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"Well, let's get started, Teach. No one will bother us here."
On the other side of Mock Town, Ace stood facing Blackbeard, who had been pushed back hundreds of meters by his fire fist and slammed into a wall.
"Zehahaha! Ace, do you think you can beat me?" Blackbeard stood up, black smoke rising from his body. His expression was fierce as his injuries quickly healed. "If I hadn't wanted to get away from Golden Lion, there's no way your punch would have hit me."
"Is this also the Dark-Dark Fruit power that guy mentioned?" Ace narrowed his eyes seriously. "Teach, was this fruit really worth killing your brother who sailed with you for so many years?"
"You'll soon find out whether it was worth it or not," Blackbeard replied. "Ace, I'm very angry now. You picked a bad time to show up. Black Hole!"
Blackbeard's eyes narrowed as he opened his right hand toward Ace. A spinning black vortex formed in his palm.
Ace immediately felt his body being pulled toward Blackbeard by a powerful force.
'Damn, this is the power that guy warned me about,' Ace thought. 'I can't let him succeed!'
Ace gritted his teeth, aligned his body toward Blackbeard, and launched a flaming fist.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in town...
"Nojiko, what should we do?" Vivi took Nojiko's hand, looking worried. "Ikki and Nami seem to be fighting some powerful enemies. Should we go help them?"
Even from a distance, Vivi could see the darkness spreading throughout Mock Town and feel the earthquake that had just occurred.
"That flying man is Golden Lion Shiki, if I'm not mistaken," Robin said with a slight frown. "He's a legendary pirate who almost defeated Roger, the Pirate King. I didn't expect to meet such dangerous people in Mock Town."
She looked at Nojiko, knowing her Observation Haki was stronger and could provide better insight.
"We should... stay here for now," Nojiko said as the red light in her eyes faded when she withdrew her Observation Haki. "That guy is incredibly powerful. He can fly and control the ground to fight. We haven't learned Moonwalk yet, so going there might only cause problems for Ikki and Nami. If they get in trouble, I'll go alone to heal them. You two wait here."
A look of determination flashed in her eyes.
Hearing this, Vivi frowned and was about to speak when Robin put a hand on her shoulder and shook her head.
Vivi pressed her lips together. She understood Robin's meaning and knew she might not be able to help—she might even make things worse. Still, it was hard to accept standing by while Ikki and Nami fought.
"Let's work together, Vivi," Nojiko smiled. "Even without power-boosting medicine, we need to train harder. Let's start by learning Moonwalk."
Vivi nodded firmly.
"4.8 billion Berries bounty?" Ikki said, impressed. "That's an amazing number. I just wonder if you're still strong enough to deserve such a bounty, Golden Lion. By the way, I should thank you for bringing two famous swords to me."
Ikki lowered Tensa Zangetsu slightly, using his Future Sight Observation Haki to analyze Shiki and anticipate his next attack. At the same time, his eyes focused on the two legendary swords, "Oto" and "Kogarashi," embedded in Shiki's legs.
In the original timeline, Golden Lion was defeated by the Straw Hat Pirates. Ikki thought this wasn't just because of Luffy's protagonist aura but because Shiki himself had weakened. People in the pirate world either get stronger through constant fighting or maintain their peak through regular training, like Marine Hero Garp. But those who neglect training gradually decline in strength, as happened with Gecko Moria.
Ikki knew Shiki had been conducting experiments for years, which meant less time for fighting and training. The current Golden Lion was definitely not as strong as before. This was why Ikki dared to face him.
"You'll soon find out whether you have this strength or not," Shiki said. "After I deal with you, I'll take care of those two."
Golden Lion smiled, looking at the flames and black mist rising in the distance with appreciation in his eyes. This made Ikki suspect that Shiki really wanted to recruit Blackbeard and Ace rather than them.
Ikki stepped on Moonwalk while taking a slashing stance.
"I heard you once attacked Marine Headquarters over Roger's execution, right Golden Lion?"
"You even know about that, kid?" Shiki looked at Ikki with interest, finding him increasingly strange.
