Souta Kiryuu remembered that the Golden Emperor, Tesoro, once used the powers of the Gold-Gold Fruit, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit, to manipulate others through his golden dust. However, those who were caught in his technique could cleanse themselves of the dust's control simply by washing with seawater.
But some Paramecia-type abilities, like those from the Mark-Mark Fruit or the Hobby-Hobby Fruit, were far more terrifying. Once you were struck by those powers, no amount of seawater could free you from their effects.
Even after years—or decades—the ability remained.
For instance, Vander Decken IX could throw weapons endlessly at Princess Shirahoshi, his marked target, and even if she bathed in the ocean's depths, she couldn't remove that mark.
Similarly, once Kyros was transformed into a toy soldier by the Hobby-Hobby Fruit, no seawater could undo the transformation.
"Lord Souta, I can still sense the power of the mark. At any moment, I can send the payload straight to Mary Geoise," reported the Seraphim Kuma, his eyes glowing with faint, star-shaped pupils as he closed them briefly, then reopened them without emotion.
"Ehehehahaha! It seems those fools—Imu and the Five Elders—have miscalculated again." Souta let out a booming laugh. "Go, head to Caesar. Get a poisonous gas shell from him, and give them a proper warning. Tell them not to wander so freely outside their so-called Holy Land."
"Yes, Lord Souta."
Without another word, Seraphim Kuma vanished from the golden palace, teleporting to Caesar's laboratory to carry out Souta's orders.
"Captain Souta," said Nico Robin, stepping forward with two wanted posters in her hand, "recently, the Golden Lion—Shiki—has been recruiting new subordinate pirate crews in large numbers. Two rookies from the East Blue provoked his Flying Pirate Group. Rumors are spreading that you know these two and might even be interested in recruiting them. Should we move to support them?"
Souta took the posters and glanced at them—Bartolomeo and Ed Rago. A grin formed on his face.
"Yeah, I know those two. If Shiki wants to make a move on them… then it's the perfect excuse to deal with that old lion myself."
His smile deepened when he saw that Doc Q, Van Augur, and Fighting Champion Burgess were also mixed in with Bartolomeo's crew. That only strengthened Souta's resolve.
Aside from Doflamingo, Shiki the Golden Lion was another problem he intended to settle soon.
Perhaps Teach's first Paramecia-type ability could even come from that man's Float-Float Fruit.
"Yahahaha! Finally, another battle!" roared Enel, his grin stretching from ear to ear. Ever since the fierce clash at Mary Geoise, the Sky Island laboratory had been relocated to the moon, and Souta himself had undergone a round of experimental enhancements. The Kiryuu Pirates had been quiet for some time.
Though their battles against Barrett had helped them grow stronger, Enel still preferred external conquests—the thrill of real combat.
"Last time on Demon-God Island, Shiki snatched one of our Devil Fruit treasure chests!" shouted Bonney, eager for chaos. "This time, we're taking it all back! Even if he's already eaten it, we'll capture him alive!"
She had long despised the Golden Lion's arrogance—especially after he stole not only their Devil Fruit but also several luxurious Celestial Dragon warships. This time, the Kiryuu Pirates would reclaim everything.
"Hehihihihi! Shiki's zombie would make a fine addition to my collection!" cackled Gecko Moria, his eyes gleaming with madness. "I already have Saint Figarland Garling as my prized zombie. If I get the Golden Lion too, my army will be unstoppable!"
The ship's interior buzzed with excitement. Every member of the Kiryuu Pirates was eager for war.
"Boss," Robin continued, her tone shifting to caution, "Redfield and Bundy Walde seem to have drawn the Navy's attention. We should prepare in case they get captured—they both know the location of Sky Island."
"They won't expose it," Souta replied coolly. "Besides, Sky Island is no longer our only stronghold."
With Vegapunk's massive brain system, Punk Record, and his laboratories relocated to the moon, Sky Island had lost much of its importance.
The Island of the Gods, Apayado, once the legendary golden city of Shandora, was now ready for evacuation at any moment, thanks to the Float-Float powers wielded by the Seraphim codenamed "Human Path."
The Tontatta, Angels, and Shandians living there were all safe. Even if the World Government or the Navy discovered Sky Island, the Kiryuu Pirates would not face destruction.
If the World Government dared to attack, Souta would unleash full retaliation upon Mary Geoise.
The era had changed—it was now a time of mutual deterrence, where both sides could destroy each other's homes in an instant.
Under Souta's command, the Kiryuu Pirates had entered their prime. Not even the World Government could halt their rise anymore.
"Shiki the Golden Lion… I wonder how much strength that old relic still has," muttered Douglas Barrett, his eyes flashing with fighting spirit.
He, too, was eager for battle. He remembered vividly his three years aboard the Roger Pirates, particularly the Battle of Edd War, where the Oro Jackson faced off against Shiki's massive Flying Fleet.
Dozens of warships in the sky bombarded them mercilessly.
If not for the raging storm that struck that day, Barrett doubted whether they could have escaped. The Oro Jackson, even crafted from Adam Wood, was still a wooden ship—against so many cannons, even it could've sunk.
Barrett could still recall Shiki's soaring fleet, the countless cannons gleaming in the sunlight, and Shiki himself laughing arrogantly, his Conqueror's Haki shaking the skies.
That image of dominance and madness had stayed with Barrett ever since.
The world said that Roger's crew had survived that battle by sheer luck.
Now Barrett would personally knock the Golden Lion out of the sky.
What Roger couldn't finish, he would.
"Guess Doflamingo gets to live a little longer," muttered Trafalgar Law, gripping his cursed blade Kikoku. His calm eyes hid a trace of annoyance. The Kiryuu Pirates had been caught in one major event after another, leaving them no time to deal with Donquixote Doflamingo, one of the Warlords of the Sea.
Law didn't pity the man—he merely marveled at his luck.
The Donquixote Family might have delayed their fate, but none of its Devil Fruit users would escape the Kiryuu Pirates' hunt forever.
"Then it's decided," Souta declared with a sharp grin. "We'll recruit a few new allies… and while we're at it, we'll take care of the Golden Lion."
Shiki—the crippled, one-legged, bald old lion—no longer had what it took to control the Float-Float Fruit. Such a powerful ability deserved a stronger master.
Souta's goal was clear: to raise core members strong enough to stand against the Five Elders, not rely on washed-up relics like Shiki.
At Souta's command, the Kiryuu Pirates began to assemble and set sail, their destination locked on Shiki the Golden Lion.
Meanwhile, in Caesar's laboratory, Seraphim Kuma launched a deadly toxic gas bomb straight toward Mary Geoise—a gift and a grim reminder from Souta Kiryuu himself.
Soon, the Five Elders would receive this "present" and understand the message it carried.
Even if they tried to wash the Holy Land clean with seawater, they would never remove the mark of the Paw-Paw Fruit that Souta had left behind.
They'd do well to stay put in Mary Geoise—if they knew what was good for them.