It was just… this Golden Lion was far too arrogant. Was this really his way of seeking cooperation?
If it were anyone else, perhaps it wouldn't matter—after all, Golden Lion Shiki, the so-called Uncrowned King, was a legend whose strength rivaled that of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger.
In that fateful battle long ago, had it not been for a sudden storm, perhaps Roger wouldn't have been the victor.
But this time, Golden Lion's luck had run out. There was no storm—only a young man before him who was far more terrifying than any tempest.
"Golden Lion Shiki, you're bound to be disappointed this time," Edward Newgate said with a deep, amused tone, shaking his head slightly.
"I refuse," Thorne Ashveil replied without hesitation.
Was this old lion joking? Cooperation? After all the trouble Shiki had caused? Even if Shiki wanted to join him, he'd have to beg on his knees first.
Disturbing his peace and then asking for an alliance—was his brain broken?
It would be good enough if Thorne didn't beat him senseless. Giving Shiki dignity? Impossible.
Golden Lion's jaw dropped. He stared, dumbfounded.
This brat Thorne Ashveil—just like Roger in the past—had rejected him flatly without even thinking!
Watching Golden Lion's face twist with humiliation, Whitebeard, Doflamingo, Marco, and even Hawkeye Mihawk couldn't hold back their laughter.
The sound of unrestrained amusement only made Golden Lion's face darken with fury.
"All of you, shut up! You're not qualified to laugh at me! I am Golden Lion Shiki!" he roared, his voice echoing across the Moby Dick.
"Thorne Ashveil, you only beat me with an ambush! What's there to be so proud about? If we fight again, you might not win!"
Ashveil rolled his eyes. He had already fought Mihawk that morning—woken up from his sleep, no less. Did this old man think he was some tireless beast of burden?
"No, I'm not interested in fighting a cripple like you," Ashveil replied bluntly.
"Cripple…?"
Golden Lion's face went red, his veins bulging. No one had ever dared call him that in all his years ruling the seas.
That word hit harder than a cannonball.
"Damn it…! You brat! You've successfully enraged me!" Golden Lion shouted, his chest heaving with fury.
Even Ashveil couldn't help smirking. It might've been a bit rude to call an old man disabled, but Shiki's expression was just too funny.
The entire crew aboard the Moby Dick burst out laughing again.
Whitebeard was laughing the loudest. "Gurararara! Shiki! Never thought I'd see the day someone would call you a cripple, old man!"
Shiki's fingers trembled with rage.
"Whitebeard, once I'm done with this brat, I'll come for you next, you old fossil!"
"You Whitebeard Pirates are all damn insolent!"
He shouted like a madman, ignoring the fact that he had been the one to start the chaos—flying an island straight into Whitebeard's territory, demanding to see Ashveil, and then fighting without warning.
Ashveil sighed. This old man's voice is too damn loud…
For someone called the "Uncrowned King," Golden Lion sure acted like a shrew.
If Ashveil didn't fight him, it looked like he'd never get any rest.
This life of fame is really exhausting, he thought with mild irritation.
"If you ask me, Thorne Ashveil, you're just afraid!" Shiki barked. "You ambushed me once, and now you don't dare face me head-on? Afraid of losing, huh? Or maybe you're scared of a cripple like me?"
The words hung in the air. Shiki froze for a second—realizing what he'd just called himself.
He slapped his own face twice in frustration.
Ashveil sighed again. Enough already.
If this old lion wanted a fight so badly, best to end it quickly so he could finally get some sleep.
"Fine, Golden Lion. But when you lose, don't go around spreading rumors that I bully the disabled," Ashveil said lazily.
"Disabled… again!?"
Shiki's fury erupted. "Brat! I'll show you the power of the Golden Lion!"
He spread his arms wide. "Lion's Thousand Valley Cut!"
Countless golden slashes burst forth, slicing through the air toward Ashveil. Then, using his Float Float powers, Shiki lifted an entire floating island, manipulating it like a toy in his grasp.
The air trembled with power.
Even Doflamingo's confident grin faltered as the massive shadow of the island loomed over them. "That's insane… he's actually controlling an entire island!"
Under such overwhelming force, Doflamingo knew—even he would be flattened.
Mihawk remained still, his eyes calm and sharp. He seemed to be silently watching, as if knowing how this would end.
Ashveil slowly closed his eyes.
A faint golden aura began to radiate from him, and a shimmering veil of Conqueror's Haki burst into existence, blanketing the Moby Dick in its glow.
The slashes vanished the instant they touched it, leaving only sparks dancing in the air.
Golden Lion's eyes widened. "What… what kind of defense is that!?"
But before he could react, the island he hurled crashed down onto the golden barrier.
Rumble!
The colossal impact echoed like thunder across the seas—yet the golden shield didn't break. Instead, the island shattered into fragments, collapsing into the ocean below.
When the dust cleared, Thorne stood exactly where he had been, untouched.
Golden Lion was frozen in disbelief.
His full-power attack had been nullified… so easily?
And that golden energy—what was it?
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