While Shiki could fly, it wasn't a problem for the Marines' high-ranking officers.
Although they couldn't fly around as freely as Shiki, they could still walk on air with the help of Geppo, one of the Rokushiki techniques.
Now, with several shockwaves destroying the flying ships, Sengoku's body shot through the wreckage straight toward Shiki.
His giant golden palm pressed down on Shiki, as if to crush him in one strike.
"Condemnation!" Sengoku roared.
Shiki's face lit up with an excited grin. He swiftly drew his two swords, which were hanging at his waist, and held them in a cross-guard in front of him, blocking Sengoku's massive hand.
These two swords were Shiki's beloved blades, Kogarashi and Oto. Although they were not among the graded swords, they were still famous blades.
The clash of their Haki powers created a powerful shockwave at the point of impact. The air currents became chaotic, continuously churning and sending waves in all directions.
"Shiki, why have you come to the North Blue!?" Sengoku demanded, pressing his palm down, trying to force Shiki out of the sky.
Shiki held his ground against the force and laughed wildly. "I'm a pirate! I can go wherever I want! I don't need to explain myself to the likes of you!"
"Hmph, this sea isn't yours to command!" Sengoku snorted.
As he spoke, a powerful shockwave erupted from his hand again.
The shockwave wasn't strong enough to completely break through Shiki's defense, but the fierce power still forced Shiki down, sending him crashing to the ground.
But Shiki didn't seem to care. He landed on his feet, a wild grin still plastered on his face.
"Lion's Threat: Earth Bind!" Shiki roared.
The ground beneath him surged up, instantly forming two enormous, fierce lions that lunged at Sengoku.
"Daibutsu Great Condemnation!" Sengoku shouted in the air.
Golden light radiated from his body. An invisible and powerful shockwave burst from his hands again, mercilessly shattering the two lions. At the same time, his feet landed on the port ground.
The falling debris kicked up a cloud of dust, obstructing the view.
But for powerhouses of Sengoku and Shiki's caliber, vision was no longer an issue. Observation Haki was the primary means of detection during a fight.
Sengoku seemed to sense something. He coated his arm in Armament Haki and swung it hard to his left.
Sure enough, Shiki was coming at him with his two swords.
The two sharp blades struck Sengoku's arm, but both their Haki powers were exceptionally strong, so no real damage was done.
The clash of their Armament Haki instantly blew away all the dust, revealing their figures again.
The fierce battle reignited!
At the same time, on the warship, the Marine soldiers were getting ready.
Everyone knew that ordinary Marines couldn't participate in a battle of this level.
But the Marines had their own system and rules. Even if you were of no use, you had to be ready to deploy at a moment's notice.
It was also a sort of rite of passage. If you could face this kind of battle and survive, it would benefit you in many ways.
And in the Marine system, it was also considered experience and seniority, which was crucial for future promotions.
After a few days of sailing, Diarmuid's injuries had completely healed.
Although he wasn't officially a Headquarters Marine yet, he was, by rank, a Lieutenant Commander.
He was now standing on the ship's deck with a group of other Marines, ready for battle at any moment.
Under Zephyr's command, the warship quickly moved toward the battered port.
Sengoku seemed to be intentionally cooperating with Zephyr. He relentlessly attacked Shiki, forcing him back from the port to create a relatively safe space for the warship.
When the warship docked, Zephyr said, "All hands prepare for battle. Fire the cannons at that bastard Shiki…"
This was Diarmuid's first time in this kind of situation, and he felt a little out of place. He didn't know what to do.
But seeing that the other officers weren't doing anything, he just copied them and stood there.
The other Marine soldiers quickly went about their duties, and soon, the cannons were calibrated.
Zephyr didn't seem to care about hitting Sengoku. As soon as the cannons were ready, he immediately gave the order: "Fire!"
The warship roared as several cannonballs shot toward Shiki and Sengoku.
The explosion was incredibly powerful, instantly blowing up several surrounding buildings. Thick black smoke and fire obscured everyone's vision.
At the same time, Zephyr, who had been standing on the deck, was gone.
"So fast!!" Diarmuid thought in shock.
He couldn't even see how Zephyr had disappeared. He was just gone in a flash.
