124 The Second Showdown with Shiki
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Indigo made his way over, the sound of his shoes clacking against the ground breaking the silence: "We've spotted an intruder on the island, and he seems to be very powerful." He said to Shiki.
"It's clear the intruder is no ordinary foe; he used Conqueror's Haki."
At this, a man with golden hair that barely grazed his scalp turned to face them, an anchor proudly perched atop his head, giving him a peculiar, rooster-like appearance.
Shiki, the man, took a moment to puff on his cigar before speaking: "But do we have any idea who it might be? It doesn't matter, let's go see for ourselves. Considering he has made it up here, to the sky, it's unlikely he was looking for me directly. It's probably just a random encounter."
"I've reached the same conclusion." Indigo responded, shrugging slightly: "We've located his ship, and it's just a small airship, which likely means he's operating solo."
With a sense of urgency, Shiki questioned: "Then what are we waiting for?"
And with that, he proceeded without waiting for a response.
...
Meanwhile, Brontes found himself tirelessly traversing the island, navigating the terrain as if it were his own personal garden, albeit one filled with danger at every turn.
He encountered a plethora of ferocious beasts, ones that seemed even more brutal than the notorious creatures found within the Hell of Beasts, the second tier of the Impel Down.
These animals, having been nurtured and developed by Shiki over two decades, showed a glimpse of intelligence amidst their wild nature.
However, their inherent aggression and ferocity remained unchanged.
As Brontes ventured deeper into the island, he lost count of the fierce creatures he had faced.
Some were subdued by his Conqueror's Haki, while he dispatched others with his powerful punches.
Suddenly, a boisterous laughter echoed from above: "Jihahaha! I want to see who was courageous enough to enter into my territory!" Shiki's voice boomed overhead. In an instant, Shiki was hovering above Brontes.
"I think you might've forgotten about me, Shiki." Brontes replied, his tone calm yet laced with amusement, as he looked up at Shiki.
Laughing mockingly, Shiki taunted: "Jihahaha! Hiding behind that attire, are you trying to conceal your identity from me, little mouse?"
"It's been over twenty years since our paths last crossed, Shiki." Brontes said, as he cast aside his cloak, revealing his identity.
Upon seeing Roy's face, Shiki was visibly shocked: "Y-You are!?"
Bursting into laughter, Shiki managed to say: "Jihahahaha! Of all people, it's you, Ragnarok! I must admit, I didn't expect the Marines to make it all the way here." His laughter was loud, but it masked the unease that stirred within him.
For years, Shiki and his crew had dedicated themselves to studying the island's uniquely intelligent animals while keeping an eye on the seas below.
They occasionally received newspapers via News Coo, allowing Shiki to stay informed about the world beyond his island fortress.
He recognized Brontes immediately, remembering his appearance from the news following a notable confrontation between Brontes and Whitebeard; their images had made the front pages.
Shiki, who followed the world's events closely, was familiar with Brontes's appearance.
The realization that Brontes, now a Fleet-Admiral, had come to his hidden island shocked him.
Over two decades, Brontes had risen in the ranks, becoming known for his formidable strength—strong enough to challenge Whitebeard, the pirate once considered the strongest in the world.
"To think I'd find you here of all places, what a pleasant surprise. Back when you attacked Marineford twenty years ago, I was eager to fight you. But alas, Sengoku-san and Garp-san beat me to it, so we never got the chance to clash." Brontes expressed with a hint of regret in his voice.
"Why do you consider that a pity?" Shiki asked, his voice tinged with confusion.
"The pity lies in the fact that you've aged. Engaging with you now doesn't excite me. You've lost both of your legs, diminishing the thrill of the fight. Defeating a pirate in your current state wouldn't bring me any personal glory, though it would certainly elevate the Marine's status. Hence, I feel compelled to take you down." Said Brontes with a big smile.
"Hmph, boy, who do you think you're talking to?" Shiki's fury ignited instantly upon hearing Brontes's words.
"Oh, Shiki, have the years muddled your senses, or has pride clouded your judgment? Can't you see the vast gap in our strengths?" Brontes taunted with a sneer.
"Very well, let's see how much stronger you've become." Shiki retorted, lifting his hand.
He didn't need to touch the ground for his power to manifest; the island itself floated in the sky, buoyed by the energy he had infused into it long ago.
"Lion Menace!"
Instantly, three lion statues rose from the ground, swiftly encircling Brontes. "As I thought, his devil fruit powers upon awakening are no small feat." Brontes mused internally.
"I am Shiki, the Golden Lion!" Shiki proclaimed, his gaze fixed on Brontes from above, a blaze of fighting spirit in his eyes.
