One Piece: The Cryo Doctor on the Straw Hat Ship

That's not something they care about at all.

However, at that moment...

"S-Master Shiji! Master Indigo!"

An operator sitting at the front monitoring console suddenly stood up, his voice rising abruptly in surprise:

"It seems like something came up with Base 8!"

"The defenses at Base 8 have been completely destroyed."

"what?"

The golden lion paused for a moment, then immediately walked towards him.

The monitor swallowed hard, his fingers flying across the control panel, switching the main screen to an external view of Base 8.

In the scene, the island that has just taken off is hovering below the edge of the sky island cluster. In the woods at the edge of the island, there are still faint traces of smoke from the firing of several defensive emplacements.

And to the side and rear of the island, several hundred meters in the air—

A ship.

"What...what kind of ship is that?!" another monitor exclaimed. "How could it possibly fly?!"

Dr. Indigo, his large shoes clattering as he strode quickly to the monitoring console, squinted at the screen, and stared at it:

"Wait a minute, the flag on that ship..."

"It's a pirate ship. If I remember correctly, that should be the symbol of the Straw Hat Pirates, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!"

The image on the monitor screen was magnified, clearly showing the iconic straw hat and skull flag on the sails of the Merry.

Sunlight streamed onto the brand-new hull, the wooden and metal exterior gleaming with a cool yet warm luster, while the ram's head statue at the bow seemed to be giving the camera a sly smile.

"The Straw Hat Pirates...one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea?" Shiki the Golden Lion slowly repeated these words, a cold smile gradually spreading across his lips. "A lackey of the World Government? Interesting."

With a swift movement of his feet, the famous swords "Withered Wood" and "Cherry Blossom Ten" left two shallow marks on the ground, and he turned towards the exit.

"Lord Shiki, are you going in person?" Dr. Indigo adjusted his clown hat, his tone tinged with caution. "According to intelligence, although the Straw Hat Pirates haven't been around for long, their achievements are quite remarkable."

"There are even rumors that... he once made a naval admiral suffer a setback."

"Admiral? Hmph!"

The disdain in the golden lion's eyes deepened.

Do you think I'm afraid of that kind of thing?

What admiral?

As a former maritime overlord, the number of people that Golden Lion could acknowledge was... you could count them on one hand.

In his eyes, the three current admirals of the navy are nothing more than little kids dressed in adult clothes.

He completely ignored Indigo's warning and walked straight out of the base, leaving behind only one sentence:

"I must personally go and 'welcome' this group of uninvited guests!"

……

……

The Merry hovered above the side of the island at Base 8, and the pale blue energy shield around the ship had slowly dissipated.

The Straw Hat crew gathered on the deck, looking up at the cluster of sky islands that blotted out the sky, each with a different expression.

"Is that... Shiki's lair?" Usopp asked, his voice trembling as he held up his binoculars. "So many islands! How are they floating in the sky!?"

"The range of the Float-Float Fruit's power is probably far beyond our imagination." Robin crossed her arms and calmly analyzed, "To be able to keep so many islands in the sky for so long requires monstrous physical strength and control."

"I'm afraid... Shiki's control over his Devil Fruit powers is even greater than that of Blackbeard, whom we encountered before."

"Who cares!" Luffy adjusted his straw hat, a broad smile on his face. "He fired first! That makes him the enemy! I'm going to go and beat him to a pulp!"

"Wait, Luffy." V ​​raised his hand to stop him, his gaze sweeping across the central area of ​​the Skypiea cluster. "They've noticed us. And... the main force has arrived."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a figure shot out like a cannonball from the direction of the main island in the distance!

Without the aid of any flying vehicle, the person simply walked on air.

It moved so fast that it left a golden afterimage in the air.

In just a few breaths, the figure had traversed thousands of meters and hovered in the air a hundred meters directly in front of the Merry.

A sudden gust of wind arose, causing the straw hats and their coats to flutter loudly.

The newcomer was dressed in a traditional Japanese bathrobe, with a dark yellow coat trimmed with gold over it, and his brilliant blond hair was wildly flowing down his back like a lion's mane.

Most striking are his legs, which have replaced his feet and are embedded with famous swords, and the iconic ship's wheel on his forehead—a scar left from when he attacked Roger's pirate crew more than twenty years ago, which has now become his proud medal.

Chapter 180 The Testing Stone

The golden lion, arms crossed, looked down at the Merry, a wide grin revealing its gleaming white teeth.

"Hehehehe! Straw Hat brats, you dare to trespass into my sky and break my toys... You've got some nerve!"

The overwhelming aura rushed in like a tangible tsunami, the oppressive presence of a legendary pirate who had fought countless battles and dominated an era.

