Oboro's abilities derived from his innate technique mastery rather than external power sources. Unlike Devil Fruit users, who were bound by the limitations of their specific abilities, he needed only to refine and expand his methods. This fundamental difference granted him far superior versatility and growth potential, his manipulation of ki was precise and sophisticated, lacking the crude simplicity that characterized most fruit-based powers.
Most importantly, his techniques produced no detectable "signal" that enemies could anticipate.
Furthermore, Golden Lion's arrogance had provided Oboro with the perfect opening. During their earlier encounter, he had discretely implanted his ki within Shiki's body... and now that carefully planted "thunderbolt" was ready to detonate.
Against the vigilant Golden Lion who had once terrorized the seas for decades, such deception might have proven impossible. However, years of comfortable retirement had made the legendary pirate dangerously complacent.
This was precisely why Oboro had called him foolish.
With such an exceptional foundation and legendary reputation, Shiki had chosen to waste himself in isolation. Oboro no longer entertained any hope of recruiting Golden Lion for the Hell Pirates, the old man's pride would never allow him to serve under a younger captain. Even Whitebeard's legendary charisma couldn't persuade someone like Shiki to abandon his superiority complex.
Therefore, Oboro had altered his strategy. He would kill Golden Lion, extract his abilities, and transform them into skill cards for his own use.
This underhanded tactic had originally been intended merely to create an opening against such a formidable opponent. Against someone of Shiki's caliber, any advantage that shifted the balance toward victory was invaluable. Taking advantage of the other party's arrogance and underestimation seemed like a sound strategy.
Now, however... it appeared somewhat wishful thinking.
"Jahahahahaha!"
"Jahahahahaha!"
Facing Oboro's taunts, Golden Lion slowly lowered his hand from his injured eye and erupted into uncontrollable laughter. The sound grew progressively louder and more manic.
Losing an eye would undoubtedly impact Shiki's combat effectiveness significantly, yet his expression suggested he wasn't taking the injury seriously at all.
Oboro maintained his composed exterior, but internally his heart was racing.
Because Shiki's aura... had fundamentally changed.
It was as if a sleeping lion had suddenly awakened.
"This just became much more difficult," Oboro thought grimly.
"Not bad... truly not bad, brat."
"You're absolutely right... I should indeed treat you as an opponent worthy of my full effort to kill."
"It seems... the seas haven't grown completely stagnant during my years of absence. Your unexpected appearance suddenly makes me feel anticipation again... After I finish killing you, I'll venture back out to sea! I want to discover just how many fighters like you exist in today's world."
"By the way, let me enlighten you about something... I haven't been hiding here simply to research SIQ. In my estimation, there were no opponents remaining on these seas worthy of my serious struggle and competition. Kaido? Big Mom? When they sailed with the Rocks Pirates, they were nothing more than little brats, just like you are now."
"If even those two children can become so-called Four Emperors... it demonstrates how few truly capable individuals remain on the seas."
"I'll send your corpse to the World Government... to announce my glorious return."
After delivering this declaration, crimson lightning began crackling through the sky above them. Shiki instantly materialized directly in front of Oboro, his leg-mounted blades rising with such incredible speed that even Oboro's enhanced perception could barely track the movement.
The one-eyed blonde elder's gaze had transformed completely.
This king who had once ruled the seas had finally awakened from his slumber.
Swish.
Oboro attempted to parry with his Armament Haki-coated palm, but the blade's gleaming edge sliced cleanly through, sending one of his fingers flying through the air.
Advanced Armament Haki! Masterful swordsmanship techniques...
I severely underestimated this old monster!
Oboro's pupils contracted in shock.
"The opportunity's lost... I couldn't eliminate this old man with a single decisive blow. Tsk."
Meanwhile, across the floating island complex, the other members of the Hell Pirates were locked in fierce combat against Golden Lion's assembled forces.
Armed militias raised by Shiki, along with troops from various departments and recruited pirates, continuously arrived as reinforcements. Although these opponents seemed relatively weak individually in Dom's assessment, their overwhelming numbers and superior equipment made them a formidable threat. Their concentrated firepower remained genuinely dangerous.
