Chapter 334: The War of Haki: Karl vs Golden Lion

Perospero and Katakuri launched their assault without hesitation. Their attacks were swift and deadly, putting enormous pressure on the Golden Lion’s crew.

Both had already awakened new powers within their bloodlines.

Building on their original strength, they dramatically improved their endurance. As long as they stood on solid ground, they could unleash their power without limit.

First, countless spikes of candy erupted from the earth. These spikes moved as if alive, lashing out at the Golden Lion’s crew.

In an instant, the ground twisted into a deadly jungle.

Caught off guard by the sudden spikes, many crew members were wounded and collapsed in pain.

The spikes didn’t harden up; instead, they flowed like liquid, twisting around the pirates and leaving the injured without a chance to get back up.

Then a barrage of black mochi bullets rained down on the Golden Lion’s crew.

The bullets shot forth at blistering speed and punched clean through targets. Despite trying to dodge, many were struck down, falling in pools of blood.

“Take cover!”

Indigo’s voice rang out across the chaos, a hint of urgency in his eyes.

The gap in strength between the Flying Pirates and Karl’s crew was still immense.

This move from Perospero and Katakuri alone left most of the Flying Pirates unable to mount a defense.

More than half their ranks were taken out on the spot.

“Help!”

“Save me!”

“Run!”

Terrified pirates yelled for help, their voices tinged with fear and helplessness.

They had to dodge the spikes underfoot and watch for black blades flying at them, barely able to keep up.

“Don’t lose formation, everyone!”

Indigo kept up his commanding presence, voice steady and strong, doing his best to restore order.

“Karl’s crew is already onshore! None of us want to die like fools—if you’re going down, at least fall while charging ahead!”

His words carried a desperate resolve, urging the pirates to rise up and fight back.

Without missing a beat, Indigo rallied those pirates who still held the line and led a charge for the shore. Waves of pirates fell in behind him.

Surrounded by Karl’s pirates, sticking together was their only chance at escape.

Yet a grim worry clouded Indigo’s face. With Karl’s crew closing in, their odds of survival were slim.

Anxiety weighed on him, but he knew that as a member of the Flying Pirates, he had to stay calm and show his crewmates the way.

“Looks like this is where my story ends.”

He thought to himself. This was the fate every pirate had to face eventually.

Even confronted with death, he refused to give up. Indigo was determined to lead his friends; even in a last stand, they’d fight to the very end.

Weapon raised high, Indigo charged forward and the pirates followed, storming into battle.

They cut through the battlefield, clashing with Karl’s crew in a fierce melee.

The fighting was brutal. Both sides paid a heavy price.

Indigo and his men fought with bravery, yet Karl’s crew vastly outnumbered and overpowered them. Defeat was only a matter of time.

Meanwhile, on the front lines, Karl wielded his Halberd and battled Golden Lion with all his might.

Light gleamed from Karl’s Halberd in the sun. Every swing struck with the force of a thunderclap.

Shiki gripped his twin blades, both covered in ink-black Armament Haki. His eyes sharpened with focus.

His swordplay was ferocious; every slash carried utterly destructive power.

“Wave Slash!”

Shiki’s low shout cut through the air as two golden arcs of sword aura slashed toward Karl.

Those sword auras twisted like gigantic golden dragons, roaring straight for Karl.

Karl, calm and unhurried, sprang into action the moment they closed in. With a sudden leap, he dodged the attack.

Quick as a leopard, his movements were impossible to follow.

“Thunder Crescent Slash!”

Karl shouted, swinging his purple-black Halberd hard at the twin golden slashes.

The weapon traced a fierce arc in the air, smashing right into the golden sword aura.

Boom!

An explosion thundered as sword aura and halberd clashed. The shockwave blasted outward, scattering sand and dust everywhere.

Karl and Shiki staggered back several steps from the force of the blast.

But both quickly found their footing and launched into the next exchange.

Karl gripped his Halberd and leaped high, twisting midair in a 720-degree spin. The weapon whistled through the air with terrifying force, crashing down on Golden Lion.

He blurred toward his target like a wild beast, dark violet trails flashing as the Halberd descended on the Golden Lion.

The Golden Lion wasn’t about to give in—his blades surged with an intense aura of Conqueror’s Haki.

Determination flared in his eyes. Veins bulged in his forearms as he brought both swords together, unleashing two towering waves of golden sword aura from his blades Sakura and Deadwood.

The sword aura, like twin golden dragons, surged forward with unstoppable force to meet Karl’s halberd.

Their two powers collided in midair, producing a deafening roar.

Golden sword aura clashed against the purple-black halberd, dazzling light and violent shockwaves warping the air around them.

Both Karl and the Golden Lion felt the weight of each other’s prowess, but neither gave an inch.

Each man’s eyes saw only his opponent, filled with the fierce will to battle.

“Golden Lion, your Conqueror’s Haki really lives up to its name!”

Karl couldn’t hide his admiration.

A hint of surprise flashed in his gaze. Even Karl hadn’t expected the Golden Lion’s Haki to have improved so much over the years.

He was honestly shocked that Golden Lion’s Haki had reached such heights.

Though it was still nowhere near Captain Rocks’s Conqueror’s Haki in sheer power, it was already a fifth as strong, which was no small feat.

Golden Lion’s Haki raged like a hurricane. Every release swept the battlefield with crushing force, making even Karl approach with caution.

“Looks like becoming a king just made your ambition even wilder. I honestly don’t know how Luffy ever managed to beat you in the original story.”

Karl mused, his curiosity about Luffy’s strength and courage growing even deeper.

But none of that mattered. Today would be the end for Golden Lion.

“Karl, your Halberd is no ordinary weapon!”

Golden Lion shot back, a serious edge in his tone.

Karl’s Halberd was truly powerful—a symbol of both his will and his might.

Their exchange was short, but spoke volumes of the mutual respect and recognition between them.

Both were top fighters among pirates, each with unshakable pride and conviction.

The battle raged on, every blow a display of power and artistry.

Their skills and strength reached astonishing levels, each clash a spectacle too intense to look away from.