Chapter 425: Legendary Pirate - Shiki
However, the news of Byrnndi World's downfall was quickly overshadowed.
Even the contention between the Whitebeard Pirates and the Tyrant Dragon Pirates for the former Territory of the Byrnndi Pirates went unnoticed.
This was because the long-running Great Battle in the New World, the war between the Flying Pirates and the three major Pirate Crews: the John Pirates, Silver Axe Pirates, and Five Peaks Pirates, had finally reached a historic turning point.
From early April last year until June this year, this stalemate had lasted for over a year.
Even the war involving the Byrnndi Pirates in the West Blue had lasted only half as long as the Great Battle in the New World.
Both sides suffered heavy losses.
The Flying Pirates' Army of over 60,000 was reduced to 40,000.
The military strength of the John Pirates, Silver Axe Pirates, and Five Peaks Pirates was reduced to roughly 10,000 combined.
Overall, in the battles excluding Top Tier Combatants, the Flying Pirates still held a slight advantage in the clashes between ordinary Pirates.
These losses might seem less than those in the West Blue War, but the war was far more intense.
There was a small battle every three days and a large battle every half month, a continuous struggle.
During this period, the combat strength of each Pirate Crew was replenished.
Pirates constantly joined this meat grinder.
They sought to make a name for themselves through this opportunity and be noticed by the Great Pirates.
To gain an advantage in the war and stimulate the enthusiasm of their Pirate Subordinates, all sides had clear reward mechanisms.
For example, killing a well-known Pirate would yield a certain amount of Beli as a reward.
There were even Devil Fruit rewards.
Quite a few Factions were involved, with various large and small forces supporting each side from behind.
Each side represented an Interest Group.
The power represented by the Flying Pirates was undoubtedly more powerful.
As the war continued, the John Pirates, Silver Axe Pirates, and Five Peaks Pirates began to struggle to keep up.
A war lasting over a year put immense strain on logistics, the replenishment of war supplies, and wealth.
Even the Flying Pirates would find it difficult to sustain for too long if this stalemate continued.
After all, the Flying Pirates were fighting on three fronts, making their consumption even more terrifying.
Meanwhile, the Territories within the Various Factions enjoyed a rare period of peace.
They only needed to pay a regular fee to the Faction occupying the Island.
Regardless of the war on the Front Line, it had nothing to do with them.
If all sides eventually couldn't hold on and agreed to a ceasefire, the outcome would undoubtedly be the defeat of the Flying Pirates, the initiators of the war.
This was something Shiki "The Golden Lion" absolutely could not accept.
The scales of war tipped towards the Flying Pirates.
After a year of fierce battle, the pressure Shiki placed on Wang Zhi gradually increased.
Wang Zhi himself had already reached his peak and couldn't improve much further.
However, during this time, Shiki was still growing stronger.
Using Wang Zhi as a whetstone, Shiki's swordsmanship became increasingly perfect, going from slightly weaker than Wang Zhi to being able to match him equally.
Combined with his Devil Fruit ability, he even surpassed Wang Zhi in swordsmanship.
The awakening of the Float-Float Fruit ability completely tilted the scales towards the Flying Pirates.
The Great Sea churned wildly, and the Sky seemed to invert.
With the Float-Float Fruit ability, Shiki seemed to control everything.
"Wang Zhi, fall for the Old Man!"
Looking down at Wang Zhi, the excited Shiki, carrying an aura capable of swallowing mountains and rivers, rushed forward with astonishing speed, his twin swords coated with Conqueror's Haki.
He could have used his ability to destroy the Five Peaks Pirates, but he wouldn't do that.
King against King, General against General.
He wanted to defeat Wang Zhi with his own strength, and the Flying Pirates would defeat the Five Peaks Pirates with their own strength.
He didn't care about the sacrifices of his Subordinates, especially the ordinary Pirates.
Only those who survived were his companions.
As for cannon fodder, he could have as many as he wanted.
"Defeat me? Are you dreaming?"
Wang Zhi held his greatsword and charged directly towards the approaching Shiki.
