"What kind of mess you want to make of the world is none of my concern, but hand over my people right now!"
Amidst the cloud layers above the Floating Islands, after a roar echoed.
A sharp blade of light sliced through the smoke and snow.
Shiki, with his long golden hair flying, escaped from under the slash, his head lowered as he panted slightly.
"Troublesome brat, huff... huff..."
Using his ability to squeeze out dozens of stone spears, he flicked his fingers, sending these sharp lances whistling into the smoke.
"Old lion, looking down on me so much? Can't even be bothered to use Haki?"
Sakura, walking atop the smoke, her eyes flashing with rainbow light, nimbly dodged the stone spears.
Immediately after, she gripped Kumotsuna with both hands. The Iron Cloud surged, forming a massive black sword.
In the dark space between heaven and earth, streaks of lightning spread out from the cloud-sword like trees, hanging inverted in the firmament.
She swung the sword.
Monstrous strength, enough to sunder mountains and split seas, propelled the Haki, unleashing a terrifying, astonishing shockwave.
[Ikoku: Roaring Light Sword!]
A legendary spear that pierced the firmament howled forth, transforming into a straight, scorching chain of light within the darkness, tearing through all defenses like rotten wood.
Formidable monstrous strength, giant combat techniques, a power that commands lightning, and even pink hair...
This combination reminded Shiki of some unpleasant memories, about his first impression when he saw Sakura.
"Tch! Haki isn't everything, brat!!!"
Having a sore spot pressed, Shiki, his expression dark, gritted his teeth and used his ability to drag out large masses of seawater he controlled.
Shaping them into the forms of dozens of lions, they charged to tear at Sakura's attack.
[Lion Menace!]
Boom!
The majestic wave of sword energy pierced through the lion heads, shattering them into a sky full of water droplets. Its remaining momentum, undiminished, charged towards Shiki.
Shiki's pupils contracted.
At his wit's end, he unleashed Lion: Thousand-Split Valley, sending another wave of countless slashes to barely deflect the sword wave, sending it spinning wildly towards Sakura.
Unfortunately, blocked by Sakura's Haki-clad palm, the innumerable slashes crashed against the infinite wall and vanished.
At this point, in terms of ability, swordsmanship, and Haki, he was completely unable to contend with Sakura.
Truly, this was the twilight of a hero.
"Brat, you said you came looking for your companions, right? How about a deal?"
Realizing he was no match for his opponent, Shiki stretched out a hand, palm open, and forcefully swept it to the side.
The earth, rocks, ice, snow, and seawater floating between their battlefield were all pushed apart by an infinite wave of force, clearing a path.
"What trick are you trying to pull now? Wouldn't it be better if I just defeat you and go find them myself?"
Sakura swung the black cloud-sword in a flourish, resting it on her shoulder as she warily stared at Shiki.
"That Fish-Man you sent out earlier won't find the people I imprisoned so quickly. And besides..."
Shiki sneered, rotating his wrist. A huge mass of seawater that was originally floating in the air suddenly seemed to lose the power supporting it, rapidly plummeting towards Alabasta below.
The city below was inexplicably struck by the massive water sphere, turning a vast stretch of desert into a waterlogged marsh.
Understanding his meaning, Sakura clicked her tongue. "Tch, you really are despicable, old lion!"
"Shihahaha! Having lived through that brutal era, don't you understand our nature as pirates?" Shiki blew out a smoke ring, his smile growing increasingly maniacal.
"Enough nonsense. What kind of deal are you proposing?"
Sakura raised her head, her emerald eyes coldly gazing at the golden-haired man before her.
"Higanbana brat, I've heard you're a doctor famous across the seas!"
Shiki raised a hand, tapping the back of his own head. "Our deal is simple. You cure this for me, and I release your companions."
"Fine. But how do we prevent breach of contract?"
Sakura crossed her arms with a cold snort, her expression clearly showing she did not trust Shiki's credibility.
Shiki didn't speak. He reached into his coat and pulled out a coin, his nimble fingers making it dance between his knuckles.
Sakura narrowed her eyes, recognizing the ancient competitive game passed down among pirate crews… the Davy Back Fight.
It was a game that wagered companions and honor, guaranteed by three great binding treaties.
Once, a pirate crew that shook the world was assembled through this very game, and Shiki was a member of it!
"So, have you decided?"
Shiki crossed his arms, revealing a confident, triumphant smile.
Determining the terms of the deal in the form of game rules could indeed ensure both parties effectively fulfilled the agreed terms.
However...
"Your thieving heart just won't die, will it, you old lion!"
Sakura raised a finger, forming a gun gesture, and pulled an imaginary trigger.
"Shihahaha!"
Shiki waved a hand. A pistol flew out from the distant palace, quickly slamming into his grasp.
Bang! Bang!
Two overlapping gunshots erupted. Shiki flicked the coin in his hand, sending it flying like a streak of light towards the distant sea.
"Then, the contract is established!"
Shiki lit a new cigar for himself. "First, let me show you my sincerity!"
He opened his palm, turned it over, and pressed down.
On a distant island, a plume of smoke erupted. Under the power of his Awakened Fuwa Fuwa no Mi, Shiki directly transported a research facility from afar, placing it right before Sakura.
"Truly a monster of a guy." Sakura curled her lip slightly.
With this level of Devil Fruit mastery, even without Haki, Shiki could still look down upon the vast majority of the world's strong.
Puff puff puff...
Making strange sounds with his footsteps, the clown in the white lab coat hurriedly ran out from the corridor. He threw himself against the research facility's window, gesturing angrily at Shiki.
"Now is not the time for this, Indigo! Release the Higanbana brat's companions!"
Shiki's sharp gaze swept over him. The previously scattered, dazed expression vanished.
"He actually understood!!!"
Indigo's mouth hung open in a horrified expression before he quickly rushed back inside the facility to release the captives.
Ten minutes later, a hawk and a Night Sparrow carried two people out from inside the research facility.
"Sakura-nee!"
"Sakura~"
Leviathan, carrying Kuina, hid behind Sakura. The two warily stared at Shiki, whose clothes fluttered elegantly.
"It's alright now!"
Sakura patted both their heads, then turned to the princess and her guard. "We made a deal with Cobra to rescue you. You two can make your own way back to the capital. The old lion won't capture you again!"
"Hmph! I'm not so dishonorable as to go back on my word!"
Shiki raised his hand again, also using a water sphere from another sky island to bring Tiger over and hand him to Sakura.
"Leviathan, take them to the palace in Alubarna. I'll follow shortly!"
Seeing everyone assembled, Sakura gave the order to Leviathan.
"No, Sakura-nee! I want to fight with you!"
Feeling guilty, Kuina jumped off Leviathan's back and hugged Sakura's waist.
"Don't cause trouble for Sakura. A battle like this isn't one we can participate in!"
Tiger, having lived through the era when the Golden Lion Pirates ruled the seas, instantly recognized the man before him.
He pulled Kuina back onto Leviathan and turned to look at the girl, gritting his teeth. "Sakura, you must win!"
"Don't worry!"
Sakura grinned, giving them an OK sign.
She then watched as the two giant birds beat their wings and flew away from the sky island, their shadows gradually obscured by the thick cloud layers.
Retracting her gaze, Shiki took a deep drag from his cigar, making the ember glow brightly as he exhaled a large cloud of smoke.
"Hey! Brat, now it's your turn!"