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CLANG!
The blades collided, unleashing a terrifying aura between the two men. Their spiritual pressures clashed, so dense they were nearly tangible.
The stormy sky split apart, clouds and rain dividing in two. A vacuum formed around them, the drizzle held back ten meters away, unable to advance an inch.
Conqueror's Haki Coating!
That's right—what the Golden Lion was using was Conqueror's Haki Coating!
As a legendary pirate who once rivalled Roger and Whitebeard, it was impossible for him not to possess the qualities of a Conqueror.
In fact, Shiki was even more ambitious than the other two. His dream was to become king of the world! How could such a man not wield Conqueror's Haki?
"A fine blade!" Shiki grinned, eyeing the Futsunomitama crackling with purple lightning. "But this is not enough!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Atlas's body was sent flying back!
Although the unique properties of the Futsunomitama allowed him to resist a Conqueror's Coating for a time, it was not a true Conqueror's Coating.
But Atlas didn't care. The real question was—how many more times could Shiki even use his Conqueror's Haki?
"Explosion!" Flames burst from his back, and with the recoil, Atlas halted his retreat in midair.
An opening! Shiki's eyes narrowed. As an old pirate who had fought countless battles, his sense of timing was ruthless.
The moment Atlas was blown away, he used his ability to close the distance!
CLANG!
Meanwhile, on the warship anchored quietly below—
"I wonder how Brother Atlas is doing..." Smoker muttered, staring at the empty sky, worry etched in his eyes.
For the fight to drag on this long, even with Atlas's strength, proved the terrifying legend of the Golden Lion.
"Mr. Atlas should be fine. Since he took the initiative to challenge, he must be confident," Sabo reassured.
He knew Atlas wasn't reckless; a man who understood the world so thoroughly wouldn't throw himself into danger without reason.
"Yeah, yeah, Uncle is super strong!" Luffy nodded innocently.
He didn't know how powerful the Golden Lion was—only that Atlas was the strongest Marine he'd ever seen.
As for his grandpa? Well, he had never seen him dash across the sea like that. A child's definition of strength was just that simple.
"Let's hope so..."
"Are you unwilling to use your Armament Haki?" Atlas taunted, glaring at 'Oto' and 'Kogarashi,' which had only managed to scratch his skin.
"Your Armament Haki... interesting, very interesting! Jihahahaha!" Shiki burst backwards, wary of the Futsunomitama already swinging toward him.
Has this guy's Armament Haki reached such a level? Is he trying to turn his whole body into a black blade? Shiki thought in disbelief.
Though he hadn't used advanced "internal destruction" just now, his Haki was in no way inferior—perhaps even stronger!
Yet even with his Great Grade swords, 'Oto' and 'Kogarashi,' he had barely scratched the surface of Atlas's defence.
This man's Haki didn't just coat his skin; even his muscles beneath were infused with it!
"My turn!" Atlas growled, feeling the wound on his chest seal shut almost instantly.
He bared a savage grin, then kicked off with a Moonwalk, chasing after the retreating Shiki.
"One Sword Style: Ascending the Tower!"
"Slashing Wave!"
SCHLICK!
The slashes collided, sword auras raging wildly. Their duel resumed with even greater ferocity!
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The blades clashed again. Shiki, positioned above, pressed down with both swords against Atlas's rising Futsunomitama.
This brat! How is he this strong? Shiki thought, secretly shaken.
Even with his advantage, using both blades, he was only evenly matched—and perhaps even losing ground.
"You look pathetic without your legs, Golden Lion!" Atlas mocked coldly. Once, Shiki had been a glorious pirate of the old era, his pride rivalling Whitebeard's.
But now? He was a shadow of himself—the helm lodged in his skull, his legs gone. Even his cunning couldn't erase the bitter truth: he was a fallen lion.
Deep down, Shiki knew he might never avenge himself against the Marines, let alone the World Government. His power was fading!
That was why, over a decade later, he would try to use IQ to wipe out the East Blue—nothing more than an act of resentment.
The moment he disappeared after breaking out of Impel Down, he had already become a failure.
"Bastard... Marine!" The insult struck Shiki's pride like a blade.
His eyes burned with hatred, his pupils dilating as a crushing aura erupted. The helm on his head even seemed to loosen under the force.
Conqueror's Haki!
"I... have it too!" Atlas roared. He swung his right leg in a devastating kick, his own Conqueror's Haki exploding outward.
The sky darkened instantly, streaked with black and red lightning. Space itself seemed to twist, invisible shockwaves rippling like waves across the sea.
BANG!
Though Shiki tried to manipulate the air with his Devil Fruit to block the strike, Atlas's power was overwhelming. A deep footprint was left across Shiki's bare chest!
I'll just bully you for not having legs! Atlas sneered, charging in again, blade swinging.
CLANG! Their weapons locked once more. But suddenly, the earth beneath them surged upward, jagged stone spikes shooting up like bamboo shoots after rain.
Atlas stood unmoved. Without Haki coating, such attacks were useless against his War God Body!
RUMBLE! The massive spikes shattered one after another against him, his body unshaken. With a burst of strength, Atlas shoved Shiki backwards.
"One Sword Style Secret Art: Thousand Slashes!"
"I was already prepared for that! Jihahahaha!" Shiki roared.
At that moment, a colossal stone lion erupted, swallowing him within its cavernous jaws!
CLICK!
The sound of a blade sheathing echoed. Atlas appeared behind Shiki like a phantom.
CRUMBLE!
The massive rock lion disintegrated into dust, revealing the battered Golden Lion.
"Uncuttable by no enemy, unbreakable by no slash..."
"One Sword Style Secret Art: Crimson Skyline!"
As Shiki reappeared, a massive blood-red slash tore through the sky, surging toward him like a storm of destruction!
