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Although Ian had claimed this Issho possessed extraordinary strength, they wouldn't know for sure until they witnessed it firsthand.
"That's true…" Akainu conceded, pondering Sengoku's words. Ian's power was undeniable, but he was still a newcomer, albeit one who had risen through the ranks at an alarming rate. This Issho, however, had appeared out of nowhere, raising suspicions.
His unassuming appearance was deceptive. Ian glanced at Akainu, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"Admiral Sakazuki, if you have reservations about the man I've brought before you, feel free to test him yourself. As a Warlord of the Sea nominee, he should be worthy of your attention."
"You're Issho, I presume?" Akainu stepped towards Fujitora, ignoring Ian's provocative remark. He addressed the blind man directly, his voice stern. "I don't know what devil fruit you have, but can you truly uphold the Balance? The Warlords are meant to maintain balance between the Marines and the Yonko."
"I am. Though blind and shrouded in darkness, my heart yearns for the light." Fujitora, though aware of Akainu's identity from the reactions of those around him, remained composed, resting his cane before him.
His response was measured and calm. He was intelligent, perceptive, and had gleaned much from Akainu's demeanor alone.
He didn't resist the scrutiny. He understood that his sudden nomination to the prestigious position of Warlord, without any prior renown, would inevitably draw skepticism and resentment. Despite his outward calm, Fujitora possessed a quiet pride.
He would not be underestimated.
In the original story, when Fujitora attempted to apprehend Trafalgar Law, he had deliberately included Doflamingo within his attack's range, a subtle display of power meant to remind the Warlord of his own superior rank as a Marine Admiral.
"..." Akainu narrowed his eyes, listening to Fujitora's words. His initial impression was favorable, but the position of Warlord wasn't for just anyone. This was a world where strength reigned supreme. The man before him was unassuming, and Akainu had never heard of him before. He doubted Fujitora possessed true power.
If every random individual possessed Warlord-level strength, Akainu would start questioning his own existence. "A yearning for justice is not enough. One must also possess the strength and resolve to enforce it."
"I see." Fujitora drew his cane-sword a fraction of an inch, nodding towards Akainu with a polite smile. "I would be honored, if.. the Admiral would indulge me."
Akainu grunted, nodding indifferently. Several Marine officers, including Rear Admirals and Commodores, watched the exchange.
They exchanged uneasy glances, unsure whether to intervene. But seeing Akainu's nonchalant demeanor, they hesitated, then retreated to a safe distance.
Garp and Sengoku exchanged curious looks. Ian glanced at the scene and thought, "I suppose I'll have some repair work to do later."
He wasn't worried about Fujitora's strength. In the original story, Fujitora had risen through the ranks to become an Admiral through the World Military Draft, proving his strength in countless battles. He was practically an Admiral by combat promotion, his power exceeding that of many Warlords.
The thought of Akainu's "Meigo" and "Inugami Guren" clashing against Fujitora's "Meteor Volcano" and "Black Hole" was exhilarating.
Witnessing a duel between Fujitora and Akainu was a rare opportunity. Akainu furrowed his brow, grunted, and turned to leave the Fleet Admiral's office, Fujitora following close behind.
...
However, just as they reached the exit, a deafening roar echoed through Marine Headquarters, silencing the bustling activity.
In an instant, Sengoku, Akainu, and the others rushed outside, wondering who would dare cause such a commotion at Marine Headquarters. Was it a large Sea King attack?
Such incidents were common, easily handled by any Vice Admiral, unless it was a colossal Sea King capable of swallowing Marine Headquarters whole. Only then would their intervention be necessary.
Or perhaps it was Kaido, that lunatic, seeking another suicidal confrontation. But the sea and the surrounding area were calm. There was only one place left to look. They instinctively raised their heads towards the sky.
The sky was clear, not a single cloud in sight, revealing a lone figure hovering above Marine Headquarters, his golden hair flowing behind him, a strange rudder impaled in his skull.
He had no legs. In their place were two sharp swords. Who was he? Many of the younger Marines wondered.
But veterans like Sengoku, Garp, and Akainu instantly recognized the figure. "Shiki… the Golden Lion!"
"A legendary pirate… here?"
Those who knew of Shiki's identity gasped, their faces etched with shock and disbelief.
It was him. Before the Great Pirate Era, three figures had stood at the pinnacle of piracy: Golden Lion Shiki, Whitebeard, and Gol D. Roger.
Whitebeard possessed the greatest individual strength, while Shiki commanded the largest fleet. But both had been defeated by Roger, who ultimately claimed the title of Pirate King.
Yet, their power remained a significant threat, demanding the utmost respect from the Marines and the World Government.
"Golden Lion Shiki… Only he could pull off something like this." Garp, who had remained silent until now, clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on the figure in the sky. "So he's still alive. It would have been better for everyone if he had remained a legend."
Sengoku's expression hardened. "He's been silent for nearly twenty years. He must be planning something."
"And that bastard…"
His voice was laced with anger. Behind Shiki, a dozen massive ships floated in the air, alongside several islands that he had seemingly plucked from the sea, resembling dark specks against the blue sky.
Shiki, the wielder of the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi, a Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that granted him the power to levitate anything he touched, even entire islands, hovered in the sky, his gaze fixed on Marine Headquarters.
