High above the endless sea, Shiki the Golden Lion soared effortlessly through the sky, the power of his Float-Float Fruit bending gravity to his will. The salty wind whipped through his mane of golden hair as a wild grin split his scarred face. His dream decades in the making was finally within reach.
"Jihahahahaha!" His mad laughter echoed across the clouds. "With Roger gone, nothing can stop me. The title of Pirate King will be mine!"
Shiki's eyes gleamed with ambition. In his mind's eye, he saw a world united under his rule fleets stretching from horizon to horizon, all kneeling before the one true emperor of the sea. The current powers of the New World Whitebeard, Big Mom, Kaido were nothing more than obstacles on his path.
Perhaps, he thought arrogantly, only Edward Newgate was worth a shred of respect. The other two? Mere children playing at war.
"First, I'll need a place to regroup," he muttered, scanning the horizon. Having just escaped Impel Down after two years of imprisonment, he had immediately thrown himself into battle with the Navy. Now, with his rage spent, he sought a temporary stronghold a place to rebuild his grand fleet and reclaim the glory of the Golden Lion.
Then suddenly
He stopped midair.
Something… shifted. His Observation Haki prickled with unease.
Shiki's expression hardened as his eyes darted through the air. The winds stilled. His instincts screamed danger.
Slash!
A sharp beam of sword aura cut through the sky, striking from behind.
The Golden Lion sneered. "Such a feeble attack… you dare draw your sword against me?"
With a lazy motion, he lifted his left leg the wooden sword named Kogarashi and swept it through the air. The incoming blade aura disintegrated instantly.
Even before he ate the Float-Float Fruit, Shiki had been a dual-sword master renowned across the seas, rumored to rival the world's greatest swordsmen. To him, that strike was little more than a child's swing.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
"Well done," came a calm voice.
From behind a mask, a man in a navy uniform approached, applauding slowly.
"Not bad at all," the man said with a smirk. "No wonder you once stood beside Roger and Whitebeard. Even without your legs, your strength remains terrifying."
Shiki's eyes narrowed as he studied the newcomer a tall figure wearing a distinctive mask, confidence radiating from every step.
The Golden Lion's grin widened, dripping arrogance. "What's this? The Navy's scraping the bottom of the barrel now? Where are Sengoku and Garp? Too scared to face me, so they send a mere corporal to die in their place? Jihahahahaha!"
"Careful, old man," the masked figure replied dryly. "Laugh too hard and you'll bite your tongue. Would be a shame to end up a legendary stutterer."
Shiki's laughter stopped cold. His gaze darkened into something deadly. "You've got guts, brat. I'll grant you that. But tell me are you eager to die?"
The man's tone stayed light, almost mocking. "I doubt you could kill me even if you tried."
The sea rippled beneath them as Shiki's killing intent erupted. The pressure of his Conqueror's Haki sent waves crashing in every direction.
"Then die!"
With a roar, Shiki launched a colossal arc of golden sword energy from his leg blades, slicing straight toward the intruder.
The masked man didn't flinch. His right arm shimmered with Armament Haki as he swung upward, deflecting the strike with a resounding clang.
Shiki's grin returned. "Heh… you've got some bite after all."
"I've heard," the man said, his voice low and steady, "that you're after the Pirate King's throne. Unfortunately, that's the same dream I have."
That made Shiki pause only for a second. Then his expression twisted in rage.
"You dare!" he snarled. "The Pirate King title belongs to me alone!"
The masked man Liam Ross, the Navy's most unpredictable enigma tilted his head. "We'll see about that. How about a little wager, Golden Lion? There's an island nearby. Let's see which of us truly deserves to rule the seas."
Shiki's grin returned, wicked and sharp. "You're bold, brat. I like that. But your arrogance will be your end."
Without another word, the two rocketed toward a deserted island below, their Haki tearing through the clouds.
Moments later, they stood facing each other on the shore. The tension was palpable two monsters of the sea, one born of the old era, the other a rising storm of the new.
Shiki's eyes burned with fury. "The title of Pirate King is mine alone. Anyone who dares to steal it… will die by my blades!"
"Then come take it," Liam replied, his voice calm yet brimming with defiance.
"Die!"
Shiki struck first. Twin golden blades flashed, unleashing a storm of cutting winds. Sword aura tore across the island, slicing boulders like paper. The ground split open in jagged lines, and the air howled with death.
But Liam moved like a phantom, his Observation Haki predicting every strike. When he couldn't dodge, his Armament Haki absorbed the impact. Each clash sent shockwaves across the island.
Clang!
Boom!
The earth trembled under their duel. Dust and fire spiraled upward as two titans clashed.
After a hundred blows, they broke apart, both breathing heavily yet neither showing weakness.
Liam narrowed his eyes. He's slowing down.
The Golden Lion's breathing had grown uneven, his strikes slightly delayed. Despite his strength, his aging body was betraying him.
Liam smirked. "Looks like your legend's running out of breath, old man."
"You insolent!"
Before Shiki could finish, Liam vanished using Soru, the Navy's high-speed step technique and appeared right in front of him.
"Let's end this."
He thrust his hand into the ground.
"Earth Dragon Bind!"
The island itself trembled as two enormous dragons of packed soil erupted behind Shiki, their eyes glowing with fury. Before the Golden Lion could react, the earth dragons lunged, coiling around him in a crushing embrace.
The old pirate's roar shook the sky. "You think this can hold me?!"
Liam's eyes flashed behind his mask. "We'll find out."
And with that, the battle between the past and the future exploded once more a clash that would shake the New World to its core.
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