one piece: gene extraction and fusion system-Chapter 256: Clash of Legends

"Come on."

Feeling the terrifying slash from the Golden Lion, Mio was not afraid at all. Instead, he was thrilled, his blood boiling with excitement as he shouted, "Demon God!"

Buzz—

A terrifying demonic power burst forth in an instant. That dark energy coiled around the massive skeletal giant behind Mio like a web, forming a hardened scarlet armor. In the next moment, it was entirely coated with Armament Haki.

Then, the power of the dragon awakened.

Blazing flames erupted, spiraling around the armored giant. Fire gathered on its fists, merging seamlessly with the crimson demon fire that burned like a living creature.

Without hesitation, Mio launched a punch.

A violent, overwhelming punch—charging forward to meet the incoming slash.

RUMBLE—

An earth-shaking explosion sounded as the two titanic forces collided.

A massive wave of momentum erupted in the sky, expanding in every direction.

Thunderclouds above scattered.

The sea beneath churned violently, massive waves rising and falling in chaos.

Far in the distance, in the Twin Gorges near Reverse Mountain, Crocus stood outside his lighthouse, gazing at the sky where tremors echoed endlessly.

"They've met... they've started fighting?" he murmured.

He recalled Mio had said he was looking for someone. It seemed the two combatants now clashing in the sky were both top-tier legends of the sea. But who would win in the end?

He wasn't the only one in shock.

All across the surrounding sea, even pirates who had just entered the Grand Line felt the violent tremors above. Though they couldn't see through the thick clouds overhead, they could clearly hear the booming clashes from within—and feel the crushing pressure.

It was like a mountain pressing down on their chests, making it hard to breathe, let alone move.

On a nearby warship, a Marine soldier held a Den Den Mushi in trembling hands, nervously looking at the sky while reporting, uncertain but sensing an intense battle.

Marine Headquarters.

At Marineford, Fleet Admiral Sengoku listened closely to the Den Den Mushi.

"Fighting in the sky?" he repeated quietly.

His eyes suddenly widened, pupils shrinking as a shock ran through him.

"Could it be... the Golden Lion?"

Clicking his tongue, Sengoku's face darkened.

"It's possible. Who's fighting him? The Black Crow? Or maybe that old monster, the Red Earl?"

"Tch. What a troublesome time this is," he muttered, rubbing his forehead.

Still, he gave a command through the Den Den Mushi. "Keep watching. Report everything without delay."

"Yes, sir!" came the reply.

The Den Den Mushi line clicked off.

In the Sky – Golden Lion's Floating Island Base.

The battle was locked in a fierce stalemate.

Until—

BOOM!

The two figures suddenly separated, creating distance between them.

Mio grinned wickedly, the corners of his mouth twitching upward as he stared at the Golden Lion.

"Your strength has seriously declined, Golden Lion."

"Humph." Golden Lion snorted coldly, but didn't retort. Instead, blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

He had taken internal damage.

Noticing the pain within his body, Golden Lion muttered, "To have refined Armament Haki to such a degree... Quite impressive for someone so young."

Ryusakura.

He knew this technique well. But mastering it was something very few could do.

And yet this young man—no, this monster—had done it already.

Golden Lion couldn't help but be shocked. At Mio's age, his physical prowess, strength, and control over Haki were already top-tier. Even Golden Lion had to admit—this talent was terrifying.

"Maybe... I really will lose this time."

That thought flashed through his mind. As much as he didn't want to admit it, his strength had declined—too much.

Though he was still strong enough to crush ordinary pirates, against someone like the Black Crow—someone who could go toe-to-toe with Whitebeard—that decline was a fatal gap.

A complex expression flashed in Golden Lion's eyes.

"The arrival of a new era..."

Heh.

Letting out a breath, his eyes firmed with a flash of resolution. Then he laughed wildly.

"Hahahaha! Black Crow—come at me again!"

Even if he lost—so what?

He was the Golden Lion!

The fierce battle resumed.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Each impact shook the island.

Mio moved with terrifying fluidity, Ryusakura blooming with every strike. With each clash, blood oozed again from the Golden Lion's mouth.

After another violent exchange, the Golden Lion pulled back, wiped the blood away with his sleeve, and his expression grew cold.

Then—

He raised his right hand and swung it fiercely.

BOOM!

A deep vibration rang out across the air—and spread to the dozens of floating islands.

From twenty of them, enormous landmasses began to shift and rise—transforming into massive lions of stone and earth.

And not just the islands.

The seawater nearby, and even the clouds overhead—moved unnaturally.

They too formed massive lions, terrifying in scale and power.

In total, forty or fifty such beasts emerged, floating midair and surrounding Mio in every direction.

Each lion glared at him, radiating killing intent.

Mio stared calmly at the scene. "The final blow?"

He cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders.

"Then come on."

He summoned his full might. The massive skeleton giant roared to life, demon fire and dragon fire swirling together, converging into two colossal swords gripped tightly in each skeletal hand.

The air grew heavier. Tense. Suffocating.

Then, Golden Lion flipped his right hand and roared—

"Lion Power—Hundred Lions!"

ROAR—!!

As the Golden Lion's command rang out, all the massive lions charged forward simultaneously.

Mio's expression didn't change. In fact, Golden Lion could no longer truly threaten him.

The Golden Lion's ability was mighty, yes—but only if he could deal damage.

And Mio... wouldn't give him the chance.

SWISH—

The skeleton giant swung its enormous twin swords.

Two charging lions were cleaved clean in half.

Then more approached.

But Mio's form vanished.

In a blink, he appeared behind Golden Lion—so fast it was nearly invisible.

Mio raised the twin blades once more, the air slicing apart from the sheer force of his swing.

Golden Lion's eyes shrank to pinpricks.

Sensing the danger behind him, he reacted instantly—turning and raising both legs, sending out two devastating air slashes.

BOOM—

They clashed with Mio's blow just in time, temporarily deflecting it.

Golden Lion used the opening to retreat and regain some distance.

But—

As he looked up—

Mio's figure had vanished again.

Another sharp rush of wind behind him.

Golden Lion's scalp tingled.

A suffocating sense of death surged over him like a tidal wave.

"This battle is over, Golden Lion," Mio's calm voice came from behind him.

As the words dropped—

CRASH!!

The skeleton giant's colossal slash fell like divine judgment.

The island shook violently.

A deafening roar echoed.

Then—a deep crevasse formed, splitting the ground.

The entire island cracked apart, splitting directly down the middle.

It was over.

The island was cleaved in two.

————

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