Whiteflame flicked his fingers, sending the cigarette butt arcing away as he spoke in an icy tone.
"You boarded my ship without permission."
"And without a word of explanation, you tore through my Jolly Roger… Golden Lion, do you really think you're someone important?"
The moment Whiteflame's words fell, Shiki's eyes narrowed sharply. A twisted grin slowly spread across his face.
"Gyahahahaha…"
"Brat, it's been a long time since anyone dared talk to me like that."
"Are you… looking for death?"
A dark, murderous glint flickered in Shiki's eyes as he stared straight at Whiteflame.
For decades he had ruled the seas, relying on overwhelming dominance—and a cruelty that brooked no defiance.
Even the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, had once been attacked by him on the spot after refusing a proposal to join forces.
If not for that sudden storm that wiped out most of his Flying Pirates fleet, crippling his power, the title of Pirate King might have belonged to Shiki instead of Roger.
"Try killing me then—if you've got the skill."
Whiteflame's voice was light and unhurried.
"Looks like time has washed my name clean off this ocean. Even a nobody like you dares to challenge me so bluntly. This world really has changed… and not for the better."
"But it won't matter for long. Soon enough, my name will echo across these seas again—and the terror I bring will smother the entire world. No one will be spared."
"Our conversation ends here. I'm a man destined to conquer the world—I don't have time to waste on insignificant brats."
"Kids, when you reach hell, make sure you remember who killed you. Don't mix me up with someone else! Gyahahahaha!"
Shiki laughed loudly as his body lifted into the air—
and with him, the entire Nine Dragons Pirate Ship rose off the sea as well.
"What's happening?!"
"The ship is floating!"
Rebecca and Baby Five gasped in shock.
"Oh, right—I almost forgot to tell you. I ate the Float-Float Fruit. Anything I touch becomes mine to control."
"Your Jolly Roger, your ship, and every last one of you… sink into the sea and die for me!"
Still laughing, Shiki lifted his hand—and the Nine Dragons ship shot upward toward the sky.
But it only rose a short distance before freezing in midair.
A massive web of white threads had formed above it, blocking its ascent entirely.
"Golden Lion, I expected something grand—something worthy of a legend from Roger's era. But this? This is disappointing. You're nothing more than a relic clinging to past glories, shouting empty threats."
Standing on the silken threads suspended in the air, Whiteflame spoke indifferently as the three women behind him were safely caught by more threads.
"Young fool, twenty years ago—if not for that sudden storm—I would've become the Pirate King, praised by the whole world!"
"And that storm… was caused by that damned Dragon!"
The moment he mentioned the Battle of Edd War twenty years ago, Shiki's anger surged, teeth grinding.
He refused to accept it.
He had driven Roger to the brink of death. He was this close to killing him.
But then Dragon interfered—destroying most of Shiki's fleet and allowing Roger to defeat him, stealing away his chance at the throne.
To make it worse, Roger later allowed himself to be captured and executed by the Marines.
The man who beat Shiki died at the hands of the Navy.
How could Shiki accept that?
That loss sparked everything that followed—
his solo assault on Marineford,
his imprisonment in Impel Down,
and his infamous escape.
After decades of silence, he had returned with a meticulously crafted plan, preparing to wreak havoc on the East Blue—Roger's homeland and the place he was executed—to announce his comeback and resume the dream he never achieved.
"Today, Dragon isn't here, and you're no Roger. Compared to me—whose strength surpasses yours by ten thousandfold—you have no right to stand against me."
"Stop struggling. In front of me, you have only one destiny: despair."
"Accept it. Die and sink into the sea."
[Lion's Slash]
Shiki swung his leg, unleashing a massive arc of sword energy.
"Golden Lion, do you know what you look like now?"
"A pitiful relic abandoned by the times."
Whiteflame flicked his finger—
and from within the Nine Dragons ship, a golden dragon roared forth, crashing head-on into the slash.
Zzzzzz—
The sword energy collided with the golden dragon, sparks spraying like clashing steel.
"Didn't cut through it?"
Shiki's eyes flashed.
Before losing his legs, he had been a master of swordsmanship—dual-wielding at that.
Even after switching to kicks, his power had never dropped enough to hinder him.
Yet this brat's defense had held.
Interesting.
"Little Black—move."
Whiteflame's eyes chilled as he gave the order.
Instantly, the ten IBM surrounding him revealed their killing intent—towering, bandage-wrapped humanoid monsters, eyeless faces pointed at Shiki, long, razor-sharp claws trembling with impatience.
The moment Whiteflame spoke, the ten IBM blurred into motion, lunging straight at Shiki!
"What in the hell?!"
Even Shiki was stunned for a heartbeat.
He had sailed the Grand Line for decades—but he had never seen monsters like these, let alone creatures obeying someone's command like a personal army.
But he quickly regained his calm.
Whatever they were, creatures of that speed and strength would never reach him.
"Brat, if that's all you've got—just die already."
Shiki snarled and slashed with both legs.
[Lion's Thousand-Cut Valley]
In an instant, hundreds of slashes shot forth at astonishing speed, engulfing the ten IBM.
An upgraded version of Lion's Slash—stronger, faster, deadlier.
Pupupupu—
The barrage tore through the IBM like a storm.
Unable to sense danger without Observation Haki, they were shredded within a single breath, dispersing on the spot.
"Gyahahahaha! Brat, is that all?"
"You'd defeat me with useless things like that? Ridiculous!"
Shiki roared with laughter.
Truthfully, his arrogance was well-founded.
Before Roger conquered the Grand Line and before Whitebeard was declared the strongest man in the world—Shiki was widely acknowledged as the mightiest pirate alive.
And even after twenty years, though age had worn him down, he remained someone who had once fought Roger and Whitebeard as equals.
His power was nothing to scoff at.
"Is that so?"
Whiteflame smiled faintly, eyes glinting.
Shiki noticed the odd expression just as a sudden chill shot down his spine. His eyes widened.
"Behind me!"
Experience screamed at him—not to turn around.
He darted forward, twisted midair with the power of the Float-Float Fruit, and finally looked back.
Behind him stood—
ten even larger IBM.
"Impossible! I killed them!"
Shiki's expression shifted violently.
The ten monsters he'd destroyed had vanished moments ago.
Yet now, ten new ones stood behind him silently—and if not for his sharp Observation Haki, he would've been hit.
"No… these things are bigger than the ones before!"
He realized immediately—
these weren't the same creatures he'd killed.
"No wonder you're a legend—someone who once nearly cornered Gol D. Roger. Your reaction speed really is sharp."
Whiteflame spoke coolly.
The first ten IBM had merely been a feint.
Their purpose was simple—
to distract Shiki long enough for the second set of IBM to slip behind him for a surprise attack.
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