Year 1520 of the Sea Circle Calendar. Following the upheaval at Enies Lobby caused by the Straw Hat Pirates, another piece of shocking news spread across the seas.
Shiki the Golden Lion—one of the "Three Great Pirates" alongside Roger and Whitebeard, and the first man in history to escape from the underwater prison Impel Down 20 years ago—
had been captured and imprisoned once again!
The report claimed that the Navy had gathered multiple elite members of its hardline faction, led by Akainu, Onigumo, and Doberman, to jointly capture the Golden Lion.
But in reality, only one thing was true: Shiki had indeed been defeated—by the Straw Hat Pirates using what could only be described as a cheat-like stroke of luck.
The Navy had merely picked up the leftovers.
…
…
Impel Down, Level 6.
Xia Te looked into the adjacent cell. There lay the Golden Lion, not only with both legs severed, but with his neck and arms tightly shackled as well.
He couldn't help but grin and tease:
"So, Mr. Shiki… how does it feel to be defeated by a brat from the East Blue—just like Roger?"
Hearing this, the Golden Lion—his hair having turned mostly white overnight, his ambition completely extinguished—suddenly changed expression and snapped his head toward Xia Te.
"Kid, how do you know about that!?"
That day, after being defeated by Straw Hat Luffy's plot-armor-fueled strength, he had fallen from the sky into the sea, nearly dying.
He had then been discovered by Akainu and the others, who took the opportunity to capture him.
Aside from Shiki himself, only the Straw Hat Pirates should have known the truth.
Even the Navy wasn't aware!
So how did Xia Te know?
Because he was a transmigrator.
Unfortunately, the place he had transmigrated to was rather miserable—Impel Down Level 6.
And, of all places, right next to the Golden Lion.
Based on the timeline, Luffy's defeat of Shiki must have occurred shortly after he defeated Gecko Moria, but before reaching the Sabaody Archipelago.
"…Forget it. I don't care anymore. Anyway… my ambition is over."
The shock on Shiki's face gradually faded as he lay flat on the cold ground.
A 20-year-long revenge plan had been utterly crushed by a rookie brat from the East Blue.
His pride had completely collapsed.
He was no longer the great pirate who once sought to succeed his former captain Rocks and dreamed of becoming the King of the World.
His overnight white hair was the clearest proof.
In the original story, when Blackbeard released the prisoners of Level 6, even Redfield—who came from the same era as Shiki—was freed.
Yet Shiki was nowhere to be seen.
There was only one explanation: he had died in prison.
"…Hey, Golden Lion. Got any last wishes? If I get out, maybe I'll kindly help you fulfill them."
Xia Te suddenly called out.
The white-haired Shiki, lying on the ground, turned his head slightly and sneered.
"You, a snot-nosed brat, think you can escape from here? Don't make me laugh!"
However, perhaps due to his crushing defeat at Luffy's hands, Shiki fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking:
"If you really can get out… throw my body into the East Blue. I… want to see what Roger's hometown looks like…"
What the hell?!
Is this guy gay or something?
He's been obsessing over Roger his whole life.
Xia Te shuddered inwardly.
At that moment, Shiki's aura grew weaker and weaker—it was clear his time had come.
"Hey, Golden Lion, I promise you. Now give me your hand."
Seeing that Shiki was about to breathe his last, Xia Te quickly reached his hand through the bars toward him.
With only his final breath remaining, Shiki didn't know what Xia Te intended.
But he was about to die, and his last wish was to see Roger's homeland after death.
Might as well try anything at this point.
Using the last of his strength, as he stood at death's door, Shiki reached out and touched Xia Te's hand.
The moment Xia Te grabbed his wrist—
Shiki's head tilted, and he breathed his last.
[Ding! Discovered sign-in location—"Golden Lion" Shiki!]
[First sign-in reward—Golden Lion Template (Old Age State)]
[Acquired Devil Fruit Ability—Float-Float Fruit (sea water weakness removed for host)]
[Acquired Swordsmanship—Golden Lion's self-created dual-blade style (World-Class Great Swordsman level)]
[Acquired Conqueror's Haki—Excellent]
[Acquired Armament Haki—Proficient]
[Acquired Observation Haki—Basic Mastery]
At that moment, Xia Te's cheat ability—the Sign-In System—resounded in his mind.
"Damn, his three types of Haki have deteriorated this much?"
Hearing the system's notifications, Xia Te couldn't help but feel startled.
The system divided abilities into five levels:
Mastery
Proficient
Expert
Excellent
Perfect
He had originally thought Shiki's three types of Haki would at least all be at the "Excellent" level or above, but didn't expect they had weakened to this extent.
His Observation Haki had even dropped to the "Mastery" level.
Even so, it still shouldn't have been possible for him to lose to the Straw Hat Pirates.
Although the elderly Shiki was no longer on the level of a Yonko, he should still be able to fight an Admiral on roughly equal footing.
In the end, he had mainly lost to the protagonist's plot armor.
"As my first sign-in target, I'll fulfill your last wish, Golden Lion."
The moment Xia Te finished speaking, he pressed both hands onto Shiki's knees.
With a twist, he pulled out the two Meito-grade blades—among the Twenty-One Great Grade Swords—Oto and Kogarashi—that had been embedded there.
"Corroded quite a bit, but still usable."
Xia Te inspected the two famous swords. After twenty years, they had been eroded by Shiki's flesh and blood, but they could still be used.
"Hey! What are you doing!?"
At that moment, the guards of Level 6 had already noticed the abnormal situation and rushed over, shouting.
Xia Te grinned maliciously and suddenly swung both swords.
"Flying Slash!!!"