Golden Lion

Biodata

Background / History

Shiki was counted among the New World's Three Great Pirates alongside Whitebeard Edward Newgate and Gol D. Roger. Among them, he commanded the greatest power and was described as the most brutal, sinking countless pirates each year. His flag alone deterred outsiders from interfering with his territory 28.

By Sea Circle Calendar 1495, the Golden Lion Pirates were the New World's dominant pirate force. Whitebeard showed little interest in conquest, while Roger had remained out of sight for years. Shiki's influence was such that his movements in the New World could carry more weight than World Government orders 29 31 33.

Roger had been his adversary for decades. Shiki spent years developing a plan for world conquest, hoping to combine his military strength with an Ancient Weapon whose location, he claimed, was known only to Roger 35 40.

Appearance

• Hair: Long, pure golden hair likened to flowing golden sand 32.
• Build and bearing: Not particularly large, but distinctly lion-like, with a wild, domineering presence 31 32 40.
• Accessories: Smokes a cigar and carries two swords at his waist 32 38.

Personality

Shiki openly aspired to become King of the World, rejecting the lesser ambition of merely becoming Pirate King. His theatrical speeches and uproarious “Jiehahahaha” laughter stirred his followers into a frenzy; even the undercover Louis nearly joined their cheering 32 35.

Although arrogant and cruel, he recognized the danger Roger posed. He prepared detailed battle formations, considered possible counterattacks, and prohibited infighting to prevent his subordinates from weakening his fleet 33 35 36.

His ambition took precedence over individual lives. Baro's death did not alter his departure schedule, and during the battle his fleet received orders to continue firing even when friendly ships were caught in the barrage. When the storm destroyed his forces, Shiki remained convinced that defeating Roger would allow him to rebuild an even stronger fleet 38 39 41 45.

Abilities & Skills

Float-Float Fruit

Shiki can nullify gravity on himself and inanimate objects he touches, making them float and allowing him to control their movement 45.

• Flight: Freely ascends, descends, and fights in the air 37 38 40.
• Large-scale levitation: Suspends an enormous island and its surrounding sea, raises platforms carrying multiple ships, and transports his fleet through the sky 31 39.
• Earth manipulation: Shapes earth into a gigantic dragon and launches long earthen spears at Roger 41 45.
• Wind vulnerability: Levitated ships are easily displaced by strong winds. Their crews cannot steer them independently while airborne, leaving Shiki responsible for their movement 45.
• Divided attention: His duel with Roger prevents him from finely controlling dozens of ships during the storm, causing airborne vessels to collide 45.

Swordsmanship

Shiki fights with two swords and can release powerful flying slashes 40 41 45.

Conqueror's Haki

Shiki possesses Conqueror's Haki, which erupts during his confrontation with Roger aboard the damaged flagship 45.

• His Haki contributes to the already weakened ship breaking apart 45.
• His intimidating aura makes Flog's men tremble and forces Louis to step backward instinctively 38.

Fleet Command

Shiki organizes a vast collection of independent pirate crews into coordinated fighting groups 36.

• Divides subordinate crews into groups of five to concentrate their firepower 36.
• Assigns his strongest fighters to engage Roger's elite crew while the fleet maintains its bombardment 36.
• Rejects surprise attacks because Roger and Rayleigh's Observation Haki would render concealment ineffective 36.

Fleet, Territory & Equipment

• Twin swords: Carried at his waist and used in his duel with Roger 38 41.
• Pirate flag: A lion-like skull emblem whose presence marks protected territory 28.

Story Role / Major Arcs

Gathering Against Roger

Shiki's urgent summons brought subordinate crews together from across the New World and beyond, drawing the World Government's attention. Commander Skello assigned Louis to investigate under the identity of Mario, a recruit aboard Rhode's Blood Hand Pirates 29 31.

At the gathering, Shiki announced Roger as their target. After his crews located the Roger Pirates, he held a lavish morale-boosting banquet and a strategy meeting to prepare an encirclement and overwhelming artillery attack 32 34 35 36.

Judgment of Flog

When Rhode accused Flog of murdering Baro, Shiki arrived to settle the dispute. Witness testimony and planted evidence implicated Flog, but Louis had actually killed Baro and engineered the accusation 37 38.

Louis secretly used Life Return through implanted hair to make Flog seize a sword and attack Shiki. Shiki immediately severed Flog's limbs, then handed him over to Rhode for execution. He left with instructions not to delay the next day's departure 38.

Aethelwold Sea Battle

Three days after setting out, Shiki's fleet caught Roger at Aethelwold. Shiki proposed an alliance to conquer the world using Roger's supposed knowledge of an Ancient Weapon, his own forces, and his long-prepared plan. Roger refused, prompting Shiki to open fire 39 40.

The Roger Pirates broke through the bombardment and boarded the surrounding ships while Roger fought Shiki aboard the airborne flagship. A violent storm then turned the fleet's dense formation against it: ships collided at sea and in the sky, triggering destruction and ammunition explosions 41 45.

Shiki continued fighting despite the collapse of his forces. His island-sized flagship eventually fell into the sea, followed by the other levitated ships. Roger emerged as the victor, while Shiki's personal fate was not shown 45 50.

Relationships

• Gol D. Roger — Decades-long rival and intended partner in world conquest. Roger repeatedly rejected his offers and defeated him at Aethelwold 35 40 50.
• Rhode — Devoted subordinate who became a pirate after hearing Shiki's legends. He regarded Shiki's command of sea and sky as the ideal of piracy and remained willing to die for his ambition 31 46.
• Louis / Mario — Undercover Cipher Pol operative investigating Shiki. Shiki briefly acknowledged his resilience under pressure, unaware that Louis had manipulated Flog into attacking him 29 38.
• Flog — Subordinate captain framed for Baro's murder. Shiki crippled him after his involuntary attack and permitted Rhode to finish him 38.
• Colossus Soren — Right-hand man and one of the principal officers deployed against Roger's crew; confronts Rayleigh during the battle 41.

Notable Quotes

“The Pirate King? No! The King of the World!!!” 35

“If I take you out, I'll have a stronger force in no time, even if I'm the only one left!” 45

“I'm the man who'll rule the world from the skies! The Golden Lion!” 45