To destroy the Xuanwu Navy and ensure their eternal downfall.
In the eyes of Golden Lion Shiki, the first priority was to eliminate all of their high-level combat power.
Once that was done, the remaining forces would be no match.
Now, having taken the IQ berserk potion, he was filled with immense strength.
With Benedict's fate unknown, it was only natural to finish off Wang Zhi and the others.
Wang Zhi gripped his crescent moon saber, took a deep breath, and moved with the wind, his expression incredibly grave.
Silvers Rayleigh, having revealed his identity, found himself in a predicament where he could not escape.
"Kekekeke."
"Are you afraid?"
"Since you won't attack, I shall strike first."
Golden Lion Shiki watched as Silvers Rayleigh and Wang Zhi hesitated to leave their warships and engage him. He then let out a mocking laugh and charged forward.
In an instant, Wang Zhi and Silvers Rayleigh were locked in a fierce battle on the warship.
The other special forces soldiers on the warship swiftly evacuated, leaping onto other vessels to assault the pirates on the floating islands.
The combat between Golden Lion and the others was far beyond their capacity to participate.
Silver Axe stood a short distance away, enduring the violent aura emanating from the intense three-way battle, his gaze sweeping across the sea.
The Xuanwu Navy soldiers who had entered the water had not yet surfaced, nor had Benedict appeared.
When not using his Float-Float Fruit abilities, Golden Lion Shiki’s combat power was fearless against anyone.
His mastery of the three types of Haki was no weaker than Silvers Rayleigh's.
Currently, facing the combined assault of Silvers Rayleigh and Wang Zhi, the battle was fiercely contested.
Compared to Silvers Rayleigh, Wang Zhi's expression was considerably more solemn.
Although he possessed the combat power of an Admiral and was not slow, his massive frame was at a disadvantage against the more agile Golden Lion Shiki and Silvers Rayleigh.
As such, Silvers Rayleigh became the primary attacker, while he acted as support.
*Crack!*
The warship, unable to withstand the immense pressure of the three-person battle, broke in half.
As the warship began to sink, it presented a dangerous and troublesome situation for Silvers Rayleigh and Wang Zhi, who relied on solid ground for their fighting.
"Kekekeke."
Golden Lion Shiki let out a hearty laugh upon witnessing this scene.
"I am the overlord of the sea."
Wang Zhi and Silvers Rayleigh's expressions were slightly grim, but they were not despairing.
At this moment, Silver Axe piloted a warship over, providing them with a place to stand.
*Boom!*
Just then, the turbulent ocean erupted with a tremendous blast.
Benedict's figure leaped out of the water.
Benedict stared coldly at Golden Lion Shiki and sneered, "Overlord of the sea?"
"You are merely an ambitious, arrogant, and reckless brute."
Golden Lion stared at Benedict in disbelief and utter shock. He completely failed to register Benedict's words.
"How is this possible?"
"You should be dead!"
"With injuries like that, there's no way you could still be alive."
Benedict showed no signs of any injuries whatsoever.
In fact, the aura radiating from Benedict had barely changed; it remained just as powerful.
Silvers Rayleigh also found it incredible.
Given Benedict's condition at the time, even he had believed Benedict was going to die.
Their effort to come here, regardless of Benedict's survival, was solely to locate his people.
Now, Benedict stood before them unharmed, which was utterly baffling.
If not for the tattered state of Benedict's clothing, Silvers Rayleigh would have sworn the Benedict before him was a ghost.
"Nothing is impossible."
"Golden Lion Shiki."
As he spoke, Benedict's aura began to surge.
This familiar sight sent another shockwave of horror through Golden Lion.
"Impossible."
"Absolutely impossible!"
"Even if you possess incredible regenerative abilities, why do you still have the stamina to unleash such forbidden techniques?"
Golden Lion's words were filled with shock and panic.
He was absolutely certain that the martial arts Benedict was employing were a forbidden technique.
When unleashed to their fullest extent, such forbidden techniques consumed one's body, mind, and stamina completely.
It was impossible for Benedict to still have the capacity to perform such a forbidden technique.
Yet, here was Benedict, opening the 'Eight Gates'.
"Gate of Delight, open."
Benedict grunted, silently opening six gates consecutively before reaching the seventh.
As for the Eighth Gate, Benedict dared not open it, his heart still pounding with trepidation.
Even with an indestructible physique, the pain, the lingering sensation of being on the brink of death, the profound stillness – it was a immense torment to the spirit.
Although he could not open the Eighth Gate, he still had his divine skill: "Three Thousand Thunder Movements."
As long as he unleashed it, he would be more than capable of crushing the current Golden Lion.
A torrent of power surged towards the heavens, his Conqueror's Haki tearing through the dark clouds, allowing the pale moonlight to cascade upon the East Sea, reflecting a starry sky amidst the turbulent waves.
Golden Lion Shiki's expression was particularly grim.
Despite having taken the IQ berserk potion, the events of moments ago still left him trembling with fear.
"Bastard!"
"Bastard!"
"I am the overlord of the sea!"
"I will not surrender like this!"
"I will return!"
Golden Lion was enraged.
He dared not gamble.
Nor did he dare to continue fighting here.
Xuanwu Navy Admiral Wang Zhi, Silvers Rayleigh who surpassed Admirals, and the even more monstrous Benedict, who for some unknown reason possessed peak power.
Facing the combined might of these three was no less daunting than facing the combined might of Garp and Sengoku.
Benedict's gaze fell upon the condensed Water Lions surrounding them, and then towards Golden Lion Shiki flying higher into the sky to escape. His expression darkened slightly.
This was the perfect opportunity to capture Golden Lion Shiki.
However, once Golden Lion Shiki flew upwards, it was not something just anyone could pursue.
Flying upwards was a different concept from flying away horizontally; the pressure involved was entirely different.
If he were truly determined to hold Golden Lion Shiki, it was not impossible, but Golden Lion Shiki, intent on fleeing, was not someone anyone could easily chase.
What a cunning lion, to abandon his comrades and leave alone.
With no other choice, Benedict turned his gaze towards the floating islands crashing down around them, observing the ongoing battles above.
Excellent, the Xuanwu Navy had complete control. Eliminating the members of the Flying Pirates would leave Golden Lion Shiki as a solitary commander, which would be quite fitting.
Giving up the pursuit of Golden Lion Shiki, Benedict boarded the warship and, looking at Silvers Rayleigh beside him, said with a playful smile, "Uncle Rayleigh, it's been a long time since we last parted two years ago."
Upon hearing Benedict's words, Wang Zhi's spirit lifted, and he looked at Benedict and Silvers Rayleigh in disbelief.
They knew each other?
This was Silvers Rayleigh, known as the "Right Hand of the Pirate King," and certainly not someone to be underestimated.
Silvers Rayleigh's face twitched slightly, then he chuckled, "I'd rather never see you again."
"I am a pirate, and you are a marine, and such a monstrous Marine Admiral at that."
"I fear for my life."
"You're not planning to use me as a sacrifice to the heavens since you couldn't catch Golden Lion Shiki, are you?"