Shiki's expression twisted into something between amusement and discomfort.
He couldn't quite tell what was happening inside the villa—his Observation Haki had its limits—but he was still a man. And a man didn't need haki to guess what Jaeger was likely up to.
"…Wasn't that woman pregnant?"
His gaze drifted toward the villa's second floor. The image of Rouge, Roger's wife, flickered in his mind. For the first time in a long while, he felt something almost foreign: pity.
"Roger… having your woman claimed by a Celestial Dragon… that's not tragedy—that's the sea pissing on you from above." he muttered, lips curling in a dry smirk.
He considered stepping in. Not out of kindness, of course. That had rotted out of him ages ago.
But maybe—just maybe—he could play the hero for a moment, win some goodwill, and flip Roger to his side.
Still, it was a delicate game. The more miserable Rouge looked, the more convincing his 'rescue' would be.
So he waited.
And waited.
And waited.
After two hours, even his legendary patience began to fray.
"How long does it take that brat to finish?! He's a Celestial Dragon, not a stallion!" he snapped, pacing in irritation.
He sighed deeply, dragging a hand down his face… and then slowly, suspiciously, it kept traveling lower and lower… until it hovered dangerously near his waist.
A tense silence followed.
His fingers crept further south.
Past the belt.
Past the waistband.
Until they reached—
...his two swords.
He paused, dramatically.
"…What? You thought I was gonna stroke that? I'm frustrated, not desperate," he scoffed, gripping the hilts with exaggerated dignity.
Grinning wildly, he drew his twin sabers, Oto and Kogarashi.
"Hahaha! Celestial Dragon brat, here comes your death! Don't go crying after you see me!"
With a maniacal laugh, the Golden Lion leapt down from 10,000 meters above the sea!
The fierce winds whipped past him as he fell.
"This is freedom! This is power!"
"This is my world — the sky belongs to me!"
"Silvers Rayleigh? That horny Kaido with his half-baked Zoan fruit? Compared to me, they're nothing!"
"Only I — Golden Lion Shiki — can be Roger's true partner!"
Imagining the future, where Roger would be forced to bend over before him in gratitude, the Golden Lion couldn't help but laugh even harder.
As a Fuwa-Fuwa Fruit user, the sky was his domain.
Those relying on the Navy's Geppo or Zoan abilities to fly couldn't compare. Even Roger's famed crew had once nearly lost to his airborne tactics.
Golden Lion was already envisioning the triumphant scene of Rouge's rescue when—
Suddenly.
A cold, calm voice brushed against his ears:
"So here you are, old lion. No wonder I couldn't find you before."
"Who's there?!"
Golden Lion's instincts exploded with alarm.
Hearing a voice — at 10,000 meters altitude — was no joke.
Without hesitation, he summoned his Conqueror's Haki, wrapping it around his sabers.
"Die!!"
With a roar, he twisted midair, slashing viciously toward the source of the voice.
But he was still too slow.
Before his attack could even connect, a flash of light tore through the sky — a slash faster than the eye could follow.
Whoosh—!
A beautiful, deadly stream of light ripped through the air.
It wasn't just fast — it was true lightspeed, a terrifying velocity even beyond the fastest techniques of the Soul Society's flash masters.
Even Jaeger, whose physique had been enhanced beyond normal limits, needed Hercules belt and the Eight Gates released to keep up with such speed.
"Crack—!"
Under the Golden Lion's stunned gaze, his two famed sabers — reinforced by his Conqueror's Haki — were cleaved apart like rotten wood.
But that wasn't the most horrifying part.
What made his heart freeze was that...
With that terrifying power, if the slash had been aimed at him, he would've been split cleanly in two before he could even react.
Yet — the attacker had deliberately missed.
They're treating me like an insect... not even worth killing.
Silent, muscles taut, the Golden Lion turned his gaze.
Hovering nearby was a beautiful girl, face cold as frost.
Dressed simply — a black undershirt and a white haori — her stunning appearance was impossible to hide.
But more striking than her beauty was the overwhelming killing intent radiating from her.
A heroic spirit — the kind that could enthrall both men and women alike.
Unlike him, who relied on his Devil Fruit to soar, she simply stood on air itself, as if walking on solid ground.
It was unnatural... and chilling.
Golden Lion didn't care about appearances, though.
Beauty meant nothing to him.
Only one thing mattered now — strength.
And in front of him stood a monster far beyond anything he had anticipated.
"Just like a filthy rat, scurrying with its tail tucked, you chose the path of a coward—slinking in the shadows and striking from behind!"
Shiki's fury erupted. His mane of golden hair whipped wildly around him, eyes blazing with a predator's wrath. His chest heaving, and roared at the girl before him—a voice so thunderous it rattled the very air.
"If you're so capable, why not just kill me already, you little bastard?! Are you mocking me on purpose!?"
Across from him, Yamamoto Mei stood calmly, the cold curve of her lips twisting into an arrogant smile.
