"It's... already started?"
Tashigi lifted her eyes to the distant battle between Arton and Shiki Shiki, her attention immediately focused. The thoughts of how to repay Arton were temporarily set aside.
"Let's go, Tashigi."
"We need to get over there first."
"As for how to handle things with Arton afterward, we'll deal with it once this battle is over," Hina said solemnly, her eyes fixed on the battlefield.
"Huh! We... we're going over there?"
"But Captain Hina, that kind of battle, we can't even participate," Tashigi said worriedly.
"At the very least, by getting closer, we can more accurately measure Arton's strength."
"After the battle, we'll have a better chance of leaving with Arton."
"And they might need this," Hina said, pointing to the small hot air balloon they had prepared earlier.
This hot air balloon was enough to carry over ten people. Hina thought that perhaps after Arton and Shiki finished their battle, it might come in handy.
Of course, she didn't expect this hot air balloon alone to repay Arton's kindness. After all, with Arton's ability, he could fly up to ten thousand meters with his companions. Surely, he had already thought of a way to leave the floating island in the sky.
Tashigi, though a bit confused, was ultimately unwilling to leave just like that. Soon, she cooperated with Hina, maneuvering the hot air balloon towards the floating island below the battlefield where Arton and Shiki were fighting.
Meanwhile, Hina and Tashigi also noticed new messages in their Navy squad chat group.
[Ain: Tashigi, Captain Hina, are you really okay? What's the situation there now?]
[Sadi: They couldn't have... really died, could they?]
[Domino: Watch your words, Sadi!]
Earlier, Tashigi and Hina had informed the other Navy members in the chat group about their injuries. Therefore, all the Navy members in the women's chat group were very concerned about Hina and Tashigi's condition.
Occasionally, someone would ask in the group to check on their injuries.
[Hina: Don't worry, everyone. Arton used Tsunade's abilities to heal Hina, and of course, Tashigi was treated by Arton as well.]
[Tashigi: That's right! Captain Hina and I have fully recovered from our injuries.]
[Kujaku: To recover from such injuries so quickly, it truly is the power of Tsunade.]
[Doll: If Arton and his people could become part of the Navy, just with the Tsunade template, they could become very valuable members.]
[Hibari: But, is it really possible? Hina, Tashigi, have you mentioned becoming part of the Navy to Arton?]
[Hina: Unfortunately, that man harbors a deep resentment towards the Navy because of the Tenryubito. He even suggested, under the pretext of saving us, that we leave the Navy and join his pirate crew.]
[Hina: Although he ultimately did not insist, Hina believes this alone indicates the likelihood of him letting go of his hatred and joining the Navy is very low.]
The Navy members saw Hina's message and, though they had anticipated it, still felt considerable regret.
[Gion: No matter what, it's good that you and Tashigi are safe, Hina. For now, focus on regrouping. Don't worry about anything else for now.]
[Hina: Hina wants to try again. Besides, Arton is currently fighting Shiki. Hina wants to observe Arton's battle more closely to understand his strength.]
[Tashigi: Me too!]
At this moment, both Shiki and Arton were demonstrating extremely powerful swordsman skills.
Tashigi, watching from a distance, was determined to stay and observe the battle. She did not want to leave just yet.
[Gion: Arton has already started fighting Shiki? Hina, do you have an image transponder snail? If you do, please use it to record Arton's battle with Shiki.]
[Doll: We don't know if Arton will record his battle with Shiki in his diary, but if we take the initiative to record it, not only can we better understand Arton's power, but we can also show other Navy members who don't have Arton's diary what kind of person Arton is.]
[Hina: Vice Admiral Doll, are you planning to let the higher-ups understand Arton's power so they can assign him an appropriate bounty?]
[Doll: I hope the higher-ups will recognize Arton's power. This way, they might make things easier for him, perhaps even give him a chance to join the Navy. At the very least, they could make him a Shichibukai.]
[Hina: The Shichibukai, huh... Hina understands. Hina will record Arton's battle with Shiki.]
Arton had mentioned that the positions of the Shichibukai would change in the future. Hina thought that if Arton couldn't become part of the Navy, then becoming a Shichibukai would be a good alternative. At least that way, Arton wouldn't be an enemy of the Navy.
If Arton knew what Hina was thinking at that moment, he would probably laugh out loud.
The relationship between the Navy and the Shichibukai was only superficially harmonious, which meant that even if he became a Shichibukai, he wouldn't be an ally of the Navy.