Diarmuid guessed it must be Soru, one of the Rokushiki techniques.
At the same time, Zephyr's body had already entered the smoke.
Clearly, the smoke and explosion were just a distraction for him.
"Black Rhino!" Zephyr shouted as he punched into the black smoke.
A clank rang out from the smoke like two pieces of metal colliding. The clash of Haki created a gust of wind that blew the obscuring smoke away.
Then, Shiki was seen blocking Zephyr's fist with his sword, a perfect defense.
However, in terms of sheer power, Shiki seemed to be inferior to Zephyr. Zephyr's punch was holding its own.
"Jihahahaha, Zephyr, you're here, too, bastard? Didn't you retire from the front lines and just keep your Admiral rank?" Shiki asked with a wicked grin.
"I have no time to explain myself to a scoundrel like you…" Zephyr said coldly.
As he finished speaking, he took a step forward, closing the distance to Shiki, and grabbed out with his other hand.
Shiki, not wanting to fight up close with Zephyr, lightly tapped his foot and retreated, putting distance between them.
Shiki knew very well that Zephyr's reputation as a Marine Admiral wasn't just for show. He had fought him many times before.
His strength was truly immense and not to be underestimated.
Unlike most other powerhouses, Zephyr hadn't eaten a Devil Fruit. He had become a top-tier Marine Admiral through his own physical strength.
Therefore, Shiki had to admit that he was outmatched in close-quarters combat.
But Shiki hadn't even flown three or five meters away when a powerful shockwave hit him, instantly sending him flying.
The one who attacked was Sengoku.
The three of them were on the same level, and a one-on-one fight wouldn't have been easy to decide. But with two Admirals on the Marine side, Shiki was no match for them in both power and teamwork.
There was almost no way he could win.
Of course, it wouldn't be easy for Sengoku and Zephyr to completely capture Shiki. With their strength, it would be difficult to get a definitive result without fighting for days and nights.
Shiki hadn't taken too much damage. After stopping, he wiped the blood from his mouth, his eyes and expression still fiercely defiant.
"Jihahahaha, looks like the odds are against me…" Shiki said with a wicked grin.
He said it, but there was no worry on his face.
On the other hand, Admirals Sengoku and Zephyr's expressions were very serious.
From the beginning, they knew that with the two of them, defeating Shiki was no problem. After all, they were two Admirals. But the chances of capturing him were not good.
Shiki's most difficult trait wasn't his strength but his ability.
As a Float-Float Fruit user, he had a huge natural advantage in battle. If he decided to run, almost no one could catch him.
As for chasing him, forget it. Anyone who knew Shiki knew not to chase that bastard on the sea, or they would be completely wiped out.
This was also because of Shiki's troublesome ability. He could easily stir up the sea and create tidal waves.
But Admirals Sengoku and Zephyr had already prepared themselves. They didn't have to capture Shiki. It would be enough to try and foil his plan.
Of course, they didn't know what Shiki's goal was, but they were going to fight him anyway.
Whether or not they could solve the Shiki problem, they had to face it. That was the Marines' justice!
Soon, the three of them were at it again. The fierce battle quickly destroyed the port and the town.
Shiki was not a good person, so he naturally didn't care if any innocent people were caught in the crossfire.
As for Sengoku and Zephyr, to them, there were no good people on Minion Island… so they didn't care either.
At the same time, on the warship, Diarmuid was watching the battle with rapt attention, feeling incredibly exhilarated.
One day, I'll become as strong as them! Diarmuid swore to himself.
Before this, he didn't have much of a concept of what it meant to be truly strong. He could only fantasize about it based on his knowledge of the world.
But now, seeing a battle between the world's top powerhouses, his heart was burning with excitement!
But as Diarmuid was thinking about this, he suddenly caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye. His face changed to one of surprise and shock.
"What the hell, how much trouble do you want to cause?!" Diarmuid cursed in his mind.
He saw that in the ruins of the port nearby, the kid Rosinante was digging for something. Upon closer inspection, it seemed someone was buried under the rubble, with only an arm sticking out, and he was trying to save them!
How did he sneak off this big warship? Just as I thought, with a goodie-two-shoes like him as an ally, you have to be ready to be screwed over at any moment! Diarmuid swore to himself.