28 A legend from an old era

(AN: Little tip, try listening to one piece ost difficult at the beginning of the chap)

Looking up in the direction of the huge presence, I saw a black dot in the sky. As it got closer it also became bigger, big enough for the others to see it.

The black dot soon turned into a ship, from which an dreadful atmosphere spread. A tall man could be seen standing on the ships figure head.

His head held high, a cigar in his mouth and a huge grin spread across his face when our eyes met.

He wears a yellow striped Haori, has swords as legs just beneath his knees and half a rudder partly in his head.

'Golden Lion Shiki'

Looking behind me I glanced at the others who were solemnly gazing at the flying ship. Everyone but Law and Sabo seem to be nervous.

Once the ship was above our position Shiki jumped down together with another person following behind.

Dust blew up when they landed, covering them within but I could still sense their exact position, which is what enabled me to react in time.

Drawing my sword and receiving Shiki's attack head on caused a strong force to penetrate my body, as the ground beneath me cracked and a shockwave blasted the remaining dust away.

'And you want to tell me that Luffy beat Someone like that before the timeskip?!'

It took the others a moment to realize what just happened but they finally grabbed their weapons and got into a battle stance, ready to rush forward and fight.

Luckily for them, Shiki wasn't interested and retreated to his original position after the first attack, his grin even wider than it was.

"Who the hell is that?!"

Penguin, who was visibly nervous asked out loud. Guess the others didn't see his movement at all but then again it would have been more surprising if they did.

"Tha… that… how can it be?! What is someone like him doing here?!"

Wolf exclaimed visibly shocked. Sweat was running down his face as he looked at Shiki with wide eyes. It was obvious that he knew who stood in front him.

"Hihahahahaha! It surprises me that someone recognized me so quickly. Guess my name still hasn't vanished from the old folk's memories."

"Law… take Bepo and the others and run! You must get away from here as soon as possible!"

'Why not say it louder, what if he didn't hear you?'

"You wanna run? Sure, I'm not really interested in you since I'm only here for him but still you think it's that easy?"

Of course his finger would be pointing at me. While Wolf, who was freaking out a little started a dramatic dialogue about fleeing and living for tomorrow with Law and co. I signaled Sabo and Kuina to fall back a bit further.

This is definitely too much for them.

"Shiki, the golden lion… a legendary pirate who once shared an era with Roger and Whitebeard… what do you want from me?"

!!!

"Hooo? Even a young brat like you knows who I am… Whatever, it makes things a bit easier. Join me and become my subordinate.

His words suddenly silenced everyone. It even surprised me since I didn't have any idea why he came here… but to recruit me…

"Brat, since you know about my identity I expected a different reaction from silence. Not everyone can make me move personally and if not for the fact that you overcame the Red Line I wouldn't have come to test you my self."

'Damn it! So that was the reason!'

"I refuse! Sabo, Kuina go back I'll handle this alone."

My answer seems to have caught him of guard just now.

"You… refuse? Kid do you know what you are saying? In due time I will conquer the world and here I am, personally inviting you, a kid, to join me and you… YOU refuse?!"

I have no intention to join him. I didn't choose to get reincarnated in this world to serve under another captain, much less under Shiki.

"Yeah I refuse! Joining you? Conquering? I don't want to! What point is there in being a pirate if you're not free to do as you please!"

!

"Those words… you made me remember someone just now… Kid I'll give you one last chance. I don't want to waste such talent and potential by killing you. So Join me or you'll leave me no choice!"

"Choice? I choose not to join you and crush you on top of that!"

!!!

"You… YOU! Hihahahahaha! You are like him!"

A maniac's grin, wide enough to make me believe his face would split, appeared on his face. In his eyes a strange glint appeared as he was looking at me with… passion?

*shudder*

"I warn you stay away from me! I don't swing that way is that clear!"

"Good! Very good! I've changed my mind now. I'll beat you until you are convinced!"

'fcking psycho!'

"Go take care of the brats behind him. Maybe that might help clear up his mind."

'So he is going after the others to shake me up!'

For the first time since their arrival I paid some attention to the second person that came with Shiki… it's just that it wasn't a person. Ist a Gorilla… a scarlet one at that.

"Sabo take Kuina and go. I'll hold them here."

"But what ab…"

"Just come for now."

Kuina wanted to say something but was interrupted by Sabo.

Together with law's group they went towards Wolf's house , he is probably thinking about using one of his inventions. Who knows maybe there will be something helpful.

Scarlet gorilla went after them but was interrupted when I nearly slices of his head. Had it not been for Shiki nearly slicing of my head I would have succeeded.

"You Are quite strong despite your young age. I can somewhat understand why you don't want to join others but you're still naive. Remember that there are people out there even Roger and Whitebeard couldn't overcome alone. But if you join me I could help you reach new highs!"

"You're Talking to much."

Using soru I instantly appeared in front of him, my sword drawn and coated in armament and conqueror's haki.

Divine departure!

'Success!'

My plan to surprise or shock Shiki and land the first hit succeeded. At least partly. I did land a hit but he blocked just in time… still he was sent flying backwards with blood dripping out of his mouth.

What I have gathered so far, based on his initial test, how he almost got me when I was careless and his way of reacting to my attacks, is that he is stronger than me physically. His sword art is also more refined, he is positioning himself in a way that allows him to always parry or dodge and I've got yet to see him using his devil fruit.

On the other hand he didn't use haki even once. I mean according to what I could sense he seems to have tried but it was chaotic and couldn't be utilized.

I don't know why or how but It should be because of how strange his presence felt before.

"You!… how do you know that move?!"

Appearing in front of me again, that was the first thing he asked. Understandable, I would have reacted in a similar way.

"I bet you'd wanna know!"

"Tell me! Who the hell are you?!"

He came at me again with full force. Unleashing a furry of attacks that were impossible for me to defend or parry them all even with armament haki, he didn't give me the time for coating my weapon with conqueror's haki again and forced me to retreat instead.

He is predicting my movement even without observation haki thanks to his experience.

His devil fruit powers weren't used to directly attack me, instead they disturbed my balance and footing limiting the actions I could take to evade his attacks.

Had it not been for future sight and the rokushiki I would have been in serious trouble by now.

'He may be predicting my moves but that is dependent on his sight!'

Thinking this I unleashed wide scale attacks that would blow up some debris and dust to block his vision. Unlike him, I could sense his position so I knew that he was currently flying upwards trying to leave the dust cloud.

Using soru and geppo I appeared above him before he left the dust cloud. The sword held in both hands, above my head and clad in armament and conqueror's haki I swung down on him with full force, cutting his torso and sending him crashing down.

Divine adventure: 8th trial!

Surprisingly Shiki not only managed to minimize the damage he suffered by moving back with the right timing, he also counterattacked and a deep cut appeared in the region between my right shoulder and my neck.

'Had it not been for future sight, that attack would have split my skull… what a scary monster.'

Shiki's battle sense honed through countless bloody fights and his superior physical attributes paired with the utility of his devil fruit powers made him far more than just a worthy opponent even without being able to use haki!

Scarlet gorilla has gone after the others quite some time ago but if I want to help them I'll have to fully focus on this fight right now!

(AN: Hi everyone! Again I'm sorry for uploading only every second day but the internships in the laboratory started in university and a lot of work needs to be done. I'll see if I can write a second chapter or some extras during the weekend but no promises! Thx for reading!)