He never feared.
This was his battle.
Equally terrifying Three-Color Haki erupted simultaneously.
This battle lasted for six days and six nights.
Their fierce battle destroyed the entire Island.
Ultimately, Wang Zhi was defeated, losing his combat strength.
Lying on the ground, covered in wounds, Wang Zhi watched Shiki approach.
"Are you here to kill me, Shiki?"
Facing death, Wang Zhi seemed very peaceful.
The victor takes all.
As the winner, Shiki had the right to take his life.
His life had been glorious enough.
Falling at his peak wasn't bad either.
"Wang Zhi, join the Old Man's ranks! Let's revive the glory of the Rocks Pirates!"
Looking at Wang Zhi, Shiki extended his hand and invited.
"Don't even think about it, Shiki. You should know this is impossible. You are not Rocks, and I am not the me of the past. This era is not the era of before!"
Wang Zhi endured the pain, struggling to stand up, rejecting Shiki's recruitment, and said seriously.
"Do as you please, whether it's killing or slicing."
Shiki wasn't surprised by Wang Zhi's refusal.
He had even guessed it long ago because he understood Wang Zhi, but he still wanted to try.
However, he had no intention of killing Wang Zhi.
Wang Zhi was already his defeated opponent.
If they fought again, Wang Zhi would still be defeated.
In the future, his own strength would only be greater.
Moreover, killing Wang Zhi wouldn't bring him more benefits.
"Gurararara! Wang Zhi, I won't kill you. Give up half your Territory and withdraw from this war."
Having said that, Shiki flew away.
It was time to completely end this war.
He needed old Factions like Wang Zhi to exist to suppress the development of the Young Pirate in the south.
Compared to Wang Zhi and others who had reached their peak, Pirate Crews like the Demon King Pirates, Tyrant Dragon Pirates, and Beast Pirates, who were still growing, posed a greater threat.
Since he was defeated, if he wanted to continue expansion, he could only develop in the opposite direction.
At that time, war would definitely break out.
Wang Zhi, left in place, said nothing.
As the loser, he had no right to object.
That's how this World is.
Being able to pick up one's life is already quite good.
People are like this; who wants to die?
This is the World of the Strongman!
After a brief recovery, Wang Zhi gathered his forces and led the Five Peaks Pirates away from the Front Line, retreating to the Rear Area.
And the Islands that originally belonged to the Five Peaks Pirates were easily occupied by the Flying Pirates, who planted the Flying Pirates' flag on them one by one.
News of Great Pirate Wang Zhi being defeated by Shiki "The Golden Lion" and the Five Peaks Pirates' defeat spread throughout the entire World in a short time.
The Five Peaks Pirates surrendered.
Many people understood what this World event represented.
On the other two Battlefields, the morale of the Flying Pirates soared, while the John Pirates and Silver Axe Pirates, who had held a slight advantage, suddenly felt immense pressure.
The scales of victory completely tipped towards the Flying Pirates.
With the defeat of the Five Peaks Pirates, the Flying Pirates were now completely unstoppable.
After more than a year, Captain John and Silver Axe had failed to defeat Reinhardt and Atlas.
Now, it was even more impossible.
With Shiki and four Fleets about to join the Battlefield, things went as expected.
In just one month, the John Pirates and Silver Axe Pirates were successively defeated by the Flying Pirates.
Large amounts of Territory were plundered by the Flying Pirates.
The final victor of this war was born.
That was the Flying Pirates.
The victory in the war made the Flying Pirates and Shiki "The Golden Lion" thoroughly a unique existence in the New World.
And just three days after the war ended, the Paradise Card Group released a limited edition of thirty Nine-Star Cards – "Legendary Pirate" Shiki.
This ignited the entire Great Sea.
It earned Shiki the title of Legendary Pirate, adding to his previous titles of "Golden Lion" and "Pirate Admiral".
A Legend among Pirates, this brought Shiki's prestige to its absolute peak, making countless Pirates look up to him.
(end of chapter)