"Haha! What of it? You're just an old man, hiding away like a frightened mouse. Do you truly believe these beasts can upheave the world? You're greatly overestimating them, Shiki." Brontes laughed heartily, mocking Shiki without restraint.
"CHK!"
Shiki glared at Brontes, his grip on the cigar tightening, his gaze becoming more intimidating.
"You damn basterd!" Shiki roared as he gestured dramatically, sending the three lion statues hurtling towards Brontes.
"Boom!"
"ZliZli!"
But the lion statues struck only the ground where Brontes had stood moments before.
In an instant, Brontes transformed into a bolt of lightning, reappearing right in front of Shiki, completely unharmed.
"Lion: Wrath Twister!"
With a simple twitch of his fingers, Shiki caused a figure on the ground to spin hurriedly, morphing into a whirlwind that caught Brontes, surrounding him in a swirling sandstorm.
"Do you think you can get out of this?" Shiki said with a mocking sneer.
"ZliZli!"
No sooner had Shiki finished his taunt than a brilliant flash of light burst forth from within the sandstorm.
The light, intertwined with lightning, spread quickly, encasing the entire storm in a web of electric sparks.
"Boom! Rumble!"
A thunderous explosion followed, shattering the sandstorm and scattering chunks of mud, as Brontes emerged, surrounded by dancing arcs of electricity.
"Lightning Cutter!"
"Rumble! ZliZli!"
A monumental lightning bolt shot down from above, Shiki hastily retreated, the bolt striking the ground just ahead of him, narrowly missing its target.
"Jihahahaha! Is that the best you can do?" Shiki laughed, barreling towards Brontes once more.
"Hahaha! I'm just warming up!" Brontes retorted with a laugh, snapping his fingers.
"Rumble! ZliZli!!"
Suddenly, five more lightning bolts descended, enveloping Shiki and entrapping him within their grasp.
"You think these simple tricks can defeat me?" Shiki sneered back at him.
Looking up, Shiki realized he couldn't simply fly away to escape. Reacting quickly, he swung his arm once again.
"Lion Menace: Earth Coiling!"
"Boom! Rumble!"
A mound of mud from the ground gathered into another lion, its form rapidly expanding and hurling itself into the electrified pillar, showcasing the fierce clash of elements between them.
Dust filled the air, and the sky was alive with the chaotic dance of lightning. Shiki, with his devil fruit powers, moved at incredible speeds, skillfully navigating the turmoil to make his escape.
Charging forward, his Earth Lion technique proved effective against the barrage of lightning bolts.
Once he had freed himself from the electrical trap, Shiki wasted no time in launching an attack directly at Brontes.
"Lion: Thousand Slice Valley!"
He shouted, as his two swords whirled through the air. The swords unleashed a relentless barrage of slashes, mimicking the ferocity of 31 storm kicks, the onslaught enveloping Brontes from every conceivable angle.
Despite the intensity of the attack, Brontes remained stoic and unmoving. As the dust and debris swirled around him, it seemed as though he was completely engulfed by the assault.
"Boom!"
A cloud of sand and stones burst into the air, yet when it settled, it became apparent that Brontes had emerged unscathed.
"Damn Logia fruit..."
Shiki cursed under his breath, his frustration evident.
He knew all too well that Brontes hadn't sustained any damage from the attack.
Users of Logia-type devil fruits possess the extraordinary ability to transform their bodies into natural elements, rendering physical attacks ineffective unless imbued with special properties or haki.
This capability allows them to effectively become intangible, making it a daunting task to inflict any harm on them.
Shiki's strategy was clear: he aimed to drain Brontes's stamina, well aware that continuously maintaining a Logia form would be exhausting.
But as he ceased his attack and looked around, he noticed Brontes was no longer where he had been.
Turning, he found Brontes standing some distance behind him, a mischievous smile on his face.
"Shiki, you've aged. How long has it been since you last fought? It seems even your Observation Haki has weakened." Brontes taunted with a sneer.
"Why would I need to use my Observation Haki against someone like you?" Shiki retorted with a sneer of his own.
"Oh, Shiki, still pretending to be strong. I'm very disappointed." Brontes replied, shaking his head.
"Indestructible Grip."
With a resounding "Boom!"
A hand, larger than those giants could form using Pica's Stone-Stone Fruit, emerged, making Brontes appear minuscule, like an ant in comparison.
Shiki closed the giant hand, its fingers pressing down on Brontes, trapping him within a squeeze of rock.
"Jihahaha! What do you say now, little brat?" Shiki's laughter boomed triumphantly.
However, his laughter was abruptly cut short by the sound of a lightning clash close by. His eyes fixed on the gargantuan hand.
"Boom! Rumble!"
In an explosive burst, the hand shattered, hurling rocks in every direction across the sky, resembling meteorites raining down.
