The earth blocks driven by Golden Lion rushed toward Hera. The City of Devouring Time wrapped around her body shimmered with light, constantly using 'Fourth Bullet' to rewind and 'Seventh Bullet' to pause the colliding earth blocks.
Under the effect of the 'Water Bottle Bullet', the wounds on Hera's body appeared and disappeared repeatedly. Finally, the wind died down.
Golden Lion spat out a mouthful of blood, his weak voice still carrying his characteristic pride: "Jie-ha-ha-ha-ha, brat, you win."
Hera shook her head: "It's just that you couldn't hold on any longer."
Looking at the point of their clash, Golden Lion's dual blades were nearly pressing against Hera's body. The Haki emanating from the blades suppressed the effects of the 'Water Bottle Bullet'. In a few more seconds, the one who couldn't hold on might have been Hera.
Golden Lion collapsed to the ground, the light in his eyes beginning to fade: "Roger, is this what you wanted to see when you bet everything to start the Great Pirate Era?"
The City of Devouring Time left Hera's body and gradually consumed Golden Lion. Shiki took one last look at the sky; that East Blue he looked down upon the most had actually become his burial ground.
"The sky... it really is free."
The legendary pirate Golden Lion Shiki died in the East Blue at the hands of Marineford Rear Admiral Hera.
Losing the support of the City of Devouring Time, Hera leaned on the 'Saikū' in her hand to keep from falling. Watching the small island plummet after losing the power of the Float-Float Fruit, her heart felt a pang of bitterness.
"I was still too overconfident; I should have had a partner stay behind to catch me."
Just as Hera was about to faint, a figure stepped on a cannonball and rapidly approached. Vice Admiral Garp, worried about his granddaughter, reached the battlefield first. Seeing the exhausted Hera, he picked her up.
"Sleep in peace, I'm here now." The sturdy figure held Hera, feeling her internal weakness. Garp's heart ached for her, but feeling the aftershocks of the clash, he also felt happy for Hera's growth.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! What does Moriah count for? Now my granddaughter can rival Golden Lion! That old geezer Morgans better report this properly, or I'll tear his wings off!"
He then casually crushed the falling rocks. With a sweep of his Observation Haki, he discovered the argo rushing this way and the local situation. Holding Hera, he ran toward the argo.
Seeing Garp holding the unconscious Hera, Kuina hurried to meet them and took Hera from Garp's arms.
"She's fine, she just fainted from exhaustion."
Garp left Hera with them, his Observation Haki continuing to cover the small island: "I'm going to rescue these areas. You all be careful."
Kuina nodded and said, "We've already cleaned up the gathered pirates, and the villagers imprisoned by Golden Lion have all been rescued by us."
Garp nodded and, with a loud boom, charged toward the residential area.
The crew on the argo hurriedly carried Hera into the bedroom, with Ain looking after her. Kuina stayed on the ship, using slashes to deal with the scattered falling rocks.
Reiju put on her Raid Suit and absorbed the scattered poison powder.
Perona looked at the crowd outside in surprise: "Look, the people outside are all flying!"
Kuina and Nami looked in the direction Perona pointed. In the sky, the island's residents were flying; they spread their arms, and the feathers on their arms quivered slightly.
The people rescued by Kuina and the others saw the argo and fluttered their wings as if in gratitude.
The constantly falling island and the people flying in the sky formed a magnificent picture.
Having finished the rescue, Garp jumped back onto the argo and asked everyone, "What's next? Did Hera tell you about any plans?"
He then noticed Dr. Indigo, who looked out of place on the deck, and asked, "Who is this person?"
Kuina said, "Hera didn't say what to do next. This is the person Hera was looking for; he's a scientist."
Garp nodded and continued, "Since Hera didn't leave instructions, you should first go to the New Navy she established. I'll handle the remaining matters and head over shortly."
Kuina nodded, and Nami immediately changed direction, placing the Loguetown pointer on the dial and steering toward Loguetown.
Garp saw the Marines he had left behind, pushed off with his feet, and jumped back onto his own warship.
Looking at the warship rocking in the waves caused by the falling rocks, he grumbled, "If I'd known it would be like this, I should have brought Aokiji along."
Finally, all the small islands floating in the air sank into the sea, forming new islands, and the people flying in the sky landed on the new territory.
The Marines also subsequently landed on the new islands to help the residents rebuild their homes.
A young lady who had served as a hostess in Golden Lion's banquet hall approached Garp, the highest-ranking Marine present: "Vice Admiral, do you know who liberated us from Golden Lion's hands?"
Garp laughed loudly: "It was this old man's granddaughter, Hera! She's the one who defeated Golden Lion!"
"Hera? We will remember this name."
The gathered residents heard their benefactor's name and cheered, shouting Hera's name.
This scene was also recorded by the News Coo flying in the sky.
Morgans had been following this emerging force since the establishment of the New Navy. Seeing them gather near these floating islands, he knew there would definitely be big news.
Particularly the Haoshoku clash between Golden Lion and Hera was transmitted to the news agency headquarters by the News Coo flying in the sky.
Morgans got excited: "This is big news! The legendary pirate Golden Lion, who once stood alongside Roger and Whitebeard, has actually died at the hands of a new-generation Marine. This young Marine has even awakened Conqueror's Haki!"
"Everyone, get moving! I want this news to spread across the sea today!"
Soon, copies of the urgently produced newspaper were fresh off the press. The entire front page was dedicated to one event: 'New Generation Marine Defeats Legendary Pirate Golden Lion,' accompanied by a picture of the two in their Haoshoku confrontation.
Fleet Admiral Sengoku at Marineford also received a call from Garp. To tell Sengoku the good news as quickly as possible, Garp even took over his Adjutant's job.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Sengoku, this old man's granddaughter has awakened Haoshoku and even defeated that old fellow Golden Lion! How about that? Do you have such a great granddaughter? Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!"
Sengoku listened to Garp's smug laughter, helplessly rubbed his forehead, moved the transponder snail a bit further away, and then asked, "What is the situation on the scene? Are there any casualties?"
Garp picked his nose: "How should I know? But based on my Observation Haki, the casualties among the island residents are very small. I'm just here to brag about my granddaughter; ask my Adjutant about the rest."
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