Dragon Clan Lonely One Piece

Shiki the Golden Lion's will, like the most violent tsunami, swept through his nascent empire.

Under the coordination of Hrascwalg and with the technical support of Norton, the Empire's war machine roared to life with unprecedented efficiency.

One after another, the enhanced warships, named the Class 1, were launched from the modified All-World Shipyard. Covered in dark and tough bronze alloy armor, their main guns gleamed with an ominous dark red energy, like steel behemoths floating on the sea, exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.

The empire's military might was virtually unstoppable.

Wang Zhi, the Crescent Moon Hunter who had been entrenched in a region, saw his carefully cultivated power crumble under the first salvo of the Empire's new fleet.

His fighting style, which he was famous for and which combined physical skills with strange lunar abilities, appeared pale and powerless in the face of Horace Varg’s all-purifying holy light and absolute power.

The battle lasted less than half a day before Wang Zhi's stronghold was breached. He attempted to break through using his elusive movements, but was captured by an invisible bronze fire net that Norton had pre-arranged in the air. He was burned to ashes amidst a shrill scream.

The empire then turned its attention to those more secretive forces.

Several long-established intermediary organizations and intelligence giants that manipulated the dark world behind the scenes either chose to surrender their accumulated wealth and networks and swear allegiance under the empire's unreasonable iron fist, or they turned into dust in the roar of the fleet's cannons.

Shiki's process was brutal and direct, yet chillingly efficient.

The remaining pirates in the New World have completely given up any form of resistance.

The flying pirate flag has now been modified. Instead of ordinary scimitars crossed behind the skull, there are now the scimitars representing Shiki, and a golden lion head symbolizing his rule has been added below, making him the sole ruler of this sea.

In the center of a floating archipelago that Shiki forcibly pieced together with his abilities to form the core of the empire, on the largest main island, a magnificent and rugged palace has risen from the ground.

This building, named the Palace of the Sky, is constructed entirely of heavy stone and metal, with a wild and domineering style that perfectly matches the temperament of its owner.

Around the palace, twelve enormous golden lion statues stand in a circle, their heads raised to the sky, roaring, symbolizing the empire's unstoppable power.

At this moment, an unprecedented grand ceremony is being held inside the Palace of the Azure Sky.

The spacious hall, large enough to hold thousands of people, was bustling with activity. Leaders of newly allied pirate factions, core members of the Charlotte family from Totto Land, incorporated leaders of the underworld, and the original core of the Empire all stood solemnly here.

They were dressed in their most solemn attire, but each of them wore an expression of awe, fear, or fervor, their eyes all fixed on the high platform at the far end of the hall.

The platform is made of pure obsidian, and its nine steps symbolize supreme power.

At the top of the steps stood an enormous chair.

It was not a traditional throne; its shape resembled a crouching lion, cast entirely from a dark gold alloy refined by Norton. The lion's head was located at the top of the backrest, its open mouth holding a jewel that constantly emitted faint energy fluctuations, while its eyes were inlaid with huge, scarlet gems, like Shiki's One Eye.

This is the Golden Lionheart Throne.

Shiki the Golden Lion wore a black cloak embroidered with golden lion patterns, underneath which he wore a dark red outfit, and his long golden mane was meticulously combed.

He did not wear a crown because he believed that no crown was worthy of the honor he was about to receive.

His eyes swept over the dark mass of people below, his gaze filled with the arrogance of a conqueror and the majesty of a ruler.

Herasvalg, along with Nordri, Fino, and Norton, stood on either side below the throne platform, two to the left and two to the right.

Herraswald was still dressed in a pure white gown, exuding a holy and noble aura.

Norton, on the other hand, wore a dark blue metallic light armor and had a cold and stern expression.

For the first time, a hint of fervor appeared on Fino's perpetually expressionless face, clad in a black suit.

Nordri, clad in dark armor, looked with satisfaction at the king he followed.

The four of them, like the pillars of the empire, protected the emperor who was about to ascend to the top.

When the bell struck twelve, the entire hall fell silent instantly.

Heraswald stepped forward, his voice, clear and solemn, resonating throughout every corner of the hall via a special device.

Based on strength, and wielded by will!

Today, we gather here to witness the birth of a new order and the rise of a great empire!

Lord Shiki the Golden Lion, with unparalleled power, swept across the New World, uniting all heroes, and shall be the sole ruler of this empire! His title is—Emperor Lionheart!

He paused, then his voice suddenly rose, carrying a solemn, almost declarative tone.

Lionheart!

Lionheart!

Lionheart!

Inside the hall, all members belonging to the Imperial Core, led by Herasvalg and Norton, shouted in unison.

The sound waves, like a tsunami, crashed against the dome of the main hall and also impacted the hearts of every new convert.

Katakuri, Smoothie, and the others lowered their heads and echoed the shouts of the crowd, their hearts filled with complex and indescribable emotions.

The pirate leaders and dark giants, under such overwhelming force, lowered their heads even further.

Shiki enjoyed the overwhelming adoration, and he slowly raised his hand, his voice calming down.

He stepped onto the nine obsidian steps one by one, each step steady and powerful, as if he were stepping on the pulse of the world.

Finally, he turned around, faced everyone, and spoke in a deep voice, each word like a heavy drumbeat striking people's hearts.

From this day forward, there is no such thing as a new world! This is my empire! This is my territory!

Whitebeard, Kaido, Linlin... they are nothing but remnants of the old era! Wang Zhi and his ilk are nothing but bones in a grave! I, Shiki the Golden Lion, am the sole ruler of this sea!

One Piece?

Shiki scoffed, his eyes full of disdain.

Let Roger, that explorer who roams the world, pursue those ephemeral titles! What I want is real rule! It's to have everyone's life, death, honor, and disgrace in my hands!

He suddenly spread his arms wide, his cloak fluttering wildly, his domineering and unrestrained aura sweeping across the entire hall:

My goal has never been to become the Pirate King! What I want to be is the Emperor!

The Emperor, who rules this ocean, and indeed the entire world! The World Government? Those parasites hiding on the Red Line in Mary Geoise? Soon, I'll personally show them who truly deserves to rule this world!

Submit to Lao Tzu, and you will share the glory and power of the empire! Those who resist will only face death!

His voice, like thunder, echoed through the hall, heralding the arrival of a new era—the era of the Lionheart Empire, marked by absolute power and reign of terror.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Shiki slowly sat on the golden lionheart throne, a symbol of supreme power.

The moment he sat down, the jewel in the lion's mouth on the throne shone brightly, and an invisible energy wave spread out from the throne, as if the entire floating islands resonated with it.

Greetings, Lionheart!

The shouts rang out again, this time more unified, more fervent, and also more...fearful.

Shiki sat on his throne, looking down at the kneeling figures below, a triumphant gleam in his single eye. He felt his power and ambition reach their peak at this moment.

However, he did not notice that, as they bowed to each other, Horaswalg and Norton, standing beneath his throne, exchanged a glance that no one else could perceive.

There was no reverence in those eyes, only cold calculation and a faint hint of pity.

Lionheart has been crowned, and his throne is dazzling.

Little did they know that beneath this dazzling golden throne lay the explosives that would bury an entire era. And the fuse was firmly held in the hands of Ilya, the mastermind behind it all, far away in Marineford, in the Navy's office.