In the anime, Kaito remembered that the infamous Golden Lion, Shiki, once used his Lion Fruit to lift entire islands into the sky. On those floating lands, he carried out horrifying experiments on animals, strengthening them beyond their natural limits. His ultimate goal—wiping out the entire East Blue.
Two years after the Summit War, Shiki had been defeated by Luffy and his crew. But now, powerful monsters had appeared out of nowhere. If Kaito was right, these beasts were remnants of Shiki's airborne experiments—creatures that had fallen accidentally from the sky.
As Kaito thought about it, a faint smile curved his lips. He and Fujitora leapt high into the air. There was no need to ask Koushirou for permission to vacate his dojo. That didn't matter now. What mattered was stopping Golden Lion's twisted ambitions before they endangered the East Blue—his homeland, where Hikari and the others still lived.
The two of them soared upward, cutting through the thin air. The wind howled around them as Fujitora asked with a curious smile, "Captain, what are we doing up this high?"
"Ever heard of the Golden Lion?" Kaito replied, his tone calm yet sharp.
"Golden Lion? You mean that legendary pirate—the first man to ever escape Impel Down?" Fujitora's expression tightened in surprise.
"That's him. He's been conducting experiments since his escape. His aim? To completely annihilate East Blue." Kaito's said. "But I won't let him destroy it."
Fujitora's brow furrowed. "Then the monsters that fell from the sky the other day… they were his test subjects?"
"That's right. After years of research, even starting from scratch, results were bound to appear. Those monsters are the outcome."
Kaito's mouth twisted into a cold grin. "Shiki's Lion Fruit allows him to make anything float. Well, I have a clue of how to find him."
"Captain, let's split up and search!" Fujitora suggested.
"Good idea. Your Observation Haki is as sharp as mine," Kaito said, slicing the air with his fingers. Space shimmered briefly as he pulled out two transponder snails and handed one over. "The Golden Lion may be old, but never underestimate him. Once you find a floating island, contact me immediately."
"Understood," Fujitora replied, nodding.
The two separated, flying in opposite directions, scanning the endless sky with keen Observation Haki. Even without sight, Fujitora's senses stretched far beyond normal range, while Kaito's were unmatched.
They searched tirelessly. The floating island could have drifted for days since the last sighting. Though massive, it moved slowly—far slower than their flight speed.
After seven hours, the sky had turned dark. Kaito frowned. With his speed, he should have found the island by now if it had gone this way. No—this wasn't the direction. He'd have to rely on Fujitora.
The transponder snail suddenly rang.
Bluu… Bluub…
Kaito smirked. "Looks like he found it."
He picked up. "Hey, Fujitora. You found the target?"
"Yes," came the calm voice, "I found it."
"Good. Stay put. I'm on my way."
Lightning coursed through Kaito's body. In the blink of an eye, he turned into a streak of dark energy and vanished.
A minute later, he arrived beside Fujitora, who stood gazing up at a massive floating island silhouetted against the night sky.
"As expected of you, Captain. That was fast," Fujitora said with a smile.
Kaito shook his head. "No time for praise. Let's move. Shiki already knows we're here."
"I noticed," Fujitora replied seriously. "While waiting, I sensed several waves of attention coming from above."
"Then let's meet the legendary pirate himself," Kaito said.
They launched upward, landing softly on the island's surface.
"Who goes there?" a voice barked. A patrol unit of Golden Lion's men appeared, their leader grinning as if expecting them. Kaito recognized him from before—one of the low-level pirates who drank with Shiki when he formed his alliance.
"Take me to Shiki," Kaito said coldly. "You're not worth my time."
The pirate sneered. "Hmph. Come with me. The boss has been waiting for you."
He gestured for them to follow. Soon, they arrived at a grand wooden mansion surrounded by flowing streams, bridges, and carved railings—a paradise in the sky.
As they walked through a green corridor lined with ponds and lotus flowers, Kaito couldn't help but whistle softly. "Tch, this Golden Lion really knows how to live. When I'm old, maybe I'll build a place like this too."
Fujitora chuckled. "Captain, you're still young. That's something to think about decades from now."
"True," Kaito said, smiling faintly. "But I'll make sure to live long enough to enjoy it—after this is over."
The pirate ahead scoffed silently, mocking them under his breath. Enjoy it while you can. Soon, you'll be food for the boss's beasts.
The corridor ended, revealing a vast wooden hall. Inside sat the Golden Lion himself, mane of golden hair flowing wildly. On either side of him stood Indigo and Scarlet, his two loyal subordinates.
"Hahahaha! Welcome, Kaito humble domain!" Shiki roared with open arms, his voice booming across the hall.
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Milestone
100 Powerstones = 1 Bonus chapter.
I've been getting little to no Powerstones, don't be greedy with them 😪