Disclaimer: Godzilla and One Piece are the sole properties of Toho Co. LTD and Eiichiro Oda respectively. KP360 claims no ownership of anything save for any OCs, abilities, and locations.

Strong World Opening: Blue Bird by Ikimono-Gakari (Naruto Shippuden Opening 3. Yes, that one)

Color Spread: Gideon on a ramen date with Tashigi.

Defeat, for anyone, was a tough pill to swallow.

For the Straw Hats, they had no choice but to lick their wounds.

No one said anything, as Robin, Franky and Brook were aided by the villagers in freeing the remainders of the crew from their rock prison. Between the battle of titans and the arrival of the golden lion, the villagers had kept themselves safe by hiding deeper underground. Thus, they were able to escape unscathed, though their homes were now in imminent danger.

"I'm sorry…" Xiao came up to them, tears in her eyes "W-We just wanted Shiki to leave us alone, when we heard he was taking all the animals to East Blue we thought everyone else in the village would come back! If we knew you guys lived there I would've never said something like that!"

"You have nothing to apologize for," Sanji said kindly. "You were just looking out for your family and people, no one can blame you for that." The rest of the crew offered her a smile, reassuring the little girl. Soon, however, reality ensued as the remaining details about their situation fell into place.

"You guys are certain of what you saw," Zoro questioned "Shiki's palace was full of other pirates?"

"I've never seen that many people gather in one place before!" Franky answered "This is a huge operation, and East Blue is just a stepping stone! It's clear that Shiki wants the world; destroying East Blue would send a message on how powerful his army is."

"And on top of that, 2 of our own are held hostage within his territory." Sanji cursed "Poor Nami-san must be devastated, she just got out and now she had to see all that."

"They took Gian as well," Chopper mumbled "What is he going to do to him?"

"Dr. Shiragami said that Shiki would be seeking his Kaiju-Zoan now that he's gotten wind of it." Robin seethed "It looks like we were too late to stop him."

"Shiragami…" Luffy mumbled "Wait…! Erika has that last name too! And before I blacked out, Gian called the plant monster that…"

"So this Erika… she's another Kaiju-Zoan user." Zoro grunted

"That's correct, but it seems she's not in league with Shiki, at least not from how the doctor describes it." Brook added "In fact, the doctor seemed very urgently trying to distance themselves from him."

"I guess I shouldn't be surprised, ever since Gian, we've been running into more and more of them." The swordsman nodded "Still, if that girl and her dad aren't keen on the company they have, then maybe that's the reason why the old man is after our First Mate specifically."

"Now how are we going to save them?" Usopp reminded everyone "Shiki easily has the most powerful military force in the world now!"

"Um…" The crew turned to see the remaining villagers come up to them, slightly hesitant before one revealed the object they were holding. It was a Tone Dial, that much they could see, and upon seeing it a sense of uncertainty rose in all of them.

"Before she was taken, Shiki gave the girl this. It seems she recorded a message that she intends for you guys to hear."

Wordlessly Luffy reached out for it, the crew listened as Nami's shaky voice came out through the dial. The entire crew grew somber at the contents: Nami's despair and fear, her not wanting the people closest to her be hurt by the actions of a megalomaniac, knowing full well that he has the power to do so. It's something that she wasn't unfamiliar with, and those who had been with her back during the events of Arlong Park know more than what she's going through. To this-

"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS SUPPOSED TO MEAN?!"

Of course, just because they sympathize with her doesn't mean one of them agrees with what she's trying to convey, and Luffy quickly sprang up, fire blazing in his eyes. A crewmate taken is a crewmate that needed to be avenged, damn the consequences!

"Luffy-!"

"She thinks we can't win here?! That we should just give up?!" the captain raged "I can't believe she'd say something like that!" Before anyone else could say anything, he already stormed off.

"...There's clearly more to this." Zoro muttered, "Keep playing it."

Sure enough, the true meaning of Nami's message soon became apparent for those who actually had enough patience. The true monument of their task ahead was clear to them with not one, but two nakama that needed their help. Besides, even if Luffy never heard the ending of their navigator's message, he was still more than willing to take the fight to Shiki.

"You guys…" Xiao walked up to them "Are you really going to stand up to Shiki?"

"...We're going to get her back." Luffy grunted, still a bit miffed about what he's heard "We're going to get both of them back!"

