New World, third route outside Hachinosu.
Three transport ships flying the Hachinosu flag are sailing smoothly on the sea.
The crew members on deck chatted in twos and threes, some leaned against the ship's railing smoking, and others squatted in a corner wiping their weapons.
"I can rest for two days after this trip is over."
An old sailor, a cigarette dangling from his lips, squinted at the distant horizon.
The newcomer next to him wiped his sweat. "Senior, I heard the Flying Pirates have been active again recently. Is there a chance we'll run into them?"
"Pooh!"
The old sailor flicked his cigarette butt into the sea.
"Don't Karasu it, kid. That old bastard Golden Lion has robbed us eight times in the last two years. How could we be so unlucky as to have this happen today—"
Before the old sailor could finish speaking, the sky suddenly darkened.
A large shadow fell over the area, and everyone on the deck looked up at the same time, then froze.
An island.
A floating Sky Island with a diameter of over 10,000 meters was slowly pressing down on them from above.
"Enemy attack--!!!" The lookout's voice was so shrill it could shatter glass.
The veteran crew member slapped the newcomer on the head:
"You foul mouth! What are you standing there for! Send the signal!"
The signal flare shot into the sky, leaving a trail of red flame, and exploded in a blinding red light beneath the clouds.
At the same time, the floating Sky Island began to accelerate its descent.
Just as the floating Sky Island was less than fifty meters from the transport ship, and the crew on deck could even see the texture of the rocks on the island—
A transparent barrier of Telekinesis: Barrier appeared out of thin air in mid-air, firmly holding the entire floating Sky Island in place.
The enormous floating Sky Island remained suspended in mid-air, thirty meters above the sea, completely still.
"What--"
Before the crew on the transport ship could react, a figure had already descended from the sky and landed on the edge of the floating Sky Island.
A black trench coat, Black Blade Shusui hanging at her waist, and wisps of hair on her forehead fluttering slightly in the sea breeze.
Roy stood on the edge of the floating Sky Island, glanced down at the transport ship below, then looked up.
His gaze pierced through the clouds and locked onto the dilapidated spaceship higher above.
" Shiki."
"Next time you try to smash my boat, could you at least check if there are any ambushes around?"
The clouds were parted by a Conqueror's Haki.
The dilapidated airship, its prow carved with a griffin, slowly descended from the clouds.
On the deck stood a Golden Lion with long golden hair, a cigar dangling from its mouth, and two gleaming swords—" Oto " and " Kogarashi "—hanging at its waist.
"Hahahaha!"
Shiki laughed loudly.
" Roy, you've made such a big fuss for me alone?"
You think too highly of me!
Before the words were even finished, the clouds on all sides were torn apart simultaneously.
Tesoro stood in mid-air, golden lightning crackling around him.
Enel floated beside him, twirling his Golden Staff in his hand, looking utterly bored.
Bullet jumped from a concealed spaceship, crashing directly onto the floating Sky Island, leaving two deep footprints in the rocks.
He crossed his arms, a vicious grin spreading across his face.
"Old lion, let's see how you run today."
Crocodile emerged from the sandstorm on the other side, a cigar dangling from his lips, his right hand transformed into a sand blade. He didn't utter a word, but his eyes were full of mockery.
Surrounded on all sides, they were all top-tier combat forces from Hachinosu.
Shiki's smile froze for a moment.
His single eye swept over the surrounding encirclement, then he grinned again:
" Bullet, Tesoro, Crocodile —and you Roy, personally took charge."
Just to block me alone?
"Your Float-Float Fruit is too troublesome."
Roy descended from the sky, walking on air as if ascending stairs, and made his way towards Shiki's spaceship.
"Fight from the sky, and run away if you can't win."
"Don't you know how many transport ships you've seized from me and how many strongholds you've destroyed in the past two years?"
"Twelve transport ships, eight outposts."
Tesoro added with a grin.
"How dare you say that!"
Bullet roared,
"The area I was guarding got smashed by him seven times! Seven times!"
Every time, the floating Sky Island just falls down. I'm so tired of breaking down those rocks!
After hearing what they said, Shiki didn't panic at all; instead, he laughed even harder.
After he finished laughing, he took the cigar from his mouth and tapped the ash on the gunwale.
"So what?
"What do you intend to do to me, with so many of you blocking my way?"
Roy had already reached the deck of Shiki's spaceship, standing less than twenty meters away from Shiki.
He looked at this last remaining former overlord, and his tone suddenly became serious.
" Shiki, join Hachinosu."
Shiki's smile froze.
"Your Float-Float Fruit is being wasted on just robbing transport ships and smashing outposts."
Roy continued,
" Hachinosu needs your abilities."
"What you can do after your Float Devil Fruit Awakening is far more valuable than what you're doing now."
" The World Government's rule in the New World is already crumbling, and the unification of the New World by Hachinosu is only the first step."
Next, we will completely overthrow that regime that has been corrupt for eight hundred years.
" Shiki, join us."
"Let your abilities leave a more meaningful mark in this new era."
There was silence on the deck for a few seconds.
Shiki lowered his head, his shoulders beginning to tremble slightly.
Roy thought he was thinking.
But Shiki suddenly raised his head.
"Hahahaha--hahahahaha--!!!"
Immediately afterwards, a violent burst of Conqueror's Haki erupted from Shiki's body.
Dark red Inazuma struck wildly in all directions from him, shattering all the glass in the spaceship's portholes.
A large section of the deck planks was torn off, and even the surrounding clouds were scattered.
Tesoro frowned slightly and raised his hand to create an electric net in front of him, blocking the shockwave.
Bullet stood motionless, but a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes—this old guy could actually unleash Conqueror's Haki, and it was even stronger than he had imagined.
Roy stood opposite Shiki, his clothes and hair billowing backward from the shockwave of Conqueror's Haki.
But his body remained completely still, and his face showed no change in expression.
" Roy the Kid."
Shiki's voice was squeezed out from deep in his throat, hoarse, low, and suppressing a fury that was about to burst forth from his body.
"Were you trying to insult me with what you just said?"
Roy did not answer.
"You mean, I, Golden Lion Shiki, fought Roger for three days and three nights at the Battle of Edd War and didn't lose a battle?"
"I've been fighting that old Whitebeard for decades in the New World —and now you want me to be your subordinate?"
Shiki's eyes were bloodshot.
Who do you think you are?
You, a little brat who was still breastfeeding twenty years ago, are now standing in front of me.
They're saying things like "joining Hachinosu " and "contributing to the new era" --
Do you think I'm old?
Do you think I'm useless now?
"Just because you think I can't beat you doesn't mean you should obediently become my dog?"