SIX PATH SAGE OF THE ROCKS PIRATES

"Oh? What an interesting guy."

The scene before him made even Whitebeard, known for his unshakable demeanor, glance at Kaito with intrigue. As a core member of the Rocks Pirates and a seasoned rival of the Golden Lion, Whitebeard fully understood the sheer magnitude of Shiki's strength.

Yet here was Kaito—a relatively young and unproven warrior—managing to wound a titan like Shiki. Such a feat was almost unheard of.

"To think he could injure Shiki... My instincts were right. This guy's a monster," Charlotte Linlin muttered, a sly grin spreading across her face as she observed the spectacle. Her hunger for power extended beyond her insatiable appetite—she had an eye for potential, and Kaito was proving to be the rarest of treasures.

Shiki, the Golden Lion himself, wasn't angry. On the contrary, he grinned through the pain, his aura as fierce as ever.

"Good job, Kaito. You've got my approval."

To Shiki, this wasn't defeat—it was discovery. Kaito's strike had caught him off-guard, exploiting a microscopic flaw in his swordsmanship that even seasoned warriors would fail to see, let alone act upon.

Even though Shiki hadn't fought with his full strength, he was no slouch. As a master swordsman wielding the legendary blades Oto and Kogarashi, Shiki's technique was near flawless. But Kaito had capitalized on a minuscule opening, delivering a blow that resonated more with Shiki's pride than his body.

"To earn Captain Shiki's approval… Looks like the Rocks Pirates are about to welcome another monster," Linlin quipped, her voice tinged with amusement. The crew was already overflowing with prodigious talents, yet Kaito's combat prowess stood out.

Shiki's grin widened as he tightened his grip on his blades.

"But I doubt that's the full extent of your strength, is it?"

Kaito's breathing was steady, his eyes sharp. Though the previous exchange had demanded much of him, Shiki's instincts told him this rookie was holding back—his aura spoke of untapped potential.

"If that's the case, I'll have to get a little more serious."

In a dramatic flourish, Shiki unsheathed his second sword, and the air seemed to shift. The Golden Lion's full power as a dual-wielding swordsman was no longer constrained. His blades, Oto and Kogarashi, gleamed ominously, their presence amplifying his already overwhelming aura.

The ground beneath them cracked as Shiki's haki flared.

"Come at me, Kaito!" Shiki challenged, standing firm as his swords hummed with power.

Kaito grinned in response, his excitement barely contained. This wasn't just a test; it was the perfect opportunity.

Moments ago, Kaito had stumbled upon a mysterious Devil Fruit during one of their raids. He hadn't fully understood its power until now, but he could feel it—a primal force, wild and destructive, surging within him.

"Just what I was waiting for," Kaito said, his voice steady.

As he concentrated, a crimson mist began to envelop him, swirling like a living entity. His body radiated an ominous energy, and behind him, a red, fox-like tail materialized, flicking lazily in the air.

Gasps rippled through the crowd of pirates watching the duel. Even among the Rocks Pirates, Devil Fruits of this nature were a rarity.

"Is that… the Nine Tails?" Linlin's voice betrayed genuine surprise.

Indeed, Kaito's Devil Fruit had unlocked a fragment of the legendary beast's power. With just a single tail manifested, his strength had surged dramatically.

Shiki's eyes narrowed, his excitement matching Kaito's.

"This just got a lot more interesting."

Kaito cracked his knuckles as the crimson mist coiled around him, his voice brimming with confidence.

"Alright, Captain Shiki, let's see if your blades can keep up with the Nine Tails!"

Kaito felt an unusual surge of power coursing through his body. The sensation was both exhilarating and unsettling, his energy brimming as if he had tapped into a new source of strength.

"Wait… Red tails? Did this guy consume a Devil Fruit?"

"And not just any Devil Fruit—it feels unique. His aura has completely transformed. If I'm not mistaken, it's likely a Zoan or Paramecia-type that amplifies raw strength."

"Still, it doesn't matter. Captain Shiki has now mastered his dual-sword style. Even with the power of a Devil Fruit, Kaito won't be able to exploit any weaknesses. Unless he's reached the level of a true great swordsman, Captain Shiki remains untouchable."

"That's right. With a single sword, Captain Shiki might have slight vulnerabilities. But with two, his technique is flawless. This kid doesn't stand a chance."

The Golden Lion, Shiki, smirked as he noticed the transformation Kaito underwent. The Nine Tails' chakra swirled around Kaito, radiating fiery energy and a menacing aura. Shiki chuckled deeply, his laughter echoing across the deck.

"Jihahahaha! So, this is your trump card? Excellent!" Shiki's excitement was palpable. "Show me everything you've got, kid! Jihahaha! This is the kind of spirit I like. After this battle, you're joining my crew! With your talent, you'll rise to the top as my right hand!"

Kaito tightened his grip on his blade, the edge shimmering with a dense coating of Armament Haki. His muscles tensed, and his veins bulged as he summoned the full force of the Nine Tails' power. The deck creaked under his feet as he launched forward.

"Bang!"

Kaito moved faster than the eye could track, leaving a blur of afterimages in his wake. In an instant, he closed the gap between him and Shiki, bringing his sword down with a ferocious strike.

"Clang!"

The deafening clash of steel resounded as Kaito's blade met Shiki's twin swords. Sparks erupted, illuminating the battlefield, and a shockwave exploded outward, forcing nearby crew members to stumble backward, shielding themselves from the sheer force.

The air thickened with tension, as if two monstrous presences were locked in an eternal struggle. It felt less like a duel and more like a clash between two wild beasts.

"You've grown stronger, no doubt about it," Shiki remarked, his tone a mix of amusement and approval. "But strength alone won't be enough."

Their blades collided repeatedly, the sound of metal ringing out in rapid succession. Within moments, dozens of strikes had been exchanged. Kaito's attacks carried the destructive force to split the earth and level mountains, his swordsmanship refined and deadly. With the Nine Tails' power bolstering his abilities, he could easily defeat a pirate with a bounty of 300 million berries.

However, no matter how much power Kaito unleashed, Shiki's mastery as a great swordsman rendered every strike ineffective. Shiki's twin-sword technique was a masterpiece of precision, power, and defense. His movements were flawless, and his counterattacks relentless. Kaito struggled to find an opening—any opening—in Shiki's form.

"Jihahahaha! You're good, kid! But you're still a century too early to take me down!" Shiki roared, his blades glowing with his own Armament Haki. Each swing from Shiki sent waves of energy slicing through the air, keeping Kaito on the defensive.

Kaito gritted his teeth, sweat pouring down his face. His resolve burned as fiercely as the Nine Tails' chakra surrounding him. He had come this far, and he wasn't about to give up. But as their duel continued, the gap between their levels of mastery became painfully clear.

Despite Kaito's extraordinary strength and newfound power, he was facing a true legend—a great swordsman who had honed his craft to near-perfection. In the face of such overwhelming skill, even Kaito's fiery determination was tested.

Yet, deep within, Kaito knew: this battle was far from over.