Setsuna and Ace flew past over a dozen floating sky islands. Beastly roars came from each island.
But just as they were about to reach the central island, Ace suddenly halted.
In his line of sight, a flamboyant pirate flag stood at the island's edge.
"That's... the flag of the Golden Lion Pirates!" Ace's heart jolted slightly. The Admiral of the Golden Lion Pirates was the legendary pirate on par with his biological father… the Golden Lion Shiki.
"What's wrong?" Setsuna glanced sideways.
"Nothing. Just a bit excited." The fighting spirit in Ace's eyes blazed intensely.
Meanwhile, inside the central palace on the island, a banquet was in full swing.
Shiki sat on his throne, golden hair flowing, his legs long replaced by swords, yet his presence remained domineering.
He raised his wine glass, laughing heartily: "Indigo! How much longer for my SIQ?"
The scientist wearing goggles excitedly danced a strange dance step: "Piropiropiro, the final stage is already underway. In three more years, all the beasts will frenziedly evolve. Then the East Blue, piropiropiro, will be completely destroyed by your wrath."
Shiki gulped down his wine in satisfaction: "Three years... Good. I'll travel the world one more lap. When I return to the East Blue… that will be the moment the world welcomes my return."
Just as he threw back his head laughing, a subordinate rushed in panicked: "A-Admiral! Two monsters have broken in outside!"
"You fool! Didn't I say not to interrupt me when I'm laughing!" Shiki violently kicked out. A slashing wave instantly tore the subordinate apart.
Everyone at the banquet immediately fell silent. Shiki didn't care, scratching the steering wheel embedded in his head: "Interesting. Outsiders actually managed to board my island."
Shiki rose from his seat, his figure instantly flew out of the palace.
Outside the palace, Setsuna and Ace walked as if no one could approach them.
Shiki flew out from the palace, looking over the two: "Brat, how did you get up here?"
"What do you think? Of course we flew."
"Flying? So both of you have quite good abilities." Appreciation appeared in Shiki's eyes. "How about it? Want to join my grand plan?"
"What plan?" Ace was curious, wondering what kind of grand plan could make a great pirate like Shiki lie low for nearly twenty years.
Shiki spread his arms, laughing wildly: "I've nurtured countless beasts. Once their evolution completes, I'll drop them all into the East Blue, making that weakest sea completely destroyed!"
Ace's pupils contracted sharply, 'So those ferocious beasts on the other islands existed to destroy the East Blue.'
Ace suppressed his anger: "Why would you do this?"
Shiki said as if it were obvious: "Roger died in that weakest sea. That's the World Government's insult to him! I'll destroy the East Blue to take revenge on the World Government!"
Ace: "???"
Ace felt he couldn't understand the other party's logic at all.
'What kind of bullshit revenge was this?'
'If you truly wanted revenge, shouldn't you drop these beasts onto Mary Geoise?'
Shiki extended another invitation: "How about it? Want to join my grand plan?"
Setsuna sighed: "Who would join such an insane plan?"
Shiki flew into a rage: "What did you say?"
Setsuna sighed: "If you truly wanted to destroy the East Blue, just drop a few islands each week. Within a year at most, you could destroy it. Not like you now, spending twenty years accomplishing nothing."
Shiki: "..."
He suddenly froze, stroking his chin in thought: "Right! How come I never thought of that? Genius! Truly a genius idea!"
Setsuna fell silent, 'Did this guy genuinely not think of it?'
"Shihahaha! Brat, how should I thank you?"
Setsuna said calmly: "No need. I came for revenge. This morning, you had an island run over me. It made me quite in a sorry state."
Shiki suddenly understood, then laughing: "So it was you, brat! I wondered what I hit."
With that, Shiki's legs cross-kicked. Two huge slashing waves flew towards Setsuna.
Setsuna hurriedly dodged. Shiki's slashes weren't comparable to kunai in the Ninja World. Without Armament Haki, he didn't dare take them head-on.
Sure enough, the slash waves extended thousands of meters, cutting the earth, leaving a giant fissure across the island.
However, Setsuna slightly frowned: "Only this much?"
He held high expectations for the strong individuals of this world.
If it were purely physical contest, he was confident he wouldn't lose to anyone.
But the existence of the three types of Haki likely meant his close combat supremacy might hit a wall here.
Both had defense, but he relied purely on his body, while others had body plus Armament Haki. Falling short was normal.
But if he also trained Armament Haki to the extreme, combined with Gourmet Cell's recovery, Setsuna wondered if anyone in this world could even kill him.
Ace's eyes widened upon hearing this, 'An attack that sliced off a small part of the island wasn't strong enough?'
"Arrogant brat!" Shiki's face darkened. He closed in at extreme speed, his swords whirling dazzlingly. Even Ace's eyes had trouble keeping up.
Setsuna continuously dodged, seizing an opening. One punch sent Shiki flying, crashing through the palace's stone pillar, buried under rubble.
"Where's your Haki? Can't you use it anymore?" Setsuna was disappointed. He originally wanted to learn from Shiki… not master Haki instantly, but at least get started.
The next moment, Shiki flew out from the rubble, roaring: "Who says I can't use Haki?! I just disdain to use it."
It must be said, people in this world were durable.
Even without Armament Haki, after taking Setsuna's punch, Shiki was still full of energy, as if completely unharmed.
"Right. Haki is the power of will. With your current mentality, your Haki has probably faded long ago." Setsuna lost interest. After all, a Shiki without Haki wasn't worth fighting.
Setsuna calmly walked aside: "Ace, this fight is yours."
"Then I won't hold back!" Ace rubbed his fists. An opponent Setsuna looked down on was just right for him.
'Moreover, in rumors, that man only defeated Shiki because of a sudden storm.'
'If I could defeat Golden Lion, wouldn't that prove I had somewhat surpassed that man?'
"Damn brat!" Shiki trembled with rage. He didn't expect a brat dared insult him like this.
"I'll kill you!" Shiki charged at Setsuna like mad, only to be blocked by Ace. "This path is closed. The captain didn't say you could pass."