Kaido was being completely overwhelmed, beaten into the ground by the combined assault of the four powerhouses. Meanwhile, Shiki wasn't faring much better. Fujitora had been relentlessly pressuring him, his gravity-based attacks making every movement difficult.

As a Mythical Zoan user, Gion coordinated seamlessly with Fujitora, forcing Shiki onto the defensive.

A sudden sword strike forced Gion back, giving Shiki a brief moment of relief. He quickly formulated a plan—he needed to switch opponents.

Kaido was already struggling, and Shiki knew he wouldn't fare any better. In fact, he would probably be in an even worse position. If this continued, his fate was sealed.

The best course of action was to swap opponents with Charlotte Linlin.

The Pirate Empress, Boa Hancock, and Fire Fist Ace were formidable foes, but they weren't particularly effective at restraining Shiki. On the other hand, Charlotte Linlin was a nightmare matchup for him.

If he could maneuver Gion and Fujitora toward Linlin instead, they wouldn't be as heavily suppressed.

With that in mind, Shiki began subtly repositioning himself, edging closer to Charlotte Linlin.

He wasn't concerned about whether she would reject the swap—she wouldn't. The situation was dire. Kaido was being overwhelmed, and Shiki was too. Linlin was the only one among them who still had some breathing room.

But overall, the Marines and the World Government held the upper hand. If Shiki and Kaido couldn't turn the tide, they were finished.

Shiki was convinced that this opponent swap was the key to turning things around.

However, just as he was moving toward Linlin, a cold gleam suddenly flashed through the air.

Shiki didn't see the attack, but his battle instincts flared, this sensation was all too familiar.

"Claudius!!!"

A surge of fury erupted in Shiki's heart as he unleashed his power, breaking free from Fujitora's gravitational suppression and shifting his position.

Sure enough, the attack barely missed, grazing his cheek and leaving a thin trail of blood—just like the first time he had encountered Claudius at sea.

It was Claudius.

But his sudden attack hadn't landed as intended. He sighed slightly and retracted his Shinsō.

Shiki's expression grew tense when he spotted the familiar figure.

That strike just now, it was unmistakably Claudius's technique.

Noticing Shiki's reaction, Claudius immediately put on a smug grin, his acting skills kicking in.

"Furfurfur… My dear cousin boasted about how powerful his sword was, but in the end, this is all it could do?" he mocked. "I thought I'd at least be able to wound you, but it looks like I miscalculated."

His casual arrogance was infuriating, and it successfully threw Shiki's thoughts into disarray.

For a long time, people had assumed that Claudius's peculiar abilities stemmed from a Devil Fruit. But the idea that he could make a weapon grow at will? That didn't add up.

Now, with Doflamingo rising through the ranks of the Celestial Dragons, it made sense. Claudius's technique must have come from the sword itself rather than a Devil Fruit ability.

If Doflamingo could use it, then others could too. That was a reasonable explanation.

Besides, how had Claudius even arrived here so quickly from the Sabaody Archipelago?

As Shiki pieced things together, he clenched his teeth and spat out a single name.

"Doflamingo."

Claudius smirked. "Furfurfur… Shiki, I should win an Oscar for this performance."

His taunting tone left no room for doubt.

Then, without hesitation, he launched himself at Shiki.

Shiki, now burning with anger, reevaluated his opponent.

Doflamingo—a String-String Fruit user. That much was certain. He wasn't Logia, so elementalization wasn't a concern. He was strong, but among top-tier fighters, he was merely mid-tier at best not a major threat.

As Doflamingo charged, Shiki sneered. This fool is overestimating himself.

With a flick of his wrists, Shiki thrust his twin swords, straight at Doflamingo's chest.

He didn't even bother using Armament Haki, why waste the energy? Doflamingo wasn't an exceptional physical fighter, and Shiki's swords were sharp enough to cut him down with ease.

The battlefield was chaotic. He needed to conserve his stamina wherever possible, especially with Gion and Fujitora still lurking.

This should have been an easy kill. If Doflamingo had any sense, he would retreat.

But to Shiki's shock, Doflamingo didn't dodge.

Instead, he rushed forward recklessly—like a madman throwing his life away.

Shiki's mind reeled. What the hell?! You just became an elite Celestial Dragon! Shouldn't you be more cautious? Why are you pulling some suicide attack like a desperate pirate?!

None of this made sense.

Still, Shiki wasn't about to let himself be dragged into some kamikaze tactic. At the last second, he adjusted his attack, though it was already a little too late.

But as he steeled himself for impact, something strange happened.

For a brief moment, he caught a glimpse of Doflamingo's smirk—one that looked eerily familiar.

It resembled… Claudius's.

Wait… could it be—?!

Before he could finish his thought, his swords pierced Doflamingo's chest.

The next instant, his expression twisted in horror.

The sensation was completely different.

This… this is Logia intangibility?!

"DAMN IT—!!! CLAUDIUS!!!" Shiki roared.

"Too late, Shiki!" Claudius sneered.

In that moment, Claudius lunged forward, wrapping his arms around Shiki in a tight grapple.

Immediately, a frigid mist spread from his body, and an invisible force of liquid nitrogen engulfed them both.

Shiki struggled violently, trying to break free. But he had already expended too much energy battling Fujitora and Gion. Claudius, on the other hand, was still at full strength.

More importantly, this was the same Claudius who had stood toe-to-toe with Charlotte Linlin in a direct clash. Shiki had no chance of escaping.

Claudius's grip tightened, his eyes flashing with lethal intent.

"Don't struggle, Shiki. This is the end of your journey."

The freezing power rapidly spread across Shiki's body. His limbs numbed as frost began creeping over his skin. Worse yet, his breathing became labored, his lungs unable to draw in oxygen.

His face turned red from the suffocation.

"Damn… it…!" he choked out.

As his consciousness faded, his vision blurred.

For a brief moment, he thought he saw two figures standing in the sky.

Whitebeard. Roger.

They were waiting for him, silently beckoning.

Memories of his life flashed through his mind.

His youth, setting out to sea.

His rise to power, gaining his Devil Fruit, becoming a legendary force.

Joining the Rocks Pirates, standing among the greatest of his era.

The God Valley Incident, the fall of Rocks, and his decision to carve his own path.

His ambition, to become the Pirate King cut short by that fateful storm during his battle with Roger.

His grudge against Claudius.

His entire life had been one of struggle and defiance. Yet at this moment, all of it seemed… meaningless.

For years, he had believed in one thing—"I forge my own fate!"

But now, as the ice consumed him, he let out a bitter laugh.

"Damn you, Claudius… You really are a despicable, shameless bastard…"

Claudius leaned in, whispering in his ear.

"I'll take that as a compliment, Shiki. Goodbye."

With that, the frost fully engulfed Shiki, sealing his fate.

His last thought drifted to Whitebeard's words at Marineford:

"I am a relic of the past… In this new era, there is no ship left to carry me."

(To be continued.)

T/N: Sigh this chapter made me emotional, rest well Shiki 🫡.

***

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