Urgent Mission! All Hands, Follow the Flagship to Kara Island!
The sharp command echoed across the decks.
Sailors scrambled into action, rushing to their posts. Among them, Kyle's heart thumped with surprise and a pinch of anxiety. He hadn't expected to face the Golden Lion Shiki so soon. He hadn't even secured his footing as a Marine yet.
Kyle's mind raced back to what he knew — or rather, what he knew as a traveler in this world. The era of the pirate Rocks hadn't completely ended. The main story was still unfolding.
Two years ago, the infamous pirate Rocks had fallen in the Valley of the Gods. Attacked by the Marines and Roger's crew, his alliance had fractured as many of his subordinates fled. Rocks himself was killed in the chaos.
Since then, his former crew scattered, each hoping to rise again by forming new pirate crews to rule the Grand Line.
It was a carefully woven downfall — multiple forces working in cunning concert.
Now, the Marines were facing one of the strongest pirates to emerge after Rocks' fall: the legendary Golden Lion Shiki.
This... this is my chance, Kyle thought, tightening his grip on his swords. A grand event like this is the perfect opportunity to catch the attention of the higher-ups. If I play this right, the system rewards could give me the strength I need.
"My power's still weak... I have to earn those system rewards," Kyle mused silently. "No matter the risk, I can't let this chance slip."
---
Meanwhile, all Marine divisions gathered aboard the flagship. Vice Admirals and squad captains wore serious expressions — some even looked worried or uncertain.
They all knew what kind of threat awaited them.
The Golden Lion Shiki — legendary pirate and former right hand of Rocks.
"He's as fearsome as Whitebeard," some whispered nervously. "They say he's one of the true rulers of the New World."
Shiki wielded two mighty swords, rumored to be able to cleave a massive ship in half with a single strike. On top of that, he possessed a powerful Devil Fruit that let him manipulate water itself — capable of laying waste to anything nearby.
With a force like that, what hope do we have? murmured many Marines in hushed tones.
But orders were orders. As Marines, they had no choice but to advance.
"I just hope I don't get myself killed... but maybe I can at least make a name for myself," whispered one captain, gripping his weapon tightly.
---
Half a day passed. The fleet cut through the Northern Blue's restless waves, heading toward Kara Island.
A tiny black speck appeared on the horizon.
Kara Island.
A massive pirate ship loomed at the island's pier, its presence alone sending chills through the locals.
It was the Sky Pirates' ship — the flag of Golden Lion Shiki.
Kara was a grim place, a lawless zone the Marines and World Government had long abandoned.
"In a chaotic world, there's always a place like this," people said. "Where madmen roam free."
It was the Northern Blue's largest black market hub — everything from weapons to Devil Fruits could be bought here... if you had the coin.
Good people? Almost none. The island was ruled by the strong, where the weak quickly met death.
Because of its dark reputation, Kara was mostly left alone — even by pirates. After all, here you could stumble upon someone even deadlier.
But now, something even darker had arrived.
Golden Lion Shiki.
Compared to Shiki, Kara's residents were mere small fry — powerless to resist.
His strength ranked him among the world's strongest. Many whispered that Shiki was the true successor to Rocks, poised to become the next king of the seas.
"Only Whitebeard and Gol D. Roger compare to him," they said in awe.
Other pirates hid in the shadows, scattered across the oceans.
But the moment Shiki set foot on Kara Island, the balance shifted.
The island bowed to His Lion Majesty.
---
At the port, the Golden Lion strode confidently from the small town, his steps heavy with purpose. Four famous swords hung at his belt.
Anyone who knew Shiki probably wondered:
"Doesn't he use the dual-sword style? Why four swords now?"
The answer was simple.
This trip to Kara Island had a purpose.
Kara's black market was legendary — among the countless goods were two famed swords that had appeared on the market: Sakura Ju and Koku, two of the twenty-one great swords.
Shiki was a master of the dual-sword style, originally wielding one of the twenty-one great swords and the lightning-fast Kuanshi Zhengzong.
But Sakura and Koku were different.
Forged together by a master daimyo's smith, they were twin swords — identical in shape and blade, deadly in skilled hands.
Separately, neither was world-renowned.
But wielded together by a great dual-sword master like Shiki, their combined power could rule the seas.
If Shiki mastered them, his strength could surpass even the famed twelve great swords of the "Super Fast Style."
That was why great masters like Shiki relentlessly searched for Sakura and Koku.
Now that they were in his grasp, the Golden Lion was ready to depart.
There was nothing left for him in the Northern Blue.
To Shiki, his power stretched across all seas. With these swords, he aimed to realize his ambitions — to conquer the entire world!
---
Just as Shiki moved to board his ship, he stopped.
He walked to the pier's edge, his sharp gaze narrowing.
On the horizon — a Marine warship.