Chapter 37 – Becoming Famous Across the World
The air was warming. Somewhere in the distance, the first thunder of spring rumbled.
In the old philosophy of nature, shun meant "spring thunder"—a sudden roar that wakes all things from slumber. That was why it was called Kyōzan—the Spring Shock Slash.
It symbolized creatures startled from their burrows, emerging into the world once more. A sign that everything new was about to begin.
— — —
With the death of the Golden Lion, the vast floating island he had ruled over the East Blue lost its anchor. One by one, the massive landmasses began to collapse, tumbling toward the sea below.
Tachibana Kyūjō slipped a hand into the breast pocket of his jacket, pulling out a crumpled pack of women's cigarettes.
No—it wasn't that he liked smoking women's brands. He simply liked smoking Hina's cigarettes.
Inside, there was one stick left. He placed it between his lips and lit it with practiced ease.
Thin smoke curled lazily into the air as Kyūjō stepped forward on nothing but the sky itself, Geppō carrying him across the gap. He reached down and picked up two legendary blades—Oto and Kogarashi—which had fallen from the Golden Lion's feet during their battle.
His gaze, calm and unreadable, settled on Shiki's body as it drifted downward toward the waves.
Shiki had never been a good man… but there was no denying he had been a true swordsman—both in the skill he wielded and in the resolve he carried.
Let this mighty lion rest forever here in the East Blue, sleeping on the ocean floor alongside Gold Roger.
When the cigarette burned down to the filter, Kyūjō turned away. With two Saijō Ō Wazamono in his hands, he stepped into the sky once more, leaving behind a sea now stripped bare—no islands in sight.
— — —
Marineford – Navy Headquarters
The air inside Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office was tense.
"Three days have passed," Sengoku said, his voice low but heavy. "Has Vice Admiral Dalmatian still not pinpointed Seiryu's exact location in the East Blue?"
A senior staff officer rose, trying to calm him.
"Fleet Admiral, please don't worry. Admiral Kizaru has already arrived in East Blue. The moment we get word on Seiryu's location, he can be there immediately."
But before the man could finish, the sharp, distinctive ring of Sengoku's private Den Den Mushi cut through the room.
In the next instant—almost like he'd teleported—Sengoku was already at his desk, lifting the receiver.
"This is Marine Headquarters. Sengoku speaking. Kyūjō, is that you?"
A familiar, easygoing laugh came through the line.
"Uncle Sengoku, it's all done. I'm fine."
Relief flooded Sengoku's face. In his mind, "done" could only mean Kyūjō had escaped danger. He knew the boy's Geppō was fast enough to slip even past Shiki's guard. To Sengoku, getting away alive would have been the best possible outcome.
He had never once considered that Kyūjō could actually defeat the Golden Lion. Without Kizaru's help, it should have been impossible.
But even the famed "Buddha" could be wrong.
Shiki had not been in the shape Sengoku imagined. And Kyūjō's true strength… was something he had never measured accurately.
After a moment, Sengoku asked, "You're not hurt? No serious injuries?"
As far as he was concerned, surviving a clash with Shiki at all was extraordinary. There was no way the boy had come out unscathed.
On a nameless island somewhere in East Blue, Kyūjō scratched the back of his head.
"Not too bad. Looks pretty rough right now, but it's just surface wounds. The real problem is I'm completely drained. I'll head back to the Blue Dragon for treatment later."
Sengoku exhaled. "Alright. Be careful. Make sure Shiki doesn't chase you. Where are you now? I'll have Kizaru pick you up."
Kyūjō blinked. "Careful so Shiki doesn't chase me? He's dead—how's he gonna chase me?"
The line went silent.
Then Sengoku's voice exploded through the receiver. "What did you just say?! The Golden Lion Shiki—dead?!"
"Yeah. Dead. One slash was enough," Kyūjō replied casually.
— — —
Three days later
Morgan, the "Media King" of the World Economic Journal, released news that shook the entire world.
The Flying Pirates' captain, fleet commander, and holder of a 4.8 billion Berry bounty—the Golden Lion Shiki—had been slain by Vice Admiral Seiryu of the Marines.
For reference, the highest bounty in the world belonged to Whitebeard himself—5.46 billion Berry.
Two other current Emperors of the Sea fell short of Shiki's number:
Kaido, Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates – 4.611 billion Berry.
Charlotte Linlin, Queen of Totto Land – 4.388 billion Berry.
From that day on, Tachibana Kyūjō's name would be etched into the awareness of the world's true powers.
He had killed a living legend—one equal to the Four Emperors.
The generation that had once belonged to Shiki had not yet faded entirely from memory. The fear he left behind still lingered in the minds of veteran warriors.
— — —
New World – The Moby Dick
On the deck of the massive whale-shaped ship, a giant of a man—nearly seven meters tall—sat back, a crescent-shaped white mustache curling above his grin. In one hand, he held a newspaper. In the other, a jug of sake.
"Shiki… so you've gone too?"
His deep, rumbling laugh—gurararara—rolled across the deck.
"In the end, we're all just remnants of an age that's already passed…" he said softly.
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