In the footage, everything was suddenly swallowed by an overwhelming storm of cannon fire. Crimson flames roared and spread across the screen. The camera dropped rapidly to the ground with a loud "bang!"
Then, one after another, came waves of screams, shrill, despairing, heart-rending. The cries echoed until finally, the once white screen plunged into darkness.
Across the world, there was silence.
The Golden Lion's brutality left everyone shaken and chilled to the bone. No one had expected that his very first move would be to utterly obliterate the innocent bystanders who had merely been filming nearby.
In that instant, everyone understood, this Golden Lion was no merciful soul.
He was a madman, a monster, a pirate who held no regard for life whatsoever.
Cruel, cold-blooded, the kind who would kill at the slightest provocation.
It was impossible to imagine what such a lunatic would bring next, to the Marines, or to the world itself!
At Marine Headquarters, the officers monitoring the Golden Lion's movements suddenly heard terrified shouts through their headsets.
"Not good! The Golden Lion, he's moving!"
"What's he doing? My god, he's going to kill us!"
"Quick! Inform Headquarters!"
The panicked cries lasted no more than five or six seconds before they were abruptly cut off. Then, only a harsh, piercing static filled the receiver.
"What happened?" The Marine operator removed his headset blankly, stunned for a second, then realization struck.
"Golden Lion has made his move! I must alert the superiors immediately!" The information spread rapidly. Within moments, Marine Headquarters was fully aware of the situation.
"Tighten defenses! Keep your eyes on the Gates of Justice, every movement must be reported at once!"
"All Marines, to your positions! Prepare for battle!"
Fleet Admiral Kong stood atop the command platform, face grim, his voice booming across the base.
Uniformed footsteps echoed in unison throughout Headquarters. The previously relaxed atmosphere instantly hardened into one of tense vigilance.
Meanwhile, four figures were moving covertly through the dense cluster of buildings, pretending to be ordinary passersby as they searched around.
"Captain, don't tell me you actually have no idea how to get to Mary Geoise?"
Jason asked hesitantly. He had always thought his captain's plans were foolproof, surely he wouldn't make such a rookie mistake.
To his astonishment, Rojen's face showed a hint of embarrassment, and he nodded, slightly flushed.
"You've got to be kidding me! That's Mary Geoise we're talking about! You came all the way here without any intel?" Jason was dumbfounded.
"Sorry, but that's the truth!" Rojen shrugged nonchalantly, showing not the slightest trace of shame.
"The Marines' defenses just got a lot tighter," Crocodile said gravely. "I think I heard Kong giving some kind of order. Could they have discovered us?"
"No," whispered Trens, "I overheard some Marines talking. It sounds like the Golden Lion has made a move."
Rojen's eyes gleamed; a faint smile curved his lips.
So, his timing had been perfect. With that great pirate causing chaos, or even launching an attack on Marine Headquarters, his own odds of success had just skyrocketed.
The four of them slipped carefully through narrow alleys. The military district of the Marines was filled with lethal fortifications; any spot could instantly become a deadly trap. They had to be extremely cautious.
On the other side of the Red Line, countless pirate ships hovered in the skies above.
At the very center of thirteen floating islands stood the man himself, Golden Lion Shiki. He stood at the island's edge, bathed in the golden radiance of the Solar Palace, his entire body glowing like molten gold.
Looking down upon the countless pirates below, he suddenly spread his arms wide.
"My men!" His voice erupted like the roar of a lion, echoing across the vast sea.
All the pirates raised their heads, gazing up at their King with faces filled with excitement and fervor. Deep down, they all sensed what their King was about to do.
"I've kept you waiting far too long, my apologies!"
"But now… the time to strike has come!"
"Those weak, trembling Marines, before our might, they can do nothing but cower!"
"Now, let us slaughter them like lambs to the slaughter!"
"Let us show the world… our power!"
His booming voice rolled out like thunder, sweeping across the entire sea region.
In an instant, every pirate was shouting, howling, leaping with wild excitement, screaming out their thirst for battle to their King.
"Let's get started, old boss! We can't wait any longer!"
"Finally! Finally, the attack begins! I've waited too long for this!"
"My blade's been starving for blood!"
Every single member of the Flying Pirates cried out, their blood boiling, their eyes burning with frenzy and anticipation.
They had already stood atop the world for far too long, but if they could defeat the Marines, they would rise even higher.
And their captain, the Golden Lion, might very well claim the title of Pirate King itself!
The Golden Lion watched his crew's roaring excitement with a satisfied smile.
Such fierce, eager subordinates pleased him greatly. With this army at his command and his own overwhelming strength, what was Marine Headquarters to fear?
Then, he suddenly lifted both arms high into the air.
"Rise!"
With a deafening roar, a strange power exploded outward, instantly spreading over every pirate ship below.
Before the pirates' wide, disbelieving eyes, the vast fleet of ships began to rumble, and then, impossibly, they rose into the air! The fleet floated higher and higher, their speed increasing rapidly until they were level with the thirteen floating islands.
When the pirates saw this miraculous sight, they screamed in ecstasy:
"Flying! Flying! Flying!!!"
To them, it was nothing short of a divine miracle. With a single wave of his hand, their captain made islands float and ships fly!
This was their Golden Lion, as mighty as a god, possessing a power vast enough to overturn Marine Headquarters itself!
The air thrummed and trembled. The massive pirate armada, under the Golden Lion's control, began to surge forward through the skies.
Yes, he had no intention of attacking Marine Headquarters from the front. He would soar above it, descending from the heavens to crush it from the sky, to let the Marines witness firsthand what true flying meant!
Hurricane winds howled as the Flying Pirates reached their peak velocity. In barely five or six minutes, the massive shape of Marine Headquarters appeared ahead, sprawling with fortresses and swarming figures.
"There it is! Marine Headquarters! That's it!"
"Brothers, draw your blades! Prepare to attack!"
"Let the Marines see our might!"
"Flying! Flying!! Flying!!!"
"We are the strongest, kill them all!!!"
In that instant, the pirates roared as one, their eyes turning blood-red with battle frenzy.
(End Of This Chapter)
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