Chapter 097: The Blossoming of the Nether Flame (1)

“No idea what you’re talking about.” The Golden Lion was impatient. What four years ago, what little girl, even if he knew, he had long forgotten.

“Drinking to show respect but not drinking it means drinking a forfeit.” Sulking, the Golden Lion stood suspended in the air, calmly watching the incoming firelight surge toward him.

“Boom...” Sparks scattered in all directions. A golden wing swept across like a raging storm, carrying fierce winds.

The dull sound echoed like a war drum. The Golden Lion’s expression darkened slightly. His right hand was pitch black, radiating explosive power, and he firmly blocked Xuan Ye’s attack, preventing him from advancing even an inch.

“Devil Fruit, Animal System?”

A flicker of surprise crossed the Golden Lion’s face as he watched the strange godbird drenched in flames. Interest stirred in his eyes.

He thought to himself, this was no ordinary Animal System Devil Fruit.

“How can you forget, how can you forget...” With a furious roar, Xuan Ye’s face twisted into something feral. His pitch-black claws gleamed with cold light as they slashed straight at the Golden Lion’s chest.

“Boom...” The impact sounded like thunder. The Golden Lion raised his right foot, kneeing with black force, once again blocking Xuan Ye’s assault.

“Kid, giving face but not taking it.” Resisting the scorching flames, the Golden Lion curved his left hand; his elbow pierced the air and charged straight toward Xuan Ye’s head.

“Boom...” Leaning back, Xuan Ye’s hair whipped away, his eyes turning a burning gold-red.

“Fire Impact.”

His body aflame, countless flames surged violently. The entire sky burned golden-red.

“Puff...” Suddenly, Xuan Ye’s face twisted in pain. Blood sprayed from his mouth as his figure crashed straight down toward the sea.

“Kid, you’re still too green.” His clothes torn to shreds, the solidified blood pitch black, the Golden Lion’s whole body smoked as he yanked his other foot back with an ugly expression.

“Rumble rumble...”

The sea surged violently. Countless waves shot into the sky. On the surface, a vast crater formed. Xuan Ye spread his wings, bathed in flames, and rocketed upward, instantly appearing directly above the Golden Lion.

Clenching his fists, radiating brutal power, Xuan Ye’s face was twisted in fury as he hammered down with all his strength toward the Golden Lion’s head.

“Hmph...” A cold snort escaped the Golden Lion’s lips. His face filled with disdain, he raised one fist to meet the blow.

The dull thud of flesh meeting fist echoed. The Golden Lion’s body plummeted, almost slamming into the sea below.

“Good, good, I’m truly angry now.” With a sinister expression, the Golden Lion drew the cherry ten from his waist, murder in his eyes.

“Full Beast Form. Second Stage. Divine.”

Flames filled the sky, slowly coalescing. A strange giant bird circled in flame, its form shadowy at first, then slowly taking on a human shape.

“Sigh...” Rapid panting filled the air, violent power radiating from the figure as it stepped out from the flames—an evil and alluring silhouette.

Brutal and powerful, leaving no room for doubt, it was a perfect humanoid raptor.

A face sculpted like a blade, golden-white markings, a wing-shaped rune. Flames of a golden crow swirled around its torso. Its exposed limbs were golden-white, like feathers carved into living sculpture.

“What kind of Devil Fruit is this!”

Below, the Golden Lion looked up, brow furrowed at the completely transformed Xuan Ye. Doubt crept into his heart.

The power radiating from the man before him had surged several levels in that single instant, nothing like it had been before.

“Swoosh...” The figure vanished. The sea churned violently. A deafening boom rang out, and the Golden Lion’s pupils shrank.

“Since you can’t remember, then I’ll make you recall!” Deep pain and hatred laced with endless killing intent burned in Xuan Ye’s golden-red eyes, like two flickering flames. He launched an all-out assault.

“Cling...” A metallic ring echoed. The Golden Lion was sent flying backward, shock written across his face.

“Swoosh...” Fiery rainbow streaked through the air. Xuan Ye moved with cold ruthlessness, appearing before the Golden Lion and slamming a blazing foot into his head.

“Splash... splash...” Waves exploded across the sea. The air cracked with sound. The Golden Lion’s expression changed drastically. He drew his second long sword—the withered wood—and crossed them in front of his head.