"I have good information sources," Ikki smiled slightly. "Making a scene at Marine Headquarters for Roger, facing Marine Hero Garp and Fleet Admiral Sengoku—that shows real loyalty to Roger. Since you're so interested in Roger, why don't I share something with you?"
Shiki raised his eyebrows. "Kid, are you scared? Trying to distract me with words?"
"No, you misunderstand," Ikki shook his head. "I just noticed you seem more interested in Blackbeard and Ace over there, so I wanted to give you some information. That young man with the Whitebeard mark on his back is named Portgas D. Ace. Portgas is his mother's surname. If he used his father's name, he'd be Gol D. Ace. Golden Lion, you understand what I mean? That kid is Pirate King Roger's son!"
As Ikki finished speaking, Shiki's calm expression suddenly changed to shock as he looked toward Ace and Blackbeard.
"What? Roger had a son? And he joined Whitebeard's crew? Kid, how do you know this?"
Golden Lion turned back to Ikki, only to find him charging forward.
"Thunder Breathing, Seventh Form: Flaming Thunder God!"
Ikki shouted, unleashing a lightning-fast slash that invisible to the naked eye, forming a golden thunder dragon that headed straight for Shiki's head.
"So fast!" Shiki raised his eyebrows and immediately lifted one of the swords on his feet to block.
CLANG!
A loud metallic clash rang out as Ikki and Shiki froze in midair.
"Boy, are you trying to trick me?" Shiki asked with a fierce smile, thinking Ikki had mentioned Roger's son just to distract him. Even if Ace really was Roger's son, Shiki couldn't understand why he would join the Whitebeard Pirates.
"I just wanted you to have fewer regrets before you die," Ikki smirked as powerful black energy burst from Tensa Zangetsu.
"Getsuga Tenshō!"
With one slash, the close-range Getsuga Tenshō was too fast for even Shiki with his Float-Float Fruit to dodge. He was blasted toward the horizon by the massive black crescent.
At the same time, Nami narrowed her eyes and raised Gonryōmaru.
BOOM!
A tremendous roar came from the sky as golden lightning bolts struck down, enveloping Shiki who had been launched upward by the Getsuga Tenshō.
The combined energy of the Getsuga and lightning caused a huge explosion on contact.
Ikki narrowed his eyes slightly, using Observation Haki to track Shiki. Though the power of their two Bankai attacks was impressive, Ikki didn't believe it would defeat Golden Lion.
Sure enough, with a powerful burst of energy, Shiki emerged from the violent explosion, his body blackened by Armament Haki. His clothes were damaged in many places, and his body showed traces of blood.
"Phew... that's a relief," Ikki lowered Tensa Zangetsu slightly, looking calmly at the angry Shiki.
"Relief? Boy, how can you feel relieved after making me angry?" The corners of Shiki's mouth twisted as his aura spread, making the entire island of Mock Town tremble.
Ikki glanced at the shaking island below, knowing this was Shiki using his Float-Float Fruit powers. 'We can't let him keep using his ability,' Ikki thought. 'If the battle moves to the air, it will put Nami at a disadvantage.'
While thinking this, Ikki said with a smile, "Of course I'm relieved. That last slash is one I'm quite proud of. Even though I didn't use full power, if you weren't injured already, I'd be in trouble. Once I break through your Armament Haki, my attacks will do much more damage."
Without waiting for Shiki's response, Ikki stepped on Moonwalk, wielding the jet-black Tensa Zangetsu as he charged straight at Golden Lion.
At the same time, Nami took a deep breath and used her Bankai to summon the largest thunderbolt yet to strike Shiki.
As the battle intensified, the entire island and surrounding area began to shake.
In the distance, Blackbeard, who had been toying with Ace using his abilities, looked over at Ikki and Shiki fighting fiercely in the sky.
His eyes burned with hatred and wariness.
"That guy is so strong..." Blackbeard muttered fiercely. "But even if you defeat Golden Lion, I'll kill you someday!"