eating was always the most important thing in her eyes. "I'll head back first. Shiki, don't you dare have designs on my brother."
"Brother? So you woman have also started doing the family thing like that guy Newgate?" Shiki sneered, then paid her no more attention. He directly flew toward Kozuki Oden's direction with the captured Kin'emon and his three companions.
In his view, using family ties to restrain each other among pirates was the stupidest thing. Family might not necessarily not betray. Only power and strict hierarchical domination relationships were the most reliable.
The strong dominate the weak, and the weak obey. This was the truth of this sea. Shiki was willing to work with Rocks not to play pirate house together, but to overturn this world.
Actually, strictly speaking, he wasn't Rocks's subordinate, but rather a relationship similar to an alliance. It's just that within this alliance, Rocks had the greatest influence, and he was also the one leading.
The nature of the Rocks Pirates was actually somewhat similar to the future Straw Hat Grand Fleet, but the pirate crews that joined were much stronger in terms of power.
Shiki's arrival made both Kaido and Kozuki Oden involuntarily stop their attacks. Both sides had wounds on their bodies. Kaido's strength and Kozuki Oden's were almost evenly matched.
"Shiki, you bastard, don't interrupt my fun!" Kaido shouted angrily.
"Shut up, Kaido. Your good sister has already gone back. I think you should roll over to her arms and drink milk too!" Shiki cursed.
"Do you want to die, Shiki?"
Kozuki Oden looked at this suddenly appearing golden-haired man and immediately felt enormous pressure.
'This man is probably even stronger than this one called Kaido.' He thought.
At this time, the argument between Shiki and Kaido ended with Kaido backing down. After all, Kaido's strength was insufficient. The right to speak on the sea wasn't determined by words alone. No matter how不服 Kaido was, he could only leave, unless he had the strength to pin Shiki to the ground and rub him in it.
"Finally, the eyesore is gone." Shiki turned his gaze to Oden, then laughed. "Zehahahaha, brat, your strength is not bad. Want to follow this great lord?"
"So you are the Golden Lion?"
"Other than me, who else deserves this title?" Shiki curled his lip, then said: "Brat, follow me. When Captain Rocks overturns this world, we'll be the new kings of the world!"
King of the world?
Kozuki Oden didn't have much concept of this. He had only been at sea for a short time and didn't even know of the Celestial Dragons' existence. But from this name alone, he could hear the other's ambition.
Actually, although he was sometimes quite a bastard, his lack of interest in things like power was one of his few virtues.
"You really are a crazy guy, but I have no interest in such things. I just came to take back what you stole. That Youjutsu no Mi!" Kozuki Oden said directly.
"Rejecting me? So you mean you want me to take your life and these guys' lives?" Shiki smiled cruelly. He beckoned, and the captured Kin'emon and the others immediately flew over.
"Kin'emon! Denjiro! Kanjuro! Raizo!" Kozuki Oden widened his eyes, looking at the four people who had already lost consciousness and were covered in blood, immediately becoming angry.
His feelings for his subordinates were very deep. When they were expelled from the Flower Capital, although he appeared unconcerned, he would feel somewhat down. At times like this, these few people followed him without leaving, never giving up. Over two years, they had become no different from family.
"Angry?" Shiki said in surprise. "You invaded my territory. You should have been prepared for this level of life and death long ago, right? I'm not playing house with you!"
Shiki roared. His palm clenched in the air. The controlled air compressed toward Kin'emon and the others, making them show painful expressions.
The veins on Oden's forehead bulged. Anger made his blood boil uncontrollably. His two swords were covered black with Haki as he charged toward Shiki.
"Let them——GO!"
"Oden Nitoryu: Momoyama - Totsumeki!"
Oden's figure instantly arrived in front of the Golden Lion. The oncoming blades formed a cross, as if trying to tear space into four parts. Even the air carried stinging sword energy.
But the Golden Lion acted as if he didn't see this attack at all. He didn't dodge, only slowly drawing a somewhat plain-looking short sword from his waist.
"Shishi: Senjū no Kiri."
In an instant, it was as if countless sword blades were flying toward Kozuki Oden. The sharp sword energy carried powerful Haki that was impossible to match, instantly piercing through Kozuki Oden's body.
"Sizzle—"
Dense sword energy rained down overwhelmingly, knocking Oden down. The current Golden Lion was not the senile dementia patient thirty-six years later who couldn't even use the three types of Haki.
This Senjū no Kiri technique directly used Haoshoku coating. Kozuki Oden had no ability to counterattack before being blown away.
"Zehahahaha, this level of power is still not enough to see!" Shiki mocked. He didn't directly kill him but planned to imprison Kozuki Oden. As long as he was locked up for a while, there would be plenty of ways to make him obedient.
He slowly descended. The lightning constantly flashing in the sky projected his figure into the distance. For a moment, he was like a god looking down on the entire island, his massive projection covering half of Hachinosu Island.
Unlock 30 chapters instantly (for the price of the old 20-chapter tier), plus regular updates and extra benefits every month.
If you're enjoying the story, please consider supporting me on Patreon:
patreon.com/anish_44
I'll be honest—I'm in deep financial trouble right now, and your support genuinely makes the difference in whether I can keep writing consistently.
By joining, you'll get:
30 advanced chapters immediately
Ongoing monthly chapters
Bonus content and extra releases
If this story has kept you hooked even once, now's the time to support it. Every bit helps keep it alive.
Thank you.