During the Dressrosa incident, the great newsman Morgans was present. He didn't enter the auction arena — he watched from afar in the skies. Almost all the world-spanning reports that followed came from him. From then on Morgans kept a close eye on the Beast Pirates' movements. He believed that since the Beast Pirates had slaughtered Doflamingo and seized Dressrosa with lightning speed, they would continue to make big moves — and he wanted the scoop.
Morgans didn't dare fly into Wano's airspace, but he could station several albatross observers in nearby sea lanes. So when Shiki's flying pirate fleet descended on Wano, the rest of the world didn't know — only Morgans did. He was overjoyed: a clash between a legendary pirate on the level of Roger/Whitebeard and the rapidly rising, invention-driven Beast Pirates — that was irresistible news. He could sell tens of billions more papers with that exclusive.
When his report broke, the world once again erupted:
"Flying pirate fleet invades Wano, clashes with the Beast Pirates!"
"Legendary pirate Shiki the Golden Lion killed on the spot!"
"Besides Kaido, another Emperor-level powerhouse suspected in the kill!"
"Entire flying pirate crew — all 490 — wiped out by the Beast Pirates!"
People read the headlines in stunned silence.
At Marineford, Sengoku, Garp and the three Admirals gathered in the office. Sengoku pounded the newspaper and frowned. "I never expected Shiki to reappear and attack Kaido." After Shiki's prison break years earlier he'd vanished; neither Navy nor World Government had tracked him.
"To think Shiki actually died…" Sengoku was incredulous. Garp, who'd once fought Shiki, shared the shock — Shiki's strength was tremendous; if Garp hadn't teamed up with Kaku in the past, who knew if Shiki could have been beaten.
Kizaru, idly trimming his nails, raised a lazy eyebrow: "The report says another Emperor-level fighter helped Kaido. That explains Shiki's death." Sakazuki snorted that the news was sensationalized, but Kuzan admitted there was substance — otherwise Shiki couldn't have been slain. He even suggested Big Mom as a possibility (she was formerly on the Rocks crew and had grudges).
Sengoku sighed: Wano is so isolated the Navy's spies can't get in. They couldn't verify details. But one thing was clear — the Beast Pirates were growing more dangerous. Sengoku resolved to act: he spoke to Sakazuki.
"A few days from now, take five warships to Dressrosa. Try to retake the island — teach the Beast Pirates a lesson." He picked the most aggressive Admiral, Sakazuki, who rose with murderous intent: "I will burn them out."
Big Mom read the paper, rubbed her eyes, and swore: "Kaido actually killed Shiki? That old bastard has grown stronger."
On the Moby Dick, Whitebeard heard of Shiki's death and felt a pang of sorrow — another of his era's legends was gone. He sensed his own time drawing near; even an Senzu couldn't change fate.
At Revolutionary HQ, Dragon asked Sabo: "Who do you think the other Emperor-level killer was?" Without hesitation Sabo answered, "It can only be Beast Pirates' son-in-law, Luo Xing — I saw him in Dressrosa. He's unfathomable." Dragon took note: if Sabo believed that, Luo Xing indeed posed a serious threat. Besides the World Government, the Revolutionaries might soon face another great enemy.
Luo Xing didn't know — and wouldn't care — about the rumors swelling outside. After Shiki's demise he had a clear sense of his own strength. He could wound Emperor-level commanders but not fully defeat them. When he fused with Yamato he reached genuine Emperor-commander levels, able to stand up to any foe — albeit with a limited fusion time.
While training in the Time-Gravity Room, refining Haki and swordplay, Luo Xing opened his system panel:
Host: Luo Xing
Points: 1,050,000
System Level: Lv4 (1/5000)
Unlocked items: Demon-grade Monster Cell, Senzu Beans, Fusion Earrings…
To unlock: Dragon-grade Monster Cell…
System Shop: Anywhere Door, Time Machine, Flowing-Blade Ember…
A pair of Fusion Earrings had granted him 10,000 points but had cost fifty million Beli apiece. The hundred pairs he'd made previously had eaten five billion Beli — a painful expense. Still, with his points now in the millions, he could level the system.
Dragon-grade Monster Cell — he'd been eager for it. Luo Xing immediately spent 500,000 points to buy 5,000 experience points and reopened the panel:
Host: Luo Xing
Points: 550,000
System Level: Lv5 (1/10000)
Unlocked items: Demon-grade Monster Cell, Senzu Beans, Fusion Earrings, Dragon-grade Monster Cell, 5× Gravity Room, Intermediate Time Room…
To unlock: Cybertronian…
System Shop: Anywhere Door, Time Machine, Flowing-Blade Ember…
Dragon-grade Monster Cells, a 5× Gravity Room, and the Intermediate Time Room were expected. The unlocked item "Cybertronian" gave him pause — soon he realized the reference: a shape-shifting mechanical lifeform, basically mecha. His eyes lit up; what man doesn't love mechs? Flesh is fragile — machines give ascension.
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