Good hadn't chased immediately because the system had just announced full replication of the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi (Float-Float Fruit).
And that delay gave Shiki the chance to drift up and away using his flying powers—escaping over the vast ocean beyond everyone's reach.
There was no land in sight, and even a legendary hero like Garp would be helpless if he couldn't fly.
"Why didn't Admiral Good chase him?"
"Did something happen?"
"Don't tell me Shiki tricked him somehow…"
"This is bad. With the Float-Float Fruit, we'll never catch him."
"We couldn't catch him anyway… I mean, the Reckless Maniac Admiral couldn't…"
Nearby, Gion was visibly anxious.
This was trouble. Their mission had been to escort Shiki to Impel Down. If he escaped, it would be a complete failure.
She blamed herself. The Fleet Admiral had sent her to support Good, and she hadn't done her job. She should have been more alert—Shiki had the power to flee at any moment.
Far above the sea, Shiki finally sighed in relief.
He'd finally shaken off that lunatic. That man was nothing but a brute—a mindless combat machine that could heal itself on top of everything else.
Shiki had already been wounded from his battle with Luffy. Then to run into a freak like Good? Hell no.
Now, floating peacefully in the sky, he felt his mood improve.
He grinned darkly as he looked back at the Marines, locking eyes on Good. "Heh…"
"You think you could cage me? I'm Shiki, the Golden Lion!"
Then his expression turned cold, his eyes sharp like blades. "Just wait. I'll be back. And next time, I'll grind you into the ground…"
He paused, then added, "And that damn brat—Garp's grandson too!!"
The Marines could only watch helplessly as Shiki turned to fly off.
"Ugh…" Gion sighed.
Letting an old-era monster like Shiki escape—this was like setting a tiger loose.
The Marines' morale plummeted.
Two warships destroyed. Four Vice Admirals heavily wounded. One even lost an arm. Dozens dead. Hundreds injured.
And now Shiki, gloating, smirked as he turned back and waved mockingly. "See you—never."
But then, something changed.
Suddenly, Good threw his head back and roared:
"SHIKI! WE'RE NOT DONE YET!"
"This is the Fleet Admiral's first mission for me! I won't fail it!!"
Shiki didn't even look back.
What was he gonna do? Fly up here with no flying ability?
Ridiculous.
But then—gasps erupted from the Marines behind him.
"What?!"
"Th-The Reckless Maniac Admiral is… flying?!"
"Wait, he can fly?!"
Shiki paused mid-air.
Did he hear that right?
He turned to look—and froze.
His aged eyes widened. His jaw slowly dropped.
Good… was floating up into the sky.
At first it looked awkward—his massive body wobbled a bit—but then he steadied himself, rising until he was eye-to-eye with Shiki.
"…What the hell is going on?" Shiki stammered, voice sharp with disbelief.
"Y-You… You can fly?!"
Everyone watching was stunned.
What was Good!?
He had that freakish healing… Akainu's Magma-Magma Fruit… and now flight too?
People's worldviews were starting to collapse.
Good didn't care about their confusion. He just flew up and launched another blazing magma barrage straight at Shiki.
Dai Funka (Great Eruption), Meigō (Dark Hound), Inugami Guren (Hellhound Lotus)—one after another rained down.
And in his mind, the system continued:
[Magma-Magma Fruit Mastery +99]
[Float-Float Fruit Mastery +13]
[Dual Sword Style Replication Progress +89%]
Why had the Float-Float Fruit finished replicating first even though its progress had started slower?
Good didn't care. He never thought about things like that.
Because of his carelessness, Shiki got hit hard right from the start and couldn't react in time. The follow-up blows left him badly burned, coughing up blood.
He plummeted from the sky, weakened and wounded.
Was it over?
As he fell, Shiki's thoughts were tangled.
Losing to someone like Good… What even was this guy?
Mindless, reckless, yet somehow terrifyingly gifted in combat. And that freakish power-copying ability… It shattered every expectation.
Maybe this was it.
Maybe… he was finally free.
With wounds this bad, the Marines wouldn't dare kill him—probably. Honestly, the trauma of fighting Good might stick with him forever.
But then—he heard it.
"We're not done yet!!"
Shiki's eyes widened.
Good was charging at him again.
"You—!"
Before he could finish, Good pounced like a wild beast, fists raised.
There was only one thing on Good's mind: fully copying Shiki's Dual Sword Style.
On the deck below, the Marines were dumbfounded.
"Wait… Is Admiral Good gonna kill Shiki?"
"I… I think he might."
For a moment, everyone pitied Shiki.
To run into the Reckless Maniac Admiral… what a nightmare.
Good didn't stop for over ten minutes. Relentless, punishing blows rained down, one after another.
Finally, the system rang out:
"Congratulations, Host! [Dual Sword Style] replication complete!"
Only then did Good stop, laughing heartily.
He grabbed Shiki's limp, smoking body in one hand like a prize.
(End of Chapter)
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