Chapter 274: 'The Grandfather to the Rescue' trope?
First of all, it must be admitted that most of the strong people on this sea have their own exclusive voice packs, and the recognition is very high.
For example:
Whitebeard's signature laugh is "Gurararara," Blackbeard's is "Zehahaha," Doflamingo's is "Fufufufu," and Brook's is "Yohohoho"...
These unique laughs are so distinctive that as soon as you hear one, you know exactly who it is.
As for "Jihahahaha"… (ジハハハハ).
To be honest, this laugh is too typical of villainous characters, and many dark forces laugh this way.
Moreover, Adrian was listening to a voice line, not reading text, so naturally, he couldn't identify who the voice belonged to!
However.
There was no longer any need for Adrian to rack his brain trying to identify the owner of the laugh.
Because the huge island in the sky that is flying at high speed and falling towards this side has confirmed who the visitor is!
That ferocious, lion-like wild aura!
That terrifying superhuman Devil Fruit power that seemed like a natural disaster!
It was none other than the infamous Golden Lion Shiki, who had escaped from Impel Down not long ago!
"What is this?"
"Why is the Golden Lion appearing in the West Blue?"
Feeling the ever-growing shadow of the island, Adrian frowned slightly.
"Did we really just happen to run into each other?"
"Or is this one of those 'protagonist in distress, an old master or senior expert comes to the rescue' tropes?"
"But I didn't even plan on killing Shanks, that golden leek!"
"I've been nurturing him with great care!"
"Besides, I've never heard of any connection between Shanks and the Golden Lion Shiki! When Shanks participated in the Battle of Edd War, the Flying Pirates and Roger Pirates were still enemies!"
In the perception of his Observation Haki, the immensely powerful man with a lion-like aura was standing atop the rapidly descending island!
Adrian condensed the pale white spiritual sword again, and the jet-black armed color Haki slowly mixed into it. The invisible momentum radiated from the body of the spiritual pressure sword, almost condensed into shape, like fangs and claws.
With his strength now surpassing a thousand points, Adrian no longer needed the help of 'Dragon's Power' to freely unleash that terrifying move he had learned from Charlotte Linlin!
However, to amplify the destructive power of the (Hakoku) Mighty Nation, Adrian still used Kaido's Dragon Power.
Aiming at the descending island, the muscles in Adrian's right arm bulged, his eyes focused, and he swung the spirit pressure lightsaber with all his might.
Dragon's Power!
Spirit Pressure: (Hakoku) Mighty Nation!
A massive pillar of spirit pressure, interwoven with willow-like white threads, was unleashed by Adrian's strike, carrying a force capable of annihilating everything, and blasted straight towards the descending island!
In the blink of an eye, Spirit Pressure: (Hakoku) Mighty Nation struck the underside of the island.
BOOM——!!
An earth-shattering explosion erupted from the island's earthen underside, and a violent shockwave instantly created a nearly hundred-meter-wide abyssal crater, sending visible white circular shockwaves through the island.
The residual power of Spirit Pressure: (Hakoku) Mighty Nation did not diminish, penetrating straight into the island's core.
BOOM BOOM——!!
Another series of thunderous explosions followed, and under the terrifying power of Spirit Pressure: (Hakoku) Mighty Nation, the massive island completely disintegrated in mid-air, bursting apart like fireworks into countless smaller fragments.
Clatter clatter——
Tiny fragments of rock and soil shot into the surrounding sea like bullets, creating a dense spray of waves.
"Jihahahaha!"
Another wave of loud, arrogant laughter echoed from the sky.
"So, you destroyed the island I was controlling so easily!"
"I knew there was something familiar about this place!"
"Linlin, it was you all along!"
"It's been years since we last met, and it seems your strength has improved a bit!"
Who is Golden Lion Shiki?
He was one of the three legendary pirates of the old era, alongside Pirate King Roger and the world's strongest man, Whitebeard.
A legendary pirate who once led the Flying Pirates, ruling over a vast part of the New World!
Even the Roger Pirates couldn't defeat the Flying Pirates before that inexplicable massive storm at the Battle of Edd War!
Those who caught Golden Lion Shiki's attention were either top Marine experts like Kong, Sengoku, Garp, and Zephyr, or old acquaintances from the Rocks Pirates like Whitebeard and Charlotte Linlin.
Or the one who chose to die rather than live, Roger.
However.
???
Adrian, standing on the island below, slowly revealed three question marks above his head.
This old golden-haired man with a ship's helm for a head—did he lose his mind?
Or did he go mad being locked up in Impel Down?
How did he mistake me for that pink-haired fat woman?
Feeling deeply insulted, Adrian assumed the starting stance for his technique once more, while his Observation Haki locked onto the rebellious pirate veteran in the sky.
Spiritual Pressure: Mighty Nation!
Boom!
Another unstoppable giant shockwave shot straight at Golden Lion.
Hopefully, it would blast that blind old golden-haired fool to pieces!
Just as Adrian was fuming, several crescent-shaped flying slashes descended from the sky, colliding with the shockwave of Mighty Nation.
The surrounding air froze momentarily, then erupted with an incredibly loud boom, sending rolling shockwaves in all directions.
The island beneath Adrian's feet trembled slightly, while the nearby sea was whipped into towering waves nearly a hundred meters high by the massive shockwave!
"Hey! Linlin! Not planning to catch up with an old friend?"
"What are you doing in this backwater place from Whole Cake Island?"
In the sky, Golden Lion's figure suddenly appeared, rapidly flying towards Adrian.
It was then that Adrian finally saw the legendary pirate's appearance.
His legs were broken, but the famous swords, Oto and Kogarashi, were attached to them for support. A part of a steering wheel resembling a rooster comb was lodged in his head, and his long golden lion-like mane almost reached the tips of his sword.
Quite an impressive amount of hair...
He wasn't bald, yet his hairline was receding; he wasn't bald, but the volume of his hair was enviable to many.
Golden Lion Shiki held a cigar in his mouth, smoke rising around him, as he arrogantly looked down at Adrian.
"Kid, I am Golden Lion Shiki. Who are you? Where is Linlin?"
As an old pirate who had once worked alongside Charlotte Linlin on the same ship and clashed with the Big Mom Pirates many times after the Rocks Pirates disbanded, Golden Lion Shiki naturally recognized Linlin's signature Mighty Nation technique!
But he hadn't expected to see a completely unfamiliar young man standing before him now.
Adrian, with a cold expression, flicked his wrist and launched another Mighty Nation attack.
Boom!!
Golden Lion Shiki swiftly flipped in the air, his leg swords whirling as he slashed out several crescent-shaped flying slashes, once again shattering the Mighty Nation attack!
"So, it was you causing trouble earlier!"
Golden Lion Shiki suddenly realized.
"Seems like you were the one who destroyed my island! You're quite strong for your age. How about joining me?"
Adrian stared at Golden Lion Shiki, a glint of crimson flashing in his eyes.
"If only the reward is the Float-Float Fruit!"