One Piece: Kaido's adopted son, starts with the Eight Gates Formation.

"..."

"..."

The entire world fell into an unprecedented, absolute silence.

Whether it's the Beasts Pirates members reveling on Onigashima, or the legendary pirates standing at the pinnacle of the world watching from the sidelines.

At this moment, everyone's brain completely shut down.

Their eyes were wide open, their mouths were agape, and their gazes were vacant as they stared intently at the thousand-armed deity that slowly rose from the sea, identical to the entire Demon Island, and composed entirely of pure golden energy.

What is that?

What the hell is that thing?!

A sense of awe and insignificance, originating from the most primal and purest instincts of life, arises uncontrollably and wildly from the deepest part of everyone's heart!

"this……"

Kaido's massive blue dragon body remained frozen in place, motionless.

His enormous dragon eyes, which always burned with a fanatical fighting spirit, were now filled with only pure, blank, and incomprehensible shock.

He had seen countless powerful figures and witnessed countless world-destroying abilities.

But what he was seeing before him had completely exceeded his understanding of the word "power".

That golden Buddha was not just enormous.

The sacred pressure emanating from it, which was both dignified and imbued with an aura of extreme destruction, made even the being known as the "world's strongest creature" feel a shiver from the depths of his soul!

He even had an absurd urge to kneel down and worship!

"Fufufu..."

Doflamingo's signature laugh got stuck in his throat, producing a few dry, strange sounds like a broken bellows.

That face, which always wore an air of amusement and arrogance, now held only a pure, blank, ghost-like expression.

Crocodile, standing to the side, had his cigar slowly extinguished at some point... His usually gloomy face was now blank.

Hawkeye Mihawk, holding the black sword "Night" by the arm, veins bulging.

His sharp, eagle-like eyes, capable of seeing through everything in the world, were contracting violently.

He saw it.

The moment the golden Buddha appeared, the supreme grade sword in his hand, the black sword "Yoru" that accompanied him to the top of the world's greatest swordsman, actually... trembled slightly!

That's fear!

"Hehehehe..."

"Are you... what a joke..."

Shiki the Golden Lion's arrogant laughter became dry and distorted.

He floated in mid-air, his body trembling slightly from the extreme shock.

He has traversed the seas his entire life; what storms and waves hasn't he seen?

But the scene before him made him feel that he had wasted the last few decades of his life on a dog!

The red umbrella in the Earl of Red's hand stopped spinning.

A hint of shock appeared in his usually deep and calm eyes.

What new trick is this now?

This brat...

Just how many trump cards does he still hold, cards that could overturn the world's common sense?!

As the person directly confronting that golden Buddha, Douglas Barrett endured pressure that was beyond words.

The colossal monster he transformed into, composed of countless islands and steel, was even larger than the golden Buddha.

But at this moment, he felt as insignificant as a speck of dust.

The sacred pressure emanating from the golden Buddha was like a mountain weighing heavily on his heart, making it incredibly difficult for him to even breathe.

What terrified him even more was...

He could clearly feel the violent, dark ghostly energy within him, fueled by endless anger and hatred, that was driving him to become stronger...

Before that sacred golden energy, it melted away as quickly as ice and snow!

Those are natural enemies!

It is a balance of light and darkness, absolute restraint!

His strength, his will, his pride, everything about him, seemed so coarse, so insignificant, so worthless before this god!

"..."

The giant that Barrett had transformed into let out an unintelligible roar from its throat.

He wanted to calm down.

He wanted to maintain his dignity as a challenger.

He wanted to roar, to charge, to unleash his strongest punch!

But he couldn't do it!

His body and his soul trembled wildly and were completely out of control under that absolute, sacred pressure!

Just then.

A calm, childlike voice drifted from the top of the golden Buddha statue, clearly resounding in everyone's ears.

"You make the first move."

It's Lynn.

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable, godlike majesty.

That statement didn't sound like a provocation, much less a sign of contempt.

It was a pure, factual statement, a gift from a superior to a subordinate...

boom!!!

These words were like the last straw, completely breaking Barrett's nerve of "pride"!

His eyes, which had been burning with fighting spirit, suddenly dimmed.

All the resentment, anger, and fighting spirit in his heart were washed away completely at this moment.

All that remained was endless, bottomless, pure despair.

beat?

How do I play?

What can we use to fight?

He looked at the thousands of golden arms behind the golden Buddha, arms that blotted out the sky.

He had no doubt.

As long as I dare to move.

The next second, he would be blasted into dust by those thousands of fists, along with his proud body!

There is no suspense.

That wasn't a battle.

That was... suicide!

Under the complex, awe-inspiring, yet somehow taken-for-granted gaze of everyone.

The colossal monster that Barrett had transformed into remained silent for a moment.

then.

click-

Rumble rumble rumble—!!!

The countless rocks and steel that made up his massive body began to disintegrate, crashing down like a landslide into the surging sea, creating towering waves!

In just a few breaths.

That ferocious, arrogant, colossal monster then completely disintegrated.

Only Douglas Barrett's muscular body remained, standing alone on a huge, floating rock.

He was panting heavily, his body soaked in sweat, and his face as pale as paper.

He raised his head, gazing up at the golden Buddha that still exuded boundless divine power, and the small figure atop the Buddha's head. His lips moved a few times, and finally, in a hoarse voice filled with helplessness, he uttered three words.

"I lost."

The sound wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

No one was surprised.

No one thought he was ashamed.

Faced with such extraordinary, godlike power, admitting defeat is the most normal and wisest choice.

Lynn looked down at the figure who had completely lost the will to fight, his face expressionless.

A thought suddenly occurred to him.

The towering golden Buddha instantly transformed into countless golden specks of light and slowly dissipated.

