Chapter 45: Flight Club

"Captain," a lookout reported, "there's a warship flying in the sky outside!"

News of Luo Ning and the others' flying warships quickly reached the Golden Lion, who was met with disbelief.

"What?"

The Golden Lion questioned his own hearing. Warships flying in the sky? It was absurd.

After his crew told the situation again, the Golden Lion's expression mirrored his disbelief.

"Am I dead? Don't tell me there's another Flight Fruit out there!"

The Golden Lion scoffed, utterly unconvinced. He suspected his crew was delusional. After all, everyone knew only he, the Golden Lion, possessed the power of flight.

Anyone witnessing Luo Ning's feat might assume the Golden Lion was dead, the Flight Fruit having passed hands. But he, the true Golden Lion, wouldn't be mistaken. Surely his own life or death wasn't up for debate?

"It's real, captain, I swear I'm not lying!" Golden Lion's crew was on the verge of tears, utterly bewildered himself. The warship hung blatantly in the sky, a sight impossible to deny. He'd thought he was hallucinating at first, but the others were seeing it too.

"Very well," the Golden Lion conceded, a flicker of surprise in his voice. His crew's unwavering conviction made him reconsider. Curiosity gnawed at him, and with a growl, "If you've lied, you're as good as dead!" he followed his brother outside.

There, suspended impossibly mid-air, was the warship.

"It can't be. Someone else with the same ability?" The Golden Lion wasted no words. He launched himself towards the vessel, determined to identify the culprit.

Reaching the warship, he scanned the deck below.

"Is that the Golden Lion? What a presence!" Nami, overwhelmed by a surge of pressure, found it unsurprising. Golden Lion was a legend, wielding a form of Haki few possessed.

"Impel Down jailers? Not Marines?" The Golden Lion's surprise deepened at the sight of the crew. He hadn't anticipated jailers from Impel Down manning the flying warship.

Luo Ning addressed the Golden Lion, "It's time to return home, Golden Lion. Your neighbors are waiting for you."

"Home? Neighbors? Are you here to arrest me? Ha! That's funny! The Golden Lion isn't someone like you, some petty jailer, to capture!" Golden Lion boomed with disdain. He'd kept a watchful eye on the seas and knew of powerful newcomers, but Luo Ning was a stranger. This young man, with nothing but a pack of jailers, dared to arrest him? Even a Marine Admiral needed Kizaru's Moonwalk to chase him down, let alone capture him.

After his laughter, the Golden Lion extended a leg and slashed. A massive golden slash erupted from the blade strapped there. The Golden Lion was a master swordsman, capable of splitting the sea with a casual leg swipe. However, against a truly formidable opponent, this attack was child's play.

Luo Ning simply extended his hand, effortlessly stopping the slash in its tracks. With a squeeze, he crushed it entirely.

"Interesting!" The Golden Lion's eyes gleamed. Someone could so easily crush his own attack?

But before he could dwell on it, Luo Ning vanished and reappeared directly in front of him, landing a swift punch.

The speed is so fast that Golden Lion can't react at all. Although Golden Lion can also use Haki, his Haki has been weakened to a certain extent, making it nearly impossible for him to catch Luo Ning after he's used his haste ability.

With this incredible super speed and strength, Golden Lion's body is blown away like a golden cannonball, crashing into an iceberg island. It takes him several kilometers to finally skid to a halt.

At this moment, Golden Lion is in extreme pain. Luo Ning's punch landed squarely in his abdomen, leaving it visibly deformed.

After finally stopping, Golden Lion coughs up a mouthful of old blood.

"You're a worthy legend of the older generation," Luo Ning says, his words reaching the ears of the jailers and Nami. "Even though I didn't use my full strength, this blow seems to have only caused you a serious injury. Quite impressive!"

Luo Ning's words earn a hesitant thumbs-up from the jailers and Nami. Seriously wounding such a legend with one punch, yet also praising him for being strong – they can only conclude this guy must be a big deal.

Compared to Nami, the jailers are more composed. After all, they've witnessed Luo Ning's past feats. A Marine Admiral, the hero Vice Admiral Garp – two candidates for the highest bounty – and countless Marines, all hammered by Luo Ning.

While Golden Lion is also a legend, compared to this previous lineup, he falls somewhat short.