Chapter 5: Golden Lion's Rage!
New World, somewhere in the Sea Area.
With a loud bang, a Floating Island floating in the high sky shook. Large cracks appeared, and countless stones tumbled down with a crash. They splashed into the sea, creating one huge waterspout after another.
"Impossible!!"
A roar filled with the ultimate rage, like a lion king, accompanied by a dark red airwave swept across the clear sky, and the surrounding white clouds were torn apart and scattered in an instant.
"L-Lord..."
Inside the Banquet Hall on the Floating Island.
Hundreds of pirates who had joined the Flying Sky Pirates for less than three years looked in horror at the bottomless slash mark in the middle of the hall, which almost split the entire hall in two, and scrambled back to both sides in a frenzy.
On the platform, 'Golden Lion' Shiki gripped his Famous Sword 'Sakura Ten' tightly, already consumed by extreme rage. The intensity of his anger made him pant heavily, and his eyes were bloodshot. Especially his head, where the Ship's Wheel was embedded, throbbed faintly. Just now, he had slashed the newspaper on the Coffee Table into powder with a single strike.
"Roger! Roger is a man I acknowledge!"
"How could it be? How could he be captured by those Navy wastes? How could it be—!"
Shiki roared again.
At the same time, overwhelmingly powerful Conqueror's Haki erupted from his body. Instantly, large swathes of people rolled their eyes and fainted to the ground. In the blink of an eye, only a few people remained standing unsteadily.
But the former didn't care about the condition of his subordinates at all, wielding his twin swords and turning into a golden blur as he rushed out of the hall. Even the loud calls from several officers behind him were completely ignored as he flew away from the Floating Island at an extremely fast speed.
About five minutes later, Shiki's figure disappeared without a trace. Just as the officers were at a loss, the ground beneath their feet suddenly began to shake violently. This made their faces turn pale instantly.
Soon, the entire Floating Island fell like a huge meteorite. Finally, with a loud crash, it plunged into the seabed amidst terrifying waves.
From this moment on, the Flying Sky Pirates, who had rampaged across the sea for nearly fifteen years, disappeared!
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
"What? 'Golden Lion' Shiki is going to attack here!"
In the Marshal Office, Admiral Sengoku, who had just sat down, stood up abruptly from the sofa after hearing Fleet Admiral Kong's words. Even Karp, who was sitting opposite him eating Rice Cracker, stopped his movements.
"Yes, this is news just notified by the Five Elders, so we need to prepare as soon as possible!"
Fleet Admiral Kong, with his 'mountain' of white hair, looked extremely serious.
"If that's the case, then Shiki must have read today's Newspaper and rushed here. Calculating the distance and the speed of the Floating Island, he should arrive here around tomorrow morning?"
Sengoku voiced his thoughts.
But Fleet Admiral Kong shook his head: "No, the Five Elders said he would attack alone!"
"Alone?" Karp raised an Eyebrow.
"How dare he?" Sengoku was also full of surprise and incomprehension, and then asked, "How did the Five Elders know this?"
"Not sure, they didn't say, but you can guess if you think about it a little." Fleet Admiral Kong sighed.
"There are CIPHER POL people inside the Flying Sky Pirates!" Sengoku immediately realized, "It must be this spy who personally saw Shiki leave alone and then sent the Intelligence, which is why it's so accurate."
"Yes." Fleet Admiral Kong nodded.
For a moment, the two stopped speaking, and the Atmosphere in the office became silent. The Intelligence capabilities of CIPHER POL were truly terrifying, making them increasingly Dreadful and vigilant.
At this moment, Karp spoke with a serious face.
"Then what are we going to do next?" Even someone as carefree as him knew the seriousness of 'Golden Lion' Shiki's attack.
"If he comes alone, his speed will definitely be faster. Tonight, no, he can arrive before tonight!" Sengoku said in a deep voice.
"Then we'll just wait, and catch him when he comes!" Karp clenched his right fist.
