Chapter 81 - Ambushing Shiki
Marine Headquarters, Marineford.
Inside the conference hall, the decision to deploy troops had already been made. But how far they should go sparked a heated debate between two opposing factions.
The one camp believed a show of force was necessary, but it should be symbolic, just enough to save face. If the fragile illusion of strength were shattered and their current weakness laid bare, pirates across the seas would erupt in celebration. The consequences of such exposure would be unimaginable.
The other faction, however, argued for an all-out battle. If they couldn't hurt the enemy enough in one strike, then they should do it again. If they could kill Shiki now, after already taking down one great pirate, two fallen legends in a row would surely make the rest behave.
Each side stood firm in their beliefs.
Fleet Admiral Kong sat in silence, massaging his temples. The trouble was, both had valid points.
To fight, or to fight to the death...
Just then, his aide entered the hall. Leaning in, he whispered sothing into Kong's ear. The fleet admiral's eyes lit up as he mulled it over for a mont.
Bang!
He slapped a hand on the table.
"Enough. We'll send five warships, just enough to issue a warning to Golden Lion. Sakazuki will lead the operation."
He rose to his feet. "Sakazuki, co with "
The vice admiral raised an eyebrow and quietly followed.
Left behind, the two factions exchanged glances. Five warships clearly ant this was more symbolic than serious. It suggested Kong was unwilling to risk exposing the true state of Marineford.
Yet having Sakazuki lead the mission... that complicated the ssage.
Everyone knew the vice admiral never held back when it ca to killing pirates.
...
Inside the Fleet Admiral's office.
Sakazuki followed Kong in and took a seat on the couch.
The latter cut to the point. "Do you know why I arranged it this way?"
After thinking for a few seconds, Sakazuki shook his head.
Kong chuckled. "Sengoku's been found. He's on his way back with Garp. I told them to stay out of sight for now. By the ti you reach the Red Line, it'll be night. Let the fleet stay overnight. If Shiki is probing us, it ans he's gotten so kind of intel. I'll arrange for soone to et you and have Garp and Sengoku secretly board the fleet. Officially, it'll look like you're leading five ships to deal with Shiki. He'll never expect the two of them to be hiding."
He grinned. Sakazuki's lips also curled into a smile.
The two n exchanged a knowing look.
...
New World, Golden Lion Pirate Fleet.
A massive floating island drifted at a low altitude, surrounded by several pirate ships sailing alongside it. Together, they surged toward the Red Line.
Inside an enormous palace atop the flying landmass, Shiki sat at the head of a long hall.
Seated on either side of him were the captains of various pirate crews. After undergoing another round of recruitnt, they had barely recovered to about seventy percent of their strength from before the Battle of Sgri.
Holding a giant round bowl filled with wine, Shiki raised it and drank it all in one go. He then slamd the empty bowl on the table. Pride welled in his chest as he surveyed his n.
One of the braver officers, emboldened by the atmosphere, asked, "Captain, where are we headed?"
Shiki grinned. His voice bood through the hall. "No rush. Just wait a little longer."
The others didn't quite understand but continued enjoying the feast. Midway through the banquet, with the food nearly gone and wine running dry, the door swung open.
A subordinate walked in quickly.
Shiki's eyes lit up, unable to hide his excitent, he spoke up. "What's the Marines' response?"
"Captain, they've only sent five warships," the man reported, "but... the fleet is led by Vice Admiral Sakazuki."
At the ntion of that na, he showed a trace of fear, haunted by mories of the terrifying magma during the Battle of Sgri.
But Shiki burst into laughter. "Shihahahaha! Good! Go collect your reward."
He no longer kept his plans hidden. Looking around at the pirate captains seated before him, Shiki finally said, "Alright, gentlen. The feast ends here. What we're about to do next... will change the shape of the world. Look forward to it! Shihahahahaha!"
Stunned, the pirates looked at each other in confusion.
"Captain... what exactly are we doing?"
Shiki's grin vanished. His eyes glinted as he bared his teeth.
"We're going to destroy... Marineford."
Gasps spread around the room. This wasn't just bold. It was insane.
