Golden Lion Shiki's arrogant laughter echoed through the skies once more.
"Whitebeard, I didn't come for you this time!"
Descending from the clouds, the infamous pirate landed heavily on the Moby Dick, his cigar glowing faintly between his lips. His golden mane swayed as his piercing gaze swept across the gathered legends of the sea.
There were many powerful figures aboard — even Dracule Mihawk, the World's Greatest Swordsman — yet Shiki didn't seem to care in the slightest.
"I'm not interested in any of you," he said, puffing a cloud of smoke. "Tell me… where is that brat, Ashveil?"
The moment the name left his mouth, the mood on the deck shifted.
Donquixote Doflamingo's grin faltered, his expression turning wary. His underworld network had already informed him that the Marines were planning to make a move against Ashveil soon.
And now, the arrival of Golden Lion Shiki? Could it be that he'd come to assassinate Ashveil?
Doflamingo's voice grew sharp. "What do you want with Ashveil-san? If you don't explain yourself, even if you're Golden Lion Shiki, we won't let you pass!"
"Right!" The Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock, and the others spoke up in unison, their Haki flaring faintly.
Shiki, however, only gave a cold, disdainful smirk. They were mere youngsters of the new age — far too green to stand before him. If this were in the past, anyone daring to speak to him like that would already be a corpse.
"You brats aren't qualified to stop me," Shiki said mockingly, stepping forward to search the ship for Ashveil.
Being ignored made both Hancock and Doflamingo furious. With a flick of her long, slender leg, Hancock launched her Perfume Femur, a graceful yet deadly kick imbued with Armament and Love Haki, aiming straight for Shiki's head.
But before the strike could connect, Shiki's body shot two meters upward — the attack slicing through empty air.
Hancock's eyes widened. She had ambushed with her full strength — and he'd evaded with ease. So this was the might of a man who once rivaled Roger himself.
"Chehehehehe! You're still a century too early to touch me!" Shiki sneered, cigar smoke curling upward as he prepared to continue his search.
Doflamingo's grin vanished. He knew better than to underestimate a living legend. The air around his fingers shimmered as thin, glowing threads appeared.
"God Thread — Sixteen Holy Bullets!"
Haki surged around him as sixteen needle-sharp threads shot toward the airborne Shiki.
Shiki merely scoffed. With one smooth motion, he drew Deadwood, one of the twin blades attached to his legs, and swung. A blinding sword light erupted — effortlessly slicing through Doflamingo's attack. The threads shattered midair and scattered like strands of silk in the wind. The slash didn't stop; it roared toward the bow of the Moby Dick.
"I told you, you're still far too early!" Shiki's laughter rolled like thunder.
Nearby, Mihawk's golden eyes narrowed. That slash… it was no weaker than his own. If it struck the Moby Dick, it could cut the massive ship clean in half.
Without hesitation, Mihawk drew his Black Blade: Yoru, unleashing his own slash to intercept. The two blades of energy collided midair with a deafening explosion, shaking the entire ship.
When the winds settled, both sword auras had vanished.
Whitebeard chuckled deeply, resting his Murakumogiri on his shoulder.
"Good reflexes, Mihawk. I was about to stop that old monster myself."
Mihawk gave a faint smile. "No need to thank me, Newgate. I owe Ashveil a great favor — I won't let anyone disturb his rest."
That caught Shiki's attention. He stared at Mihawk, amusement flickering behind the smoke.
"You brat, you've got some spine, huh? Chehehehehe!"
Yet even as he laughed, he brushed past Mihawk, continuing forward. He'd heard rumors that Ashveil was nearby — all he needed to do was check each cabin.
But before he could take another step, a massive blade blocked his path.
"Oi, Shiki," Whitebeard rumbled, veins bulging along his muscular arm. "You come raising hell on my ship, and you think I'll let that slide?"
Shiki's eyes narrowed. Even he dared not underestimate this man. It seemed if he wanted to see Ashveil, he'd have to go through Whitebeard first.
"Lion's... Thousand Valley Cut!"
In an instant, the twin swords, Deadwood and Sakura Ten, danced in the air, unleashing a torrent of slashes powerful enough to tear apart mountains.
Watching from the sidelines, Mihawk's expression turned solemn. Each strike was fast, devastating — enough to obliterate a fleet, let alone a ship.
"Stupid lion! I won't let you wreck my ship!"
Whitebeard's muscles bulged as he swung Murakumogiri, each strike parrying Shiki's flying blades. The sky filled with the thunderous clash of steel and the explosive shockwaves of Haki. The sea churned violently, waves crashing against the hull as the two titans fought.
Doflamingo and Hancock watched in awe, feeling the sheer pressure of two legendary pirates colliding. There was still a vast gulf between them and these monsters of the old era.
Mihawk watched quietly. Once, he might've joined for the thrill of battle — but after witnessing Ashveil's power, even Shiki seemed insignificant. No matter how strong the Golden Lion was, what was he compared to that man?
Instead of fighting, Mihawk closed his eyes slightly, replaying the image of Ashveil's Myriad Swords in his mind. The artistry of that move fascinated him far more than any duel.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Whitebeard deflected every one of Shiki's attacks, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.
Frustration twisted Shiki's features. He only wanted to speak with Ashveil, yet everyone kept getting in his way. His patience finally snapped.
"You're forcing my hand, Whitebeard!" he roared.
Hovering above the Moby Dick, his aura flared wildly as his Devil Fruit power activated. The sea began to rise unnaturally — vast torrents of seawater swirling into the sky.
"Most of you are Devil Fruit users, right? Chehehehehe! Let's see how you like a taste of the sea itself!"
The surrounding pirates shouted in alarm as waves of seawater floated ominously above, ready to crash down at Shiki's command.
Golden Lion Shiki laughed maniacally, arms spread wide in the air — the lion of the skies once more showing why he was feared as one of the greatest pirates to ever live.
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