The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

He chickened out! In that moment, he thought about defeat and the threat of being captured, but when faced with real death, he was too scared to back down!

He, the Golden Lion, chickened out!

Especially now, during the era when Roger and Whitebeard were still at their peak.

If he were the only one of the three legendary figures to die first, especially by a relatively unknown navy officer...

He dared not gamble! Not with his life, not with his pride.

"Next time we meet... I will personally pull that knife... from your corpse!!"

After uttering those harsh words, a sudden gust of wind arose, and the golden lion's figure transformed into an extremely fast streak of light, disappearing into the distant horizon in the blink of an eye.

.......

PS: I originally thought that Gern could take on the Golden Lion by himself, but that's a bit unrealistic for Gern now, after all, it's the Golden Lion at his peak and unharmed.

Therefore, it's best to have Zephyr, Sakazuki, and Gern work together, with Gern unleashing a decisive blow that changes the course of the battle (this won't diminish Shiki's strength and is consistent with his combat power).

Also, the part about "the only man in the world who can forge his own weapon into a black sword using his Conqueror's Haki" is a personal interpretation by Xianyu.

Also, thank you all for your support.

If you receive more than 30 gifts every day (including free ones), Xianyu will update at noon every day!

Chapter 50 President, the world is about to change.

The golden lion disappeared completely into the distant horizon, leaving only the howling wind and billowing smoke at Naval Base G-3.

Sakazuki and Zephyr stood still, their eyes fixed on Gern's retreating figure.

Gern's body remained upright, his black blade, Eight Desolations, pointed diagonally at the ground, the purplish-black lightning on its blade completely dissipated.

“Gern…” Zefa called softly, his brow furrowed.

He sensed something was off... Gern's posture was too stiff, like a statue.

Upon seeing this, Sakazuki said in a deep voice, "Hey, Gern, the Golden Lion has already escaped."

Gern did not respond to their words.

Zefa's heart sank, and he quickly stepped forward, placing his hand on Gern's shoulder.

"Gern, you..." The moment Zefa touched him, Gern's body fell straight backward like a puppet with its strings cut.

Zefa reacted quickly and caught him, only to find that Gern's eyes were closed and his breathing was weak.

"He...has passed out?" Sakazuki's voice carried a rare hint of hesitation.

Zefa bent down to examine Gern's injuries, his expression complex.

Guern's hand was split open, and the muscles in both arms were torn due to overload.

That single strike, "Godfall," nearly drained him of all his power.

Even so, his body remained in a fighting stance, and even the edge of the Black Blade Eight Desolations did not relax in the slightest.

“He lost consciousness after that strike,” Zephyr said slowly.

"Just now... his body was just relying on instinct to stay afloat."

Upon hearing Zephyr's words, Sakazuki's pupils contracted slightly.

Subconsciously, he looked at the black sword Bahuang tightly gripped in Gern's hand. The purplish-black patterns on the blade were slowly fading, but the heart-palpitating sense of oppression had not completely dissipated.

"Just... an unconscious body and a slightly moving blade were enough to frighten the Golden Lion away..." Sakazuki muttered to himself, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

"So, just how terrifying was that slash?!"

He never imagined that this guy, whom he admired and who usually liked to joke, could unleash such terrifying power in a life-or-death situation.

"Headquarters support will be here soon." Zephyr picked up Gern and turned to walk into the base.

"First, contact the medical team that has been evacuated to the safe zone."

Sakazuki followed silently behind, the scene from earlier replaying in his mind.

The moment Gern swung his sword, the fear in the Golden Lion's eyes, and the purplish-black blade light that tore through the sky.

“Professor Zephyr,” Sakazuki suddenly spoke, “that knife… what is its origin?”

Zefa paused slightly, but did not turn around.

Then, he said in a low voice, "What are you thinking? It's just Gern's knife."

"And..." Seeing Sakazuki hesitate, Zephyr also reprimanded him coldly and seriously, "Sakazuki, since you obtained the Magma-Magma Fruit, you have actually become weaker."

The sea breeze suddenly turned fierce, stirring up dust from the ground.

“Zeff, I…” Sakazuki was about to retort when Zefa’s voice followed closely behind.

"Don't let the powerful abilities granted by Devil Fruits blind you."

Look at your Armament Haki! Your Observation Haki! Before I arrived...

Even if you are no match for Shiki, with the help of Guern and his ability to suppress Shiki's Devil Fruit...

"You shouldn't have lost so quickly! You idiot."

Sakazuki's pupils contracted violently.

Memories flooded back—sixteen-year-old me kneeling in the dojo, a newly sharpened military sword resting across my lap.

At the graduation ceremony, a powerful and imposing blade was used to cleave the test reef.

Those images overlapped with the charred lava fist imprint before him, causing fine beads of sweat to appear on his forehead.

Sakazuki slowly raised his palm and stared at the calluses that belonged to a swordsman, which he had long ignored.

"Having abandoned their weapons, they should forge a new path instead of remaining silent here."

I remember teaching you this lesson, Sakazuki.

Watching the departing figure carrying Gren, Sakazuki fell silent...

Since being stationed at G-3 base, he has indeed become somewhat reliant on his Devil Fruit abilities and neglected his Haki training.

