Kai's Haki evolved at a monstrous pace as he carved his path across the New World. Every clash of steel refined his Armament, every near-death exchange sharpened his Observation, and every overwhelming strike strengthened his Conqueror's will. Battle was no longer a trial—it was nourishment.
Sea Kings became prey rather than threats. Their massive forms sank beneath his blade, and their flesh fueled his already monstrous physique. Each hunt thickened his muscles, hardened his endurance, and reinforced the terrifying synergy between his regeneration and combat growth.
His swordsmanship matured with frightening speed. Veterans of the old era—men who had once crossed blades with legends—fell before him one after another. And as they fell, they all said the same thing with pale faces and trembling voices.
"He uses Roger's swordsmanship."
The words spread like wildfire across taverns, ports, and pirate dens. Rumors grew into declarations, and declarations turned into headlines. Eventually, the news reached the one man who could amplify it across the entire world.
"WHAT?!" Morgan screeched, feathers puffing up in excitement. "Someone is using the Pirate King's swordsmanship?!"
He slammed his wings against the desk, eyes glittering with greed and delight. "This is front-page material! Blow it up! Make it massive! I want every sea to tremble when they read this!"
Printing presses roared to life as newspapers flooded the skies. Delivery birds carried headlines across the Grand Line, East Blue, South Blue—everywhere.
"ONI SAMURAI – SUCCESSOR TO THE PIRATE KING'S BLADE?!"
Now the entire world knew.
---
Far above the clouds, on floating islands suspended by unnatural power, a golden-haired pirate stood silently. The wind whipped his long coat as shattered stone hovered in the sky around him.
Shiki read the newspaper slowly, his grin stretching wider with every word.
"Who the fuck," he muttered darkly, "is trying to use Roger's name?"
His laughter exploded across the floating islands. "Jihahahahahaha! Just you wait, bastard! I will personally confirm it!"
With a wave of his hand, entire chunks of earth lifted into the sky. His swords—replacing his lost legs—gleamed beneath the sunlight as he propelled himself forward.
"If someone dares imitate Roger… I'll cut him down myself."
And so, the Golden Lion flew toward the New World.
---
Elsewhere, aboard a Marine vessel cutting through violent currents, Garp stood at the bow, arms crossed, grinning like a madman.
"Roger… you bastard," he muttered, cracking his knuckles. "You're not dying twice without me punching you."
A marine behind him hesitated. "Vice Admiral Garp, sir… we still don't know if it's actually—"
"Shut up!" Garp barked, laughing loudly. "If someone's using that move, I'll know when I see it!"
The hunt was on.
---
Kai, however, remained unaware of how deeply he had shaken the world. He continued hunting pirates relentlessly, targeting the worst among them—especially slave traders.
"You sell people?" Kai asked one trembling captain, eyes cold behind his mask.
"It's business!" the man screamed. "You don't understand the New World!"
Kai's blade crackled with black lightning. "You don't understand consequences."
"Kamushari."
The slash erased the man and split his ship clean in two.
Photographs of the attack—black lightning streaking across the sky—spread with the next wave of newspapers. When Whitebeard saw it, he grew silent. When Garp saw it, he grinned wider.
And when Shiki saw the image, he burst into manic laughter.
"It's real," he whispered. "Jihahahahahaha! It's real!"
---
Fate favored the lion.
The sky darkened without warning as floating debris cast long shadows across the sea. Kai stood on the remains of a ruined ship when he sensed it—a presence ancient, sharp, and overwhelming.
A shadow descended from above.
"Jihahahahahaha! ONI SAMURAI!"
Kai looked up slowly as Shiki hovered in the air, swords gleaming where his legs once were. The ocean trembled beneath the pressure of his presence.
"Join my crew," Shiki declared with wild eyes. "With your talent and my vision, we'll rule this era!"
Kai laughed openly, wind whipping his coat as he launched himself skyward. "Hahahahaha! Finally, you're out! Shiki—the new era doesn't need a dying lion. Die by my hands!"
Without hesitation, Kai swung his blade mid-flight.
"Kamushari!"
The black lightning slash tore upward through the clouds.
Shiki's grin faltered for a fraction of a second before he met the attack head-on. "You want my head, kid? Come then! Jihahahahahaha!"
Their blades collided in the sky, unleashing a shockwave that split the clouds apart. The ocean below churned violently as invisible pressure radiated outward.
---
Shiki moved first, his sword-leg slicing downward with terrifying precision. Kai barely blocked, sparks exploding around them.
"You've got guts," Shiki sneered. "But guts alone won't make you Roger!"
Kai countered with rapid strikes, each blow coated in Armament. "I'm not trying to be Roger."
Shiki's eyes sharpened. "Then what are you?"
"The one who surpasses him."
Shiki roared with laughter and unleashed a barrage of aerial slashes. Invisible blades carved through the sky itself, forcing Kai to dodge at blinding speed.
"You're fast!" Shiki admitted mid-clash. "But your sword is immature!"
Steel screamed against steel as they exchanged dozens of blows in seconds. Shiki's experience was overwhelming—his angles sharper, his timing flawless.
Kai was pushed back repeatedly.
---
Blood trickled from Kai's shoulder after a deep cut. Shiki grinned viciously.
"See? You're not strong enough!"
Kai's wound began closing instantly. Flesh regenerated, bone mended, and within seconds the injury vanished.
Shiki's grin faded. "What the hell?"
Kai inhaled slowly, eyes sharpening. "I don't need to be stronger right now."
Lightning gathered in the clouds above.
"I just need to keep improving."
Thunder crashed as bolts struck downward under Kai's command. Shiki dodged, slicing through lightning itself while chunks of floating rock hurled toward Kai like meteors.
"You think weather tricks will save you?!" Shiki roared.
Kai vanished with Soru, reappearing behind him and unleashing another Haki-coated slash. Shiki twisted mid-air, blocking just in time.
Black lightning exploded again.
---
The battle escalated into madness.
Shiki lifted entire sections of ocean into the sky, forming massive water spheres that crashed down like falling moons. Kai cut through them, wind blades forming invisibly around his swings.
"You're adapting," Shiki muttered, breathing heavier now. "Every clash… your Haki is climbing."
Kai had stopped responding to taunts. His mind entered a state of pure focus—no pride, no anger, no distraction.
Roger's instinct.
Oden's discipline.
Each exchange refined him further.
---
Shiki launched forward with overwhelming force, blades spinning in a deadly cross. Kai met him head-on, their Conqueror's Haki colliding violently.
The sky cracked.
The sea split below them as if bowing before titans.
"Jihahahaha! Now this is a fight!" Shiki roared.
Kai's voice was calm despite the chaos. "You're not the future."
"And you are?!"
"I am."
Kai unleashed a barrage of slashes infused with wind manipulation, invisible edges slicing across Shiki's torso. Blood sprayed into the sky, but the Golden Lion only laughed harder.
"You really are something, Oni Samurai!" Shiki shouted. "But you're still not strong enough!"
Kai's eyes glowed faintly as another wound closed instantly. "Then I'll become strong enough."
They clashed again—faster, fiercer, deadlier.
The Lion of the Old Era versus the Oni of the New.
And the sky itself trembled under their war.