"Then good luck!" the little girl nodded.

With that, they went to prepare.

"Robin, Franky, Brook. You guys were there, what was Shiki's stronghold like?" Luffy stated.

"Shiki's fortress will be heavily guarded at this point." Robin explained "Both his own forces and those he's invited will number our opposition in the thousands. We should prepare for a tough fight."

"Apparently his own creations are kept from the castle via the Daft Green plants we see around here. In that case, we might not have to deal with them and we can just focus on the other pirates." Brook suggested.

"Fortunately we got just the thing!" Franky grinned "On our way here, we happened to come across Sunny, she's marooned in the middle of a clearing." Some slight relief came across people's faces as that information was revealed "I happened to be working on a couple of things before we came to this dastardly place, and I don't know about you, but this may be the perfect time to use them!"

"Oooh! A surprise?" Chopper and Usopp beamed "What is it?"

"Oh, you'll see." the cyborg smiled "You'll see…"

Meanwhile:

"Erika…" Gian stammered "the reason she's a Kaiju-Zoan user… is because of you?

Shiragami's eyes were downcast "At the time, I didn't know the true nature of what I brought to her. All that mattered then was saving her life."

"Doctor… I know first hand what that power is like, such a burden is not something for a child to carry." Gian gritted "What could she possibly need saving from that you'd curse her with the soul of a monster?"

The doctor glanced at the Kaiju-Zoan user, his eyes hollow "Despite what she looks, Erika has been so strong. What she went through, a child should never have to go through."

Shiragami sighed "It wasn't always like this, she had a happy childhood once. But that was long ago, back when we all lived in North Blue…"

Flashback:

Erika Shiragami was born to a simple family, one that was as close knit as can be. Her father, a prestigious World Government Scientist, and her mother an established nurse. They lived in a small cottage by the sea, where the sun always shone and the weather was always pleasant. Her days included walks in the nearby woods, and long hours devoted to tending to the rose bushes near her home with her mother, hobbies that would one day spur her love of botany.

Sure, Dr. Shiragami was frequently away for periods of time due to his work, but the bond of family was palpable to all who saw them. Her parents encouraged her passions, knowing one day their daughter's love of plants will come to benefit the world.

It was one fateful night that she, then 8 years old, woke to a fit of thirst. She didn't know it then, but that was the catalyst that would one day lead her life to be changed forever. The night was still, and Erika had merely awoken and ambled to the kitchen to get a drink of water, when she passed by her parent's bedroom.

The doctor and his wife were quiet, but Erika could just make out the tone of their voice, voices that belied hidden sorrow and desperation.

"...for my sake, you need to let this go." her mom's voice was the first that she heard "We all knew what the end result was going to be, even if we dared to dream otherwise…"

"I can't do that, I need you…" now it was her father "Erika needs you! She… how can I tell her that her own mother-?"

"Our daughter is strong… she will understand. She has you after all…" Her mother's voice was faint; her father had told her that her health was in decline, maybe she wasn't feeling well that night. "Whatever happens to me, look after her for me. Make sure she has a father that will give her the life she wants…"

"I can't- It can't just end like this…!" The doctor's voice was pained "I know there's a way to cure it! Even if the hospitals won't take you, I can find-!"

Erika wanted to hear more, but at that moment she accidentally stumbled in her attempt to get closer to the door. The voices within the room immediately stifled, and her parents rushed out as smiles masked their previous emotions. Erika could've sworn that her mother seemed pale; patches of her skin seemed to be turning white. Exhaustion soon overtook her however as her father carried her back to bed.

"In the end, I tried." The doctor sighed "She hung on for as long as she could, put up a front of strength just for our daughter, but try as I might, maybe there really is no conventional cure for that blasted disease."

"...I'm sorry." Gian gave his condolences "What kind of sickness would be so cruel to rip a poor girl's mother away from her?"

The doctor's eyes were distant, before his hoarse voice was heard again.

"Have you ever heard of Amber Lead Syndrome?"

Gian gasped; Amber Lead Syndrome was a lethal condition, one caused through the overexposure of the aptly named mineral. A kingdom built atop of it, and dismantled by the very consequences that spawned from it. "That's horrific! They say it's wiped out entire bloodlines within a single generation! But I thought only people from a particular island in North Blue, and that place was destroyed over a decade ago? Are you saying that-?"

