One Piece: Signing In as a Pirate Begins with Roger's Execution

What a windfall!

Karl had directly acquired the powers of the Float-Float Fruit—fully awakened and in its most perfect state!

Although Golden Lion might not be at his peak anymore, the abilities of his Devil Fruit hadn't diminished much. His decline lay in his physical strength, swordsmanship, and overall vitality.

Yet the fruit powers Karl had gained represented the pinnacle of the Golden Lion's former glory!

"Brat! Let go of me this instant!!!"

With a furious roar, Golden Lion, who had been held by Karl for nearly twenty seconds, finally reached his breaking point.

He manipulated the air to create a violent storm, drawing everything around him into a swirling vortex centered on himself.

While this technique harmed even the one who conjured it, Golden Lion considered it far better than enduring the humiliation of being restrained by Karl.

Seeing the swirling chaos, Karl immediately released his grip and stepped back.

Golden Lion sneered coldly, his eyes glinting with lethal intent. With a mere thought, the storm abruptly shifted direction, surging toward Karl.

"Brat! You dare insult me and think you can escape?"

"Die, you insolent fool!!!"

"Lion's Majesty: Imperial Earth Scroll!"

Golden Lion's roar echoed like the mighty bellow of a lion, reverberating through the skies. Even Bellemere, who had already fled the battlefield, could hear it loud and clear.

From a safe distance, she and the others watched as dark clouds consumed the heavens, and a raging storm unfolded before their eyes. Fear took root in their hearts.

"Will Lord Karl be alright?"

Bellemere clenched her fists tightly, so much so that she didn't notice her nails cutting into her palms, drawing blood.

"It's over. It's all over! That lunatic Golden Lion has gone berserk! Lord Karl doesn't stand a chance!"

Buggy, having firsthand knowledge of Golden Lion's terrifying power, understood the gravity of the situation. Golden Lion's control over the Float-Float Fruit allowed him to command the weather, islands, and warships—essentially anything that wasn't alive.

This was his most fearsome trait.

The terrifying storm they were witnessing was merely a prelude to Golden Lion's wrath.

Worse things were bound to come.

"Damn it! Is this the power of a legendary pirate? This guy is leagues beyond Doflamingo... I can't stand it!"

Smoker pounded the ground in frustration, his face contorted with anger.

He had wanted to join the fight, but Bellemere and Kuro had talked him out of it.

Now, just thinking about his earlier resolve to assist Karl in taking down Golden Lion made him want to slap himself.

If he had really charged into the fray, he wouldn't just fail to help—avoiding being a burden would already be a miracle!

Facing such a massive storm, Smoker was certain of one thing: he wouldn't survive.

"This is the man who once stood shoulder to shoulder with Gol D. Roger and Whitebeard. The oppressive force he exudes is... exhilarating!"

Kuro adjusted his glasses, his gaze a mixture of calm calculation and fervent excitement—a seemingly contradictory expression.

Having pledged allegiance to Karl, Kuro had abandoned his life as a pirate and devoted himself to his current duties.

Witnessing such overwhelming power had shifted his focus away from treasure. No matter how much wealth one accumulated, it was useless without strength to protect it.

Kuro had set a modest goal for himself: survival.

"Hah! If I'm going down, at least I'm taking someone with me! What a laugh!"

Commodore Crit snickered before Buggy stabbed him in the rear with a tranquilizer.

"Red Nose... you..."

Crit's eyes widened in anger, but the tranquilizer acted swiftly. In less than two seconds, the ox-like Commodore collapsed, snoring loudly.

"Anyone who speaks such defeatist nonsense gets a stab in the back from me!

If Lord Karl falls, we're all going down with him!

Don't think for a second that you can escape Golden Lion's grasp—he'll never let that happen!

And I've already informed Fleet Admiral Sengoku. Naval reinforcements are on their way. Lord Karl will not fall!"

Buggy's fierce demeanor, reminiscent of his pirate days, left many in the group visibly shaken.

Kuro and the others sighed deeply.

Buggy was right. If Karl died, they wouldn't escape either.

Golden Lion had come here to recruit Karl. As for the rest of them, Golden Lion could crush them with a mere flick of his wrist.

All they could do now was pray Karl could escape unscathed from Golden Lion's clutches.

As everyone prayed silently, the weather suddenly shifted.

The oppressive storm began to subside.

Even from miles away, they could feel the sharp sting of sword energy piercing the air—a familiar force that brought them hope.

Meanwhile...

Above the island, Karl clashed fiercely with Golden Lion!

Having gained mastery of the Float-Float Fruit, Karl countered Golden Lion's every move.

At first, Karl's inexperience with the fruit put him at a disadvantage.

But now, he and Golden Lion were evenly matched!

"Brat! How do you have my Devil Fruit powers?!"

"This is impossible!!!"

Golden Lion quickly realized something was amiss when his control over the air and even the surrounding sea became disrupted.

His shock deepened as he witnessed Karl manipulating the air with the same power—albeit less skillfully.

This old monster, who had lived for more than five decades, had only ever been shocked twice in his life.

The first was when Roger was publicly executed by the Navy.

The second was now.

"Golden Lion, your dream of dominating the world ends here!"

"I, Karl, have vowed that anyone who dares to covet the Pirate King's throne will be executed by my hand.

And you... will be the first!"

Summoning storms and tsunamis, Karl unleashed powers identical to Golden Lion's and launched a devastating attack.

The Float-Float Fruit had elevated Karl's strength to a whole new level.

Previously, Karl's power was comparable to that of an elite vice admiral, on par with the Navy's "Monster Trio."

Now, he had surpassed Akainu and the others, reaching the level of a candidate for admiral.

Akainu and the other "Monsters" were currently ranked as rear admirals and only slightly exceeded standard vice admiral strength, as they hadn't fully matured.

If Karl could defeat Golden Lion—or even hold his ground—his name would spread like wildfire across the seas.

Golden Lion was merely a stepping stone!

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