"Lion's Threat: Earth Coiling!" Shiki roared in desperation, raising another towering lion-shaped mountain to block the incoming strike!
But… that won't work this time! A mocking smile curved across Atlas's lips.
The crimson slash tore forward unstoppably, shattering the rock lion in its path and continuing toward Shiki without losing any power!
"Lion: Thousand Cut Valley!" Golden slashes, cloaked in pitch-black Haki, shot outward with enough force to split islands and part the sea itself!
Coating a flying slash in Armament Haki was no simple feat. First, one's control and "quality" of Haki had to be at a high level.
Second, one's swordsmanship needed to surpass the reach of ordinary men. Only a true Great Swordsman could accomplish it.
But the current Shiki, hindered by the helm lodged in his head, could only unleash this advanced Armament technique a few more times.
Desperation drove him to end this battle quickly. Yet when one's mind wavers in combat, the path to defeat grows nearer.
"One Sword Style: Starfall!"
Atlas charged headlong through the shockwaves of their clashing slashes. His powerful physique and terrifying full-body Haki gave him the edge.
The Futsunomitama in his hand suddenly grew impossibly heavy, like a falling moon, as he swung it down toward Shiki.
"Lion's Threat: Imperial Palace Ground Scroll!" The skies roared, the clouds churned, and the rain surged. The entire world seemed to bend beneath Shiki's control.
Leaving aside his swordsmanship, he had pushed the Float-Float Fruit to its very limits. Anything he touched could be dominated!
Shiki knew that if he truly wanted to escape, with his Float-Float Fruit, this Marine could never stop him. No—no one alive could.
But he was the Golden Lion! After hiding in the shadows for eight long years, to flee once more from a Marine? His pride would never allow it!
Not now, when he had finally discovered his hope for vengeance—the secret of Merveille. To retreat here was unthinkable!
So… I'll stake my life on it! A savage light burned in Shiki's eyes as he glared at Atlas.
"Ah! Is Uncle finished fighting yet…" On the deck of the warship, Luffy muttered while rubbing his empty stomach.
Grumble~
Ace shot him an exasperated look. "Didn't you just eat? How are you hungry again already?"
"But I'm hungry~" Luffy whined in a pitiful tone.
"Alright, alright, Luffy. Check the kitchen. There should still be plenty of food," Sabo said with a gentle smile, indulging him once again.
"Tch, you're just spoiling him…" Ace grumbled.
"Still, that Marine guy has been fighting forever. It's been seven days, and he still hasn't come back."
"The opponent must be incredibly strong to keep Mr. Atlas occupied this long," Sabo replied.
"He's no ordinary pirate—he's a legend." Smoker's teachings these past days had finally given them perspective on the Golden Lion's true might.
A great pirate rivalling Roger and Whitebeard! The man who nearly annihilated the Roger Pirates!
The first ever to break out of Impel Down and shatter its myth of inescapability!
"The fight has to be ending soon, right? I wonder who's winning…" Smoker muttered from the side, uncertainty in his voice.
For seven days straight, massive fragments of rock had rained down from the sky.
The battle only grew more violent with each passing day, and more island pieces continued to fall.
It had to be nearing the end. And surely Marine reinforcements were on their way by now…
He had already contacted Sengoku via Den Den Mushi a few days back. The question was—who would they send?
Meanwhile, on the floating island, Shiki's appearance was wretched. His once-glorious golden mane was torn and ragged.
A piece of the helm in his skull had been shattered. His body was riddled with cuts of every size, scabs and dried blood covering him.
His hands, gripping 'Oto' and 'Kogarashi,' trembled slightly. His once-arrogant expression was now painted with disbelief.
Is this man… a monster?
Seven days. Seven endless days and nights! Despite conserving his energy with utmost care, his stamina and Haki reserves were nearly drained.
His slashes had lost their sharpness, and his hands quivered in every clash.
But the man standing before him… his aura hadn't diminished at all.
His strength remained unshaken, his entire body still coated in Armament Haki after seven straight days of battle!
His ferocious aura never wavered! And that monstrous healing ability—Shiki had cut him badly before, a blow deep enough to reveal his organs.
That had been his final Conqueror's Coating strike. Yet Atlas had healed instantly, as if the wound had never existed!
"What's the matter, Golden Lion? Are you running dry?" Atlas grinned, lifting the Futsunomitama once more. Haki surged around the blade, his muscles coiling with power!
SLASH!
A raw, brutal swing of steel. The massive blade cleaved toward Shiki.
CLANG! Shiki blocked with both swords, but only for an instant. A devastating force crashed into him, overwhelming his defences.
Even with his fruit's positional advantage, he couldn't hold his ground—his body was hurled away uncontrollably.
An opening! A crimson gleam flashed in Atlas's eyes.
He lunged forward, sword tearing through the air with explosive sonic booms, his Observation Haki locked firmly onto Shiki.
A savage snarl twisted Shiki's face. The veins in his neck bulged as he clenched his blades tighter.
I… am the Golden Lion!
His golden hair flared wildly as a terrifying aura exploded from his body, thunder rumbling overhead in response.
The blood vessels in his eyes burst, and the helm embedded in his skull shattered under the pressure.
Conqueror's Haki… Coating!
A furious roar echoed in Shiki's chest. Black and red lightning danced violently around him, surging into his twin blades until they brimmed with an overwhelming, tangible force!
"Lion's Threat: Thousand Cut Valley!"
Atlas had no time to dodge. His only choice was to raise his sword and brace himself. But this strike was unlike any before—more savage, more desperate, more lethal!
This was… the final life-or-death strike of the Golden Lion!
(T/N: Please give me some power stone, I hope it can at least reach the top 100)
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