"One Piece: Sign-In at the Start to Get Ryūjin Jakka"

Sengoku and Garp led a large force of marines as they advanced toward Vermeille Island.

Faced with the incoming siege, the Golden Lion no longer cared about anything else.

In his eyes, there was only one target—Roya.

Just like the time he stormed Marineford alone in the past, he was now consumed by a single purpose.

If he didn't kill Roya, he couldn't find peace in his heart!

A wave of overwhelming sword aura surged straight toward Roya.

With the power of the Chicken Talisman, Roya's body floated lightly to the side, effortlessly dodging the devastating slash.

The sword aura struck the ground with a loud "shhhrrk!"—and a massive, terrifying chasm opened up in front of Roya.

The aura around the Golden Lion exploded violently. His golden hair flowed in the wind, and his kimono flapped wildly.

"You bastard! Didn't you call me weak? Why are you just dodging? Do you dare to fight me head-on?!"

"This time, let's see how you dodge!"

As he Royared, his bloodshot eyes glared like bronze bells, as if a berserk beast had fully awakened.

—------

"Lion's Barrage: Thousand Slashes!"

An upgraded version of his earlier attack, this slash had even more devastating power.

In an instant, he unleashed multiple slashes—each one strong enough to cleave mountains.

Countless sword waves exploded outward from the Golden Lion like a storm, sweeping in all directions.

Even the marines weren't spared from the chaos.

"Garp! Aokiji!" Sengoku shouted to the two beside him.

"That mysterious man looks like he's trying to retreat. Now that Golden Lion is holding him back, we need to surround them immediately. We must capture both Golden Lion and that mysterious figure this time!"

"Yes, Admiral!" came the crisp replies.

"Sengoku, just remember to treat me to rice crackers after this," Garp quipped.

Garp and Aokiji vanished in a flash—"Soru!"—advancing rapidly toward Roya and the Golden Lion.

Watching the fierce battle unfold, Sengoku prayed silently, "This time… we must succeed!"

He had noticed Roya's floating ability. If they let him escape again, tracking him down would be a nightmare.

"Ice Spear—Twin Spikes!"

Four ice spears formed beside Aokiji and shot forward, neutralizing the sword aura coming his way.

"Iron Fist!"

Garp, more brute-force than finesse, coated his fists in Armament Haki and shattered one wave of slashes after another.

"Buddha Impact!"

Facing a storm-like barrage, Sengoku transformed into his Zoan-type Devil Fruit form—Mythical Human-Human Fruit: Great Buddha—and unleashed a powerful shockwave from his palm.

Wherever the shockwave raged, Golden Lion's sword aura was instantly wiped out.

Sengoku stood firm like an impenetrable wall, shielding the marines behind him.

Only Roya continued to float in the air, effortlessly dodging with the power of the Chicken Talisman.

Golden Lion glanced coldly at the trio of admirals. He knew he couldn't drag this out any longer.

"Kehahahaha! Very well—my grand return to the world stage begins here!"

"Whether it's you, Roya, or the Navy—all of you can die!"

Golden Lion Shiki felt as if he had returned to his prime, storming Marineford with unshakable pride. His aura surged again.

Dark clouds slowly blanketed the sky, and a chilling wind pierced into everyone's hearts.

Sengoku frowned deeply and gave the order without hesitation: "Attack!"

At that moment—Golden Lion moved.

Using the power of the Float-Float Fruit, he manipulated the dark clouds above, condensing them until arcs of lightning flashed within. The thunderbolts were as thick as ancient trees.

Under his control, the clouds—now infused with lightning—shaped themselves into the form of a lion's head.

"Lion Might—Imperial Scroll of Heaven!"

Golden Lion raised his hand high and then brought it crashing down.

The massive lion head made of thunderclouds charged at Roya with ferocity.

Aokiji, Garp, and Sengoku had no choice but to retreat under the overwhelming pressure.

Sengoku was stunned and blurted out, "I didn't expect… Golden Lion's Devil Fruit has awakened!"

Garp grinned and said, "Not sure if that guy can handle it…"

"No matter if he can or not—it works in our favor either way!"

At that moment, Aokiji said from the side, "Golden Lion isn't his match."

He had fought Roya before—and that terrifying power had left a deep impression on him.

As if to confirm Aokiji's words, the moment he finished speaking, Roya's figure slowly rose into the sky.

Fierce winds whipped his cloak around.

He reached up with one hand to steady his hat against the wind and said calmly, "Like I said, I'm just passing by. Why make things so complicated?"

"Tzing!"

The sound of a sword rang out across the battlefield.

Even Golden Lion's Imperial Scroll of Heaven couldn't suppress that crisp, piercing sword hum.

In the next instant, an overwhelming aura erupted from Roya, piercing the sky.

The observers could feel it clearly—that heavy pressure was the unmistakable signature of Conqueror's Haki, and a terrifyingly powerful one.

Golden Lion's eyes widened in disbelief. "W-What?! This can't be!"

Roya slowly drew his sword, Ryujin Jakka, its blade gleaming with fierce, searing light.

"Blazing Hell!"

With Roya's command, dozens of towering pillars of flame erupted from the ground around him.

They surged toward him and then outward—forcing Sengoku, Aokiji, and Garp to continuously dodge using Soru.

This was Sengoku's first time facing Roya directly.

And when he witnessed those raging flames, even he was left speechless in shock.

Aokiji was even more stunned. He could feel it—the power of this attack far exceeded the strike Roya used in Ohara!

The blazing flames gathered into Roya's sword. He raised it in midair and slashed down with force.

At that moment, the wind and clouds shifted.

The surrounding space warped from the heat. Fire and sword aura merged—unstoppable and magnificent.

Sword energy howled. Flames Royared.

When Roya's Blazing Hell collided with Golden Lion's Imperial Scroll of Heaven, the entire world seemed to fall silent.

Their vision was consumed by blinding light.

Sengoku squinted, trying to make out what was happening—and then, eyes wide in disbelief, he saw it:

A single slash tore through the massive lion-shaped thundercloud attack, shattering it effortlessly.

The dark clouds evaporated under the intense heat.

Even the lightning was consumed—utterly devoured by flame.

Then, with unstoppable momentum, the blazing slash surged toward the Golden Lion…