Chapter 507-508—Captain Roger is still alive!?
A massive gully stretched across the sky, reaching from one horizon to the other, as if the very heavens themselves had been split open.
The violent storm of sword energy, mixed with the terrifying clash of the overlord's haki, unleashed a torrent of purple lightning, arcing through the air like countless twisting electric snakes dancing and roaring in fury.
The earth was upheaved layer by layer, rising into the sky, carrying with it a cloud of flying sand and rocks. Many people were thrown off their feet, and the scene was nothing short of breathtaking.
High above, two figures, each holding a sword in both hands, were locked in fierce combat, their blades flashing with bright sparks. These sparks illuminated their excited, passionate faces, their scarlet eyes burning with determination.
Boundless fighting spirit surged in their eyes, like a wildfire, growing more intense by the second.
Boom! With a deafening roar, the two figures were forced apart, crashing to the ground like two falling meteorites, creating massive, jagged pits beneath them.
"Hahaha!!"
"It's great!!"
"Oden, it seems that after all these years, your strength is still as formidable as ever."
Golden Lion neatly sheathed his sword with a swift motion and laughed loudly at the ten-meter distance between him and Kouzuki Oden.
Kouzuki Oden, in turn, wore a nostalgic smile as he sheathed his two blades, Yanma and Tianyuhanzan, the swords that had left deep scars on Kaido. He chuckled, "Shiki, I'm surprised. After all these years, your strength hasn't faded at all."
"I remember the Battle of Volheit. Your fleet was defeated by us—what happened?"
Suddenly, Oden raised an eyebrow and curiously stared at the Golden Lion's head. "Where's the rudder stuck in your head? Pull it out!"
"Pull it out? You're not dead yet?"
Before the Roger Pirates disbanded, they fought the Volheit War against the Golden Lion. Oden had still been with the Law Pirates at that time, and he participated in that war.
At Oden's words, the Golden Lion's face flushed with embarrassment. His face turned red like a pot lid, his teeth grinding as he fumed.
"Oden, you bastard!" he growled. "If it weren't for that storm, do you think you and Roger's crew could have beaten me?"
"And!!"
"How could I die?!"
Zephyr, standing nearby, suddenly added, "I heard you were... well... messed with a hundred times by Liu Feng in Impel Down."
Golden Lion's face went from black to red in an instant, his mouth opening and closing but no words escaping.
"Father!!"
In that moment, two childish voices echoed in unison. Oden looked down in surprise, only to see Momonosuke and Hiyori crashing into his arms with a loud thud.
"Great, Father, you're finally back!!" Hiyori sobbed.
Momonosuke, already in tears, clung to his father.
Oden smiled warmly, rubbing his children's heads. "Yes, I'm back."
"I didn't expect to be resurrected after death; this is new," he said softly.
"But Hiyori, you've grown so beautiful," he added, gazing lovingly at his daughter. Her stunning beauty, long hair, and delicate features reminded him so much of his wife.
A soft, gentle figure flashed through his mind, and a tender smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.
Hiyori wiped the tears from her eyes and nodded firmly. "Yes, Father, it's been twenty years."
Oden froze. Twenty years? So, had the plan succeeded? His eyes drifted to Momonosuke, who still appeared the same age as when the turmoil in Wano had first begun—about eight or nine years old.
"So," Oden suddenly raised his head, looking at the Golden Lion. "Shiki, what's the situation now?"
He turned his gaze to Zephyr, his heart tightening.
Admiral Black Arm Zephyr, a man Oden had fought alongside during his time with the Whitebeard and Roger Pirates. Oden knew the terrifying power of the purple-haired man well.
His eyes lingered on Zephyr before shifting to the silver-haired figure beside him.
"Vice Captain Rayleigh."
Pluto Rayleigh laughed, his smile filled with pride. "Long time no see, Oden. If Roger knew this, he'd be overjoyed."
Oden blinked, confusion evident on his face. "Captain Roger is still alive?"
He was one of the few who knew of Roger's terminal illness. After all, he had been Roger's confidant and one of the few who had ventured to Raftel, the end of the world.
Rayleigh smiled and gestured to Liu Feng. "Let me introduce you," he said. "This is the Fleet Admiral of the New Navy, Liu Feng."
"The strongest man in the New World today, the overlord who rules the New World, the 'source of all evil' as the Navy and the World Government call him."
"He's also the miracle worker who resurrected Roger, Zephyr, Golden Lion, and you from the land of death!"