146. Shishi Odoshi: Gosho Chimakin

With a brief look, Atlas noticed that there weren't as many fierce beasts as he had initially thought.

"It looks like the Shiki hasn't created that kind of drug yet..."

Atlas paid no attention to the other islands and proceeded directly to the largest floating island in the center. In his perception, Shiki's presence lingered within the palace, devoid of any signs of movement.

This is silent disdain!

"Haha... Do you truly believe you're still Shiki of past?"

While it's true that, as one of the three great pirates alongside Roger and Whitebeard, he was certainly qualified to command the seas, Shiki seemed to be genuinely out of luck.

Since the Battle of Edd War, that colossal helm has pierced through his brain. It hasn't significantly affected his strength in the short term, or else he wouldn't have been able to infiltrate the Naval Headquarters solo later on.

Furthermore, Garp and Sengoku had to join forces to apprehend the Golden Lion. Even though their collaboration was aimed at swiftly neutralizing the threat to minimize Marine losses, it highlighted Shiki's formidable strength.

Over time, the damage inflicted on his brain by the ship's helm eventually hindered his mastery of Haki. Alongside the loss of both legs, the skilled swordsman couldn't unleash his full power. Thus, after more than a decade, he found himself defeated by Luffy.

Certainly, the combat power in the theatrical version can't be considered a reliable reference, but it does provide some insight into the extent to which the Golden Lion has been debilitated by both old age and severe injuries.

Before long, Shiki's palace came into view for Atlas, prompting a small chuckle. "Honestly, still dreaming of being the king of the world," he mused.

Bakuhatsu (Explosion)

Descending gently, a burst of flames surged directly towards the palace, accompanied by a roiling heatwave!

Boom!

Atlas burned down the place the Golden Lion took care of, and a big cloud of smoke went up in the sky!

"Curse you, Marine scum!"

Angry shouts and curses echoed from the smoke as a swiftly moving figure soared into the sky, clutching a lifeless humanoid form in its grasp. The appearance of this legendary pirate was fully exposed before Atlas.

Sporting a golden beard and mane, his appearance befitting the moniker Golden Lion, he only had a faint black beard around his mouth. Atlas pondered whether his hair color was intentionally dyed this shade.

Clad in a traditional orange and yellow striped kimono, he sported the distinctive helm affixed atop his head. An expression of fury adorned his face, and his legs were replaced by two renowned swords, each of considerable size.

"Marine brat, ignorant of the renown of the Flying Pirate, do you wish to conclude your Marine career right here? Shihahahaha!"

Shiki comically widened one eye, yet it concealed the true rage within. The Marine before him had audaciously obliterated his palace, housing top meteorological and research talents he had amassed from far and wide.

He casually tossed the unconscious Indigo from the air, but to his surprise, the white-faced clown didn't plummet into a mush as anticipated. It seemed as if an enormous invisible hand was guiding his limp body, gently lowering him to the ground below the islands.

"Hey~ What a shame!"

Had Indigo not been instrumental in his IQ studies, Shiki wouldn't have bothered to spare his life. Subordinates were merely disposable tools in his eyes.

"I didn't anticipate you pushing the Float-Float Fruit's capabilities this far. Truly befitting of the legendary pirate, Shiki!"

Atlas naturally understood that the Shiki's Float-Float Fruit could only defy gravity on inanimate objects other than the user, and physical contact was necessary. As long as he didn't lose consciousness or fall into a coma after making contact, there was a possibility of achieving permanent control over the object!

The sight before him clearly indicated that the Golden Lion hadn't defied the inherent rules of the fruit. Instead, he generated a lifting force on Indigo's body by manipulating the air's buoyancy.

This! It's clearly the awakened ability of the fruit!

Consider this: as one of the three legendary pirates in the previous era, both the Devil Fruit ability and Haki proficiency are undeniably at the pinnacle of that era. Awakening the fruit is a given for individuals of their caliber!

"Shihahaha! So, you're aware of the fruit awakening. But..." Shiki grinned widely, revealing scarlet gums, "You better stay put! My masterpiece isn't finished yet, and we can't afford to leave any traces for the Marines to follow!"

"That's not for you to decide!"

The moment he finished speaking, an explosion erupted at Atlas' feet, and he swiftly propelled himself upward with the assistance of the reaction force! (T/N: Like Shinra?)

Almost simultaneously, the Golden Lion in mid-air employed Kogarashi on his feet to unleash several colossal sword energies in the direction of Atlas's advance!

Slash Wave!

Shiki's distinctive sword technique is potent enough to cleave through hundreds of kilometers of sea, effortlessly traversing the waves.

Kamisori (Razor)

Kamisori is a fusion of Geppo and within the Rokushiki, compensating for the inability to alter direction in aerial combat through sheer force. Rather than relying on brute strength, Atlas effortlessly evaded several Slash Waves by leveraging his ability to foresee the future!

"That's quite swift! What an interesting Marine."

Shiki's pupils contracted; in all his years of traversing the seas, he had never encountered someone who reached such a level of pure physical speed.

"Careful, old man."

In an instant, Atlas's voice resonated from above the Golden Lion.

Before Shiki could react, a potent and weighty downward slash struck him forcefully!

Bakuhatsu tomahōku (Explosion Tomahawk)

Boom!

Without a doubt, Shiki in mid-air was swiftly shot down, and the shockwaves produced by the two combatants immediately rippled in all directions, centered on the Shiki's landing point. In an instant, sand and rocks were sent flying, obscuring visibility.

Yet, Atlas's Haki informed him that the Golden Lion's aura wasn't severely compromised. It's worth noting that the explosive force of this strike far exceeded the resilience of the Golden Lion's aged body.

"Hey~ What a bothersome Devil Fruit power!"

However, Atlas wasn't one to grant the enemy respite. With a sharp focus, he charged directly towards the Golden Lion!

Shishi Odoshi: Gosho Chimakin (Lion's Menace: Imperial Palace Thousand Rolls)

A deep resonance echoed, and a blizzard suddenly materialized in the sky. The gusty blades of wind and snowflakes swiftly coalesced into a majestic lion's head, its fangs parting as the colossal mouth swiftly clamped down on Atlas!

Another reason why Logia is deemed the strongest ability is their capacity to harness the power of nature, conjuring attacks akin to natural disasters. Presently, the Shiki, despite being a Paramecia user, exhibits this capability. Although Atlas is uncertain about how this old guy achieves it, this particular move certainly made him take the situation seriously.

Shiki is aging but still capable of putting up a fight!

Bakuen ryū (Explosion Flame Dragon)

A flame dragon, comprised of swiftly formed and expanding flames, took shape. Distinct scales were intricately etched on the dragon's body. While the Dragon Talisman bestowed it with the ability to detonate, the actual flame remained the carrier of the explosive power, making the construction of the flame dragon a crucial aspect. For Atlas, handling it was a piece of cake.

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