[Ding! Congratulations, Host. You have obtained Golden Lion Shiki's Dual-Sword Style — current stage!]
"Huh?"
Leo's eyes lit up, a sharp grin tugging at his lips. Another direct boost to his strength — just what he liked.
As the mechanical voice faded, a rush of new power and knowledge surged through him. His muscles tensed instinctively, and his hands twitched as if they were already gripping twin blades. His stance felt more grounded, his movement lighter, his breathing syncing with this new rhythm as if it had always been his.
Golden Lion Shiki's dual-sword style.
One of the most infamous pirates in history, Shiki had once stood on equal footing with Whitebeard and Gol D. Roger themselves. His swordsmanship, while perhaps not the very best in the world, was indisputably of Great Sword Master caliber.
Leo's grin faltered slightly.
"Damn. This is just Shiki's current swordsmanship — not the peak version."
The difference wasn't minor.
In his prime, the Golden Lion had been unstoppable. His ambitions had stretched across the Grand Line. When Roger rejected his offer, Shiki hadn't backed down — he declared war. And not against some small fry, either.
Back then, the Roger Pirates had the Pirate King himself, Silvers Rayleigh at his absolute best, the dual-axe fighter Scopper Gaban, and even Douglas Bullet, that demonic monster of a man.
And Shiki had charged in without hesitation.
If not for the storm that struck during the Battle of Edd War, no one could say for sure who would have won.
But fate had been cruel.
That storm had thrown a ship's rudder across the sea with such force that it embedded itself into Shiki's skull. It had nearly killed him — and it permanently weakened him.
Later, Sengoku and Garp had joined forces to bring him down and send him to Impel Down, the most secure prison in the world. Shiki escaped by cutting off his own legs, but the cost was heavy. His strength had plummeted, and his swordsmanship was just a shadow of what it had once been.
Leo rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Wonder where that crippled old lion is hiding these days."
He knew Shiki was still alive somewhere.
"Doesn't matter. First stop's Baratie." Leo's smirk sharpened. "I need someone to test this new sword style on."
He had planned to bypass the floating restaurant and head straight to Loguetown to recruit the bespectacled girl, but now his hands were itching. He needed to fight — and he wanted to know how close he was to standing with the world's strongest.
The next morning, Nami and Nojiko carefully uprooted and replanted a few of the best tangerine trees onto the ship. With that done, there was nothing left to hold them in Cocoyasi Village.
Leo had already left a spatial marker here. He could bring Nami and Nojiko back anytime.
"Nojiko, from today onward, you're the Leo Pirates' cook," Leo said, his tone light but carrying weight. "You'll work with Makino to handle the meals."
He added with a grin, "Last night's dinner was amazing. You're almost on Makino's level."
"Yes, Captain." Nojiko straightened, holding her spatula like a weapon. She knew she wasn't a fighter like Nami, nor did she know medicine like Kaya. But she could still support the crew in her own way — and she would take that role seriously.
Leo nodded, pleased. With more women inevitably joining the crew in the future, having only Makino cook would eventually become a nightmare. Cooking for dozens every day would burn anyone out. Better to prepare now.
Nami sidled up to her sister with a mischievous smirk, nudging her with an elbow.
"So, sis," she teased in a low voice. "How was last night? Get used to seeing afterimages yet?"
Nojiko froze, her face flushing crimson as the memory of last night hit her. "Y-you little brat!" she stammered, swatting Nami's shoulder.
Nami just laughed and darted out of reach, looking smug.
Nojiko's blush deepened. A few days ago she wouldn't have even understood what Nami meant — but now she got it instantly. Fast. Hard. Relentless.
She covered her face with one hand. "Great… he's corrupted me too."
Leo just smirked quietly, enjoying the view of the two sisters bickering.
Meanwhile, at Marine Headquarters, Captain Nezumi's death had sparked an immediate investigation. With dozens of villagers serving as witnesses, it hadn't taken long to confirm Leo as the culprit. The report climbed the chain of command until it landed on Fleet Admiral Sengoku's desk.
Inside Sengoku's office, the Den Den Mushi clicked shut after finishing its report. Sengoku rubbed his temples, irritation written across his face.
"These damned pirates," he muttered. "First they kill a Marine Captain. What's next, storming Marineford?"
Beside him, Garp loudly crunched on rice crackers.
"Garp!" Sengoku barked. "How many times have I told you not to eat in my office?"
"Wahahaha!" Garp laughed without a shred of guilt. "Calm down, Sengoku! You're the one getting angry, not me."
Crumbs fell to the floor as he kept eating.
Sengoku sighed, forcing himself back to business. "Garp, the East Blue has become unstable. Two pirate crews have caused serious trouble one after another."
Garp's grin faded slightly. "Go on."
"The first is the Leo Pirates. Captain: Leo. Suspected Cloud-Cloud Fruit user. Crew is all female. Known member: navigator Nami, suspected Rumble-Rumble Fruit user."
"The rest are unidentified. Their photos should be arriving soon. According to reports, Captain Nezumi was killed personally by Leo — and the method was… brutal."
Garp gave a slow, grim nod.
"The second is the Straw Hat Pirates. Captain: Monkey D. Luffy, suspected Rubber-Rubber Fruit user. Swordsman: Roronoa Zoro. They've already defeated Captain Morgan at Shells Town and Buggy the Clown at Orange Town.
"But witnesses claim they clashed with Leo's crew in Syrup Village — and both Luffy and Zoro were cut down and left critically wounded. Their current whereabouts are unknown."
BOOM!
The office shook as Garp's killing intent exploded outward. Sengoku slammed a hand on his shoulder. "Garp! Get ahold of yourself!"
"I can't!" Garp roared, his face twisted with fury. His grandson — his own flesh and blood — had gone to sea, and the first thing he did was get himself nearly killed?!
Then Garp's rage twisted into a scowl. "And after all that talk about becoming King of the Pirates too. What a disgrace to the Monkey D. name."
Sengoku's sharp eyes narrowed, finally putting the pieces together. "Monkey D. Luffy… Monkey D. Garp… so that's it."
Garp didn't answer, but his grim expression told Sengoku everything he needed to know.
This story is rewritten version of a famous fanfic so if you find any similarities please dont mind . Thank you .
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T/N :
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