After Rocks' demise at God Valley, heroes rose across the seas.
Among them, the Roger Pirates, Whitebeard Pirates, and Golden Lion Pirates were widely recognized as the three strongest pirate crews on this vast ocean.
Among these three great pirates, Shiki might not have been the strongest, but he was the most influential, both in territory and manpower.
The Roger Pirates, though filled with powerful figures, had no ambition for conquest, merely sailing the world in a small, dilapidated ship.
Whitebeard had quite a few forces. This fellow loved to adopt sons into his pirate crew.
His territory was also considerable, with many islands in the New World flying Whitebeard's Jolly Roger.
But Whitebeard also lacked ambition. Rather than a pirate crew, it was more like…
An orphanage.
As for the so-called territory, strictly speaking, it couldn't be considered territory. It was merely Whitebeard lending his Jolly Roger to protect those weak and impoverished islands.
Only Shiki the Golden Lion.
This fellow was ambitious and unruly.
Even someone as strong as Rocks couldn't completely suppress this arrogant lion.
At the same time, Shiki was the most feared by the World Government and the Marines.
Not just for his ambition to devour the four seas, but also for his capricious and reckless personality.
If Shiki pleased, he would dare to launch an attack, regardless of whether it was the World Government, affiliated nations, Marines, or other pirates.
The World Government and the Marines regarded him as a thorn in their side, wishing to eliminate him as quickly as possible.
Helplessly, Shiki's Fuwa Fuwa no Mi (飄飄果實) was too overpowered. With a flick of his finger, ships and islands would float into the air, leaving the Marines to sigh in despair.
And now, this lion, alone, arrived above Wano.
Looking down at the myriad lights below, Shiki bit his cigar, took a deep puff, then contentedly exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.
A wild grin stretched across his lips. "That brat Kaido has managed Wano quite well."
"However…"
Shiki grinned savagely, and a vast, terrifying aura erupted, his profound Conqueror's Haki sweeping across the entire nation below as if it were tangible.
In the void, dark red lightning, born from Conqueror's Haki, raged across the sky, as if welcoming the arrival of this lion king.
Below in Wano, Conqueror's Haki swept through, with Ringo, being the closest, bearing the brunt.
Bang—
Bang—
…
Whether they were Beasts Pirates crew members, people brought back from overseas, or Wano natives, one after another, they foamed at the mouth, their eyes rolled back, unable to withstand the impact of this Conqueror's Haki, collapsing unconscious.
King, guarding Ringo, looked at the source of this Conqueror's Haki with horror in his eyes.
"This Conqueror's Haki… how is it possible!"
King spread his wings, flying at extreme speed towards the source of the terrifying aura without any hesitation.
He knew in his heart that anyone who could unleash such terrifying Conqueror's Haki was no ordinary person.
Now that both the Captain and Vice-Captain were not in Wano, only he could handle it…
Perhaps not even he could handle it.
But what did it matter? They had entrusted Wano to him to guard. He had to protect the Beasts' territory.
Shiki smiled, his arms crossed, watching with interest as a figure engulfed in flames approached him.
Soon, King arrived before Shiki. After clearly seeing the person in front of him, King's pupils sharply contracted.
How could it be Shiki the Golden Lion!
Shiki grinned savagely. "Jihahahahaha… It seems you know who I am."
King suppressed the turbulent waves in his heart, saying coldly, "It would be strange not to recognize you, Admiral Shiki the Golden Lion, a renowned great pirate of the New World."
Shiki's lips curled even further. "Indeed! Indeed!"
King's eyes remained wary, watching Shiki, not daring to relax for a moment. This was a pirate who truly stood at the pinnacle of this sea.
"Sir, what brings you to the territory of the Beasts Pirates?"
Shiki glanced at King contemptuously, scoffing, "You are not qualified to speak with me. Have that brat Kaido come here!"
Shiki was arrogant. Not to mention King before him, even Kaido, the captain of the Beasts Pirates, he didn't put in his eyes.
In his eyes, Kaido was merely an intern brat on his ship back then.
Even if he had made a name for himself now, even occupying Wano, he still didn't impress Shiki.
He had come this time intending to occupy Wano without shedding blood.
His Flying Pirate Fleet's annual expenditure on weapons was an enormous sum.
That was why he plundered the Heavenly Tribute everywhere. Anyway, that money was for the Celestial Dragons.
Did the Celestial Dragons even understand how to spend it?
Give it to me!
It wasn't until these past two years that Wano's weapons sold well across the entire sea, especially Sea Prism Stone, which was in high demand.
He then had an idea. Why buy weapons when having his own armory was so much more convenient?
This time, coming to Wano, if that brat Kaido was sensible, he would obediently hand over Wano.
Perhaps if he was in a good mood, acknowledging their past camaraderie on the same ship, he might even spare his life.
He might even let him serve as a captain under him, continuing to manage Wano.
If he wasn't sensible, then he shouldn't blame him for bullying an intern.
King's brows furrowed, his expression somewhat displeased.
It wasn't that Shiki looked down on him, but Shiki's words were an insult to Mr. Kaido.
However, King also knew that he couldn't clash with him, so he suppressed his anger, saying, "Mr. Kaido is not in Wano. You can tell me anything."
Shiki's eyes were playful, scoffing, "Not here? Or did he see me coming and was too afraid to come out?"
Again and again.
King could no longer tolerate it. He suddenly drew his beloved sword, Enma, from his waist, pointing the blade directly at Shiki. "Shiki, do not insult Lord Kaido again."
In King's heart, Mr. Kaido and Mr. Noro were not to be disrespected by anyone, even if that person was Shiki!
Shiki tilted his head provocatively. "I insulted him. What can you do about it?"
"You seek death!"
King was furious. Flames blazed fiercely behind him, transforming into fire dragons that coiled around his body and Enma.
"Fire Dragon Emperor!"
In the next second, fire dragons, carrying scorching heat, surged towards Shiki, baring their fangs and claws.
Shiki maintained his arms-crossed posture, watching coldly.
It wasn't until the fire dragons were upon him that he snorted disdainfully, quickly drawing his beloved sword, Otohime, from his waist.
With just a casual swing, the fire dragons in front of him instantly dissipated. Not only that, Otohime sliced through the air, carving out a crescent-shaped slash hundreds of meters long.
The howling fire dragons, upon encountering this slash, shattered instantly, dissipating one by one, turning into scattered flames that rained down.
The slash continued its trajectory, cutting directly towards King.
===
Hello there, this is your friendly neighbor, Sp1ced!
Want to read ahead and unlock all extra chapters + other stories?
You can join here: Patreon.com/Sp1ced