One Piece: Rise of Valoria

The grand hall echoed with tension as William turned to the girls, who stood behind him, ready for any move. William flashed a confident grin at Hancock, Robin, Sandersonia, and Marigold. "Ladies, I think it's time for a little treasure hunt. Why don't you go see what this old lion's been hoarding all these years? I'll take care of him here."

Hancock nodded, a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. "have fun."

"Oh, I would," William replied with a wink. With one last glance, the girls disappeared down the hall, leaving William alone with the Golden Lion.

Shiki's eyes narrowed as he watched them go. "You really think you can just come in here and take what's mine, kid?"

William rolled his shoulders, his muscles shifting in anticipation. "Well, considering what I've seen so far, it doesn't look like there's much you could do to stop me. Let's see what you're made of, old Lion."

With a furious roar, Shiki launched himself forward, the twin swords Oto and Kogarashi gleaming as he swung them in powerful, precise arcs. Although they served as his prosthetic legs, the swords didn't hinder his movement in the slightest; instead, they made him appear all the more fearsome as he spun and struck with the precision of a seasoned swordsman.

William, however, moved like water, sidestepping each slash with ease. Shiki's attacks seemed to be in slow motion, and William knew instantly he was toying with a relic—though one whose spirit hadn't dulled with age.

With a grunt, Shiki swept his legs in a circular slash, unleashing two golden air-blades toward William. The projectiles tore through the air with a furious speed, cutting deep grooves into the walls around them. William extended his hand, his Haki enveloping it in a dark glow. With a single swipe, he shattered the air-blades, leaving them to dissipate into harmless particles.

Shiki's eyes widened briefly before narrowing into a glare. "You brat…!" he growled, frustration dripping from his voice. But there was something else in his gaze—a flicker of excitement. William could tell Shiki hadn't faced someone this strong in a long time.

The air around them thickened, as Shiki used his ability to summoned a wave of floating debris, forming enormous lion heads made from rocks and metal that roared as they rushed toward William. William's eyes lit up with thrill. Channeling his fire ability, he conjured a massive dragon made of searing red flames that hurtled forward, colliding with Shiki's attack. The heat and energy engulfed the hall, reducing the lion heads to molten rubble in an instant.

Shiki scoffed, though a bead of sweat slid down his brow. "You think a few tricks are enough to take me down, kid? I ruled the seas before you were even born!"

He moved with renewed ferocity, using his power to make massive boulders levitate. He hurled them at William, then followed up with another round of air-slashes from his sword legs, filling the space with lethal strikes from every angle. But William maneuvered effortlessly, the thrill of the battle making him feel more alive than ever.

---

Meanwhile, deep within the fortress, the girls navigated the winding halls, searching for the treasure. As they turned a corner, they encountered a bizarre clown—a man with colorful attire and a ridiculous cackle.

"Welcome, intruders!" he sneered. It was Dr. Indigo, Shiki's eccentric scientist, and by his side stood a large, hulking gorilla named Scarlet. The moment Scarlet's eyes landed on the girls—particularly Hancock—his eyes transformed into hearts, and he beat his chest with a loud roar, his expression infatuated and unabashed.

Indigo adjusted his goggles, attempting to look intimidating as he sneered. "Prepare to be crushed by Shiki's greatest allies!"

Sandersonia smirked. "This guy seems like he has a screw loose," she muttered, while Marigold tightened her grip on her weapon, rolling her eyes at Indigo's attempt to look intimidating.

Hancock stepped forward, unbothered by Scarlet's obvious adoration. "This is a waste of time," she said coolly.

With a flick of her wrist, she released a pink, heart-shaped wave that washed over the gorilla. Scarlet froze mid-beat, his love-struck expression becoming even more exaggerated until his whole form solidified into stone. The statue of the infatuated gorilla toppled to the ground, and Hancock barely spared it a glance.

Indigo's confident smirk wavered, and he stammered, "W-what… how did you—"

Before he could finish, Robin activated her ability. Six giant arms, coated in Haki, sprouted from the ground around Indigo, each forming a fist. With one swift movement, the fists pummeled him from all directions, burying him in the floor. His life or death is unknown.

"That was… quite disappointing," Robin muttered, dusting off her hands as her summoned arms faded.

The girls continued onward until they reached a large chamber filled with treasures of all kinds. Gold coins glinted in heaps, weapons lined the walls, and priceless jewels lay scattered across tables. But Robin's gaze was drawn to three sheets of paper in the corner—carefully inscribed with the same ancient carvings as the poneglyphs.

"Now this is interesting," Robin whispered, her fingers tracing the intricate writing. The thrill of uncovering more historical secrets was evident in her eyes.

Marigold grinned, inspecting the treasures around them. "Well, William's going to be thrilled when he sees all this. He'll be able to store everything in his dimension easily."

Hancock nodded. "We'll wait for him here. Once he's done with Shiki, we'll gather everything and head out."

---

Back in the grand hall, the clash between William and Shiki had intensified, the air humming with their combined energy. Despite Shiki's ferocity, he was growing frustrated. Every one of his attacks, every strategic move, was met by William's unbreakable defense. The steering wheel embedded in his head seemed to weigh on him, a constant reminder of the past and an ever-present weakness.

Shiki lunged, bringing his sword legs down in a powerful strike aimed at William's head. But William caught the blow with his bare hand, his Haki shimmering as he pushed back, forcing Shiki to stumble.

"Why… won't… you fall?!" Shiki snarled, desperation creeping into his voice.

William looked at him, his eyes gleaming with exhilaration. "You're weak, old lion."

Shiki's face twisted with rage, and he unleashed a new barrage of attacks, his swords spinning in a frenzy as he created a whirlwind of slashes. But William weaved through them, his reflexes sharp, his expression unyielding.

Suddenly, Shiki summoned an entire segment of the floor to rise, forming another series of snarling lion heads. Without flinching, William braced himself, channeling his advanced Haki through his arm. He brought his fist down with precision, a powerful Haki-infused shockwave erupting from his strike. The force shattered Shiki's lion heads into dust, the remains scattering across the hall.

As the smoke began to clear, Shiki shielded his face, peering through the haze. William stepped forward, completely unharmed, his eyes glinting with calm intensity.

"You're not bad, old lion," William admitted, a rare note of respect in his voice. "But you're weighed down by that steering wheel."

Shiki's eyes flashed, and for a moment, his fury seemed to fade, replaced by a tired resignation. "You think you know it all, kid," he muttered. "But you don't understand what it means to lose everything."

William didn't respond. He could see the weight of years, the battles fought and lost, and the stubborn pride that kept Shiki clinging to a past that no longer existed. Yet, he didn't feel pity—only respect for a warrior who refused to fall quietly.

He took a step back, then spoke, his voice calm but charged with finality. "Old Lion, you're going to die today anyway. So why don't you get rid of that steering wheel in your head and show me what you're truly capable of?"

Shiki blinked, surprised by the suggestion, before a faint smile tugged at his lips. "You're crazy, kid. But that… that's a good way to go."

With a roar, Shiki reached up, gripping the steering wheel embedded in his skull. With a powerful yank, he ripped it free, blood trickling down his face as he grinned wildly. His energy surged, his Conqueror's Haki flaring with renewed intensity.

"Alright, kid," he growled, his voice filled with a terrifying vigor. "I'll show you the true might of the Golden Lion."

William's eyes gleamed with anticipation, his heart pounding as he braced himself for the battle to come. The air thickened with energy as the two warriors faced each other, both ready to clash once more.

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