More importantly, Arton knew that in the future, the Shichibukai system would be completely abolished by the World Government and the Navy. This meant that even if he became a Shichibukai, he wouldn't be on good terms with the Navy.
If he were to become a Shichibukai, it would likely be to achieve some ulterior motive, similar to Blackbeard.
For example, he could use his position as a Shichibukai to visit Impel Down and see the female characters from his works, like Sadi and Domino.
Especially Sadi.
Arton was particularly eager to meet this dominatrix.
Among all the female characters in the world of One Piece, the amount of work featuring Sadi was among the top.
After closing the chat group, Hina quickly found an image transponder snail.
She took a deep breath and looked at Tashigi next to her.
"Let's go, Tashigi, to Arton's side."
Hearing this, Tashigi nodded heavily and, along with Hina, continued to steer the hot air balloon straight towards where Arton and Shiki were.
"You, you're actually able to fight me to this extent."
"Tell me your name and the purpose of your visit."
Shiki, seeing his aerial slash once again deflected by Arton, landed on the floating island and looked at Arton with great interest. Occasionally, a look of appreciation flashed in his eyes.
"You can call me Arton."
"As for my purpose, isn't it obvious?"
"Of course, I came here to fight you."
Arton twirled his sword, smiling at Shiki in front of him.
Although he intended to use Shiki to master more of Emiya Shirou's powers in battle, before using the "Emiya Shirou Template Challenge Scroll," Arton wanted to confirm that Shiki indeed had the strength worthy of the scroll.
If Shiki's strength was as weak as depicted in the movie, Arton might as well keep the challenge scroll and use it on someone else.
"Fight me?"
"Kehehehe, after so many years, you're the first man to say that to me."
"How about it, want to join me and become a member of my pirate crew?"
"I admire you. If you're willing to join, I can overlook your disruption here."
Shiki laughed loudly.
"As expected of Shiki, at least you have some nobility."
"Unfortunately, I'm really just here to fight you."
"I have no intention of joining your pirate crew."
Arton rested his sword on his shoulder, shaking his head.
"You, do you know who you're talking to? How dare you refuse the captain's invitation?"
"Do you know what you've done? The captain's invitation is a chance for you, otherwise, you will surely die."
"That's right! You'll become experimental material and die in endless pain."
At this moment, a group of Shiki's pirates rushed over, raising their weapons and shouting at Arton.
"So noisy."
Arton glanced at the pirates surrounding him, a flash of disdain in his eyes.
"Small fry shouldn't get involved in places they don't belong."
Boom!
As soon as he finished speaking, a domineering aura erupted from Arton, spreading in all directions. The pirates caught in Arton's aura instantly fell to the ground, incapacitated.
"Conqueror's Haki!"
Shiki frowned, murmuring to himself.
"I didn't expect to encounter a man who can use Conqueror's Haki in the East Blue."
"Wanting a man like this to join is indeed impossible."
At this moment, Shiki seemed to recall Roger, who also possessed Conqueror's Haki.
"Since you know, don't think about making me join you."
"You should just have a good fight with me."
"Let me see if you're worthy of me using that."
Arton sheathed his long sword, lowered his body slightly, and assumed a stance for a quick-draw slash. Suddenly, a murderous aura surged towards Shiki.
Shiki's frown deepened.
At this moment, Arton's intense aura even surpassed the aura emanated from his earlier use of Conqueror's Haki.
To give a comparison, Arton now was like a razor-sharp sword, a sword ready to draw blood.
"Interesting! I don't know what you mean by 'that,' but I'll make you regret your decision."
Shiki sneered, extending his right hand forward.
The next moment, the ground in front of Arton began to rotate rapidly, forming a giant lion's head over 30 meters tall, lunging towards Arton.
"Lion's Threat: Ground Scroll!"
Seeing the massive stone lion head before him, Arton remained calm, breathing rhythmically.
Suddenly, Arton moved.
Boom!
A thunderous sound accompanied Arton's swift movement. With one slash, his body transformed into a blue lightning bolt enveloped in blazing flames, directly cutting through Shiki's attack.
The seemingly towering and incredibly hard giant stone lion head was effortlessly sliced in half by Arton's strike, as if it were made of paper.
Only then did the words Arton uttered while executing his sword technique reach Shiki's ears.
"Thunderclap and Flash: Godspeed!"
***
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