BOOM—!
The punch tore through the air, sending ripples of white shockwaves expanding from the point of impact. Chrollo's fist was jet black—the unmistakable hardening effect of high-level Armament Haki.
Facing a legendary pirate, Chrollo might have mocked his current state, but he didn't hold back a single ounce of strength. He struck with the intent to end it.
Whoosh—!
Shiki's massive frame was sent hurtling backward, blasting through the atmosphere and generating sonic booms. He plowed through several groves of giant trees, a human cannonball that didn't stop until he slammed into the base of a distant mountain, burying himself in the rock.
"He did it—!" Bonney shouted from afar. Her eyes were wide with a mix of shock and burgeoning hope.
But the cheer died in her throat. At the base of the mountain, the golden hair shifted. Shiki slowly lifted his head, pushing himself out of the crater. The skin on his chest, where the punch had landed, was now a deep, obsidian black.
He had used his own Haki to mitigate the blow.
Shiki wiped a trickle of blood from his lip, a wild, arrogant smirk spreading across his face. "Decent power, kid. Too bad your aim's a bit off. If that had hit my heart, it might have actually caused me some trouble~"
Chrollo clicked his tongue, though he wasn't entirely surprised. This was a man who once forced Garp and Sengoku to double-team him at Marineford; of course he knew Haki. He wasn't some pushover who would lose his edge entirely just because of age.
However, Chrollo was analyzing him. While Armament Haki (Busoshoku) is a physical technique that stays with you, Observation Haki (Kenbunshoku) requires extreme focus—something the steering wheel in Shiki's head likely disrupted. And Conqueror's Haki (Haoshoku)? That requires the unshakeable spirit of a king. Twenty years of hiding in the clouds and losing his legs had clearly dulled Shiki's "edge."
"What terrifying physical strength," Shiki muttered, feeling the dull throb in his chest. "I didn't think the East Blue held anyone like you."
He narrowed his eyes, studying Chrollo. "And what was that ability? You've used that giant cloth, you can teleport, and you can walk on air... are you some kind of multi-fruit anomaly?"
"Chrollo Lucilfer," the Leader replied calmly.
"Kuro?" Shiki scratched the bald patch near the steering wheel.
"Chrollo. Lucilfer."
"Kuro... shi?" Shiki tilted his head.
"Chrollo... Lucilfer..." A vein popped on Chrollo's forehead. "You know what? It doesn't matter. You'll remember it when I'm caveing your skull in."
Chrollo raised his left hand, aiming it directly at Shiki.
"ATTRACT!"
Vrummm—!
A strange wave of energy rippled through the air. Shiki felt a sudden, irresistible force seizing his body. Without any physical contact, he was yanked forward, hurtling toward Chrollo like a piece of iron being pulled by a massive magnet.
"What is this?!" Shiki barked.
"This," Chrollo's grin turned feral, "is my third ability—"
> [Plus & Minus (Transmutation Type)]
> [One of Chrollo's 23 abilities. It allows the user to touch a target and mark them with a 'Negative' pole. The user can then apply 'Positive' (left hand) or 'Negative' (right hand) to themselves. Using the law of 'Opposites Attract, Likes Repel,' Chrollo gains absolute control over the target's positioning relative to himself.]
"Your Float-Float fruit is useless if I can just pull you into my range," Chrollo noted. The most annoying part of Shiki's fruit wasn't his power; it was his mobility. But magnetism nullified the advantage of flight.
"ATTRACT!"
Shiki became a golden streak, flying headlong toward Chrollo's outstretched hand. Chrollo pulled his right fist back, coiling his muscles for another Haki-infused strike.
"You aren't the only one who knows how to throw a punch, brat!" Shiki roared. He didn't panic; instead, he matched Chrollo's movement, winding up his own fist. "Do you know who I am?! I AM THE GOLDEN LION—"
CLANG—!
BOOM—!
The fists collided. The impact of two peak Armament Haki users generated a vacuum. Black lightning crackled and hissed around their arms as the energy storm pushed the clouds away, revealing a dark, stormy sky above.
"GOLDEN LION!" Chrollo yelled.
"LOSHI—!" Shiki screamed, his hair standing on end.
"YOU STILL GOT THE NAME WRONG, YOU OLD GEEZER!"
Chrollo shifted his weight mid-air. He used his left hand to firmly grip Shiki's arm, the magnetic "Plus" and "Minus" locking them together in a deadly embrace. Then, Chrollo brought his knee up with a violent, explosive force, aiming directly between Shiki's sword-legs.
"TAKE THIS—KNEE STRIKE!"
"YOU—?!!" Shiki's eyes bulged in realization, but it was too late.
Shiki's "legs" were swords—Oto and Kogarasu. They were sharp and deadly, but they offered zero protection against a direct upward strike to the groin. Chrollo was literally exploiting the fact that Shiki lacked shins to block with.
"Hahaha! That's right!" Chrollo laughed maniacally. "I'm totally bullying you for not having legs!"
THUD.
CRACK.
The sound of "eggs" shattering echoed through the sky. Shiki's bloodshot eyes nearly popped out of his head. His mouth flew open, but no sound came out at first—he looked like a human "Screaming Chicken" toy.
"MY NAME... IS CHROLLO!!!"
Below, Bonney watched the impact and let out a violent shiver. Even she felt the phantom pain. She looked at the male members of the Troupe; Uvogin, Nobunaga, and Phinks were all instinctively crossing their legs, their faces pale.
"That's just cruel," Nobunaga whispered, a cold sweat running down his neck.
"Brutal," Phinks agreed.
---