"No."
Sengoku shook his head, his Gaze meeting Fleet Admiral Kong's, and said, "We can't put the battlefield in Marineford, otherwise it will definitely cause huge destruction and casualties, but it can't be too far from here either, after all, Shiki's target is here."
Fleet Admiral Kong pondered for a moment, then nodded in agreement and asked, "Do you have any ideas? Tell me."
Sengoku slowly sat back on the sofa, his Eyebrows furrowed as he began to ponder. Around Marineford, there are only three Islands: Enies Lobby, Impel Down Prison, and Sabaody Archipelago. Obviously, none of these places can be used as battlefields. But if there are no Small Islands, would he and Karp have to fight at sea? That would mean an aerial battle. This would be too advantageous for 'Golden Lion' Shiki, who is a Float-Float Fruit Ability user.
"How about clearing out a few Warships and putting them together in the outer Sea Area of Marineford?" Fleet Admiral Kong came up with an idea.
"That might work, but a few might not be enough. Even if Karp and I go together, taking down Shiki won't be easy. At least ten ships would be needed..."
Time passed little by little, and the golden sun in the blue sky began to slowly descend.
Before long, it had turned into a sunset, illuminating the sea surface with golden light. The sky gradually showed traces of night.
Suddenly, in the direction of the 'New World' Sea Area, five Navy Warships floating in the high sky appeared on the horizon. The Deck of each of them was covered with the corpses of Marines. Among them were also several Officers wearing Justice Coat.
An extremely strong bloody smell filled the area around the five Warships. From time to time, already cooled blood dripped down the hull into the waves. Like demon ships from the abyss, they quickly swept across the sea surface.
'Golden Lion' Shiki was sitting cross-legged on the crow's nest of one of the Warships. He glared angrily at the Island that was already visible as a dark shadow. Marine Headquarters, Marineford, arrived!
He slowly stood up, his palms gripping the twin swords gradually tightening. But as the distance rapidly closed, Shiki's pupils suddenly contracted. Although his naked eyes had not yet seen anything, Observation Haki had already sensed two extremely powerful and very familiar presences. This filled Shiki's heart with doubt and surprise.
About twenty minutes later. The two sides closed to a distance where they could see each other. Shiki finally clearly saw two burly men wearing white Justice Coats and black Suits underneath. They seemed to be standing on the calm sea surface?
"Sengoku! Karp!"
The five Floating Warships slowly decelerated. 'Golden Lion' Shiki gritted his Teeth and spoke the names of the two men, the malice and killing intent in his eyes undisguised.
At the same time, he had already seen what was beneath their feet, it was ice. A vast Ice Field that had frozen the entire sea surface near Marineford! Obviously, the Navy was prepared.
"You've finally come, old man! I've been waiting here for two hours, and I'm going to beat you up later!" Karp stretched his thick neck and strong arms, grinning, baring his Teeth, and looking up at Shiki with a face full of vicious smiles.
"Shiki, have you thought it through? Once you make a move today, don't even think about leaving today." Sengoku said with a calm face, standing on the cold ice surface.
Shiki was furious after hearing this. Since he dared to attack, he had already prepared himself. He needed an explanation!
"Tell me!"
"How did you Navy wastes capture Roger?!"
"Bring him here to me! Even if he is to be killed, only I can kill him with my own hands! He is a man I acknowledge!"
Sengoku and Karp did not respond after hearing this. How was that possible? They only felt that Shiki was completely living in a dream. The two exchanged a glance, tacitly took off their Justice Coats and threw them aside, and strode slowly towards Shiki.
On the other side. The five huge bloody Warships, under 'Golden Lion's roar, crashed down overwhelmingly.
"Give Roger back to me!"
Behind them, at the edge of the plaza of Marineford. Kuzan, dressed in black and purple, slumped on the ground, panting, and wearily watched the great battle unfolding in the distance.
(End of Chapter)