"My apologies, old man," she said, her voice light but mocking, "but I had no intention of humiliating you."
She flipped the bloodied blade in her hand with casual ease.
"It was only after I struck that I remembered—your life still had some use. I had no choice but to change the direction of my slash at the last second."
——
In the chat group, Uchiha Miyuki reacted with a sudden jolt of realization.
Miyuki Uchiha: "Ah—! That's right! The Golden Lion is His Highness Jaeger's next target! He wants to forge a brand new Noble Phantasm from him—with his own hands!"
Luo Hao: "Hmm… True, Mei did receive the [Straight Death] ability from the group before. But it's not quite the same as the 'Mystic Eyes of Death Perception' from the Type-Moon World. Hers is closer to the Teigu 'Murasama' from Esdeath's universe—just a scratch, and the victim drops dead on the spot. No second chances."
Luo Hao: "Which is precisely why she's not allowed to touch the Golden Lion. Just one scratch, and Jaeger's brand new Noble Phantasm goes up in smoke—before he even gets to show it off!"
Sakura Tosaka: "Jaeger-nii should be thanking Mei-san for holding back~"
Jibril: "Honestly, that Golden Lion is starting to look a little pathetic…"
Luo Hao: "Isn't it just that Mei is way too terrifying? With her around, even legends like him can't catch a break."
Miyuki Uchiha: "Exactly! That's real speed-of-light movement! Not like Kizaru, who just messes around half the time… Mei's sword genuinely strikes at the speed of light—and on top of that, her own speed is insane. It's like speed of light plus her personal boost. Even Kizaru would be sweating!"
Miyuki Uchiha: "Honestly, if it weren't for a monster like His Highness Jaeger, Mei might be the absolute strongest in the whole group. No joke!"
Their analysis left no doubt—just how terrifying Yamamoto Mei truly was, even though Jaeger had taken her down so easily.
Only now did everyone realize why she'd shown mercy to Shiki.
If she hadn't… with those speed-of-light slashes and her [Straight Death] ability, the Golden Lion would've been dead before he even understood what hit him.
--
But Shiki himself couldn't accept it.
For him, being spared was the ultimate humiliation—worse than death.
"You dare treat me like some worthless weakling you could finish off whenever you please?!"
His veins bulged with fury, his roar reverberating through the battlefield.
"Arrogant brat! You'll regret ever looking down on me!"
Clutching the battered hilts of his two once-famous swords, the Golden Lion hurled himself at Yamamoto Mei in a wild, desperate frenzy.
"Lion God's Lance!!"
—Zheng!!—
The shriek of metal slicing through air echoed as his blades, wrapped in a crackling black aura of Conqueror's Haki, hurtled forward.
Violent black lightning arced from the weapons like falling stars.
This was no ordinary strike.
It was a slash combining the apex of his swordsmanship with the overwhelming force of supreme Haki
...a technique on par with legends like Roger himself.
It could split islands. It could cut seas.
To Shiki, defeating the little girl before him was no problem at all.
As for the shameful embarrassment earlier? That was just a fluke—a sneak attack while he was off guard!
Yes, that must be it!
After all—
He was the Golden Lion! The Flying Pirate who once conquered the skies!
"—Clang!!—"
The sudden, crisp sound of metal meeting something immovable shattered his delusions.
The force of the recoil numbed his hands instantly.
He stared in disbelief.
Two pale, slender fingers.
They had stopped his double-bladed, full-force strike effortlessly.
The golden lion's wide lion-like eyes trembled. His mouth hung open, twitching slightly.
Was he dreaming...?
How could anyone—let alone a girl not even using Haki—catch his slash with just two fingers?!
Was he caught in some illusion? Was she a Devil Fruit user specialized in illusions?!
"Awaken from your dream of strength, Golden Lion."
Yamamoto Mei's voice cut through his panic, soft but pitying.
"The world is far vaster than you realize. You're nothing more than a frog at the bottom of a well."
"I don't believe you!!"
He roared in a frenzy, unwilling to accept the collapse of his confidence.
The next moment, the air itself began to tremble violently.
The golden lion unleashed the full might of his Devil Fruit powers.
———
High above, a floating island the size of a city ripped through the clouds, blotting out the sun.
"Die, brat!!"
"Witness the true power of the Flying Pirate, Golden Lion!!"
With a sweeping motion of his hand, the island, like a living mountain, plummeted down toward Yamamoto Mei.
The heavens themselves seemed to fall.
But facing this devastating attack, Yamamoto Mei only let out a faint, almost sorrowful smile.
"You really can't accept reality after all..."
Not even sparing a glance at the collapsing sky, she stepped forward lightly.
In the next breath, a spiritual pressure blacker than night erupted from her body, tearing through the atmosphere like a sword piercing the heavens.
"Hadō #99—"
She raised her hand gently toward the incoming island.
