Marvel : Strongest Siblings

After a few days of flight, Max finally reached the famous cluster of sixteen floating islands—Shiki's territory. These islands, held high above the clouds, remained suspended solely by the power of Shiki's Devil Fruit, which allowed him to manipulate and keep anything afloat indefinitely. The islands were a mix of wild forests and crumbling ruins, a perfect stronghold for a pirate of Shiki's ambitions.

"Isn't his Devil fruit more like an Psychic fruit?" Max thought as he located at perfectly floating Islands.

"Though he also don't know how to use his Devil fruit powers, If I ha it, I would have just send few Islands above the World Government mariejois and then cancel my Devil fruit powers causing them to descend like Meteorites" 

Looking down, Max observed the intricate setup. There were ships, houses, and even entire sections of land hovering above like pieces of a scattered puzzle. Shiki's influence was everywhere, from the occasional patrolling crewmen to the echoes of laughter and music coming from various points across the islands.

"Impressive... to think one man is responsible for all this," Max muttered, slightly amused by the eccentric nature of Shiki's floating empire. His Shadow Wyvern descended quietly toward the largest of the islands, where he sensed Shiki's powerful aura.

Max dismounted and let his dark magic cloak him in shadows as he approached Shiki's throne room. Shiki was seated on a massive chair made of twisted metal and stone, surrounded by treasure and maps sprawled across the floor. Shiki's golden mane-like hair and fierce gaze conveyed both his arrogance and confidence as he noticed Max's entrance.

"Who dares to intrude on my territory?" Shiki sneered, his sharp eyes narrowing as he observed Max.

"Golden Lion Shiki," Max replied calmly, his voice carrying an eerie resonance. "I've come with an offer."

Shiki scoffed, rising from his throne. "What could you possibly offer me, kid? Power? Fame? I already have it all." He gestured around him with a smirk.

Max stepped forward, the dark shadows around him swirling. "What if I told you I could give you a new life, stronger than ever? The freedom to pursue your ambitions with even greater power than before."

Shiki's expression shifted, momentarily intrigued. "You're either a fool or incredibly bold to make such claims. But let's see if you can prove it!" Shiki raised his hands, summoning massive chunks of the floating islands to launch toward Max.

Max smirked, raising a hand as dark energy coiled around it. "Then let me show you the difference in our power."

Max simply used his gravity powers to nullify Shiki's Devil Fruit abilities. Shiki raised an intrigued eyebrow, realizing the power Max wielded.

"It seems your Devil Fruit is the opposite of mine," Shiki remarked, standing up. Max's gaze drifted down to Shiki's legs—or rather, what should have been legs but were instead two swords.

"Nice choice of prosthetic limbs," Max commented with a smirk.

"Dereshishishi! Impudent kid, they're not just legs," Shiki laughed before swinging one of his sword-legs in a powerful arc. Max's eyes widened as he quickly sidestepped, watching a massive split form in the ground where he had just stood.

"Impressive," Max admitted, drawing his own sword. "How about it? We settle this with a duel—the winner takes all."

Shiki chuckled, his golden mane shaking as he appraised Max. "Dereshishishi! Why not? I've been looking for a worthy heir, and you seem capable. Not many can dodge my sword strikes at that speed."

Just then, a loud crash interrupted them as a gorilla-like crew member burst into the room, looking between Shiki and Max in confusion. "Boss, what happened? Who's this guy?"

Shiki smirked and gestured toward Max. "Meet our guest. If he survives, he might just be our new crewmate… or better yet, my successor!"

Max glanced at the gorilla who burst in, a giant, muscular creature with a wary gaze fixed on him. He raised his brows slightly, then returned his focus to Shiki.

"Friend of yours?" Max asked, raising an eyebrow as the gorilla shifted its stance, ready to defend Shiki.

Shiki chuckled, waving a dismissive hand. "Just one of my creations, nothing to worry about. Dereshishishi… Seems he's worried I'll tear you apart." Shiki's grin widened as he tapped one of his sword-legs against the ground, causing another sharp, deep cut in the earth.

Max remained unfazed, gripping his own sword tightly. "Alright, then," he said calmly, "let's see if that confidence holds up."

Without another word, Max swung his sword, infusing it with dark magic, which clashed mid-air against Shiki's gravity-defying slashes. The force of each strike split the air and sent shockwaves rippling across the island, causing some of Shiki's floating land masses to tremble.

Shiki lunged forward, his sword-legs whirling with terrifying speed. "Dereshishi! Impressive you made it this far, but you're not ready to take on the Golden Lion!" He attacked with another kick, faster than before, but Max's gravity manipulation slowed Shiki's movement just enough for him to dodge.

"Is that all?" Max taunted, matching Shiki's moves with precision.

Shiki's grin only grew wider as he released a flurry of slashes, combining them with his power to pull entire chunks of the island from the ground and hurl them at Max. "Let's see how you handle my true strength!"

Max grinned as he tightened his grip on his sword, ready for Shiki's challenge. "Night Sword Style…" His form blurred, vanishing for an instant before he reappeared directly in front of Shiki.

"Dragon Claw!" Max's words cut through the air as chunks of floating debris split into countless pieces under the precision of his strike.

Shiki let out a hearty laugh, watching the aftermath with admiration. "Dereshishishi! At my peak, I'd have loved to face you, brat. But I'll make do with what I've got!" he sneered, a spark of challenge still gleaming in his eyes.

Max regarded him calmly. "Then just admit defeat. If you do, I'll make sure you return stronger than ever."

"Dereshishishi! And what's the catch, kid?" Shiki laughed, already knowing the answer but intrigued to hear it.

Max's eyes gleamed. "…You'll serve me, as one of my own."

Shiki's grin widened knowingly. "I knew it! But if you want me, you'll have to beat me within an inch of my life." Laughing, he tore off his coat, revealing his powerful form. He reached up to the radar attached to his head—the last device preventing him from using his full power. With a brutal yank, he ripped it off, causing blood to pour from the wound.

He smirked through the pain. "I'll give you one minute. Entertain me, and if you can, defeat me before then!" His Haki surged, filling the air with a thunderous pressure that made the very ground shake. The real battle had finally begun.

Max took a breath, feeling the weight of Shiki's Conqueror's Haki, but instead of flinching, his own Haki roared back, black and crimson energy swirling around him. "One minute, then," he said, his voice steady.

***

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