"Hmph, destroyed would imply those people were given a choice. But yes, Erika's mother was from Flevance. We met while I had a business arrangement there, back before the crisis. She and I had eloped and left the island not long after. The disease was hidden in her bones, by the time the symptoms emerged, we'd already had Erika."

"They say Amber Lead Syndrome is extremely contagious, and that each person that becomes afflicted after dies quicker than the one before. You must be lucky not to have caught it."

Dr. Shiragami scowled at that comment "So the World Government is still parroting that piece of propaganda? I'd expected nothing more. No, Amber Lead's contagiousness is nothing more than an urban legend, one that was made up purely because of the selfishness of humanity."

"You're kidding!" Gian gawked when the truth was revealed "So they destroyed the entire country just to cover their tracks then?!" The Kaiju-Zoan user clenched his fist in anger; such displays of violence and vitriol seemed to become commonplace the more he learned about the world.

The doctor's next words had caused his voice to crack.

"What Amber Lead is, however, is hereditary. I was safe from the sickness, Erika was not." Gian paled when Shiragami revealed that bit of information "I had prayed that, somehow, the disease would not be passed on just this once, but it seemed everything in the world just wanted my little girl to suffer at that moment. Not even 2 years had passed when the symptoms had appeared."

"P-papa… it hurts…"

"It's going to be ok, Erika. We can fight this…!"

Her skin blemished by patches of white marks, Erika's breathing was labored. Pain seared through her bones even through the tiniest of movement. Every day she felt herself get weaker, and every day she saw with a sinking heart at the sight of her father falling deeper and deeper into despair. The doctor tries his best to put on a brave face for his child, but Erika knows exactly what is going on; the same disease that had claimed her mother is now coming to take her as well.

"I-I'm going to see mama soon, aren't I?" Erika croaked "That's so great… I missed her, and you don't have to work so hard anymore papa."

"Erika… ERIKA!"

"What the World Government also chose to hide was that Amber Lead Syndrome also bioaccumulates throughout the victim's offspring. Each generation has a greater concentration of it in their bodies, and each generation dies sooner than the one prior. Erika's mother had passed away in her thirties, Erika herself hadn't even reached 11 years old at that time. I promised my wife that I'd always look after her after she left, I would do anything to keep that promise." Shiragami whispered.

"Is… Is that why you came to Shiki?" Gian asked.

"No, though what happened would ultimately make our paths cross. I believe you know where this is going." the doctor revealed "As Erika's sickness worsened by the day, my search for a cure reached a fever pitch. Desperate in anything, I had even turned to the rumormongers that lined the streets. One source of information told of a legendary Devil Fruit that allows someone to practically pick the disease right out of their bodies akin to surgery, and indeed the sources seem to indicate its location. By the time I had caught wind of it however, it seemed to have been taken by a third party. At that point, I was willing to do just about anything to save her, and that's when it came into our lives."

"Erika's Kaiju-Zoan…"

"An anonymous tip gave me the location of a jungle island, deep within the Calm Belt. I found it, nestled within the deepest clearing at the heart of the forest. As I mentioned before, the true magnitude of what I've done hasn't struck me until it was too late. The worst thing was that it actually worked; within 2 days there was virtually no trace of Amber Lead within Erika's body, it was like she'd never had it in the first place. Never would I have expected the price of such a miracle would have doomed her."

Never in the Doctor's life would he ever imagine something so horrific.

And when the source of it all was his own daughter, the anguish was tenfold.

The town lay in ruin; buildings that once hosted a vibrant port city were now shattered and uprooted. The ground itself seemed to have ripped open and torn apart.

It happened without warning. One moment, he and Erika were bartering with a fruit vendor when his daughter said her chest felt tight.

The creature that dragged itself from the deepest realm of nightmare gave no one a moment to prepare.

And in the middle of it all, covered by vines in a rapid state of decay, was his little girl. Erika's eyes were blank, taking in the scene of destruction as a well of horror filled within her, the gradual rise of anguished cries and howls soon filled the air. Around her, those who survived the onslaught of destruction that happened mere moments before gathered themselves along with any survivors, still in a state of shock at what just happened.

"P-papa…" her whisper was nothing more than a slight croak "W-What did I do…?"

