Ash stared at the Den Den Mushi as it closed its eyes again and fell silent.
"Damn it, Pini. Eat, eat, eat. Is that all you ever think about?"
Half an hour later, while sitting in a barbecue restaurant on Gourmet Island, Ash dialed Sali's number.
"Hey, Sali. What's going on?"
"Dicken's team found traces of Golden Lion Shiki while conducting a sweep through the South Blue. I remembered you've been interested in that legendary pirate for a long time, so I figured I'd ask if you wanted to come take a look."
Ash's eyes lit up.
Back when the Dawn had been traveling across the Four Blues, especially through the South Blue, they had specifically searched for Golden Lion Shiki.
Later, after Sali and Wyper began training new recruits, they expanded the search throughout all Four Blues and even parts of the Grand Line. The search had been far more thorough than before, yet they still found no sign of him.
Ash found it absurd.
According to the stories, after escaping Impel Down, Shiki had hidden in the South Blue for twenty years while researching IQ. Yet despite all their efforts, they had never managed to locate him.
It's like he only existed to appear when the plot demanded it.
After they finally gave up searching, he practically delivered himself to their doorstep.
"Let's go. I'm definitely going."
Ash wanted to meet Golden Lion Shiki, not because of his reputation, but because he genuinely wanted to see what a ship's wheel embedded in someone's head actually looked like.
Half an hour later, Ash arrived in the South Blue.
Looking up at the cluster of floating islands suspended high above the sea, especially the massive island at the very top, he couldn't help but sigh.
The Float-Float Fruit was simply ridiculous.
Most Devil Fruit users had to continuously expend stamina to maintain their abilities. Yet anything Shiki made float seemed capable of remaining airborne indefinitely.
Then again...
His Devil Fruit had most likely awakened.
That explained a lot.
"I only met Issho a few days ago, and now I'm about to meet someone whose ability is practically his complete opposite. Interesting."
"Hmm? Who are you talking about?"
Dicken, who had remained aboard the White Sage Beast ship to wait for Ash, glanced over lazily.
"Nobody important." Ash smiled. "What's the situation with Shiki?"
"And why do you look so disappointed?"
"The Golden Lion?" Dicken snorted.
"At first he kept shouting things like, 'Gahahahaha! I am the man who will rule the seas from the sky!'"
"Then Sali beat him up."
"After that, he became much more cooperative."
"As for me..." Dicken sighed dramatically. "The Flying Pirate crew is full of trash. Aside from Shiki himself, none of them were worth mentioning. The recruits handled almost everything."
"I was the one who discovered the floating islands, but I didn't even get a decent fight."
Ash laughed.
"Don't worry. When the Dawn heads into Totto Land's waters, I'll call you over for a proper battle."
Then he blinked.
"Wait. Did you just say Shiki became cooperative?"
"Who knows?" Dicken shrugged. "Go see for yourself."
"I'm busy."
"What are you busy with now?"
Dicken rolled his eyes.
"Sali plans to deal with Shiki soon. Once his Devil Fruit ability disappears, these islands will inevitably fall."
"If they crash into the sea all at once, they'll trigger massive tsunamis."
"So I'm organizing the recruits into teams and arranging a controlled descent for each island."
"I haven't finished yet."
"Fair enough."
Ash waved and shot upward into the sky, heading directly toward Merveille, the highest island.
...
"Wow. You really are a mess."
The moment Ash arrived at the palace complex atop Merveille, he found water stains covering the floor.
Golden Lion Shiki lay sprawled across the ground.
His once magnificent golden hair had receded considerably, while a massive ship's wheel remained lodged directly in the center of his skull.
Nearby, two famous swords soaked inside a large pool.
Oto and Kogarashi.
When Sali noticed Ash's gaze, he smiled.
"Aren't you always collecting famous blades?"
"Judging from their craftsmanship and durability, these are definitely Great Grade Blades. Whether they've reached Supreme Grade status, I can't say for certain."
Ash examined the swords before glancing toward Shiki's severed legs.
Then he decisively shook his head.
"No thanks."
"Oto and Kogarashi are excellent weapons."
"But they've been stuck in that old man's legs for years."
"Who knows what they've been through?"
"I'll pass."
Then he added,
"When you return to Reverse Mountain's training camp, give them to Liu Three Blades."
"Once he breaks through and becomes a true master swordsman, hand them over as a reward."
"And don't tell him where they came from."
Sali looked at the swords.
Then at Shiki's missing legs.
Then back at the swords.
"...Understood."
Rubbing his forehead, he changed the subject.
"So you've seen him. What's next?"
"What else?"
Ash shrugged.
"Put him together with Whitebeard and the others."
The instant he heard Whitebeard's name, the supposedly unconscious Shiki abruptly pushed himself upright.
His eyes locked onto Ash.
"You've met Newgate?!"
"Who exactly are you brats?!"
Ash merely glanced at him.
What an expression.
"You don't need to know who we are."
"You only need to know one thing."
"We are the end of pirates."
"Gahahahaha!"
Shiki burst into laughter.
"The end of pirates?"
"With just the likes of you?"
"I'll admit you've got some ability."
"But don't forget, I was crippled by this damn wheel. My Haki doesn't flow properly anymore."
"My swordsmanship was forced onto my feet."
"My strength was greatly reduced."
"Do you seriously think that because of one victory..."
Ash couldn't be bothered listening.
He directly pulled several heads from his storage ring.
Whitebeard.
Silvers Rayleigh.
Scopper Gaban.
One after another, he displayed them before Shiki before casually putting them away again.
As expected, Shiki froze.
Compared to them, Kaido and Shanks were juniors in his eyes.
Showing Whitebeard and Roger's right-hand men was far more effective.
Ash crouched down until they were eye level.
"Go on."
"Keep talking."
"Today, I'll send you to reunite with Roger and Newgate."
"From this day forward, the age of legendary pirates will continue disappearing piece by piece."
After a brief pause, Ash took out two more heads.
Kaido.
Shanks.
He placed them before Shiki.
"Before long, Big Mom will join them."
"We'll end the era of the Four Emperors."
"We'll wipe out every pirate across the Four Blues and the Grand Line."
"We'll keep killing."
"Until nobody dares to raise a Jolly Roger ever again."
"When that day comes..."
Ash smiled faintly.
"Tell me."
"Will the Great Pirate Era still exist?"
Shiki's mouth hung open.
The succession of familiar faces and Ash's unwavering declaration had completely shattered his composure.
For a moment, he looked like an old man whose world had suddenly stopped making sense.
Ash stored Kaido's and Shanks' heads once more before standing up.
"Let's finish this."
He turned toward Sali.
"Ask Dicken how preparations are progressing."
Just as Sali was about to respond, the legendary pirate finally revealed why he had once stood alongside Roger and Whitebeard.
At the precise moment neither Ash nor Sali focused on him, Shiki acted.
Ignoring the agonizing pain radiating from the wheel embedded in his skull, he unleashed a terrifying burst of Conqueror's Haki.
The overwhelming pressure exploded outward.
Ash and Sali immediately felt a force comparable to Whitebeard's own Conqueror's Haki.
At the same instant, the pool beside them erupted.
Water surged skyward and crashed down like a tidal wave, soaking both men.
Simultaneously, Oto and Kogarashi shot from the water.
The twin blades transformed into streaks of deadly light, flying through the air like living weapons as they slashed directly toward Ash and Sali.