NOVEL NEXT Chapter 28: Chapter 28
Arthur firmly rejected Jessica's plea to accompany him to confront the Shiki Golden Lion.
"No, you have to stay here," Arthur insisted, his tone resolute. Jessica, despite her desires, understood Arthur's reasons for seeking out the Shiki and knew that this confrontation was inevitable.
Initially worried about the Shiki power, Jessica learned of his weakened state after battles with Sengoku and Garp, leading to his imprisonment in Impel Down. To escape, he sacrificed his feet, using swords in their place.
This decision significantly diminished his strength. Had he retained his ability to fly and fought with his swords instead of them being on his feet, he would have been formidable. Twenty years ago, he was arguably the world's top swordsman and possibly even the best. However, wearing swords on his legs limited his swordsmanship's full potential.
The rudder mounted on the Shiki head caused him significant harm over time, impairing his ability to use Haki effectively. By the time he encountered Luffy, he couldn't use Haki at all, a major factor in his defeat despite his formidable Devil Fruit abilities.
Despite understanding the risks, Jessica, also aspiring to become a strong adventurer, wanted to accompany Arthur. She saw this as an opportunity to gain insight from the Shiki swordsmanship, even if his strength had waned.
After much pleading, Arthur remained firm in his decision for Jessica to stay on the boat. Understanding Arthur's steadfastness, Jessica reluctantly agreed, though she felt disappointed.
To console her, Arthur promised to defeat the Shiki and gifted her two swords, symbolizing her growth. With a smile, Jessica accepted the swords.
Before setting off, Arthur adorned himself in Leo's armor, preparing himself mentally and physically for the upcoming confrontation.
Arthur put on his armor not just for looks; as a Thunder Fruit user, he couldn't fly naturally. Instead, he used electromagnetic fields for short-distance teleportation and hovering. During his time on Vine Island, he honed this ability by wearing armor and practicing flying with electromagnetic forces.
With determination, Arthur kissed Jessica on the forehead and assured her he would return. He then gracefully flew off towards the floating islands where the Shiki resided, nearly two hundred kilometers away.
Within the largest floating island, resembling a palace, the Shiki observed a clown's performance. A chimpanzee beside him nodded in agreement, prompting the Shiki surprise when he noticed his grandmother's presence, mistaking the chimpanzee for her.
The clown corrected him, causing a playful scolding from the Shiki. Amid this routine banter, the clown halted as the Shiki expression shifted, indicating a change in the atmosphere.
Shiki sense of unease and his query about someone using Observation Haki added to the tension. However, the clown's antics and the chimpanzee's gestures seemed to dispel Shiki concerns momentarily, leading him to dismiss his initial feeling.
Arthur, who had been observing from afar, felt a wave of relief when he heard Shiki uncertainty about the Haki detection. This uncertainty hinted at potential issues with Haki usage, which could work in Arthur's favor.
Without hesitation, Arthur teleported using electromagnetic fields to the top of the palace. He interrupted loudly, affirming Shiki initial suspicion: "No! You didn't sense wrong!"
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