Shiragami could only pick her up and run.

"It happens without warning; Erika was behest of that foul creature's power. The minute it takes over, it was like it replaced her completely."

Gian could only swallow; such a thing has happened to him once, an event that made him realize, had Triton and the other Red Hair Pirates never found him, how dangerous such a power could really be.

"If you were a World Government scientist, why didn't you turn to them for help?" Gian asked.

The doctor scoffed "Considering your own experiences, I'd say you'd know exactly why. Even before that, taking my late wife's identity into consideration among other issues, I had already begun to fall out with some of my peers. Even before Erika was born her mother and I were forced to constantly be on the move, I simply knew too much and went against the grain too often. If I revealed that my own daughter has an asset that the very world tries to hide, I dare not imagine the consequences."

Gian nodded. The very events that revealed how deep the World Government's machinations ran were only mere weeks before, and it was not something he'd ever forget.

"But you weren't completely off the radar, were you?" the Kaiju-Zoan user spoke.

Shiragami chuckled humorlessly "Erika's volatility had already drawn too much attention, and not from the right people either. It wasn't long before people began to follow us, and that's when Shiki came into our lives."

"I've heard a lot about you Dr. Shiragami." The man towered before him, his frame blocking the door to their simple abode completely. He and Erika have been moving constantly now, the girl still having little luck in controlling her unwanted burden. More questions were being raised, and the world was beginning to turn suspicious.

The pirate strode around the doctor's home, gazing at various parts of the interior with subtle interest. " A nice place you've got here. It was said you had a talented mind, such an individual would be rather misplaced to be living in such squalor, don't you think?"

Shiragami moved in front of her daughter's room protectively "What do you want? How did you find us?"

"No need to fear, I don't plan to do anything to the two of you. My name is-"

"I know who you are! They said you disappeared after escaping Impel Down, whatever you're planning I don't want to be involved."

"So I can skip the introduction then," Shiki sneered. "I've heard of your research, the hypothesis regarding the manipulation of the Lineage Factor can speed up the very evolution of living beings in this world. I currently have a long term plan in plan, one that requires much preparation. The scientists under my employment have some assets, and while I am perfectly content to wait for the fruits of their labor, I heard you can make them even stronger than what we've originally devised."

"I already said that I don't want any trouble!"

"I'm afraid, given your current situation, you may not have this choice. How many times have you relocated now, doctor? 4 times? 5? Running is not a permanent option, they're already closing in, aren't they?"

"I'm not the only one that has access to this research. The people I worked with, colleagues, people much more suited to this than I. Why not-!"

"Dr. Vegapunk is still much too entrenched with the World Government, currently I am laying low and would rather not tip them off until the time is right. As for the patriarch of the Vinsmoke Family, my plans are far too grand to get him involved. Also, none of them have a daughter that hosts such a formidable beast."

Shiragami glared "There it is, I knew the Golden Lion wouldn't just pay me a visit for no reason. If Erika's the only reason you're here, then I must ask you to leave. I will never let anyone hurt her."

Shiki only chuckled before clasping a hand on his shoulder "If I really wished to take her, there wouldn't be anything a mere scientist can do to prevent me from doing so, don't you think? Talent such as yours could be used elsewhere, its potential garnered and used for benefit rather than rotting away in obscurity."

The Golden Lion leaned in close "I can offer you a place where you can pursue that work in peace, it just so happens that your daughter happens to have a power I am somewhat familiar with. Believe it or not, she's not the first to bear witness to something like that, something that the World Government wishes to bury under their history. No doubt you've seen them already at your doors multiple times by now."

"I wonder, Doctor, just how much longer you can afford to run?"

Shiragami gritted his teeth, but he could not deny the fact that the World Government was already aware of Erika's situation. He himself was already on shaky ground with them due to splitting ways years ago, and now with his daughter's condition, that might just tip things off even worse.

He was a moral man, but he was a father first.

"...What exactly do you need me for?" Shiragami gave a resigned sigh. The elder pirate only grinned triumphantly and leaned down.