There were still Marines struggling on the levitating ships and islands, their faces contorted in terror. These airborne vessels served as a chilling backdrop for Shiki's grand entrance.
"You dare attack Marine Headquarters, Shiki? Do you wish to sleep with the fishes?" Sengoku glared at Shiki, his voice cold and menacing.
Shiki chuckled. "My plans are nearly complete. It's time the world learned what true piracy is. Consider this my grand re-entrance. Feel my wrath, Marines!"
With a flick of his wrist, the levitating ships and islands plummeted towards Marine Headquarters.
The Marines below watched in horror, the falling debris resembling Akainu's devastating "Meteor Volcano," but they were powerless to stop it.
"Golden Lion Shiki… both the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi and the Zushi Zushi no Mi are related to gravity manipulation. I can't touch Fujitora, but you've practically delivered yourself to me."
The life of Shiki, the Golden Lion, was a tale of tragedy and misfortune. Even Ian couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the fallen pirate. Forty to fifty years ago,
Shiki had been invited to join the Rocks Pirates, led by the infamous Rocks D. Xebec. However, Shiki, confident in the invincibility of his Fuwa Fuwa no Mi, had refused, earning him his first brutal lesson in humility.
He was forced to submit to Rocks' overwhelming power. Then, thirty years ago, the God Valley Incident changed everything.
Rocks D. Xebec was killed, and the Rocks Pirates disbanded. The crew's commanders scattered, some captured, others killed. Whitebeard, the strongest among them, left alone. John, Rocks' most trusted commander, absconded with the crew's treasure. Big Mom and Kaido were still rising powers.
Shiki emerged as the biggest beneficiary of the incident. With his cunning and charisma, he rallied the remnants of the Rocks Pirates.
He inherited a large portion of Rocks' legacy, transforming his Flying Pirates into a formidable fleet.
Shiki's second rise to prominence began, even surpassing the Roger Pirates for a time.
This dominance continued until twenty years ago, when the Battle of Edd War changed everything. Despite possessing superior numbers and surrounding the Roger Pirates, Shiki's fleet was decimated by a sudden storm. He himself was impaled by a flying rudder, lodged in his skull.
He survived, albeit with a comical rooster-like appearance. Upon learning of Roger's capture, Shiki, in a fit of madness, launched a solo attack on Marine Headquarters. He was defeated by Garp and Sengoku, two of the Marines' strongest figures, and imprisoned in Impel Down.
Two years later, Shiki became the first prisoner to escape Impel Down, sacrificing his legs in the process. He vanished, becoming a legend. During this time, Roger achieved the title of Pirate King, and Whitebeard became one of the Four Emperors, shaping the era following Roger's death. However, twenty years later, the name of Golden Lion Shiki had faded from memory.
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Clang! Weapons clattered to the ground as Marines stumbled and fell, their faces pale with terror, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"Is this… the power of a legendary pirate?" Young Marines stared at the falling ships and islands, their bodies trembling, their minds struggling to comprehend the sheer scale of destruction.
After a few moments of stunned silence, Sengoku and the others regained their composure, bellowing orders. "All personnel below the rank of Commodore, evacuate! Now! The rest of you, with me!"
The Marines, jolted back to reality, scrambled towards the underground shelters.
Beneath Marine Headquarters lay a reinforced shelter constructed from Seastone, a last resort in times of crisis when full evacuation wasn't possible. It hadn't always been there.
It was built after Shiki's solo assault on Marine Headquarters years ago, which had resulted in significant casualties among the Marines who hadn't been able to evacuate in time. The shelter was constructed from Seastone, the world's strongest material, capable of neutralizing Devil Fruit powers.
Now, with Shiki's return, it served its purpose once more, a strange twist of fate.
"Go! Go! Get underground!"
Marines poured into the shelters, their faces pale with fear. Even some of the higher-ranking officers were visibly shaken. And then,
Sengoku, the Fleet Admiral, who had remained motionless at the forefront, finally made his move. He ripped off his shirt, revealing his toned physique. A golden aura enveloped him, his body expanding rapidly.
In an instant, he transformed into a giant golden Buddha, a testament to his epithet and his Devil Fruit power: the Hito Hito no Mi, Model: Daibutsu, a Mythical Zoan-type.
Garp's eyes narrowed, his gaze sharp and focused. Akainu's right hand transformed into molten rock, radiating intense heat. All eyes were on Shiki, the Golden Lion, hovering menacingly in the sky.
"So, Sengoku-san, how did you deal with Golden Lion before?" Ian inquired casually, sensing the oppressive aura emanating from the falling debris.
Sengoku and Garp exchanged glances, shrugging. "Usually, we just punch the falling objects and destroy them. though it might not be a complete annihilation."
"But this is Marine Headquarters. We can't risk harming our own people. Unless we can destroy everything before it reaches the ground, we'll have to do our best."
"Issho-san, your Zushi Zushi no Mi is a natural counter to Shiki's Fuwa Fuwa no Mi. Can you handle it?" As Garp and Sengoku charged forward,
Akainu glared at Fujitora, who remained unnervingly calm amidst the chaos. But that demonic mask made it difficult to discern his true emotions. Was he joking?
"I can try…"
Fujitora nodded solemnly.
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