The moment Golden Lion's right hand hit the deck, Crocodile's face changed.
He had heard of Golden Lion's devil fruit power, the terrifying power called "Float-Float Fruit."
Any inorganic matter, once touched by Golden Lion's hand, he could control it to float in the air as he wished.
This "float" was by no means limited to slowly drifting around.
Rapid ascent, rapid descent, quick turns and dodges... anything was possible!
Golden Lion could use his power to keep dozens of floating islands floating in the air for years, or he could control small islands suspended in mid-air to smash them down.
He could also...
Using only his own power, lift the Four Seas Alliance's ship to a high altitude at an extremely fast speed!
...
The scene before him reminded Crocodile of the time when they rode the Knock Up Stream to the sky island.
But this time, the lift for the Four Seas Alliance ship was not the natural phenomenon called Knock Up Stream, but the power of a devil fruit!
In just an instant, most of the people on the ship's deck couldn't help but bend over, their knees slightly bent.
Because of the ship's rapid ascent, an indescribable gravity pressed down on the crew.
On the deck, only a few people were able to maintain their original standing posture.
Crocodile subtly used sand to fix himself to the deck, while Tiger and Hocka strained every muscle in their bodies to stabilize themselves.
Among them, the only ones who truly maintained their original posture were Rowan and Golden Lion himself!
"Tch, what an exaggerated old monster..."
Crocodile frowned.
He knew very well that, unlike the last time they went to the sky, this time Rowan did not have the ability to transform the entire ship into a glider with sand, because there was no large amount of sand in the cabin like before.
Once Golden Lion completely flew the ship into the sky, they would have to face the danger of Golden Lion being able to control the ship's fall at any time!
Crocodile glanced at Rowan, and found that the latter was squinting, as if thinking about something.
Was he thinking of a solution?
What else could he do but directly kill that old monster?
No, that's not right...
Now the whereabouts of the Pluton design blueprint holder – that is, the fish-man Tom – were unknown, and they still had to rely on Golden Lion to find him!
In short, hurry up and think of a solution, I don't want to experience a free fall from high altitude again!
--Crocodile thought to himself.
...
Rowan was indeed thinking about something.
But unfortunately, it wasn't the so-called "solution."
He was recalling.
Recalling the confrontation between himself and Golden Lion on the level of Observation Haki a few seconds ago!
"Amazing..."
Rowan muttered.
He was marveling at Golden Lion's strength.
It was the strength of "Golden Lion," not the strength of "Golden Lion's Observation Haki."
These two were different.
No matter how the times changed, the judgment of "strength" on this sea was always common.
In terms of individuals, the people of ancient times were not stronger, and the people of modern times were not weaker.
And if you add the realistic factors of technology, politics, tactics, etc., modern people are even stronger than ancient people!
This is the law of historical development.
The reason why ancient weapons are defined as "legends" by the world is because the appearance of ancient weapons broke this law, nothing more.
Golden Lion was once an "invincible" existence on the sea, and if he were placed in that chaotic era eight hundred years ago, that era would probably have a place for Golden Lion too!
Therefore, Golden Lion's fighting power was undoubtedly strong.
But this did not mean that "Golden Lion's Observation Haki" was strong.
Or more precisely, Golden Lion's Haki was far inferior to the top level on the sea!
The Haki of that strong man who once roamed the sea was even inferior to that of a Haki beginner now!
Why?
No need to explain, because it should be obvious at a glance.
In Golden Lion's head, there was half an oar inserted, which was the heavy blow he suffered in the Battle of Ed Wall.
Taking this as an opportunity, Golden Lion's Haki gradually dissipated.
Presumably in a few years, Golden Lion would completely lose the ability to control Haki!
In that case, why could Golden Lion, whose Observation Haki was extremely weak, be in a stalemate with Rowan for such a long time?
The answer was also very simple.
The confrontation between Rowan and Golden Lion just now was essentially a contest of "predicting the other's actions."
At this level of competition, Observation Haki was of course the best auxiliary means, but at the same time, the "human brain" and "combat experience" were also indispensable.
In other words, Golden Lion made up for his huge gap with Rowan in terms of Observation Haki with his own strong brainpower and combat experience!
"So, what an amazing man..."
Rowan muttered.
Golden Lion's wild laughter echoed through the sky.
"Tch ha ha ha ha!"
The ship climbed rapidly, until it pierced through the fog and broke through the clouds.
Everyone actually saw the sunlight from above in the fog of the Devil's Triangle!
At this time, the people on the deck realized that Golden Lion had brought them to a height no less than that of the sky island!
Here, they had left the area shrouded in fog, and the sunlight shone on the deck again, which was very dazzling.
And not far from the ship, Golden Lion's flying pirate fleet and several accompanying floating islands were standing by.
Tiger turned his head and saw a familiar figure on the deck.
Huh, is that Tom?
Great, we found him!
But then, the feeling of being overweight gradually dissipated, and the biting cold wind in the high altitude sobered Tiger up.
He realized the situation everyone was in.
The sky - was Golden Lion's home field.
Mr. Rowan did have the terrifying ability to change the landscape of the earth, and could even create a sand city from the earth.
But facing the empty high altitude and the endless sea, even that Mr. Rowan probably had no way to deal with it!
--Tiger thought so.
Hocka thought almost the same.
Crocodile didn't think so.
After experiencing several incidents, Crocodile forced himself to develop a habit:
To always deny his first judgment of Rowan's actions, because it must be wrong!
Just like at this moment.
Crocodile's eyes were low, and he subconsciously prepared for the impact.
Since he felt that Rowan was "forced" to go to the sky, and "had to" think of a solution, then the fact must not be like this!
The fact - was indeed not like this.
Soon, everyone on the ship, including Golden Lion, knew the answer.
Rowan was not watching Golden Lion take the ship to the sky with his eyes wide open, while thinking about a solution.
Because from the beginning, Golden Lion's act of "taking the ship to the sky" was a part of Rowan's solution to the "previous predicament"!
...
Rowan's eyes glanced at the floating island next to him.
Then, he turned back to Golden Lion.
"Thank you for inviting me to the sky."
"As a return gift--"
Rowan grinned, and the smile on his face deepened a bit.
He raised the black gun in his hand, placed it horizontally and pulled it back.
"I'll invite you to play in the underground!"
Swish!
The moment the words fell, the black gun swept across!
At that moment, Rowan's sand drew a "line" horizontally in the air.
The floating island - fell!
...
Crocodile understood Rowan's idea:
Since there was no foothold suitable for the Sand-Sand Fruit to exert its power, then he would use Golden Lion's territory to create one!
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