The Heart of the Strong, Shiki’s Defeat

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The light dissipated, and only then did the terrifying explosion echo across the battlefield.

"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"

The blazing sword energy that Roja had unleashed became increasingly clear in Shiki's eyes, enlarging as it bore down on him. At this point, there was nowhere left for the Golden Lion Shiki to escape.

"Bang!"

Another thunderous explosion rang out. The sword energy crashed onto Shiki with devastating force.

The gathered marines and onlookers stared in sheer disbelief.

The legendary Golden Lion Shiki, once a symbol of unchallenged might, had been struck down with a single attack by this mysterious man.

And it was done so swiftly.

"Impossible!"

"That's the Golden Lion Shiki!"

"The legendary Flying Pirate defeated in one blow?!"

The disbelief rippled through the navy ranks. They could barely comprehend what they were seeing. The once-mighty Shiki, who had held the world at bay, now lay distorted, his silhouette obscured by the blazing flames engulfing him.

There were no screams. Only the crackling roar of the flames.

No one dared imagine the agony Shiki was enduring. For them, such torment would have been unbearable. They would have died long before enduring this hell.

When the flames finally died down, Shiki came into view—a figure blackened like charcoal. His once-proud golden mane was gone, burned away entirely. His body lay scorched, emitting an acrid, smoky smell.

And yet, in this pitiful state, Shiki raised a trembling hand.

The marines froze, their hearts gripped by unease.

"No way… The Golden Lion Shiki still has the strength to fight back?!"

"Even in this condition… he's still standing?!"

"What kind of monstrous willpower is this?!"

Roja observed the scene, his face calm. He could tell that Shiki had nothing left, his body battered and exhausted. But Roja couldn't deny the man's indomitable spirit.

In a voice low enough for Shiki alone to hear, Roja said:

"I take back what I said earlier. I admit it—you are truly strong."

With those words, Roja turned away, activating the Chicken Talisman. In the blink of an eye, he vanished, leaving the battlefield with the same calmness with which he had arrived.

Shiki gritted his teeth. Those words stirred memories of his own past. He thought of the declaration he had once made to Gol D. Roger.

"You bastard... I swear I'll defeat you someday!"

With that final thought, Shiki's strength gave out. He fell from the sky, crashing into the ground with a heavy thud, a plume of dust rising in his wake.

It was only then that Sengoku and the others snapped out of their stunned silence.

The Fleet Admiral clenched his fists tightly, his face grim as he muttered:

"He escaped… again!"

Returning to his human form, Sengoku gave a sharp order:

"Cuff the Golden Lion with Seastone shackles immediately. He's to be returned to Impel Down and locked in the Eternal Hell on Level Six."

As the marines moved to follow his command, Sengoku turned to the ever-relaxed Garp, frustration evident in his voice.

"The mission's only half-done, and yet you're smiling? What's so amusing, Garp?"

Garp chuckled lightly before replying:

"That man, Roja… He's not only a master of fire and swordsmanship but also has a strange ability similar to Shiki's. And from what I saw, it's likely the Ope Ope no Mi is also in his possession. I can't help but wonder... How does a man like that even exist?"

The smile faded from Garp's face as he continued, his tone more serious.

"But one thing is clear. With a man like him out there, the seas will be in chaos."

Sengoku sighed heavily, sharing the sentiment.

"Yes… The balance of the world is on the verge of collapse. That man ruined our plans not just once but again and again."

The fleet admiral stared into the distance, where Roja had disappeared. In his heart, he knew that this mysterious man had proven himself a power unlike anything they'd faced before.

Even though the Golden Lion had been weakened from his imprisonment and injuries, his fruit abilities had evolved into a fearsome force. Yet Roja's single strike had effortlessly overwhelmed him, leaving the mighty pirate broken and burned.

This was a grim revelation of Roja's true strength.

Meanwhile, Roja soared through the skies, heading towards the Holy Land of Mariejois. The system had just issued his next task.

[Ding! New Check-In Task: Holy Land Mariejois. Reward: Random top-tier Devil Fruit without side effects. Time Limit: 3 days.]

Using the power of the Chicken Talisman, Roja glided swiftly through the air. Yet even with this ability, the journey was cumbersome.

He thought back to Shiki's techniques and decided to emulate them.

After traveling for hours, Roja finally spotted an island below. Without hesitation, he descended and activated the Chicken Talisman, enveloping the island in a faint blue glow.

In moments, the island began to rise from the sea, floating under Roja's control. Waves surged and roared as the island broke free from the ocean's surface.

Now commanding his own floating island, Roja set his course for Mariejois.

The Holy Land of Mariejois, perched atop the Red Line, stood as the seat of world power. It was home to the Celestial Dragons and guarded by some of the most powerful forces in the world. Entering such a place was a perilous task.

Yet Roja had a plan.

By the third day, Roja arrived high above Mariejois, the floating island blending seamlessly with the night sky. Dark clouds obscured the stars and moon, masking his presence further.

Standing on the island's edge, Roja gazed down at the brightly lit Holy Land. A commotion caught his attention—faint but unmistakable.

If his memory served him right, this was the same period when Fisher Tiger had scaled the Red Line to liberate the slaves held captive by the Celestial Dragons.

The chaos provided the perfect cover for Roja to infiltrate.

He leapt from the island, his cloak billowing in the cold night wind as he descended toward Mariejois. Below, the turmoil grew louder, flames and shouts echoing in the distance.

As Roja approached, he even glimpsed Marineford in the distance, warships mobilizing toward the Holy Land.

"A truly magnificent sight," Roja murmured, before concealing his presence entirely.

Landing silently amidst the chaos, Roja began his infiltration of Mariejois...

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