“Bang...” Air waves erupted violently. The sea beneath his feet collapsed, revealing a deep abyss. Xuan Ye’s aura was vicious and cold as he gritted his teeth and poured every ounce of strength into his foot, determined to kill the Golden Lion.

“Sigh...” Flowing light. The Golden Lion was sent flying backward once more. The injuries he had suppressed began to show, a thin line of blood silently tracing his mouth.

“Lion. Thousand Cuts Bone.”

Two slashes nearly a hundred meters long, one after the other, bright as daylight, crossed toward the pursuing Xuan Ye.

“Flame Blades.”

Flames spun. Two razor-sharp blades materialized instantly in Xuan Ye’s hands.

“Crack...” The blades shattered. The slash weakened. Xuan Ye sidestepped, blood trickling from his cheek. A single strand of hair drifted slowly downward.

No matter the cost, Xuan Ye’s eyes burned golden-red. He dove like an eagle stooping on prey, full of ferocity, charging at the Golden Lion.

“Endless Arrows.”

Flames blazed across the sky. The air rippled. Countless blades, spears, swords, and halberds rained down like arrows, tightly pursuing Xuan Ye’s form, piercing the air and streaking straight toward the Golden Lion.

“Interesting Devil Fruit!” The Golden Lion stabilized himself, gripping his swords with both hands, his face grave.

“Lion. Ten Thousand Attachments.”

Afterimages flickered endlessly. The long sword in his hand slashed rapidly. In an instant, countless strikes soared into the sky, shattering the clouds and leaving the entire sky riddled with holes.

“Cling... cling...”

Golden weapons clashed in a deafening storm. The high sky changed color. Below, the sea surged wildly, waves rising like waterfalls.

Pursuing relentlessly, flames erupted from Xuan Ye’s hand. A barbed long spear, radiating scorching heat, materialized coldly.

“One Billion Celsius. God-Destroying Spear.”

The sea water evaporated instantly. Xuan Ye leaned back, the long gun in his right hand launched with ferocious force.

“Swoosh...” A piercing roar. The air vanished. A streak of flowing light left a long trail across the clouds before disappearing.

Hair stood on end. The Golden Lion tensed every muscle. In his god-like gaze, a bright light shot forward like lightning, arriving in the blink of an eye.

“Bang....”

Holding his sword in his right hand, the Golden Lion sidestepped at the last moment, gritting his teeth and forcing the surging spear aside with effort.

“Swoosh...”

The flowing light descended. The sea exploded. An invisible deep hole lingered in the water without end.

“Nether. Flame Bloom.”

Furious, Xuan Ye hovered in place, hands clasped, then spreading them apart. In his palms, a single wisp of flame rapidly expanded. In an instant, a one-meter fire pillar blazed upward, evaporating the atmosphere like sunlight from beyond the heavens, spanning the horizon.

“Damn it...” The Golden Lion cursed under his breath. He had not expected the little bastard’s attacks to chain together without pause.

Unable to dodge, the Golden Lion bit his tongue and crossed his double swords, pitch black, blocking in front of his body.

“Sizzle... sizzle...”

The terrifying impact and unbearable heat enveloped the Golden Lion. Domineering aura swirled around him, yet his body was forced back. The terrifying light pillar chased him relentlessly, desperate to swallow him whole.

“Ah....” A roar tore from Xuan Ye’s throat. His face flushed scarlet. Flames erupted across his body once more. He stepped forward, the light pillar expanding again with even greater force, pressing down like an unstoppable avalanche that could shatter mountains and crack the earth.

“Sigh... sigh...”

The suddenly swollen fire pillar made the Golden Lion’s face change dramatically. He gritted his teeth, hair whipping wildly, his rage barely contained. The entire body turned into a rainbow and vanished at the horizon, swallowed by the fire pillar that crossed the sky.

“Hmph...” A muffled snort. Xuan Ye’s face was deathly pale. He ended the fire pillar in his hand, looked up, his expression twisted, and his figure disappeared from the spot, chasing after.

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Thanks (Si Yue’s Memory) for the 3500 starting coins, thanks (160521214036439) for the 500 starting coins, today’s fourth chapter.