"Captain Shiki, isn't that a little too rushed?"
"I an, that's the Marine Headquar—"
Shiki waved his hand to interrupt. "No need to worry. I wouldn't make a move unless I was absolutely sure."
He stood, his expression sharp. "The whole world's been fooled by that old geezer Kong. The current Marines are nothing but an empty shell. Sengoku's missing, Zephyr has retired, and no one knows where Garp is. The only ones worth ntioning now are Kong and that little brat Sakazuki."
He sneered. "Whitebeard attacked a Marine base and triggered the Battle of Sgri. I hit another one, and all they sent was five warships and that sa magma brat. Doesn't that tell you sothing?
"The Marines are hollow. All we need to do is shatter that shell and let the world descend into chaos! When that happens... we'll have the chance to conquer the world! Shihahahahahaha!!"
The atmosphere shifted. The pirates who monts ago had doubted him now burned with anticipation.
When it ca to stirring up hearts, Shiki was a master.
...
One day later, New World, Rana Sea.
This sea was close to the Red Line. After sailing for a few hours from the G-1 Branch, one would reach this area.
There were no islands here, only endless open ocean. Thick clouds hung overhead, and hidden within them was Golden Lion Pirates fleet.
Several lookouts held telescopes, keeping watch on the waters below. While Shiki stood at the edge of the floating island, gazing out at the sky and sea, captivated.
"Captain Shiki," a crew mber asked, "we've been here for hours. Who are we waiting for?"
Shiki narrowed his eyes. "This is a route every ship must take to reach the next island. Right here, we'll ambush that magma brat. Then we'll cross the Red Line and destroy Marineford."
Thinking of that towering magma giant, the crew mber wiped a nervous sweat. "But Captain, that Sakazuki guy... he's not easy to deal with. I an, we—"
Shiki snorted. "I've studied him. The reason that magma brat was so hard to deal with last ti was because his magma was drawn from deep beneath the earth. It gave him a continuous, unstoppable power source."
He looked downward. "But here, it's nothing but open sea with no islands in sight. His strength will be drastically reduced. "
He lifted a hand. "We're in the sky. All we need to do is destroy the warships beneath him, and he'll have nowhere to stand. At that point, he's just a fish on the cutting board."
Shiki paused as a cold chuckle escaped his lips.
Far off on the horizon, five tiny black dots appeared along the sea's edge—five warships advancing in a fan-shaped formation.
At the bow of the lead vessel stood Sakazuki, arms folded, eyes on the ocean ahead. His mind, however, was elsewhere. Replaying and analyzing the strange behavior Sengoku had shown the night before.
The admiral hadn't let anything slip, but... Garp. That old man seed unusually interested in him.
'Did Sengoku tell him sothing? Those two... sothing's not right.'
Sakazuki furrowed his brows, deep in thought.
Then suddenly, as if sensing sothing, he lifted his head and looked at the distant sky.
"Golden Lion."
...
High above, Shiki noticed the fleet below shifting its formation.
"So they've spotted us. Alright, boys—get ready!!"
His crew grabbed their weapons, bloodlust in their eyes.
"Yeah!!!"
With a wide swing of Shiki's right arm, several small floating islands plumted toward the Marine fleet like teors.
Then the massive land beneath his feet, along with the surrounding pirate ships, began their descent.
...
On the lead warship below, two giant magma dragons erupted from the deck, stretching outward with terrifying force.
Twisting and writhing, they smashed the falling islands into rubble before turning toward the attackers above.
Shiki soared downward, swords drawn, Conqueror's Haki crackling across the blades like black lightning. Just as he closed in for the strike, a sudden, overwhelming sense of danger surged through his chest.
His body halted mid-charge. At the sa ti, the magma dragons swerved unnaturally, dodging him completely and rushing to either side.
Then—
BOOM!!!
Both dragon heads exploded violently!
Too fast. No ti to react.
From the fiery blasts, two figures erged, shrouded in molten smoke.
Shiki's eyes widened in disbelief. His hairs stood on end. His pupils shrank to pinpoints.
"Who betrayed ?!"
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