"Goryūtenmetsu."
(Five Swirling Dragons of Destruction.)
"GYAAAAAAAAAA—!!!"
The sky turned black.
The roaring island, the golden lion's proudest weapon, was instantly devoured by a cataclysmic explosion of five black dragons spiraling upward—erasing everything in their path.
In a deafening roar that shook the heavens and earth, Yamamoto Mei's spiritual pressure erupted like a tangible force, taking the shape of a five-headed dragon.
The beast-like form, reminiscent of a legendary destroyer, coiled through the vast sky.
Under its rampaging force, the falling island was shredded apart almost instantly — massive chunks turning into nothing but scattered rubble, raining down from above.
As for the Golden Lion himself, he stood no chance against the crushing tide of spiritual energy.
Overwhelmed by the brutal impact, he plummeted helplessly through the sky, his eyes rolling back as he lost consciousness.
"Sigh..."
Grabbing a corner of the Golden Lion's tattered clothes, Yamamoto Mei let out a soft sigh.
"The power to step on an ant without killing it... really is hard to control," she muttered. "I used to think Aizen was just showing off when he said that... but now, it makes a lot of sense."
[Chat Group]
Uchiha Miyuki: "Exactly. Killing is easy. But catching someone alive without breaking them? That's the real trouble."
Uchiha Miyuki: "Still… that move—the Five Dragons Annihilation. The strongest Hadō there is. Damn. That Shinigami old hag is seriously badass."
Tosaka Sakura: "Mei-san is amazing! Even legendary pirates don't stand a chance against you anymore!"
Uchiha Miyuki: "Honestly, the way your power keeps exploding is scary. If this keeps up, even Aizen would think twice before messing with you."
Yamamoto Mei: "Aizen, huh... His raw power isn't as overwhelming as mine anymore. But to be honest, I still can't do much against Kyōka Suigetsu. Hypnosis on that scale... my only real option would be indiscriminate attacks. Problem is, my Bankai's range is way too big — it'd be like dropping a nuke."
Luo Hao: "You'd basically wipe out half of the Soul Society if you got serious."
Yamamoto Mei: "Exactly."
Switching topics, Yamamoto Mei asked:
Yamamoto Mei: "Jaeger-kun, seriously… are you finally done over there with the pregnant woman?"
Nerona Jaeger: "Hmm… not yet. I could've gone on, but her body's tougher than the average human's. Even so, if I'd pushed any further… she really might've died."
Stepping out of the villa, Jaeger stretched lazily under the vast sky.
Speaking in the chat group, he said:
Nerona Jaeger: "Aren't you guys coming down yet? I can't fly, you know. Don't tell me you're seriously expecting me to unleash the Chaos Dragon Leviathan just to come pick you up?"
Nerona Jaeger: "Honestly… the Golden Lion had better drop a Noble Phantasm worth the trouble."
Uchiha Miyuki: "Haha—looks like it's finally your turn to shine, Your Highness Jaeger!"
Uchiha Miyuki: "Oh, right. The Golden Lion had the Float-Float Fruit, didn't he? Who knows—maybe you'll end up with a flying ability this time!"
Jibril: "Wouldn't get your hopes up. I have wings, but I can't truly fly either. Doesn't stop me from hunting sky races though~"
Tosaka Sakura: "Still... it'd be super cool if Jaeger-nii could fly! Flying's every human's dream, right? And it'd be so convenient!"
Kasumigaoka Utaha: "Exactly. Even if the Noble Phantasm's useless for combat, just gaining flight would patch one of Jaeger's few weaknesses."
Luo Hao: "Tch. You guys are too short-sighted."
Meanwhile, Yamamoto Mei had already ended her live stream.
Esdeath, who had been dueling Silvers Rayleigh, had completely forgotten about the broadcast too.
Left with nothing else to do, the group casually speculated about what kind of Noble Phantasm Jaeger might obtain next.
From Miyuki's perspective, Jaeger didn't even need traditional flight abilities.
He had long since mastered physical techniques like "Geppo" and he commanded the Chaos Dragon Leviathan — a flying behemoth.
Not to mention his other monstrous assets.
He held "The Authority of Life and Death," a reality marble that could forcibly age and weaken even immortal beings.
He wielded "God Avoid," a Noble Phantasm that unleashed a slash so absolute it could ignore space, distance, and even the flow of time itself.
With all these trump cards, what did flight even matter? Even if the enemy had the ability to fly, what difference would it make?
Yamamoto Mei herself could fly—but in a true fight, Jaeger had already proven something far more absolute.
The moment he released God Avoid, killing her would be effortless.
Her Zanpakutō could dissolve into genuine light-speed slashes when fully unleashed.
A power that should have been overwhelming.
A power that should have decided any battle.
And yet...
None of it mattered once Jaeger became serious.
One clean strike. No room to react. No chance to escape.
Just an unavoidable end.
•••
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