On the deck, Usopp and Chopper, who were slightly weaker, turned pale instantly and almost collapsed to the ground.

Even Zoro, Sanji, and the others subconsciously tensed up, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Although their strength has improved remarkably, they are still somewhat inferior to the legendary great pirates.

The Golden Lion's maniacal laughter echoed in the air, and his Conqueror's Haki surged like a tangible wave, crashing against the Going Merry's energy shield.

The pale blue light membrane rippled under the impact of the domineering aura, yet it steadily kept the suffocating pressure at bay.

"Oh?" The Golden Lion raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "It can actually block my domineering aura... This ship is quite interesting."

"...Interesting, very interesting!"

He hovered in the air, his famous swords "Kumo" and "Sakura-ju" on his feet slightly adjusting their angles, making him look like a king reigning over the sky, scrutinizing the ship that shouldn't be there.

"I've roamed the seas for decades. I've seen flying ships, I've seen diving ships, but I've never seen a ship that can withstand Conqueror's Haki!" He grinned, revealing gleaming white teeth, his eyes gleaming with the inquisitive light of a scientist and the greed of a pirate. "This ship... I want it!"

Before he could finish speaking, the golden lion casually waved his right hand.

Rumbling--

The island of Base 8, which had just taken off below, suddenly trembled. Dozens of rocks the size of houses detached from the mountain and shot into the sky as if defying gravity, forming a giant hand in the air that reached out to grab the Merry.

"Full left rudder, full power to hover array, vertical ascent!" Nami's command was instantly transmitted through the brain-computer interface.

The twelve crystal devices on both sides of the Merry's hull emitted an unprecedented azure light, and the humming of the wind tunnel suspended at the bottom of the ship suddenly intensified.

The entire ship seemed to be lifted up by an invisible hand, rapidly ascending in a near-vertical arc, narrowly missing the gaps between the giant rocky palms.

The violent airflow caused the clothes of everyone on the deck to flutter wildly.

"Oh? There's such a move!" The Golden Lion's interest grew even stronger. He lightly touched the air with his famous swords, and his figure chased after the enemy like a golden lightning bolt, while his left hand swung again.

However, at that moment...

"Hey! You blondie! Aren't you being a little too arrogant?!"

On the deck of the Going Merry, seeing that Golden Lion dared to attack them first, the Straw Hat crew instantly showed their anger.

What a joke!

Do they really think they're easy targets?!

A cold glint flashed in V's eyes, and he suddenly raised his right arm, his five fingers loosely clenched.

Crackling sound—boom!

A dazzling silver lightning bolt burst forth from his palm, intertwining and swirling, instantly transforming into a blazing pillar of lightning.

Almost simultaneously, crimson-gold flames ignited from the void, coiling around the lightning pillar as if they were alive.

Instead of canceling each other out, the two violent elements were completely fused together under some kind of exquisite manipulation, transforming into a thunderous torrent wrapped in raging flames!

"Thunder Flame Sky Rush".

V's calm voice rang out.

The beam of light, interwoven with red and silver and containing destructive energy, instantly pierced through the pale blue energy shield surrounding the Merry and hurtled straight towards the golden lion suspended in the air at a speed beyond the reach of sight!

"What!?"

The golden lion's pupils suddenly contracted.

He wasn't unprepared; after all, his opponent was a Shichibukai, someone he had to take seriously.

But this attack was launched too suddenly and its power was too terrifying.

Two of the most destructive elements in nature merged perfectly in a way he had never seen before, with such a high level of energy that he felt a stinging sensation on his skin instantly.

"A mere lackey of the World Government... how could that be!?"

Despite his shock and anger, the instincts of a legendary pirate remained intact. He thrust his famous swords, "Kureki" and "Sakura-ju," at his feet, preparing to retreat rapidly while simultaneously crossing his arms to try and create a barrier from the surrounding island's rock and soil.

However, it was too late.

boom--!!!

The red and silver beam of light struck the golden lion's crossed arms with solid force.

There was no stalemate.

The terrifying fusion energy exploded instantly, unleashing the tearing power of thunder and the burning might of flames simultaneously.

"Uhh—!!"

A burst of red and silver lightning exploded in the sky. The golden lion grunted and flew backward dozens of meters before barely managing to regain its footing.

His signature deep yellow overcoat was charred and torn in the lightning and fire, and his long, golden, lion-mane-like hair was electrified, with strands standing on end and swirling with blue smoke.

A burning and numbing pain shot through his arm. Although he managed to withstand the attack thanks to his powerful Armament Haki, his skin was covered in scorch marks, with beads of blood seeping out.

The golden lion looked down at the injury on his arm, his pupils suddenly contracting.

It's not because of pain.

For a legend who has fought since the time of Rocks, this kind of injury is nothing out of the ordinary.