Double-transformation: I, Sakura Haruno! Will crush the pirates!

Until finally, forgetting everything, he used his domineering aura to unleash his sword skills, shaking the air and unleashing thunderous roars.

Sakura frowned. "What exactly is missing?"

The technique of letting one's domineering aura flow to form armor or knock enemies away is still at the stage of turning one's will into a weapon wielded by the user.

But what about internal destruction? It requires the weapon called "Overpowering Aura" to be released from the user's hand while the user can still freely control it. How exactly is such a technique achieved?

"Heh, your cultivation is still insufficient, you brat from the other shore!"

Shiki grinned smugly, the cigar in his mouth swaying up and down. "Want to know the secrets of internal sabotage? Join me and I'll teach you, how about it?"

"unnecessary!"

Sakura gritted her teeth and pushed Shiki's sword away.

There's no reason why she wouldn't understand something that those scoundrels at sea grasped in just one or two battles!

He raised his cloud-shaped staff and brandished his sword to meet the attack.

This time, she gathered a great deal of domineering energy into the sword and slashed at Shiki's famous sword.

boom!

Amidst the resounding clang of the sword, Sakura closed her eyes to experience Shiki's domineering aura.

Thanks to the overwhelming force of the attack, this clash only forced her to retreat slightly.

Immediately afterwards, Shiki launched another wave of sword energy.

Sakura retaliated with a sword strike.

In just a few seconds, Sakura and Shiki clashed countless swords.

Stopping the burst of chakra and restraining the monstrous strength of the giant race, the initially crumbling domineering aura began to rise steadily after Sakura increased her reliance on it, gradually resisting Shiki's attacks and even gradually being able to launch some counterattacks.

"You bastard?!" Shiki exclaimed in utter astonishment.

However, his footwork did not stop; instead, it became even more ruthless.

The clash of swords grew increasingly intense, their clear ringing echoing across the entire sky.

Finally, another fierce clash of swords ensued.

Amidst a shattering, sharp hum, Shiki and Sakura were simultaneously sent flying backward.

"You... you've already learned it?"

Shiki, who had used his powers to stabilize himself by pressing down with both hands, looked up with an expression of disbelief.

"Haha, hahaha! How could there be such a ridiculous answer?"

In the distance, Sakura laughed and covered her forehead, her arm already enveloped in a layer of flowing, domineering pink aura.

That was clearly an advanced application of Armament Haki—internal destruction.

There are two conditions for achieving the goal of releasing energy outwards and passing through the surface of an object to directly damage its interior.

First, gather all the domineering aura in your body until it reaches a concentration that allows it to penetrate freely; second, trust that the domineering aura can still be controlled even after it leaves your body.

As an incredible power derived from one's own will, if one entrusts trust to domineering aura, then this magical power will surely respond.

"Then, old lion, it's time to settle things once and for all!"

Sakura raised the Cloud Ninja Sword, and an invisible wave appeared on the black blade.

"You've only just begun, don't get too cocky!"

Shiki roared, swinging the sword mounted on his right foot.

when--!

This time, the clash of swords produced no sound of breaking; instead, dark lightning erupted at the point where their blades collided.

Shiki's speed visibly decreased, until he finally stopped in mid-air, struggling to move forward.

Steam rose from Sakura's arm as she flicked her wrist, sending him flying. "Shiki, this is the final blow. If you can't take it, you'll just become my stepping stone!"

The girl raised her sword.

The sword, shrouded in dark clouds, spewed forth storms and thunder, its flowing, domineering aura permeating the blade and causing the surrounding air to surge.

—Lei Yan of the Mighty Kingdom!

"Our era is not over yet, don't underestimate us, you brat!"

In mid-air, Shiki spread his five fingers and suddenly grabbed at the clouds and lightning in the air.

The blizzard formed the shape of a small lion, flowing along with his Armament Haki on the large swords on his feet.

——Shishiwei·Gosho Senkiri Valley!

Multiple sword energies, powerful enough to shatter mountains and split seas, collided with a massive storm carrying silver lightning.

Amidst unprecedented turmoil, the dark clouds in the sky were dispelled.

The clear moonlight shone down, and even those inside the palace on the ground could see the two combatants clashing in the sky.

The storm-like impact surged forward relentlessly, the snowflake-like slashes shattering inch by inch, until finally it rushed towards the man with flowing golden hair.

"Uh!"

Shiki's expression changed.

Lightning illuminated his eyes, and a dazzling shockwave engulfed everything.

"Am I going to fail again... Roger—!!!"

Chapter 210 The Winner's Prize

On the island shrouded in mist, Shiki lay in a pool of blood, his body charred. Lightning flashed faintly on the rocky walls of the giant crater beneath him.

If it weren't for the slight rise and fall of his chest, anyone who didn't know better would have thought he was dead.

Puff puff puff puff——!

The suspicious clown scientist Dr. Indigo ran over, followed by the gorilla in a suit.

When the two saw the defeated Shiki, they both gaped in astonishment.

