One Piece: Ulquiorra Template

Chapter 85: Ian vs Golden Lion Shiki! Trying to Escape!

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The earth and sea trembled, a vast expanse nearly a hundred miles across. Then, as if seized by a colossal, invisible hand, a section of the ocean ripped free from its depths and soared skyward.

This was the power of "Golden Lion" Shiki, the legendary pirate who once rivaled Gol D. Roger himself.

Such a massive volume of water ascending into the air was a sight most would never witness in their lifetime. Within its churning depths, fish and shrimp of all sizes were visible, even monstrous fish spanning hundreds of meters. Yet, compared to the colossal ice island they were attached to, these creatures appeared minuscule. The roar of displaced water was deafening.

As the ocean surged upward, the sea below churned and frothed. The violent upheaval created a maelstrom that dragged several warships anchored nearby into its grasp, most sinking beneath the waves.

All eyes stared upwards in awe at the colossal mass of water blotting out the sky.

The earth, too, quaked and shuddered, affected by the Float-Float Fruit's power.

It was a scene of apocalyptic proportions, a display of power that defied nature itself.

Suddenly, four colossal lion heads, sculpted from earth and seawater, rose hundreds of meters into the air, roaring defiantly as they converged, threatening to crush everything in their path.

These monstrous constructs, born from Shiki's power, surrounded Sengoku, Garp, and the other Marines, poised to strike. But just as the lion heads were about to close in, a cold voice cut through the air. The earth and water stilled, frozen mid-motion.

"Meigō!" (Dark Hound)

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Blazing torrents of magma, shaped like hounds, erupted in all directions, smashing against Shiki's "Lion's Majesty," shattering the earthen constructs and sending debris raining down.

An aura of pure destructive force radiated from Akainu, warping the air and sending shivers down the spines of those nearby.

"Shiki, that bastard..." Sengoku, trapped within another earthen lion, drew a deep breath, his fury barely contained. His massive Buddha form glowed as he unleashed a powerful shockwave. The lion head before him cracked and crumbled, the fissures spreading rapidly until the entire construct disintegrated.

"Gravity Blade: Fierce Tiger!" Fujitora, too, joined the fray, unleashing a gravity-enhanced tiger-shaped attack that tore through another of Shiki's creations.

"Haha! A parting gift for you old geezers! We'll meet again, and next time, I'll tear down Marine Headquarters!" Shiki's laughter echoed through the air. When they looked up, he was already gone, sailing away on a cloud. With Fujitora, his natural counter, and two other formidable Marines present, staying would mean another stint in Impel Down. And this time, he had no legs left to sacrifice for his escape.

In the original timeline, Shiki, defeated by a pre-Haki Luffy, had suffered a somewhat unfair defeat. Even without his legs, which he had severed to escape Impel Down, his Float-Float Fruit powers hadn't diminished significantly.

In the world of One Piece, strength was closely tied to active combat. Long periods of inactivity led to a rapid decline in power. Haki, too, required constant training to maintain its potency.

Both Shiki and Gecko Moria were prime examples of this. In his prime, Moria had rampaged through the Grand Line, entering the New World and even clashing with the Beasts Pirates in Wano, a battle that shook the nation.