The Rise Of The Serpent King

The battlefield was chaos incarnate. Dust swirled through the air, mingling with the cries of battle and the deafening roars of Lion Heart in her fully transformed state. Blood trickled down Kikidori's temple as he crouched behind a boulder, trying to catch his breath. The Serpent King had taken many hits today, and he wasn't sure how much more he could take.

His mind raced. *She's too strong. Even with everyone fighting together, she's just too strong.* His gaze flicked to the rest of the crew. Zoro was locked in a fierce clash with one of Lion Heart's commanders, his swords clashing like thunder. Sanji was keeping another commander at bay while simultaneously trying to protect Nami and Chopper. Luffy, in his base form, was engaged in a brutal one-on-one with Lion Heart, but even his relentless determination wasn't enough to turn the tide.

"This is hopeless," Kikidori muttered, clenching his fists. He hated feeling weak, especially when everyone else was giving it their all.

"Kiki-san!" Ere'ana's voice rang out as she dashed toward him. She knelt by his side, her hands glowing faintly as she checked his wounds. "You need to stop hiding and fight! The crew needs you!"

"I *am* fighting!" Kikidori snapped, though his voice lacked conviction. "It's just… she's stronger than we thought. I don't know if I can…" His words trailed off as he looked down at his trembling hands.

Ere'ana grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close. "Listen to me, Diamond D. Kikidori. You're the Serpent King. You've got power that none of us can even understand yet. So stop doubting yourself and *use it!*"

Her words struck a chord. Kikidori's breath steadied, and a spark of determination flickered in his eyes. "Alright," he said, pushing himself to his feet. "But you'd better not let me die out there."

Ere'ana smirked. "You've survived worse. Now go."

Kikidori stepped out from behind the boulder, his eyes locked on Lion Heart. She was mid-swing, her massive claws slicing through the air toward Luffy, who narrowly dodged. Kikidori took a deep breath and did something reckless.

He ran.

At first, it looked like he was retreating again, and Raiko even shouted, "Coward!" from across the battlefield. But Kikidori wasn't running away—he was positioning himself.

As he ran, he focused on the power within him. The Viper Viper no Mi wasn't just any devil fruit; it was a Mythical Zoan with abilities that even he hadn't fully tapped into. His body began to shift, his muscles tightening as a strange energy coursed through him.

"Gear 2," he whispered, mimicking the technique he'd seen Luffy use so many times. But this wasn't just Luffy's Gear 2—it was Kikidori's own adaptation, fueled by the unique nature of his devil fruit.

His body transformed. His eyes became slitted like a snake's, glowing faintly in the dim light. His teeth sharpened into fangs, and scales appeared along his arms and neck. His movements became faster, almost serpentine, and a faint hiss accompanied every breath he took.

He turned back toward the battlefield, his newly transformed state giving him a newfound confidence. With a hiss, he darted toward Lion Heart at blinding speed, his sword Ophiophagus hannah gleaming in the sunlight.

Lion Heart noticed him immediately. "Back for more, little snake?" she sneered, baring her massive fangs.

"You talk too much," Kikidori shot back, his voice tinged with a venomous edge. He swung his sword in a rapid arc, sending another shockwave in the shape of a cobra toward her.

Lion Heart deflected it with ease, but Kikidori was already moving. His newfound speed allowed him to close the distance in an instant, and he landed a solid slash across her side.

Lion Heart roared in pain and fury, swiping at him with her claws. Kikidori dodged, his movements fluid and unpredictable, like a snake weaving through tall grass.

But as strong as Kikidori was in this form, it wasn't enough to bring her down. Lion Heart's durability was unmatched, and even his most powerful attacks seemed to only graze her.

That's when Luffy stepped in.

"Oi, Kiki!" Luffy shouted, grinning despite the blood running down his face. "Let's finish this together!"

Kikidori smirked, his sharp teeth glinting. "About time, Captain."

Luffy activated Gear 5, his body morphing into a surreal, cartoonish form. His laughter echoed through the battlefield as his haki-infused punches began landing with devastating force. Together, Luffy and Kikidori launched a coordinated assault on Lion Heart, their combined power pushing her to the brink.

With one final, synchronized attack—Luffy's "Gum Gum Giant Jet Pistol" and Kikidori's enhanced "King Cobra"—they sent Lion Heart crashing to the ground.

The battlefield fell silent as the yonko lay motionless, defeated.

The villagers, who had been hiding in fear, began to emerge from their homes. Cheers erupted as they realized that the tyrannical reign of Lion Heart was finally over.

But the victory wasn't without its quirks. Regulus, Lion Heart's loyal lion companion, was still prowling around, growling menacingly. Kikidori, ever the wildcard, reached into his pocket, pulled out a bone, and tossed it into the distance.

"Fetch!" he shouted.

To everyone's astonishment, Regulus took off after the bone, wagging his tail like a dog.

"Wait, aren't lions supposed to be cats?" Nami asked, bewildered.

"Don't question it," Sanji muttered, lighting a cigarette.

The Usopp says, "Why does Kikidori even have a bone in his pocket?"

Kikidori responded "Don't ask questions, Long nose"

As the crew regrouped, a marine ship was spotted on the horizon. Word of Lion Heart's defeat had already spread, and the marines were quick to update Kikidori's bounty. His new title, "Serpent King," solidified his growing reputation, and the villagers of Charicard declared him the island's protector and unofficial yonko.

As the crew set sail, leaving the island behind, Kikidori stood at the stern, staring back at Charicard with a mix of pride and unease.

"Yonko, huh?" he muttered to himself. "Guess I've got big shoes to fill."

Robin approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You've already proven yourself, Kikidori. Just keep being who you are."

He smiled up at her. "Thanks, Mom."

With their sails full and their spirits high, the Straw Hats sailed on, ready for whatever lay ahead.

End of Chapter 44