"Gya ha ha ha ha! So Vein has a unit this elite under his command? Not bad! How about it interested in joining my crew instead?"
Floating above, Golden Lion Shiki sat on his throne, his gaze intense as he sized up the fighters before him. These warriors had managed to breach the island, which meant they'd already defeated some of his own pirate captains. And Shiki, known for his ruthlessness, never hesitated to recruit those with real strength.
But his offer was met with a swift response a slicing attack from Kieth.
"Tempest Kick Crescent Slash!"
A crescent-shaped shockwave shot toward Shiki, but he simply tilted his body to the side and dodged with ease. His mastery of Observation Haki was clearly formidable.
Shiki's expression darkened. He gritted his teeth and growled, "So, that's a no?"
Sensing the shift, Kieth and the remaining fighters readied themselves. Tension crackled in the air.
Suddenly, Shiki's eyes glowed red. His golden mane floated unnaturally, as though the air itself had frozen.
Conqueror's Haki.
Under the overwhelming pressure, most of the "Three Hundred" warriors collapsed on the spot, foaming at the mouth, their eyes rolling back.
Only a handful remained standing Kieth among them. But the strain showed. Their foreheads dripped with sweat, and their knees trembled under the crushing weight of Shiki's will.
"Oh? Still conscious?" Shiki's voice carried a tinge of amusement. "Then try this on for size."
Lion's Wrath: Earth Surge!
The ground quaked violently. Trees were uprooted and the very soil twisted into the shapes of massive lion heads, which roared as they hurtled toward the fighters.
Boom!
A deafening impact shook the entire area. Dust billowed outward, swallowing the scene.
When it finally cleared, only one face remained visible among the heaps of upturned earth every other warrior was buried beneath mounds of debris, unconscious.
All except Kieth.
He burst from the dust, leaping high into the air behind Shiki.
"Armament Style Honey Badger Fist!"
Haki-coated fists, gleaming black, hammered down on Shiki's back.
Clang!
The blow landed but it was met with resistance. A solid wall of Armament Haki flared to life, absorbing the hit.
"You've got guts, kid. I'll give you that."
Slash Wave!
Shiki countered instantly. Twin crescent-shaped shockwaves flew from his sword-feet and sliced through the air, slamming into Kieth.
Kieth grunted, blood spurting from two new gashes on his shoulders. His body slammed into the ground with a heavy thud. He twitched, tried to stand, but couldn't. Still, his eyes stayed locked on Shiki, bloodshot and burning with defiance.
Floating above, Shiki looked down with disdain.
"I don't like that look in your eyes."
He raised his bladed feet, ready to strike the final blow.
But then something shifted in the air.
A black door appeared mid-sky, seemingly out of nowhere.
Four figures stepped through it Solomon, Gloria, Robin, and Claw.
Shiki paused, his eyes narrowing in curiosity.
"Oh? A Devil Fruit power? You've got reinforcements already?"
He scanned the four newcomers, then smirked.
"So, where's your captain, huh? That brat Vein? What's wrong, too scared to show his face?"
Shiki burst out laughing.
"Gya ha ha ha ha! So he sends his lackeys to die while he hides like a coward?"
Among the group, Gloria's reaction was the strongest. Her face flushed with rage as she shouted, "You senile old fool! You only dared to come because you knew Lord Vein wasn't in the city. If he were here, you'd already be in pieces!"
"Gloria " Solomon started to intervene.
Too late.
He had wanted to keep Vein's absence secret. Telling Shiki only made things worse.
"Oh?" Shiki cocked his head, genuinely surprised. "He's not here?"
A grin stretched across his face.
"Well then... I guess I'll start by cutting you down!"
Slash Wave!
A deadly arc of energy shot toward the group. Shiki had no intention of holding back.
Draw Slash: Speed!
Solomon moved first, stepping in front of the others. He drew his blade and countered the flying slash with his own. The blades clashed mid-air, sending sparks flying.
Solomon wasn't just a Gate-Gate Fruit user he was also a skilled swordsman. The blade in his hand had once belonged to Vein himself: the Snow Walk.
"Not bad, kid," Shiki said with a smirk.
He watched Solomon closely. In his prime, Shiki had been a top-tier dual-wielding swordsman. Though his legs were now replaced with his famed blades Sakura Ten and Kogarashi he'd regained much of his former strength through sheer adaptation.
Solomon's eyes narrowed. That last strike had shown him just how powerful Shiki truly was.
There was no time for a duel of honor. He barked an order.
"He's dangerous. We go in together!"
At once, the four of them launched into action.
Robin created giant arms from the ground, forming towering pillars to strike.
Solomon charged forward with another powerful draw slash.
Claw transformed into his beast form, raking the air with clawed slashes.
Gloria stood back, her haunting voice weaving through the chaos.
Lion's Wrath: Royal Earth Fortress!
In response, Shiki conjured a massive wall of earth and stone, lion heads snarling from its surface. The towering structure absorbed their combined attacks.
Boom!
Dust exploded outward again, but the wall held firm.
Shiki sneered, ready to mock them when suddenly, music rang out.
A strange pressure tickled at the edge of his mind. For just a moment, his body froze.
But Shiki's iron will snapped him out of it.
His eyes locked onto Gloria.
"That voice... it's you."
A shadow of genuine rage crossed his face.
She would be the first to fall.
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