"Intruder alert!"
"The enemy is in Marineford Square!"
"How many are there?"
"Just one... one man."
The entire Marine Headquarters descended into chaos as alarms blared. An unknown intruder had breached the fortress, and every soldier sent to stop him had been cut down before they could even comprehend what was happening.
"Could it really be...?"
"No doubt about it—Golden Lion Shiki!"
Confirmation of the enemy's identity spread quickly, but the knowledge brought no relief. Shiki, standing amid a sea of blood and fallen Marines, had single-handedly plunged the entire base into turmoil.
"Hmph! How could Roger have been caught by weaklings like you?" Shiki scoffed, standing tall amidst the carnage. "He was a man even I acknowledged!"
Smoke curled from the cigarette clenched between his teeth, nearly burned to the filter. The rising wisps of smoke obscured much of his face, but the fiery glow in his piercing red eyes was unmistakable. They burned with a bloodlust that no one dared to meet head-on.
Above, a light drizzle began to fall, as though the heavens wept for the lives lost in the confrontation. The rain mixed with the blood on the ground, painting the scene with a somber hue.
"Roger is dead. He's been executed in the East Blue."
The calm but commanding voice cut through the chaos, drawing all eyes to its source—Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
Dressed in his Marine uniform, one hand in his pocket and the other clenched into a fist, Sengoku exuded the unshakable presence of Marine Headquarters' finest. His gaze was steady, and his stance was one of readiness, prepared to strike at any moment.
"Even you, Shiki, couldn't defeat Roger. His title as Pirate King was earned, and his execution was justice served. The era of Roger has ended!" Sengoku declared.
"One Piece? So what? If Roger had joined forces with me, we'd have conquered the world long ago!" Shiki retorted, his voice dripping with arrogance. His sharp eyes glinted as he continued, speaking with the confidence of a man who feared nothing.
Though his tone was smug, a hint of genuine pain slipped through. "We weren't friends, but we lived through the same era. Now that he's gone, I'll destroy one of your precious Marine bases as a parting gift to him!"
His words sent shivers through the surrounding Marines, who felt as though they were staring down a demon.
Sengoku's calm expression hardened. "Roger's death marks the beginning of the end for pirates. Shiki, this foolish rampage of yours will change nothing."
As Sengoku stepped forward, another imposing figure joined him—Vice Admiral Monkey D. Garp.
"Roger's death will crush the spirits of all pirates!" Garp declared, his voice booming. He strode forward confidently, his black suit and the "Justice" cape billowing behind him. The sight of him alone bolstered the morale of the frightened Marines.
"Vice Admiral Garp!" they murmured in awe.
Shiki sneered at the sight of the legendary Marine. "You think killing Roger in the weakest sea will solidify your so-called justice? What a joke! You'll never succeed!"
"Shiki, enough of your nonsense!" Garp snapped, his tone laced with frustration. He clenched his fists, his legendary strength radiating from his very presence.
Shiki's laughter echoed across the square, sharp and grating. "Justice? You call it justice to execute a man like Roger in a place like the East Blue? That's an insult to his strength! I won't accept it!"
Gritting his teeth, Shiki brandished his twin swords—Oto and Kogarashi—their gleaming edges reflecting the rain-drenched battlefield.
Garp's voice rose in anger. "The East Blue is a symbol of peace! It's not for you to decide!"
"Peace?" Shiki snarled, his eyes flashing with fury. "I'll shatter that so-called peace today!"
With a roar, Shiki lunged at the Marines like a raging beast.
"You won't have your way here!"
Both Sengoku and Garp shrugged off their cloaks, revealing their powerful physiques and unyielding determination.
The three clashed in an explosion of force. Shiki's blades met the combined might of Garp's fists and Sengoku's strikes, shaking the very ground beneath them.
The surrounding Marines wisely stayed back, knowing they were no match for the titans before them. All they could do was watch in awe and pray for the battle to end quickly.
Not far from the heart of the fight, Kaizen stood atop a defensive turret, arms crossed, observing the chaos with an intrigued expression.
"So this is what it looks like when titans collide," Kaizen murmured to himself.
The rain fell harder now, the storm mirroring the ferocity of the battle below. The sky darkened, and the faint light from Marineford's lamps cast long shadows across the courtyard.
Despite the dimness, the sheer power emanating from the three combatants illuminated the battlefield. The clash of weapons and the shockwaves of their attacks created a spectacle unlike anything the Marines had ever witnessed.
Kaizen's eyes narrowed as he watched Shiki wield Oto and Kogarashi with masterful precision. His blades moved like extensions of his body, their arcs deadly and unrelenting. Yet, Garp and Sengoku met each strike with equal ferocity, their fists glowing with Haki, unwavering in their resolve.
The ground shook with every collision, and the air was thick with the oppressive weight of three masters of combat giving their all.
Kaizen smirked faintly. "Strength taken to its peak... there's a certain beauty to it."
Though the battle was brutal, there was an undeniable artistry in the movements of these three warriors, each attack carrying decades of experience and unparalleled skill.
As the fight raged on, Kaizen's focus was interrupted by a voice from behind him.
"So, Kaizen, you've come all this way. Tell me, what's your plan with Golden Lion Shiki?"
Kaizen's eyes shifted slightly, but his body remained still. The voice, sharp and accusing, carried a sense of impending danger.
---
The stage was set. The battle of legends continued in the storm, and the hidden pieces in this deadly game began to move.
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TO BE CONTINUED...