"Oh? What an interesting guy."
Even Whitebeard couldn't help but glance over, a faint grin tugging at the corner of his mouth as he watched the clash unfold. As a comrade of the Golden Lion, he knew exactly how dangerous Shiki was. For someone like him to get injured, by a newcomer no less, was rare to say the least. Rare and worth paying attention to.
Charlotte Linlin's lips curled into a slight smirk. "To injure Shiki… I knew my intuition wasn't wrong."
Golden Lion didn't seem angry about the cut on his body. In fact, he laughed. A sharp, wild grin spread across his face. "Good job, Ayr. You've got my approval."
To be honest, even Shiki was surprised, he hadn't used his full strength in this little test, far from it, but he was still a top-tier swordsman, someone who had long mastered the path of the blade.
Even when holding back, his swordplay should've been flawless. And yet… Ayr had found a gap, and he'd responded instantly enough to draw blood. That kind of instinct wasn't something you taught.
"To earn Shiki's praise… we might be welcoming another monster aboard the ship," someone whispered.
The Rocks Pirates were already filled with monsters, countless powerhouses standing tall. But even among them, Ayr's combat ability stood out, very few newcomers could hold their own like this. Fewer still could wound someone like Golden Lion.
"But… I doubt that's all you've got," Shiki muttered. "If that's your full strength, I'll be disappointed. Come on then! Show me more."
Even though Ayr had gone all out in the previous exchange, Shiki could tell it wasn't his limit. There was still something hidden, cards left unplayed and Shiki intended to draw them out.
With a sharp motion, Golden Lion reached for the second blade at his waist. The long, curved edge slid free with a ringing sound. Dual blades now in hand, Shiki's entire presence changed.
This was his true fighting form, the dual-sword flow. When using both Oto and Kogarashi, his swordsmanship reached a terrifying level.
Just a moment ago he'd been playing. Now… he was getting serious.
"Come on, Ayr!" Shiki shouted, energy flaring around him. He stood still, blades raised, waiting for the next attack.
"Just what I wanted," Ayr grinned.
Ayr had just found a Devil Fruit during the raid, and it had granted him the power of the Nine Tails. He hadn't used it until now, but this fight was the perfect chance to test it.
As his thoughts stirred, a red mist began to rise around him. It curled up his arms and shoulders, then wrapped around his entire body. Behind him, a thick red tail formed and waved in the air, this was the Nine Tails' first tail.
So far, he had only unlocked a fraction of the beast's power. Just one tail, but even that was enough to push his strength to another level. His blood burned with power and his senses sharpened as his body felt lighter.
"That tail… is it Devil Fruit power?"
"Definitely. And not an ordinary fruit either. His aura completely changed. It's probably one that boosts strength."
"But it won't matter. Captain Shiki is using both blades now. Even with a Devil Fruit boost, that kid won't land another hit. There's no way he can see through the swordplay of a true great swordsman."
Golden Lion grinned madly as he saw the red mist and tail. "Jie hahaha… I knew you had something hidden. Alright then, show me what you've got!"
Shiki wasn't just enjoying the fight, he was already thinking ahead. He liked Ayr, liked his spirit and liked his strength. If things went well, this kid could be one of his top men someday.
Ayr's grip tightened around his blade. Thick Armament Haki spread across the steel, coating it like tar. He leaned forward.
Step.
He launched forward, far faster than before. His movement left an afterimage in the air. In a flash, he was in front of Shiki, blade swinging downward with full force. Veins bulged along his arms as he poured everything into the strike.
Clang!
A violent crash rang out. Sparks flew as the blades met. The force behind the blow ripped through the air, sending out a powerful shockwave, and the nearest crew members staggered back several meters, their eyes wide.
The battlefield trembled with their presence, it was like watching two wild beasts face off, each refusing to back down.
"Much better," Shiki muttered with a satisfied smile. "You've definitely grown stronger."
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Zzzzt!
Their blades collided again and again, dozens of times in mere moments. Each strike faster than the last, sharper, heavier.
Ayr's swordsmanship had reached a frightening level and with his current strength bolstered by the Nine Tails, he could easily take down pirates worth 500 million bounty. His blade could split stone and tear through steel.
But even with that kind of power, he couldn't break through Shiki's guard.
No matter how fierce his strikes became, no matter how fast he moved or how much chakra surged through him, The Golden Lion blocked everything. His dual-blade technique was flawless, every gap closed within an instance. Every attack was countered and Ayr couldn't even find a path to force Shiki onto the defensive.
This was the level of a great swordsman, a wall that couldn't be crossed with brute force alone.
Even with the Nine Tails at his back, Ayr was still a step below. At this moment… that gap was still too wide.