"Jihahahaha!" Shiki's laugh boomed, then cut off abruptly. He sneered at Sora, eyes wild. "Kid, it's time to fight for real. Don't blame me if you die slacking!"
With that, he charged at Sora.
Sora's eyes flashed red, narrowing his Observation Haki to the combat zone. The precision was night-and-day—his blade felt like an extension of his will.
Such advanced Haki techniques were hard to grasp without a master's guidance. Observation Haki naturally radiated outward, tough to control. Most could only toggle it on or off.
Who'd imagine mastering it to such a microscopic degree?
Clang!
Sora parried Shiki's strike, sheathing Zankuu swiftly as Shiki's second slash came roaring in.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The tables turned—Sora was now on the defensive.
Yet he sensed Shiki was deliberately guiding his swordsmanship, refining his Haki.
Sora glanced at Shiki, his gaze complex.
Catching it, Shiki roared with laughter. "Jihahahaha! Don't tell me you're pitying me, kid!"
His aura exploded with ferocity. "Who do you think I am?"
"I'm the captain of the Flying Pirates, admiral of the Golden Lion Armada, the Sky Pirate—Golden Lion Shiki!"
Facing Shiki's sudden fury, Sora focused on defense.
On the island, the clash of blades echoed endlessly.
Occasionally, a stray slash cleaved the clouds above.
The battle raged for a day and two nights.
By the third day's sunrise, the island's clamor faded.
The once-mountainous island was now a flattened wasteland.
At its center, a massive, sinking crater held Shiki and Sora, both panting, staring each other down.
Sora's breath was steady, but Shiki's was ragged, faltering.
He was exhausted.
His life's flame was flickering out.
Only sheer willpower had sustained him this long.
Sora looked at Shiki, emotions swirling—respect, gratitude. The old man had truly become his master, even without the title.
What's with these sea titans loving to teach?
I'm not Luffy!
Did Shiki spot my protagonist vibe?
"Jihahahaha!" Shiki's sudden laugh snapped Sora's thoughts. Grinning, Sora joined in.
Master, huh? Fine by me!
If Shiki dared to teach, Sora dared to learn.
Shiki gazed at Sora, pleased with his final student. In just a day and two nights, Sora had absorbed his swordsmanship and Haki techniques.
Stopping his laughter, Shiki smiled. "Kid, one last lesson. Your Conqueror's Haki is too raw."
"I don't know how you pulled off 'Conqueror's Wrapping,' but yours pales beside the real deal."
A supreme wave of Conqueror's Haki erupted from him. Dropping his left sword, he gripped the right with both hands.
A dense purple-black aura surged, spreading outward, sparking red-purple lightning around him.
Veins bulged on Shiki's forehead. Wrapping this Haki around his blade was nearly too much in his state.
Sora watched quietly, not interrupting.
His own Conqueror's Wrapping used his spatial domain's omnipotent mental force to coat his blade. Stronger than Armament Haki, but not a game-changer.
Shiki looked up, continuing, "Conqueror's Haki is your spirit's might. It doesn't grow through training—only through clashing with other elite Conqueror's users, refining control."
"When you master Conqueror's Haki like Armament Haki, wrapping comes naturally."
With that, he swung his life's final slash.
A colossal crescent-shaped purple-black slash bridged the gap, as if slicing reality itself. Spiderweb-like fractures spread, cracking the island.
"Kid, if you can't take this, die with me!"
"The sea spares no weaklings!"
"Jihahahaha!"
Sora stood firm, eyes locked on the towering slash. His silver hair whipped back, starlight flickering in his gaze. He reached for Zankuu, hesitated, and stopped.
Shiki's life-burning strike was beyond his blade's reach. Its edge rivaled even Hawkeye Mihawk—unless Mihawk also wielded Conqueror's Wrapping.
With no choice, Sora faced the slash head-on. "Old man, I'll show you my ultimate power. Die knowing it."
Shiki, hearing him, silenced his laughter. Struggling, he forced his eyes open, banishing hallucinations.
He was spent, his body failing. Only stubborn will kept him upright.
Looking up, he saw his slash hit Sora.
Bang!
It struck an invisible wall. Sora's surrounding space shattered like a mirror.
Expecting it to press through, Shiki watched as the broken space mended instantly.
After a stalemate, the slash split. The upper half soared skyward; the lower half halted before Sora.
It shrank rapidly, vanishing entirely.
His island-absorption trick?
"Impressive!" Shiki rasped.
"Jihahaha!" His laugh rang out, seeing his old foe, Roger in Sora.
"East Blue again… East Blue thwarts my throne again!"
"Roger…"
With a final roar, Shiki's breath stopped.
(End of Chapter)