On the massive Island Ship soaring through the sky, a group of crew members stood tensely in front of monitoring equipment, closely observing the skies through surveillance Den Den Mushi placed around the ship.
"What is that?"
Suddenly, one of the crew members leaned closer to the monitor, eyes widening at the enormous shadow filling the screen.
The shadow was none other than Zunesha, with Zou perched on its back.
"Dammit, it's Zunesha!"
As Shiki's subordinates, they were all too familiar with this colossal figure.
Realizing the Island Ship was on a collision course, the crew member spun around and yelled.
"Quick, notify the Admiral! Zunesha is directly ahead! We need to change course or gain altitude!"
....
At the bow of the Island Ship.
Floating in the air as if reliving his rivalry with Roger, Shiki stared triumphantly at the massive figure ahead and let out a sinister laugh.
"Jihahaha! Long time no see, Zunesha."
Despite the towering presence ahead, Shiki showed no intention of slowing down.
His target was Zou, the island on Zunesha's back.
Over the years, he hadn't merely hidden away on the floating island researching on his beast.
During his spare time, he would quietly return to the Grand Line to gather all available intelligence.
Through this collected information, he had long since discovered that Zou wasn't just home to two former retainers of the Kozuki family—one of the Road Poneglyphs was likely hidden there as well.
"Shiki!"
Suddenly, a voice brimming with terrifying energy rang out unexpectedly from afar, causing Shiki—who had been preparing to return to the Island ship's control center to ascend towards Zou—to grimace.
Before he could react, overwhelming Conqueror's Haki surged forth from at least several kilometers away at astonishing speed, enveloping both him and the Island ship beneath him.
The next moment, everyone in the Island ship's control center collapsed en masse under the crushing weight of the Haki.
"This is…"
Feeling the intangible pressure bearing down, Shiki's pupils contracted sharply before he whirled toward the sea, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Conqueror's Haki!"
Thanks to the Island ship's altitude advantage, the moment he turned, Shiki spotted a dark silhouette abruptly appearing on the ocean several kilometers away—the Red Force, flagship of the Red Hair Pirates.
The ship moved swiftly, transforming from a blurry shadow into a clearly visible vessel at breakneck speed.
Within moments, the Red Force appeared within a kilometer, rapidly closing the distance with the massive fleet below.
"What a surprise!"
"That cabin boy from Roger's crew has grown this strong!"
"To think you'd make me see Roger's shadow again!"
As the Red Force drew nearer, Shiki's initial shock faded, replaced by fervent desire for such talent.
Hovering midair, his gaze burned with ambition.
Then, in a flash, he descended onto one of the densely packed pirate ships in the fleet below.
Before the crew could react, their ship—along with seven surrounding vessels—levitated eerily, hovering dozens of meters above the sea.
.....
Meanwhile, on the Red Force's deck—
Due to Shanks' sudden burst of Conqueror's Haki, several crew members collapsed unconscious.
"Boss!" Lucky Roux shouted urgently. "Warn us before unleashing your Haki! You knocked out more of the crew!"
Ignoring him, Shanks took a decisive step forward as he spotted the ascending pirate ships. Even more violent Conqueror's Haki erupted from him.
Instantly, visible black-and-red energy surged skyward like an inverted galaxy before arcing overhead at terrifying speed.
It spread like a colossal net, ensnaring hundreds of pirate ships below—and the massive Island ship above.
"Jihahaha! Shanks!"
"Show some respect to your elders!"
Shiki, controlling the levitated ships amidst the renewed Haki onslaught, laughed malevolently.
"Rein in your Conqueror's Haki—unless you want to watch all your loyal subbordinates to drown!"
Before the words could fade, the seven pirate ships lifted into the air by the Float-Float Fruit's power immediately began to tilt.
The pirates aboard lost their balance instantly, their panicked shouts echoing as they slid uncontrollably toward the leaning sides of the vessels.
Witnessing this, Shanks did something unprecedented—he refused to back down.
His pupils dilated abruptly.
In the next moment, his figure vanished.
When he reappeared, Shanks was high in the sky, his gaze radiating a bone-chilling killing intent.
Without hesitation, Shanks drew his sword with a resonant ring, unleashing a cataclysmic force that instantly locked onto Shiki.
"This is—"
Never expecting Shanks to defy his threats, Shiki's eyes widened in shock as he recognized the technique.
"Divine Departure?!"
His vast experience allowed him to react instantly.
Divine Departure—unavoidable, lethal and crippling!
As a legendary pirate who had witnessed the terror of this technique firsthand, Shiki abandoned all thoughts of using the pirate ships as leverage.
Harnessing his Float-Float Fruit's power, he vanished into thin air.
He reappeared moments later aboard his massive Island Ship.
"Damn it!"
Even having dodged the attack, Shiki remained shaken, watching the devastating sword wave tear through the space he'd occupied moments earlier.
Stuttering, he exclaimed, "You... you've mastered Roger's Divine Departure?!"
"Release those ships!"
Shanks' voice carried across the distance, brooking no refusal.
"Or your legend ends today."
"Jihahaha! You've truly inherited everything from Roger!"
Regaining his composure, Shiki floated back out from his Island Ship, hovering opposite the Red Force.
Watching Shanks who had returned to his deck, he extended an offer with the same madness he'd once shown Roger.
"Join me as my right hand, Shanks!"
"We can't keep fighting like this. If we remain divided, the new Marine Fleet Admiral will pick us off one by one!"
As he spoke, Shiki demonstrated his goodwill by gently lowering the captured pirate ships back to sea.
Shanks glanced at the vessels now peacefully approaching the Red Force before sheathing his sword.
His gaze lifted to meet Shiki's hovering form.
At that precise moment, a vision of the future flashed before his eyes.
"!!!!!"
The unexpected glimpse left Shanks wide-eyed.
Without wasting another moment on Shiki, he bellowed urgently.
"All hands, retreat!"
Simultaneously—
The massive eyes of Zunesha snapped open.
"Pirate ships?"
Its deep, resonant voice boomed across the seas the moment its eyelids lifted.
In the next second, its colossal trunk rose with terrifying speed before swinging down with apocalyptic force—directly towards the floating island adorned with pirate flags hovering mid-air.