The wall of fire burns the sea
Following Garp's orders, the three naval ships quickly shifted course, heading straight toward Roja.
Roja, standing calmly on his ship, noticed the approaching vessels. The dog-headed warship among them made it clear who was leading the charge—it was none other than Vice Admiral Garp himself.
"The ship ahead, halt immediately and cooperate with the investigation!"
The loud demand came through the warships' transponder snails, amplified by loudspeakers.
Hearing this, Roja lowered his hood slightly, revealing a calm yet resolute expression. "Not the time to play with them," he muttered to himself.
Time was running out—only two days remained until the check-in deadline for Vermeio. Roja suspected that the Golden Lion, Shiki, had already reached the island, possibly using his Fuwa Fuwa no Mi powers to lift it into the sky. He had no time to waste, not even for Garp.
Roja's hand moved to the hilt of his sword, Ryūjin Jakka. Slowly, he unsheathed it, revealing a blade that seemed to radiate an unbearable heat.
"Reduce all creation to ash... Ryūjin Jakka!"
As Roja uttered these words, flames erupted from the blade, instantly turning the air around him into a shimmering, distorted haze. The surge of spiritual energy accompanied by a kingly aura rolled out like a tidal wave.
On the naval ships, the marines froze in place, their instincts screaming at them to flee. Even Garp's experienced eyes narrowed as he felt the suffocating presence.
"This guy…" Garp muttered, his fists clenching. "That's one hell of a Haki!"
Roja raised the flaming sword and slashed horizontally. A colossal wave of fire surged forth, striking the ocean with immense force. The resulting explosion of steam and waves sent Roja's ship surging forward at an accelerated pace, leaving the naval vessels struggling to stabilize themselves.
In the aftermath, a towering wall of fire spanned dozens of miles across the sea, separating Roja from the pursuing navy.
Garp gritted his teeth, glaring at the blazing barrier. "That brat! If I catch him, I'll make him regret it!" His booming voice carried over the crackling flames, but Roja was already too far away to hear.
Watching the mysterious figure disappear over the horizon, Garp frowned deeply. "The direction he's heading... It's the same as the Golden Lion's."
His expression grew darker. Grabbing the transponder snail, he contacted Fleet Admiral Sengoku.
"Garp here. I've encountered that mysterious cloaked guy."
Sengoku's voice barked back almost immediately. "Did you catch him? Did you get a good look at him?"
"No, he slipped away, putting up some insane flame barrier between us. But there's something worse—the direction he's heading is toward the Golden Lion's presumed location. If those two join forces, it could mean chaos for the seas!"
Sengoku's voice grew grim. "Understood. I'll personally lead reinforcements. Hold him off until we arrive. Don't let them regroup!"
Garp laughed in his usual carefree manner. "Leave it to me, Sengoku, but you better not take your sweet time!"
As the connection ended, Garp's gaze remained fixed on the horizon. His grin widened, though his tone was laced with determination. "Mysterious swordsman or not, this time, you're not getting away!"
Meanwhile, Roja sailed steadily toward Vermeio, using Olvia's hand-drawn map to guide him. His pace slowed slightly as he approached the island, careful to adjust for its position.
By the end of the fourth day, the silhouette of Vermeio came into view on the horizon. However, as Roja drew closer, an overwhelming stench of blood filled the air. He frowned, his sharp senses tingling.
"For such a strong smell of blood, how many lives must have been taken?"
Roja anchored his ship near the shore, stepping off carefully. As soon as his boots touched the ground, the system's familiar electronic chime rang in his mind.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host! You have successfully checked in and received the Twelve Zodiac Talisman—Rooster Charm. This charm allows the user to levitate and manipulate objects with telekinetic precision, similar to the Golden Lion's Fuwa Fuwa no Mi.]
Roja retrieved the talisman from his system inventory, holding it in his hand. A faint blue glow enveloped him as he mentally commanded the charm to activate. Slowly, his body began to float.
"So this is what flying feels like."
After a few experimental movements, Roja adjusted to the charm's powers and ascended higher into the air. From this vantage point, the source of the blood became horrifyingly clear.
The village in the jungle below was a scene of complete carnage. Corpses littered the ground, blood soaking into the earth. It was a macabre purgatory, and sword marks scarred the landscape as far as the eye could see.
Following the trail of destruction, Roja spotted the source—a man with a wild mane of golden hair and two swords attached to his legs.
The infamous Golden Lion Shiki.
Shiki's bloodshot eyes gleamed with unrestrained madness as he swung his swords, sending devastating waves of sword energy through the air. His strikes tore through the jungle, cutting down anyone in his path.
"Jihahahaha! This world is for the strong! The weak have no place here!" Shiki bellowed, his voice echoing with cruel amusement.
He slashed at a cluster of fleeing villagers, the air ringing with the sharp sound of his blades.
"I like this island! From now on, it's mine! You lot should consider yourselves lucky—you get to die for a worthy cause!"
Shiki's face twisted with glee as he continued his slaughter, honing his skills and regaining his strength after escaping Impel Down. Though his feet were now replaced with his legendary swords, Oto and Kogarashi, he was quickly adapting to their use.
Unseen by Shiki, Roja hovered silently above him, his gaze cold and calculating.
"Golden Lion Shiki…" Roja muttered. "I'll put an end to your madness."
Shiki's instinct suddenly flared, and his bloodshot eyes snapped toward the jungle, sensing a powerful presence nearby. His lips curled into a wicked grin.
"Who's there?! Come out!" he roared, readying his swords for another bout of carnage.