“What a joke…” Indigo exclaimed.

That was Shiki, who was once one of the three great maritime powers.

A former member of the Rocks Pirates, and the Grand Admiral of the Flying Control Pirates who fought against Roger, Whitebeard, and others on numerous occasions.

Now he's fallen into the pit like a loser.

Wait a minute, it seems like this island is still being held up by his abilities!

"Hey, you lion bastard, you can't just die like this! All my research is in your hands!"

Dr. Indigo was about to run forward to treat Sci.

Unfortunately, a shadow in the sky quickly approached, crashing into the ground and kicking up a cloud of dust.

"The Spider Lily - Sakura Haruno!"

The clown stopped in mid-air, his face solemn as he called out the girl's name.

"Old lion, I didn't expect your companion to be so loyal~"

While teasing Shiki, Sakura slid down the edge into the pit.

"Don't joke around, all that guy cares about is the research I have!"

Shiki coughed twice, his blood-stained hands reaching for his cigar, but the lighter wouldn't light because it was damp.

Seeing this, Sakura reached out her finger, used the heat to dry off the excess moisture, and lit his cigar.

"What a convenient ability."

Shiki closed his eyes and buried the back of his head in the ground. "Come on, you little brat from the other side! Kill me and make a name for yourself by stepping on my head!"

The winner lives, the loser dies; this is the rule of the pirate world.

If someone who's already a pirate doesn't have the awareness to face death and is still crying and wailing, then that's truly shameful.

At least for someone like Shiki, who has the ambition to be a king, it would be absolutely impossible for him to do such a thing.

"Old Lion, you haven't forgotten how you lost in David's game, have you?"

Sakura sat cross-legged next to Shiki, her emerald eyes full of mockery.

!!!

The worst-case scenario has occurred, and it's the one that Shiki least wanted to see.

Originally, if he had won the David Game, he could have immediately recruited a powerful force that included a doctor, first mate, combatant, navigator, archaeologist, intelligence agent, and more.

However, opportunities always come with risks.

If David loses the game, the risk of being captured by the opponent will immediately befall him.

Or should he become an apprentice on the ship of his old rival?

At that moment, Shiki's eyes widened in anger, and an unnatural blush rose on his pale face. "You really want me to be your subordinate?!"

"Hmm~, that's a really tempting suggestion!"

The girl lightly tapped her chin with her fair fingers, revealing a devilish smile.

In the silence, Shiki swallowed several times, staring at the beautiful face like a prisoner awaiting trial.

After a long, long time, Sakura suddenly started shrugging her shoulders.

"Hahahaha, old lion, old lion, you can actually show such an expression!"

Hearing what Sakura meant from her tone, Shiki breathed a sigh of relief and slammed his head back into the soil.

"Tell me, what do you want to take from me?"

Sakura raised her fingers and formed the Ren character seal.

The grass and trees rooted in the ground sprouted quickly, and spotless white flowers bloomed. Branches that were spurted by Yang Release chakra sprayed onto Shiki's wounds.

"The island you stole, the island of miracles (Merveille)."

While treating him, Sakura pointed into the distance and said, "Give it to me, as the prize looted by the winner of David's game."

"No, there's still very important research going on on this island, Admiral!"

Dr. Indigo, who had been eavesdropping for a long time while lying on the edge of the pit, was shocked and waved his hands in an attempt to stop him.

"Shut up!"*2

Suddenly, its powerful aura shattered the heavens and earth.

The surrounding clouds were blasted apart by two opposing but rising dark bolts of lightning, and the will of the overlord roared incessantly.

The courtier who had interfered in the meeting of the two kings fainted instantly, collapsing to the ground with his eyes rolled back.

Shiki withdrew his gaze and said nonchalantly, "Fine, that island is yours!"

After all, his strength is beginning to recover at this stage, so the whole beast weapon project doesn't make much sense now.

Anyway, all those beasts combined aren't enough for him to fight alone, so he might as well lose them to Haruno Sakura as a wager in David's Game.

"However, you really have a big appetite, wanting to take my whole island right off the bat!"

He grinned, a cigar dangling from his lips, revealing two rows of large, white teeth.

“That island looks pretty nice, and I’ll need a piece of land in the future.”

Sakura withdrew her Wood Release technique and took out bandages from the scroll to bandage Shiki. "Also, I'll leave this island with you for now. I'll come back to you to retrieve it when I go to the New World."

This blatant attempt to take advantage of him made several veins pop out on Shiki's forehead. "Hey, what do you take me for?"

The girl tilted her head and asked, "Island custodian?"

An enraged Shiki sat up abruptly, crossed his arms, and turned his head away.

—Forget it, I can't beat her, so I'll just have to be a custodian.

After all that trouble, Sakura and Shiki exchanged Den Den Mushi numbers and began preparing to return to Alabasta.

Before leaving, she stood at the edge of the sky island and waved to Shiki, "Goodbye, old lion, remember not to get caught by the Navy, and keep an eye on my territory for me!"