The sea was frozen solid. The Golden Lion, Shiki, was currently trapped in the frigid water. Despite his formidable strength as a Devil Fruit user, the sea remained a natural nemesis, gradually draining his power and leaving him increasingly helpless. Though it wouldn't kill him immediately, the longer he remained submerged, the weaker he became.
Rhett Vane had frozen the sea entirely. What Shiki didn't realize was that the ice sheet was six meters thick. Vane had deliberately reinforced the ice beneath his own feet, making it harder and denser than ordinary ice — tough enough to withstand slashes and other attacks.
The ice stretched two stories deep, and Shiki, caught beneath it in the seawater, found his abilities suppressed. His strength ebbed with every passing second. It wasn't just the water sapping his power — it was time itself wearing him down.
"Damn brat!"
Shiki raged, but it was futile. In the seawater, his Float-Float Fruit powers were useless. He could only resort to his sword, but even that felt heavier, sluggish. His strikes lacked their usual ferocity. Each time his blade carved into the ice, the wound closed almost instantly, Vane's freezing power constantly regenerating the barrier.
"Damn it all…"
Frustration twisted the old pirate's face. He'd misjudged his position, trying to escape to the edge of the ice, but he was far closer to the center than he realized. Even if he tried to swim five hundred meters to reach open water, it wouldn't matter. Devil Fruit users were cursed by the sea. His strength would give out long before he made it halfway.
Shiki's body grew weaker, his movements sluggish. Two decades of seclusion had dulled him. Unlike Whitebeard, who still commanded his crew and fought when necessary, Shiki had effectively retired. A saying went that a skinny camel was still bigger than a horse, but against Vane, even that didn't hold true.
For Vane, defeating Big Mom was something he already did — overcoming a faded legend like the Golden Lion was hardly a challenge.
Fifteen minutes passed, and Shiki was nearing his limit. His limbs went numb, his vision blurred. Above, the floating islands that Shiki had kept aloft with his ability began to tremble, threatening to fall. His subordinates panicked as the islands lost their lift — a clear sign that their legendary captain was done for.
Vane wasn't concerned with them. His interest lay solely with Shiki himself. To him, the countless henchmen were worthless.
The sea pirate of the old era, the infamous Golden Lion.
Underwater, Shiki's eyes rolled back. His sword strikes had become desperate and futile, ice closing around each cut. Ten, twenty minutes submerged — even a monster like him had limits.
He was finished.
Some last flicker of awareness warned him he'd been tricked. Defeated. No one with a Devil Fruit could stay long in the sea.
Except Rhett Vane.
When the Golden Lion finally sank, four chains glowing with golden light burst from the ice, wrapping tightly around his limbs.
Heaven's Lock.
The Lock of Heaven was a powerful sealing technique. Though no gods existed in this world, its strength was undeniable. It could restrain even a monster like Shiki. The chains themselves were forged from extraordinary material.
His body limp, Shiki was dragged from the water. Above the ice, four golden magic circles appeared, suspending him in midair. The chains spread his limbs out like a star.
He was utterly restrained.
Shiki's mind cleared somewhat now that he was out of the water, but his body remained too weak to fight. The golden chains shimmered, suppressing his movement completely. Even his legs — transformed into swords — were chained at the thighs, with another chain securing his waist.
Rhett Vane never underestimated an enemy.
He approached, gaze sharp.
"You… kid. What now? Planning to kill me?"
Shiki glared, voice ragged but defiant. Even on the edge of death, the legendary pirate refused to beg.
"No," Vane said flatly. "I won't kill you."
Shiki scowled. "Then what the hell do you want? I lost, fine. Though I admit, your methods aren't exactly what I'd call honorable, Vane."
"Pirates don't need to be righteous or despicable," Vane replied coolly. "I'm no heroic pirate."
"Heh… fair enough," Shiki chuckled, bitterly amused.
"I'm offering you a deal. Become my subordinate," Vane continued. "Or rather, a cooperative partner. Assist me for three years. After that, you can do as you please. Crawl into a grave if you want. I won't stop you."
Shiki sneered. "You? Invite me? That's funny. I was just about to extend you an offer myself before this turned around."
"That's right," Vane smirked. "But now you've been defeated. If you want to fight again, I can end you right here."
"Become your subordinate, huh?" Shiki scoffed. "Is it because you're aiming to become Pirate King? If that's your ambition, kid, count me out."
"Pirate King?" Vane echoed, his eyes narrowing. "Not interested."
Those words caught Shiki off guard.
"I intend to become king of this world," Vane declared, his tone deadly serious.
For a moment, Shiki was silent. That ambition… those words. Decades ago, when he'd sailed under Rocks D. Xebec, he'd heard them before. Rocks had sought the same thing — to rule the entire world. He, too, had been struck down in the end, despite monsters like Whitebeard, Kaido, and Big Mom at his side.
"To become king of the world…"
Memories flooded Shiki's mind. Back then, it had taken Roger and Garp together to end Rocks. And even then, many of the strongest pirates hadn't even joined that final battle.
"Yeah," Vane said, his voice unwavering. "King of the world."
Vane loosened the Heaven's Lock slightly, giving Shiki room to move. The old pirate made no move to attack.
"You're insane," Shiki muttered. "You do realize what that means, right?"
"And what does it mean?" Vane asked, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"It means," Shiki said darkly, "you'll have every monster in this world trying to rip you apart."
"Then," Vane grinned, "don't die on me yet."
At those words, Shiki barked a rough, humorless laugh.
He might have been defeated, but something in him still resonated with that insane, impossible ambition.
_____
100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
200 Power Stones = 3 Bonus Chapters.