.......

Meanwhile, in a secure area at G-3 base

A man in a gray trench coat slowly put down his camera, his fingers trembling slightly, his forehead covered in cold sweat.

As a senior reporter for the World Economic Herald, he had seen countless grand occasions, but what had just happened still left him feeling breathless.

He originally came here just to be the first to report on which famous pirates G-3 base had arrested, probably like a paparazzi waiting for the news.

What happened in the end?! At first, I thought it was just another little news story about "Rift Island" Dog being captured.

Then, the Golden Lion's attack on the naval base caught his eye again.

After all, a legendary pirate raiding a key naval stronghold is enough to make headlines.

However, Zeff's appearance later saved the day, which was a good selling point, but...

When he witnessed Gern slay the Golden Lion with a single blow, he realized that what he had filmed was far more shocking than he had imagined.

The reporter looked down at the photos in the camera.

The scene freezes on the moment Gern swings his sword, the purplish-black blade piercing the heavens and earth, while the golden lion's eyes roll back, his expression contorted, as if facing death itself.

"Is this... really something I can photograph?" he muttered to himself, his throat dry.

He then slowly pulled a golden Den Den Mushi from his pocket and dialed the president Morgans's private line.

"So? Got any good news from G-3 Naval Base?" Morgans' sleepy voice, mixed with chewing sounds, came through the line the instant it connected.

"Routine reports from G-3 base? You'd better not tell me you've wasted another film shooting a bunch of Navy mess hall menus."

The reporter did not answer immediately, but continued to stare at the photo.

"Hello? Say something!" came the sound of a wine glass slamming onto the table from the other end of the phone. Morgans impatiently urged him on.

"I should have told you, don't contact me unless there's some really explosive news."

You should know what it takes to waste someone's time, as the president of World Economic News...

"Shut up!!"

“You…” After a brief silence, the Den Den Mushi’s expression changed, and the sound of the leather chair creaking under its weight came through the air—Morgons had clearly sat up straight.

"President...get ready to rewrite the history of journalism." The reporter wasn't worried about yelling at Morgans.

Instead, he took a deep breath, his voice trembling, and slowly began to speak.

"This time, the protagonist is no longer the pirates... but the Navy."

"President, the world is about to change."

Chapter 51 The Name of Tianzhen Shakes the Era

[World Economic Daily - Front Page Headline]

A shocking strike! The Navy "shatters the sky"!!

"Heaven-Shock" Gern severely injures the Flying Pirates' captain, Pirate Admiral Shiki the Golden Lion! A new era has begun!

Subtitle: "The sky, which no one dared to approach, was shattered; the Sky Admiral's blood was spilled across the heavens!"

News photo: Gern wields a black blade that tears the world apart, shattering the sky, with purple-black lightning coiling around the blade.

The golden lion's eyes rolled back, and blood gushed from its chest in an instant.

The caption below the photo reads: "This cut will change the world!"

In the past, the spread of Guern's reputation was always deliberate.

Those scattered reports, appearing in tabloids not yet monopolized by Morgans, were like pebbles thrown into the sea, their ripples fleeting.

However, fate is always full of irony.

This time, an unintentional strike triggered the World Economic Herald's all-out propaganda machine to start up with a bang.

The same name was being spread like wildfire across all channels: front page headlines, special editions, maritime news bulletins...

He is famous for nearly killing the legendary pirate, Admiral Shiki, with a single blow!

Within just twenty-four hours, the name 'Tenkuu' swept across the entire Grand Line like a tsunami.

From the Marine Headquarters to the New World, from Mary Geoise to Fish-Man Island, the name that almost changed the world's landscape is being sung in every corner of the world!

.......

New World, Whitebeard Pirates - Moby Dick

In four years, the Whitebeard Pirates had taken shape.

The future officers have all appeared on the ship, and Whitebeard is thoroughly enjoying the thrill of gaining a son.

"Gurararara! Shiki, if he were even a little bit stronger, you'd really be dead!"

On the deck seats of the Moby Dick, a white-bearded man wearing a white captain's hat and an open captain's coat, revealing his muscular chest and scars, sat back.

His hearty laughter shook the deck as he clutched today's newspaper in one hand.

Marco, Joz, Vista, and a group of other young people immediately surrounded them.

"Dad, is what's written in the newspaper... true?" Marco's eyes widened, and his expression turned sour.

Whitebeard slammed the newspaper on the table and put his wine bowl down heavily: "That brat who blocked one of my attacks three years ago has now managed to cut Shiki into this state!"

As he spoke, a hint of admiration flashed in the white-bearded man's eyes. "Marco, I wasn't lying to you, was I?"

This guy said he'd make his name resound throughout the seas! And he really did!

"Gurarara! I really want to spar with him again!"

Watching his father and Marco's conversation, young Joz scratched his head, looking utterly incredulous.

"Golden Lion is a legend on par with Roger and Old Man Whitey! And he's been defeated by a mere Navy rookie..."

Bista also seemed thoughtful: "However, 'Skyquake'... this title."

"Hmph! Because this navy guy's abilities are almost exactly the same as my dad's!" Marco suddenly said.