The terrifying pressure that had enveloped the entire sea area, enough to make even gods and Buddhas tremble, vanished without a trace.

The sky has returned to its azure blue.

The sea gradually calmed down.

Everything has returned to normal.

But everyone's hearts were no longer at peace.

Lynn's figure slowly drifted down from the sky and returned to the open space on Ghost Island.

He clapped his hands, a somewhat bored expression on his face, and said casually.

"Let's go back and continue the banquet."

That nonchalant tone and nonchalant attitude made everyone present feel a sharp pang in their hearts.

Why make such a big fuss, only to have it all turn out as easy as a leisurely stroll after dinner?

Is there any limit to this guy's power?!

Hawkeye, Crocodile, and Doflamingo exchanged glances, each seeing a hint of approval in the other's eyes.

Without hesitation, they followed Lynn toward the banquet hall.

"Hahaha! This trip was worthwhile! It was truly worthwhile!"

Shiki the Golden Lion let out a deafening laugh; the shock he felt today was greater than all he had ever experienced in his entire life.

The Red Earl also put away his red umbrella, and a strong, playful light shone in his deep eyes.

Today's trip was worthwhile.

however.

Just as everyone was about to turn and leave.

A hoarse yet incredibly firm voice rang out from behind.

"etc!"

Everyone paused, instinctively turning around to look.

Douglas Barrett, the monster of the old era who had just conceded defeat, was staring intently at Lynn's back.

He took a deep breath, and then, amidst the astonished and incredulous gazes of everyone, he spoke, word by word, in an almost pleading tone.

"Lynn, let me join the Godslayer Guild too!"

boom!!!!

This statement had an even greater impact than the appearance of that golden Buddha statue!

Everyone present was completely stunned.

What's going on?!

Douglas Barrett?

That aloof monster who, because he didn't trust anyone, wanted to surpass Roger all by himself?

That man who would rather die than submit, and who carried on the tradition of "going it alone" to the very end?

He... he's going to join someone else's faction?!

This is even more outrageous than the sun rising in the west!

Everyone couldn't help but show surprise.

Lynn turned around, raised an eyebrow, and looked at Barrett with interest.

"Oh?"

"Don't you like someone?"

"What? You've figured it out?"

Barrett's face flashed with struggle and humiliation, but in the end, they were replaced by a stronger emotion called "desire".

He raised his head, his eyes, now burning with renewed passion, fixed intently on Lynn.

"I have only one condition!"

His voice was resolute and unwavering.

"Guide me!"

"Make me stronger!"

A proud and arrogant strongman who only believed in his own strength, after witnessing incomprehensible, godlike power, all that remained for him was the purest desire and pursuit of even greater power!

For this goal, he is willing to abandon his so-called dignity and arrogance!

Lynn looked at the undisguised longing in Barrett's eyes, and the playfulness on his face gradually turned into approval.

"Can."

He nodded.

I promise you.

【Ding! 】

[Congratulations, host, on successfully recruiting "General-level" combatant—Douglas Barrett!]

[Recruiting Troops Progress: 2/3!]

A system notification sounded in Lynn's mind.

This is the second one.

Surprisingly, Barrett, this tough nut to crack, became the second person to voluntarily surrender.

Just one more thing and we'll be done with the mission.

Lynn's gaze unconsciously swept towards the Golden Lion and the Red Earl not far away.

These two old monsters are definitely at the general level in terms of combat strength...

however.

Just as he was about to speak, to test the waters with the two men.

call--!!!

A scorching, destructive aura suddenly descended from above everyone's heads!

Everyone, including Lynn, suddenly looked up!

All I saw was...

Above the azure sky, a huge black dot, burning with raging flames, is rapidly expanding at an astonishing speed!

That was... a huge meteorite!

"Holy crap!"

"What the hell?!"

"Was it done by the Golden Lion?!"

Quinn screamed in fright and instinctively looked at the Golden Lion.

"No, it's not me!"

Golden Lion was also completely bewildered. He swore that he hadn't made this thing!

The meteorite, powerful enough to level half of Oni Island, was about to fall.

Lynn pursed her lips, a look of impatience on her face.

He was too lazy to even transform anymore.

It was just a thought.

hum-

Behind him, in the void of space, a gigantic, pure golden Buddha hand, obscuring the sky, appeared out of thin air!

then.

He gently slapped the meteorite that had fallen from the sky.

Like swatting a fly.

boom! ! ! !

The meteorite, burning with fierce flames and exuding a menacing aura, shattered instantly upon contact with the golden Buddha's hand, not even lasting a second!

It turned into countless pebbles and sparks, vanishing without a trace.

"..."

Everyone was numb.

Such devastating natural disasters are nothing but child's play for this young master...

Just then.

A deep, approving voice came from the shore not far away.

"Truly... an incredible power."

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound.

There stood a tall, blind man dressed in a purple kimono, his eyes closed, leaning on a cane and a knife.

A gentle smile graced his face.

Lynn's eyes narrowed slightly.

He recognized the person at a glance.

Fujitora, the future Admiral of the Navy Headquarters, lived his life!

What is he doing here?

Everyone else noticed it too.

To be able to summon such a massive meteorite at will, causing a cataclysmic apocalyptic scene... that's definitely a formidable character!

but.

Those present were not too surprised by this.

After all, with a monster like the protagonist who is even more exaggerated, outrageous, and incomprehensible... the mere summoning of meteorites is simply not enough to cause them any psychological fluctuation.

"you……"

Lynn was just about to ask the other party the purpose of their visit.

Fujitora then bowed slightly in Lynn's direction and spoke in an extremely sincere tone.

"This old man, my whole life."

"I've long heard of the Demon Child's great name, and seeing him today, I can confirm that it lives up to his reputation."

"I wonder if I might have the honor of joining..."

"The God-Slaying Guild?"