Across the battlefield, artillery barrages and gunfire echoed constantly as countless enemy forces converged on several distinct combat zones.
Kaka and his companions, now covered in blood, moved like avatars of death through the densely packed crowds, systematically reaping lives with ruthless efficiency.
The swordsman Yingge's flame-wreathed blade flashed like crimson lightning through the enemy ranks, trailing streams of scarlet energy. Wherever his weapon passed, swaths of flesh were severed and scattered.
Kaka utilized his exceptional agility to weave through the crowd with supernatural grace, dodging bullets while his devastating kicks swept through entire groups, scattering vast numbers of foes like broken dolls.
However, the most terrifying destruction was being wrought within the palace grounds by Yurivich.
The monstrous warrior practically annihilated Golden Lion's forces single-handedly. Each swing of his massive sword produced crescent-shaped energy slashes that could obliterate entire crowds within a radius of hundreds of meters... The attacks even sliced effortlessly through the palace walls, their power beyond comprehension.
Smoke and debris filled the air as the imposing palace, adorned with Golden Lion's iconic lion's head emblem, was reduced to rubble in mere moments. Yurivich had accomplished this devastating destruction entirely alone.
Elsewhere on the battlefield, after a brief but intense struggle, Dom had successfully used his abilities to slip behind the ship's doctor Indigo. With a swift, precise movement, he drove his razor-sharp blade across his opponent's throat, effectively ending the eccentric scientist's life.
Dom bore several burns from the explosive effects of Indigo's "Chemical Juggling" spheres, but fortunately, the injuries appeared manageable rather than serious.
He kicked the gradually stiffening corpse away with disdain.
Just then, a dark figure landed nearby and revealed itself, Rob Lucci, his hands still stained with fresh blood.
"Finished him off?" Dom inquired.
"Yes," Lucci confirmed with a curt nod.
When the battle had erupted, Dom had immediately engaged the flamboyant doctor Indigo, while Lucci had confronted the gorilla Scarlet. The enhanced animal possessed considerable combat power, a rare and valuable beast by ordinary pirate standards. However, it had proven woefully inadequate against someone of Lucci's caliber.
"Captain..."
Lucci began to speak, but was interrupted by a deep, rumbling thunder echoing from the sky above them.
Both men looked up to witness the heavens shimmering with black and crimson lightning. The previously clear sky had become blanketed with ominous dark clouds, though neither could determine when this dramatic change had occurred.
Furthermore, at the very center of the storm clouds, the vast sea of aerial formations seemed to be rolling backward in supernatural patterns, a truly celestial phenomenon.
"Their Haki..." Lucci murmured in genuine awe.
"We need to find a way to assist him. Golden Lion is a legendary pirate from the old era, and while our captain's Haki isn't significantly weaker than his, there's still a meaningful gap in experience and refinement. Besides, the captain has only been mastering Haki for the past two years. If this battle drags on too long, then... whether it's physical stamina or Haki depletion, he'll be the first to reach his limits."
Dom's expression was grave, worry clearly evident in his features. Having cultivated their own Haki abilities, they possessed sufficient understanding of its power to grasp what was truly at stake in a life-or-death confrontation of this magnitude.
"But... there's nothing we can realistically do. Attempting to intervene would be tantamount to suicide," Lucci pointed out thoughtfully.
Naturally, he harbored other considerations as well. If... the God Slayer were to fall to Golden Lion, then certain opportunities might present themselves...
"How can we know our limitations without trying?" Dom's eyes blazed with desperate determination.
"..."
Lucci remained silent, contemplating the implications.
As soon as Dom finished speaking, another extraordinary change occurred. Both men felt the ground shake violently beneath their feet, the entire island seemed to be experiencing a massive earthquake.
Then the ground began fracturing, as if torn apart by invisible forces, creating deep canyons and chasms across the landscape.
The entire floating island was literally disintegrating... falling apart at a fundamental level.
As the two pirates watched in mounting shock, countless enormous rocks and debris began lifting into the air, blotting out the sun itself... before crashing violently into the sea of clouds above them.