The sky over Alcatraz suddenly darkened.
Shiki's golden hair fluttered wildly in the storm as he slowly floated into the air. The rocks beneath his feet peeled from the ground one by one, suspended around him like orbiting moons.
The twin famous swords, Oto and Kogarashi, gleamed with jet-black Armament Haki, a heart-chilling light running along their edges.
"Brat," Shiki sneered, a feral grin twisting his lips. "You should feel honored for pushing me this far."
His killing intent erupted like a tidal wave."Lion's Might — Heavenly Prison!"
The next instant, the ground across the entire square collapsed!
Countless massive boulders, controlled by the Float-Float Fruit's power, rose into the sky like meteorites, completely surrounding Tanma. The heavens dimmed as the rock walls compressed inward, forming a colossal aerial cage.
"Let's see how you dodge this!" Shiki crossed his blades and roared—"Thousand Cut Heaven Slash!"
Golden sword energy poured down like a torrential storm, each strike aimed precisely at Tanma's vital points. The cage and the sword rain formed a death trap, leaving no path of escape.
Tanma's breath caught. The air itself seemed to vanish. No matter how refined his Solitary Shadow technique was, it couldn't break through this all-encompassing assault.
"It's over!" Shiki's mad laughter echoed through the sky.
Then—Tanma's eyes changed.
A glint of unshakable resolve flashed in his gaze. His sword, Calamity, began to hum with a deep, resonant note.
"Since there's nowhere to run…"
He took a sharp breath, every muscle tensing to the limit. His aura shifted entirely.
"Then I'll cut open the sky itself!"
"Sky Soaring Dragon Flash!!!"
Calamity's blade erupted with blinding light, forming a silver dragon that pierced through heaven and earth. Sword energy and Haki merged into one, unleashing a slash beyond mortal reach.
BOOM!!!
When the silver dragon clashed with the golden deluge, the entire island trembled violently!
Shiki's pupils contracted. "What—!?"His mighty prison was split open! The rocks shattered, sword energies dispersed, and the shockwave hurled both warriors backward.
When the smoke cleared, Tanma knelt on one knee, Calamity embedded in the ground for support, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Shiki's once-pristine hair was torn, his collar shredded, a shallow wound carving down from collarbone to abdomen.
Silence blanketed the battlefield.
Then Shiki threw his head back and laughed wildly. "Hahahaha! Excellent! What a magnificent Heaven-Slaying Slash!"
Sheathing his swords, he turned away, his voice booming across the ruins. "This kid… I acknowledge him!"
Tanma exhaled slowly, lifting his gaze to the grim, cloudy sky. For the first time, the wind of Devil's Island felt cool against his skin.
"Gurararara…" Newgate's deep laugh rumbled as his massive hand slapped his thigh. "This boy's got guts!" A spark of admiration flickered in his eyes.
Stussy's crimson lips parted slightly. She twirled a strand of hair around her finger and smiled faintly. "Oh my… Newgate, it seems a terrifying little monster has joined our ranks." There was amusement in her tone, but also unease.
"Pah."
Malone dropped his cigar, removing his sunglasses to wipe the lenses with his sleeve. "Damn it… did you see that slash?"
Ochoku's human bone beads suddenly stopped spinning. His normally calm eyes narrowed. "Tanma…? I don't recall ever hearing that name."
"So strong!" John blurted out, his eyes wide.
At that moment, Rocks D. Xebec emerged from the castle, yawning.
But when his eyes fell upon the destruction before him, his expression turned black as ink.
"Who did this?"
A torrent of Conqueror's Haki erupted from him, shattering the clouds and cracking the earth. The entire island shook under his rage!
Newgate, Stussy, Ochoku, Malone, John—and even Tanma—all silently pointed at Shiki.
"SHIKI!!!"
Rocks' roar sent waves exploding across the sea. In a blur, he appeared before Shiki, his leg coated in supreme Haki, and kicked straight into Shiki's face!
BANG!!
Shiki was sent flying, smashing through three rock walls before stopping, half his face swollen like dough.
"You idiot again!" Rocks charged after him, fists raining down like cannon fire. "I just secured this place—and you've already wrecked it!"
"Bullshit!" Shiki shouted back, blood dripping from his nose as he drew his blades once more. "It was that brat who hit me first!"
"I don't care who started it!" Rocks' voice boomed. His Haki-hardened fist slammed into Shiki's crossed swords. "If I don't beat you down today, I'm not Rocks!"
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Each clash shook the island to its core. Rock walls collapsed, and the fortress crumbled into rubble.
Newgate sighed heavily, hefting Murakumogiri over his shoulder. "Let's go. This island won't last much longer."
Stussy leapt gracefully onto his shoulder. "Oh, another relocation. How exciting," she said with a teasing smile.
Ochoku pocketed his beads. Malone dusted off his suit. John ran in circles, shoving food and valuables into a sack, mumbling, "Grab everything before it sinks!"
Tanma remained motionless, staring blankly at Rocks and Shiki's insane battle in the distance.
Newgate glanced back at him. "Stop staring, kid. If you don't move, you'll be swimming home."
As if to emphasize his words, Rocks slammed his fist into the ground, splitting it apart as seawater surged in.
Tanma: "…"
Without hesitation, he turned and sprinted after them.
Behind him, Shiki and Rocks' furious shouts echoed across the collapsing island.
BOOM!!!
With a deafening explosion, Alcatraz sank completely beneath the sea.
Onboard the warship, the crew watched in silence.
Stussy rested her chin on her hand. "Where should we build our next base?"
Newgate groaned, rubbing his temples. "Anywhere's fine… just keep those two maniacs apart."
Tanma: "...(Is this really the legendary Rocks Pirates??)"
Ochoku slowly rolled his blood-stained beads, his gaze locked on the distant figures of Rocks and Shiki."How about we take them both down right now?"
Malone's jeweled cufflinks glinted as he loaded his flintlock, a dangerous smile tugging at his lips."Good idea."
John raised his hands frantically. "Hey, hey—leave me out of this!"
Tanma gripped Calamity tightly, sweat dripping from his palm. Only then did he truly understand—
The so-called "companions" of this ship were nothing more than beasts… beasts who had simply sheathed their fangs until the next chance to strike.