Chapter 431: Golden Lion Shiki is Captured
Roger locked eyes with Garp under the dim prison lights.
The two stood in silence for a long moment.
Finally, Garp took two steps back, a complicated expression on his face.
"…She's in the South Blue."
Lowering his head, Garp walked out of the cell, Roger's words still echoing in his mind.
---
A few days later—
The Navy was fully occupied with preparations for the execution of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger.
Then, something completely unexpected happened.
Wooo wooo wooo—!
The piercing wail of the alarm shattered the night at Marineford.
"Intruder alert!"
A panicked scream tore through the base.
Boom!
A sudden explosion rocked the coastline!
"Enemy spotted in the plaza near the Marineford coast!"
A huge portion of the Marines stationed at the port were instantly killed or injured.
"Enemy numbers…!"
A lookout stared in shock.
"Wait… is that… just one person?!"
"It's Golden Lion Shiki! He's alone!"
In the darkness—
Shiki stood atop a mound of Marine corpses, both hands gripping his twin swords Sakura Ten and Kogarashi, staring at the Marine headquarters.
"There's no way the likes of you could capture Roger!
He's a man I acknowledged!"
Shiki growled as he bit down on his cigar, eyes cold and calm.
Sengoku stepped forward, taking his place in front of the troops.
"Roger was the Pirate King. He walked away from his battle with you unscathed."
Sengoku replied flatly.
Shiki turned his gaze.
"Pirate King? So what?!
If he'd agreed to work with me, we could've ruled the world already!"
"Sure, we weren't exactly friends, but we sailed in the same era.
If he's alive, bring him to me.
If you're going to kill him, then it should be by my hand!"
Shiki roared.
"His execution is set for one week from now, in his hometown—Loguetown, the birthplace of the Great Pirate Era."
Sengoku declared.
Footsteps echoed as Garp arrived on the scene.
"Roger's death will break the arrogance of all pirates."
Garp looked directly at Shiki.
"Vice Admiral Garp!"
The surrounding Marines visibly relaxed at his presence.
"Ending the legend of the Pirate King in the weakest of the seas?
What a sick joke!"
Shiki barked.
"That's the ultimate disgrace for that bastard!"
Floating midair, his eyes wild.
Garp removed his cloak.
"So what if it's the weakest sea?
The East Blue is a symbol of peace!"
He loosened his collar.
"You won't interfere with the execution!"
Sengoku dropped his cloak as well.
Shiki couldn't suppress his fury anymore and charged forward!
A fierce battle began: Golden Lion Shiki vs. Sengoku and Garp.
Right in front of all Marine soldiers at Marineford!
At that moment, the Navy's strongest available forces were:
Sengoku
Garp
The others were gone:
Fleet Admiral Kong and Chief of Staff Tsuru were in Mariejois
Akainu and Aokiji had left for Loguetown to prepare the execution site
Shiki had picked a good time.
But even that wasn't enough.
---
Three days later—
Half of Marineford lay in ruins.
And Golden Lion Shiki was captured and imprisoned!
---
The next day—
A world-shocking headline spread across the seas:
> "One of the Four Legendary Pirates of the New World—Golden Lion Shiki, Captured and Imprisoned in Impel Down!"
The World News printed a photo of Shiki in chains, being escorted to Impel Down by Garp and Sengoku.
"Impossible!"
Pirates everywhere stared in disbelief at the newspaper.
"Are… pirates going to be wiped out?"
Despair spread like wildfire.
With the Pirate King Roger captured…
Now even Golden Lion Shiki had fallen!
Was this the end of the pirate era?
Reactions were mixed.
Some were elated.
Others were crushed.
Most were just stunned silent.
---
Whitebeard Pirates—
Edward Newgate read the newspaper, a flash of complex emotion in his eyes.
"…One by one, the old legends are fading away."
He set the paper down and looked at his excited sons gathered on the deck.
He simply smiled, not speaking further.
---
Carmel Island—
"So, Shiki really went?
How reckless. The Marines must be running out of patience now."
Charlotte muttered as he read the paper.
Barrett, Esdeath, Caesar, and others stood by his side.
"Mobilize! Head to the first half of the New World and take over the Flying Pirates' territory.
Anyone who dares resist—"
Charlotte's gaze swept the room, cold and sharp.
"Kill without mercy."
Everyone's eyes turned cold.
"Yes!"
Two-thirds of the Rockefeller Pirates set out for the first half of the New World.
Meanwhile, the Big Mom Pirates, forced into a corner, issued a similar command.
"Ma ma ma ma ma! Heaven is on my side!
Children! Go and take that bastard Shiki's territory!"
Big Mom shouted, full of life again.
"Yes, Mama!"
Cracker and the others cheered excitedly, ready for war.
---
The shockwaves rocked the world.
Even with two of the four legendary pirates captured—
Two still remained:
Whitebeard Pirates
Rockefeller Pirates
And a resurging Big Mom Pirates
While the Big Mom Pirates had fallen behind, it all depended on comparison.
Right now, Charlotte Linlin's power was almost on par with Charlotte of the Rockefeller Pirates.
The two respected each other's strength and held back.
The skirmishes were now between their underlings—not themselves.
For now, the New World was still the pirates' domain.
In fact—
Charlotte's rise stabilized the power vacuum left behind by Roger and Shiki.
As soon as Charlotte announced his plan to seize Shiki's territory,
the Big Mom Pirates surprisingly didn't fight back.
Instead, both crews began a race to claim the islands—whoever planted their flag first, owned it.
They didn't bother asking Shiki's men for permission.
They simply swept in and took it.
Their speed and greed even caught Whitebeard's attention!
"Old man! We can't just let them take all the loot!
It's time for the Whitebeard Pirates to act!"
The crew shouted as they gathered before Whitebeard.
Seeing their eager faces, Whitebeard laughed.
"Alright, boys! Let's go!
We can't let those two hog it all!"
As soon as Whitebeard himself joined the fray,
Charlotte and Big Mom couldn't sit still anymore.
Both left their bases and sailed out personally.
And without a word—
The seas split into three factions, each staking their claim in the power struggle.
To be continued…
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