Throne Of Supreme

Chapter 228: First Devouring

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The soil and rocks condensed into a massive shield. Reflected in its red glow was the determined face of the Golden Lion Shiki, pouring all his strength into controlling the earth and fortifying the barrier.

A colossal fireball, tens of meters in diameter and densely compacted with energy, hurtled downward. The moment it collided with the shield, a deafening explosion erupted.

Flames surged outward, transforming into a raging inferno that swallowed everything in its path.

Crash!

The Golden Lion burst from the sea of fire, his once-majestic golden hair burned to charcoal, his body scorched and severely injured.

Before he could catch his breath, the flames split apart as a shadow cut through them. A massive, thick tail emerged, whistling through the air toward him with terrifying speed.

There was no time to dodge.

The Golden Lion's face hardened. The sword on his right leg gleamed with Armament Haki as he swung it to counter the attack.

The moment of impact unleashed a violent surge of power, crashing like an unstoppable tidal wave.

Snap!

His right leg shattered under the immense force, and the tail struck his body directly, sending him flying.

Whoosh!

His broken form sailed through the air like a ragdoll, blood spraying outward in bursts. The crimson droplets evaporated instantly in the searing heat, leaving only the faintest traces behind.

"Ahhh!" Shiki roared in pain. Just before hitting the ground, he regained control of his body and managed to steady himself, curving his path as he soared back into the sky.

The flames parted, revealing Aoki striding forward slowly. His massive frame radiated dominance, with his thick tail dragging behind him and his four horns twisted into a crown of majesty.

The Golden Lion panted heavily, his battered body trembling.

"I never expected that in just a few years, someone as strong as you would rise from the sea," Shiki admitted, his voice rough but resolute.

"The River's waves behind push forward the waves ahead, replacing the old with the new," Aoki replied coldly. "You're old, Shiki."

Shiki's gaze sharpened as he asked, "What's your name, kid?"

"Aoki."

"Aoki… Aoki," Shiki repeated, letting the name roll off his tongue. Then, he burst into laughter. "Hahahaha! Aoki, you're strong, I'll admit that. But you're far from being able to kill me! I'm the man who will rule the ocean from the sky!"

He raised his arm dramatically.

"Lion's Might: Earth Scroll!"

The ground trembled violently as rocks and soil surged upward, shaping into massive lions that surrounded Aoki from every direction.

"Your strength has improved," Aoki remarked.

With a flick of his tail, a gust of wind howled through the battlefield. A sharp gleam flashed, and the mud lions were cleaved cleanly in half.

Aoki looked up, his massive body vanishing in an instant and reappearing directly beside the Golden Lion in midair.

When he first used his Ultimate Form, teleportation had been difficult to execute. There were various limitations due to the overwhelming power of his transformation.

Through experimentation during his mission to destroy the drug factory, he confirmed his suspicions: the energy cost of using Space Travel increased drastically in this form. Teleportation could not be used freely, and every instance required careful consideration.

The Golden Lion's eye widened in shock as he stared at the massive beast that had suddenly appeared before him.

"That's… outrageous," he muttered.

He was familiar with teleportation abilities. But seeing Aoki—clearly a Mythical Zoan-type —use it so effortlessly left him stunned.

This creature had it all: a colossal frame, unmatched strength, impenetrable defense, and the ability to teleport. Aoki was the very definition of a monster.

Despite the awe and fear creeping into him, Shiki grinned defiantly.

"But this is the sky! This is my territory!"

The Golden Lion inhaled deeply. For a fleeting moment, he felt as though all his pain had melted away, as if he had returned to his prime.

He flashed and dodged the attack, retreating instead of advancing, and quickly closed the distance to Aoki.

"So fast! His speed has increased so much? Is this… a last-ditch effort?"

The thought crossed Aoki's mind as he raised his arm for another strike.

The Golden Lion's figure blurred, deftly evading all of Aoki's attacks. He dashed straight toward Aoki's heart, his left leg raised high. The long sword on his leg, coated with heavy Armament Haki, glowed faintly with a flowing sakura light.

"Don't let the next generation look down on you!"

Whoosh!

The blade pierced through Aoki's outer armor, its invisible force tearing into his muscles and crushing his heart in an instant.

"So… simple?"

For a moment, the Golden Lion froze in disbelief. But then a realization struck him, and he looked up sharply.

Aoki met his gaze with a calm expression and raised his fist.

"Advanced Armament Haki?"

That's right. Advanced Armament Haki could bypass Aoki's defenses and attack him internally.

But Aoki wasn't relying on defense alone.

Having his heart destroyed was no different from a mosquito bite. If he weren't confident in this resilience, he would never have allowed the Golden Lion to get so close.

"Even if the vitals are damaged, you won't die. I see," the Golden Lion muttered, the truth dawning on him. He stared at the approaching fist with a resigned calm.

Blood and flesh splattered as the force of Aoki's punch sent the Golden Lion crashing to the ground like a meteor. The impact left a massive crater in the earth.

Aoki's body slowly shrank, reverting to his human form. He flashed to the Golden Lion's side and looked down at him.

The Golden Lion lay there, his body severely burned, most of his bones shattered. His eyes were closed, and he was barely clinging to life.

"Fortunately, you're not dead yet," Aoki murmured, letting out a sigh of relief.

In his carelessness, he had forgotten to hold back. For a moment, he genuinely feared he had killed the Golden Lion with that single punch.

If Shiki had died, his Devil Fruit ability would vanish and reappear elsewhere, which would have been a significant loss for Aoki.

"What a pity," Aoki muttered, a trace of regret flashing across his face.

With the Golden Lion's strength and his Float-Float Fruit, there was a chance of obtaining a four-star treasure chest. But last time, Aoki had used his skill points to learn "Devour." That first opportunity to claim a four-star treasure chest had been missed.

Still, gains and losses were inevitable.

While he had sacrificed the chance to claim a treasure chest, he had instead gained a powerful ability.

The Float-Float Fruit was undoubtedly a top-tier Paramecia-type Devil Fruit, worthy of being devoured. In Aoki's mind, it ranked among the best abilities.

Besides, even if he unlocked the Level 4 "Spirit of Vengeance," it only increased the chance of a four-star treasure chest appearing. And the odds of that chest containing the Float-Float Fruit were not guaranteed.

By choosing to learn "Devour," Aoki could secure the ability of the Float-Float Fruit without uncertainty.

Of course, the Float-Float Fruit wasn't just an ability—it also carried the potential for a four-star profession. That was something "Devour" couldn't replicate.

This fleeting contemplation of gains and losses quickly left Aoki's mind. The situation was what it was, and there was no point in dwelling on regret.

Aoki extended his hand and pressed it against the Golden Lion's chest.

The Golden Lion's body twitched involuntarily under his touch.

Moments later, a single drop of blood oozed out from the Golden Lion's chest.

"So, this is the power of blood?" Aoki murmured, intrigued.

Before he could study it further, the droplet shot into his palm with a sharp whoosh.

An intense heat coursed through his body, starting from his right hand and spreading rapidly.

Instinctively, Aoki returned to his dragon-man form.

Humans were merely his temporary disguise—his true nature was that of a dragon.

While no visible changes occurred on the surface, a profound transformation was taking place within his body. Every cell in his being was evolving, and an unseen force surged through him, reshaping him from the inside out.

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