"Dōyako Eighteen Blades!"
Sakata Gintoki dodged a sword strike aimed at his head from the side by Shiki, the Golden Lion. He quickly flipped his body, and the Dōyako in his hand swiftly counter-attacked.
Immense power erupted in an instant, unleashing a terrifying aura. With armament haki covering the sword's blade, the dark, eerie glow resembled a grim reaper wielding a scythe. Coupled with the activation of the Sword-Sword Fruit's ability, this strike was powerful enough to instantly kill a Vice Admiral-level combatant.
Shiki, the Golden Lion, had not expected that at such close range, Sakata Gintoki's strike would possess such terrifying power.
As the dark, eerie glow flickered, numerous sword energies circled around him, small and sharp, as if capable of shredding anything in existence.
*Rrrrippp!*
Although the Golden Lion quickly defended himself, rapidly swinging Sakura Ten and枯木, several sword energies still pierced through his defense and wounded him.
However, they only caused minor cuts, like those from a thread being drawn across.
Shiki, worthy of being a legendary figure, relied on his immense power, keen perception, reaction speed, and his world-class observation haki to cover his body with armament haki before the sword energies could fully affect him, thus blocking the majority of their force.
The Golden Lion created distance and looked at Sakata Gintoki, who stood amidst the sword energies. He completely disregarded the cutting wounds and laughed, "That move just now was very good."
"But that's all there is to it."
Upon hearing this, Sakata Gintoki's eyes fixed on the Golden Lion, and he attacked without a word.
"Rampage!"
The swirling sword energies were no weaker than before, perhaps even more ferocious.
"Shishi, Senchigoya."
Shiki's eyes narrowed slightly, and he swiftly launched a counter-attack.
Sword energies five times more powerful than Zanpakutō instantly swept down.
The two powerful forces collided and erupted, as if tearing heaven and earth apart.
Ultimately, Sakata Gintoki's Rampage was slightly weaker. The residual power of Shishi Senchigoya rushed towards Sakata Gintoki, but he blocked it with a single sword strike.
"Show me stronger power, or else, with strength like yours, you won't be enough to make me serious," Shiki the Golden Lion, floating in mid-air, taunted Sakata Gintoki. "Your potential is good, but you are still too weak."
"To kill you, I won't even use half my strength."
Just then, a figure emerged from a floating island, speaking with a hint of jest, "Captain, if you don't think highly of this brat, how about letting me handle him?"
This was a man carrying two clubs, with large ears, narrowed eyes, a sturdy build, and a bald head, standing at two meters thirty to two meters forty in height.
Furthermore, in his speech, his tone and mouth movements revealed a cunning playfulness, like that of a fox spirit.
Kurai Kotaro, a core combat member of the Flying Pirates, possessed Admiral-level combat power, no Devil Fruit ability, and a bounty of 835 million berries.
ps: The Flying Pirates can rival, or even surpass, the Roger Pirates in terms of high-level members, not only due to Shiki the Golden Lion's abilities but also those of his subordinates.
ps: Unfortunately, in One Piece, the Flying Pirates who escaped from Impel Down have already fallen apart. Apart from Shiki the Golden Lion, most of the other characters who appeared had no standout combat members.
ps: Therefore, I have added some new members here, please bear with me.
ps: In fact, many characters have appeared in this novel to strengthen the foundation and enrich the plot, so please forgive me.
"Kotaro, although the Captain doesn't think highly of him, this brat's abilities are not simple."
"I can feel that his sword and his Sword-Sword Fruit ability have reached a state of fusion."
"Why don't you let me have him? Otherwise, you might die in battle."
"At that time, the Captain will regret losing an Admiral by his side."
As Kurai Kotaro set his sights on Sakata Gintoki, another person emerged. This individual's voice was slightly sharp, and his legs and arms were very long. Even more strikingly, this person carried six swords.
Could this be an impossible six-sword style?
Sasaki Yonen, nicknamed "Spider-Man" due to his spider-like appearance, had eaten the Zoan-type Spider-Form Devil Fruit.
In the New World, during a encirclement by the Marine fleet, he once defeated ten Vice Admirals and, after taking a gravity punch from Zephyr who rushed in, managed to escape.
This battle made Sasaki Yonen's name renowned across the seas, and he became one of the core combat members of the Flying Pirates, with a bounty of 750 million berries.
Kurai Kotaro's appearance had already made Sakata Gintoki's expression grave, and Sasaki Yonen's appearance further intensified the immense pressure and fatal threat Sakata Gintoki felt.
This Sasaki Yonen who appeared was even more dangerous than Kurai Kotaro.
Shiki the Golden Lion heard this and let out a hearty laugh.
Smoking a cigar, Shiki floated upwards, returning to his pirate ship, and said, "You two handle it yourselves. The Genbu Navy still has plenty of talent."
With that, Shiki the Golden Lion's eyes flickered towards Sakata Gintoki, and he added, "It's a pity, such talent cannot be used by me."
Kurai Kotaro glanced at Sasaki Yonen and said playfully, "This brat is yours."
"I hope you don't die."
Sasaki Yonen let out a "Hee hee" laugh and leaped down.
Sakata Gintoki looked at Sasaki Yonen descending and raised his sword, unleashing a sword energy that swept through, also stirring up a gust of wind.
Sasaki Yonen glanced at it and reciprocated with a sword strike.
The collision of sword energies, while creating a larger and more ferocious wind, allowed Sasaki Yonen to safely land on the mountaintop.
After landing, Sasaki Yonen looked at Sakata Gintoki and chuckled, "Striking rashly and sneak attacking is not the behavior of a powerful swordsman."
"Sakata Gintoki."
Hearing his name, Sakata Gintoki said with a vigilant expression, "I am a Marine, and you are a pirate. This is not a friendly spar, but a life-or-death battle between enemies."
"If I can deliver a fatal blow, why should I defeat you honorably?"
"However, that was before."
Sakata Gintoki sneered and initiated the attack.
Sasaki also drew his twin swords and charged towards Sakata Gintoki.
In an instant, the two began to clash.
On the floating island, Kurai Kotaro watched the scene below with a smile, then continued forward.
In their eyes, Sakata Gintoki's strength was still too weak.
The reason they were willing to make a move was merely to see what was so remarkable about the brat that Shiki the Golden Lion took notice of.