Chapter 206: The High-Altitude Floating Islands, Shiki's Lair!
As Blenheim and the others were led away by subordinates, the hall returned to silence.
Dr. Indigo leaned close to Shiki, lowering his voice. "Boss... do you really intend to take over Whitebeard's territory?"
Shiki didn't answer immediately. He slowly exhaled a puff of cigar smoke, a glint of profound darkness flashing in his eyes.
The corners of his mouth curled up, revealing yellowed fangs as he laughed wildly:
"Jihahahaha—why shouldn't I take something offered for free?"
"With Whitebeard dead, those brats can't hold onto his legacy. They have no choice but to come begging to a 'madman' like me to prop them up..."
"How could I let such a heaven-sent opportunity slip by?"
But his tone shifted abruptly, his face turning icy cold, eyes shooting daggers.
"However—"
"Whitebeard's legacy is not something any random trash can touch!!!"
"Those pirates skulking in the gutters, bounty hunters dreaming of riches, and rebel remnants you can't kill off like cockroaches..."
As his cape fluttered without wind, the foundation of the entire castle began to emit a low hum.
"It's time to remind the trash of the New Era—"
His grin stretched into a hideous arc. "The Golden Lion's fangs..."
"Are still plenty sharp!!!"
East Blue Waters · On the Warship
"SPLASH—!!!"
The deep blue sea was violently sliced open. A standard Marine warship sped forward like an arrow from a bow, kicking up waves several meters high on both sides of the hull.
On the deck, Sanji leaned on the railing, cigarette dangling from his mouth, eyes wide as he watched the seascape rush by.
"...This speed is more than three times faster than the Baratie's speedboat, right?"
Usopp gripped the edge of the deck with both hands, the wind whipping his face almost into a blur. "Waaaahhh... I'm gonna get blown off!"
After gritting his teeth and holding on, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Are Marine warships always this fast?! This is way too cool!!!"
Not far away, Zoro leaned against the mast with his arms crossed, snorting coldly. "What's all the fuss about? You country bumpkins."
"Who are you calling a country bumpkin?!!" Sanji bristled instantly, turning around. "Shut up, you direction-blind idiot!"
"Who's direction-blind? Say that again?" Zoro glared.
"You, Moss-head, lost boy!"
The two immediately scuffled into a ball, rolling around.
Usopp tried to pull them apart while shouting "Calm down! Calm down!", but couldn't budge them at all.
Kuina shook her head helplessly nearby, while the drilling Marines on deck had long become accustomed to the daily routine of these "future monsters."
At the bow, Roy and Smoker stood by the railing, gazing at the endless horizon, capes flapping in the sea breeze.
Smoker's gaze was steady, but he asked in a low voice, "Oi, Roy... are we really taking just these few people?"
"That's the Golden Lion..."
Roy looked calmly at the sky. "Shiki's 'Float-Float Fruit' excels at manipulating islands and ships to float in the air, constructing an aerial battlefield."
"Taking a group of ordinary soldiers without aerial combat capabilities would just be sending them to their deaths."
"Don't worry. From the moment he chose the East Blue as his testing ground... he had already lost this hunt."
"Because—I am here."
His words were calm, yet carried a soul-shaking composure and dominance.
Smoker paused for a moment, looking at the figure standing in the wind beside him, then suddenly laughed.
This guy... is still as reassuring as ever.
The unease that had been pressing on his heart for days miraculously dissipated.
"You... are still as arrogant as ever."
"Fine." He lit a cigar, taking a deep drag, a long-lost sharpness appearing in his eyes.
"Then let us go meet this old monster together."
The sea was calm, sunlight spilling down, with only seabirds skimming the sky.
"CREAK—"
The special Marine warship slowly came to a halt on the sea, stirring up layers of ripples.
On the deck, Sanji and Usopp looked around in confusion.
"Why stop suddenly?" Usopp looked around, his tone nervous.
"Didn't you say we were looking for the Golden Lion? There's nothing here." Sanji bit his cigarette, frowning slightly as he scanned the sea vigilantly.
Zoro leaned against the railing, a familiar smirk rising on his lips.
Kuina gripped the ship's railing with one hand, about to speak up to warn them, but was stopped gently by a look from Zoro.
She sighed lightly, hiding helplessness and amusement in her eyes. "Are you children..."
Smoker gripped a deck pillar steadily, his gaze locked on the direction of the bow.
"Here it comes again..."
At the bow, Roy stood at the very front, back straight, facing the wind.
He gazed quietly at the distant sky, speaking slowly. "Fell from the sky above this sea area, huh..."
The voice was light as a whisper, yet seemed to resonate in everyone's hearts.
The next instant—
"SWISH!!!"
The entire warship shuddered violently, then was engulfed by an invisible yet incredibly powerful spatial force!
Immediately after, the world spun, and everything turned upside down!
"We... WE'RE FLYING?!!!"
"I DON'T WANNA PLAY ANYMORE!!!"
Sanji and Usopp, scared pale by the sudden violent ascent, hugged the mast and railing tightly, screaming. Sanji's cigarette had long fallen onto the deck.
Zoro, standing by the ship's side with arms crossed, unharmed, laughed loudly at their wretched appearance. "Hahaha! Curly-brows, you look like you've been beaten up ten times!"
"YOU CAN STILL LAUGH?!!" Sanji roared through gritted teeth, shaking all over.
Kuina walked over, patting his shoulder lightly. "Hold the railing tight next time, and you won't look so embarrassing."
Just then, the two finally realized—
Their surroundings were no longer the familiar horizon line.
Before their eyes was a scene shocking enough to shake the world: dozens of massive islands floating 10,000 meters in the sky!
Varied in shape, some were covered in ancient ruins, some entwined with giant vines and steel structures, and others emitted an eerie aura, rotating slowly in the air like living things.
These floating islands were connected, layered upon each other, forming a magnificent and massive "Aerial Archipelago"!
Sunlight pierced through the clouds and islands, falling on them like judgment light descending from the gods.
"This... is the Golden Lion's base?!!"
Usopp's eyes nearly popped out. "Someone can actually lift islands into the sky?!!"
"The power of the Float-Float Fruit... can be this strong?" Sanji wiped a cold sweat, his expression turning grave.
Smoker narrowed his eyes, staring at a distant island. "I see them. There are violent giant beasts moving..."
Amidst everyone's shock, a chuckle came from the air.
"Heh... let me say hello to that old geezer."
Before his voice faded, Roy's figure vanished abruptly from the bow. The next moment, he appeared high in the sky, right fist poised to strike, energy swirling around him like a tornado!
Where his fist pointed, in the Floating Palace, upon the throne, Shiki slowly lifted his eyelids.
—In those scarlet vertical pupils, killing intent surged, enough to drown an entire era.
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