Chapter 444: Aokiji: You have met a world-class boss.

Whoosh!!!

With these words, the ice that had been slowly spreading from Aokiji's feet earlier suddenly blossomed.

The shore was instantly covered in ice.

Hundreds of pirates turned into hundreds of ice sculptures!

Not only the shore.

The sea was also instantly covered with ice all the way to the end of the field of vision!

The entire surrounding world was instantly covered with ice and cold frost, as if the season had abruptly changed from spring to winter!

Zoro's mouth opened in shock.

Kuina's mouth opened in shock.

His eyes snapped open in shock.

"This is..."

Even Shimotsuki Kozaburo, the famous blacksmith of Wano Country, was shocked as he looked at the icy sea.

The ice, of course, reached his ship, chaining it firmly in the sea near the shore.

Dead silence reigned on the shore.

Not only Kuina and the others, but even the pirates watching what was happening below from the decks of the floating boats, also opened their mouths in shock.

When viewed from a great height, the scene that unfolded seemed even more shocking and impressive.

The pirates on the ships in the sky could much better appreciate the scale of how large an area of the sea Aokiji could freeze!

"This is..."

"The Devil Fruit's ability is the same as our boss, the Golden Lion!"

Numerous pirates nervously swallowed their saliva, staring dazedly at the freezing sea and the coastline below.

Such a show of strength was too shocking for the weak East Blue pirates.

Just looking at the ice below, numerous pirates felt a shiver run down their backs and their legs began to give way.

Nearby.

Robin and Yeruashi, walking calmly toward the shore from inside the island, calmly looked out at the icy sea and the shoreline before them.

Robin briefly examined the icy sea and said irritably, "Tsk, it froze Ohara..."

Yeruashi smiled, "He probably didn't realize this is our boat, forget it..."

Just as Yeruashi and Robin were examining the freezing sea and the shore, an angry and commanding shout came from the sky.

"Aokiji!!!"

"You little bastard!!!"

Shiki's body descended from the deck of the larger ship.

Shiki flew slowly down, clutching a cigar between his teeth and looking condescendingly at Aokiji below.

A shudder ran through Shiki's eyes, "Do you really think you can stop me from destroying the island?! If I, the Golden Lion Shiki, want this island to disappear today.... then so be it!!!"

Shiki was already upset because Aokiji was trying to infiltrate his base, and now this annoying kid appeared again when he ordered his people to destroy an island.

Does this little disciple of Garp think that just growing up a little is enough to have the qualifications to stand up to him?!

Along with this domineering shout, a terrifying aura emerged from Shiki's body.

This was not only the murderous intent of a great sword master, but also the Haoshoku no Haki of one of the most powerful pirates!

Two auras collided against Aokiji's figure, overlapping each other.

Even Aokiji felt some pressure when facing this terrible aura.

At the same time, the condition of Kuina, Zoro and the others nearby was much more serious.

Their breathing stopped abruptly, at the moment of collision with only the echoes of this impulse.

Although Shiki's Haoshoku no Haki focused on Aokiji, and only the echoes reached Zoro, Kuina and the others, but the killing intent of the great sword master was too terrible.

Even his palms, which gripped the hilt of his swords tightly, trembled violently, and his clothes were instantly drenched in cold sweat.

"Such an aura..."

"Very strong..."

Kuina was breathing heavily, as if a huge stone had just been placed on her body.

The stronger and more talented the sword master was, the better he could feel the terrifying and exorbitant power of the Golden Lion.

Aokiji, who froze a large area of the sea in the blink of an eye, had already shocked them greatly, but judging from this terrifying aura and oppression, the Golden Lion Shiki was even more terrifying than Aokiji!

"Grandmaster of the Sword..."

Shimotsuki Kozaburo, who was standing not far from Zoro and Kuina, leaning on a wooden staff, said in a trembling voice.

Being the famous creator of the Wano Country's meito, Kozaburo certainly had the deepest knowledge in the field of the way of the sword.

He immediately understood what this extremely sharp aura coming from the Golden Lion Shiki meant at this moment.

Things like aura are invisible.

Strong swordsmen can usually use aura to a certain extent to suppress their opponents.

But to such an extent, as in the case of the Golden Lion Shiki, that under the influence of this aura the whole sky darkened and time changed....

Only a person who has reached the top of the sword path can do this!

"Grandmaster of the sword?"

Zoro slowly turned his head to look at Kozaburo.

Although Zoro managed to resist the Golden Lion's aura, his movements were stiff and choppy, and his voice trembled noticeably.

Kozaburo sighed deeply and said, "This is a title that rises above all sword masters, although there are very few people in the world who can legitimately call themselves great sword masters, but every one of them... they are a far cry from the best swordsman in the world!"

He looked at the Golden Lion in the sky and said sadly, "This man.... He is already near the absolute peak of the way of the sword!"

Zoro and Kuina shuddered as they heard these words.

The best swordsman!

The peak of the way of the sword!

This is a dream and a distant goal that they strive for with all their might!

But now, the person who had achieved all this appeared right in front of their eyes!

Zoro gripped the hilt of his swords tightly and a bright light shone in his eyes, not clearly caused by fear or excitement.

He wanted to take a step forward, but suddenly realized he couldn't move.

The same thing was happening to Kuina, who was standing next to her.

The person who had reached the top of the sword path was right in front of her!

Kuina felt the excitement and thirst for battle, but this terrifying oppression emitted by the Golden Lion seemed to scream that it was too soon for her!

The current Zoro and Kuina were too far from the top of the sword path.

It was too soon, too soon, for them to face someone like Golden Lion Shiki!

Besides...

In general, it is not a fact that they will be able to live until tomorrow.

Because their enemy will not only be the grand sword master standing at the top of the sword path, but also the captain of the most numerous and terrifying pirate team in all of East Blue!

Kuina and Zoro took a deep breath, looking at the Golden Lion floating in the sky.

The eyes of all the people, including Koushiro and the Flying Pirates, were also fixed on the Golden Lion.

Shiki narrowed his eyes at Aokiji below.

Although Aokiji felt a lot of pressure as he faced the terrifying aura of the Golden Lion, he showed no sign of anxiety at all.

Aokiji looked at Shiki in the sky and scratched his hair, "Ara-ra-ra-ra-ra, it would be really hard for me to protect the island from someone like you, but if you still try to do it, someone will definitely be against it..."

Aokiji's words puzzled Kuina, the Flying Pirates and the others.

But Shiki's expression suddenly changed.

He turned sharply in the direction of the shore, seeming to sense something vaguely.

All the people looking at the Golden Lion at this moment unconsciously turned their heads, following his gaze.

In this direction, a young man in a blue kimono and a young woman in a black kimono were standing on the shore.

Yeruashi couldn't help but laugh when Shiki sensed their presence by Aokiji's words, and then by his behavior he made everyone present pay attention to him.

He looked at Aokiji and shook his head, "I didn't think you were that weak, Aokiji."

"I just don't want this island to be destroyed. Lack of guts, dignity or something similar... all of this doesn't matter at all when innocent people's lives are at stake..."

Aokiji sighed helplessly.

He wasn't afraid of the Golden Lion at all.

In fact, it's still hard to say who will be the ultimate winner if it's a deadly one-on-one battle, but the problem is that in the current situation, Aokiji simply won't be able to protect Kuina and the others.

He will rather be a coward if he helps to save the island from destruction and save the lives of the civilians.

Yeruashi shook his head with a smile and took a step forward, paying no more attention to Aokiji.

He looked at the Golden Lion in the sky and said calmly, still walking forward unhurriedly, "You just said that... Are you going to destroy this island, Golden Lion Shiki?"