Shiki's laughter echoed across the sky.
This was the arrogance of an undefeated legend.
The embodiment of absolute strength.
Sakazuki answered with action.
A torrent of magma surged skyward.
Gern slashed simultaneously, vibration waves ripping across the ground.
"Oh?" Shiki scoffed.
"So you've chosen death."
With a snap of his fingers, the terrain tilted violently.
Both attacks veered away harmlessly.
"Too slow."
Shiki's voice appeared behind Gern.
"…And too weak."
Pain exploded across Gern's spine as Shiki's geta slammed into him.
BOOM!
Gern was sent flying, smashing through three walls.
"GERN!" Sakazuki roared, magma fist crashing down.
Shiki casually parried with Oto, splitting the magma cleanly.
"Lava brat," Shiki sneered.
"You're no Sengoku."
Kogarashi flashed.
A sudden Skyquake forced Shiki to retreat.
"Tch—so you really can do it!"
Gern staggered upright, blood at his lips.
"So… even you fear vibrations."
"Fear?" Shiki laughed.
"Your power is a crude imitation!"
Gern's palm glowed white.
"Try it and see."
Shiki vanished.
Twin blades descended.
CLANG!
Haki and vibration collided violently.
The ground collapsed.
"Great Eruption!" Sakazuki roared.
Shiki raised walls of earth to block it.
"You're in the way!"
Gern surged forward again.
"Skyquake · Void Rend!"
Space shattered like glass.
Shiki blocked—surprised.
"If that's all, you still lose."
Gern grinned.
His left fist drew back—dark red Ryuo coiling tightly.
Shiki's eyes widened.
"…That stance."
"Black Quake · God-Nail!"
The punch pierced through Shiki—
Exploding behind him.
The sky ripped open.
Shiki stood unmoved—
But blood trickled from his mouth.
"…You little bastard."
He leapt skyward.
"Lion's Chasm!"
Sword rain flooded the sky.
Sakazuki countered with Meteor Volcano.
Gern became pure vibration, surging upward—
Palm strike descending.
"Now it's Sengoku's move?!"
Shiki was blasted backward.
"You've learned too many people's techniques!"
The battle escalated.
Sky torn.
Air screaming.
Earth breaking.
Then—
"Enough."
Shiki retreated.
The world twisted.
"Lion's Might · Earth Volume!"
Dozens of colossal stone lions rose roaring—
Charging toward them.
And Gern knew—
This was a battle they could not win.