"I need your knowledge, your work. My army is being developed, but with your input it will be even more ferocious. You will find the next dozen years suitable for your development, and you won't have to worry about the same forces you've onced slaved under. They won't find me, not in the sea after all"

Shiragami pursed his lips, before taking one last glance at the closed door to Erika's bedroom. The little girl was now deep in slumber, seemingly unaware of the dealings made just outside. "If that's what you require, then I will perform. I have one condition, however. Whatever plan you have for the world, whatever grudge remains, leave my daughter out of it. That's all I ask."

Shiki leered "Making sure the most important thing to you is covered before anything else is set, you're a father alright. Fortunately for you, you will see that I am a generous man. Your request will be arranged. Come along then doctor, we have lots to do."

Flashback end:

"That was the nature of our deal: I provide my research and fill in any holes in Shiki's beast army, and in turn he essentially makes us disappear from the public world. At the very least, considering he himself is laying low, the chances of the World Government being onto Erika would be low." Shiragami revealed "For the last couple of years, this place has been my home, and these creatures have evolved from powerful beasts to monstrous killing machines. The combining of Lineage Factor has evolved them beyond potential, 3 of them in particular have the destructive capabilities to easily dismantle a single island nation by themselves."

"Yeah, I have an idea which ones you're talking about. In any other case, working for a madman like Shiki I'd have more to say. Especially considering his first target is a place I called home for 8 years." Gian sighed "However, I can't say I'd exactly blame you for being put into such a position in the first place."

Shiragami shook his head "I may be undermined, but this is not subservience. Shiki's beast army may have been mutated with power, but just as power could be added I also programmed a weakness into them."

Gian's eyes rose at that "You planned something?"

"I was never going to go along with his plan, and while Shiki may be patient, he's far too power hungry to ignore Erika for long. Sooner or later he'd find a way to break out of our deal, and thus to combat that I've altered the genes of his army to include one crucial fatal error."

"Every creature on this island has their physiology enhanced and heightened to beyond peak levels, but I've programmed one genetic flaw into all of them. They are all vulnerable to ultrasonic frequencies, the sound triggers a stimulus that will cause immense pain to all of them; even Gezora, Ganimes and Kamoebas are not immune to this. Shiki's army may be fearsome, but with a single sound blast I can incapacitate all of it."

"And how exactly did you plan to do that?" Gian asked.

"That's not something for you to concern yourself with, for what I've played a hand in, I must see it to the end myself." the scientist responded "Shiki is strong, but he's fallen to the Marines once in his lifetime already. If I can manage to hinder his army by even just a little bit, enough for the forces of the World Government to retaliate, then I can end everything with one flourish."

"But what about Erika?" Gian barked "If the scenario you claim would happen, then Shiki will catch on eventually, and considering you got yourself in here to begin with he'd know it was you! Erika would-"

"I would've made sure Erika would be able to get out of harm's way safely before exacting my plan." Shiragami sighed "I already know the risks, but what's a father if not someone to bear it all? I've already brought her so much pain, in a way she'd be better off-!"

"And that would've made her an orphan! She's a 15 year old kid, she should be chasing frogs and catching butterflies and sleeping under the stars, not having to worry about some plant monster inside her threatening to break out at any moment!"

The Kaiju-Zoan user composed himself "Doctor, your intentions are good, but Erika needs you. If you leave her with nothing but a life, then even that life would not be worth living!"

"I'm the reason she has to bear such a monster within her to begin with! How can she even bear to face a father like me?"

"That's bullshit and you know it!" Gian snapped "You're the most important thing in the world to her, she's willing to put up with someone like Shiki just so her father is beside her!"

"Why are you so concerned with her?!" The doctor demanded "Why go so far to plead your case for a girl you've only known for 3 days?"

"BECAUSE I WAS JUST LIKE HER!"

The doctor backed up a little, eying Gian warily as the latter took in deep breaths "W-When I realized a Kaiju-Zoan was within me, I was in a place where I truly had nothing. My entire existence was a cycle of agony that the creature inadvertently brought. It took the right people appearing at the right time for me to realize it was more than that. That was 8 years ago, I was the same age as her."

"I managed to eventually balance out this power, but Erika doesn't have that luxury. she's burdened with a creature that could easily tear away the only one she loves. Everything she's been through, the only crutch she still has left is you! If you're gone, then she really will have no one!"

Shiragami was silent, his emotions broiling as Gian stated out the same concerns of his thoughts.

"You've already done so much out of love, then why can't you consider living for her as well? With everything that's gone wrong, you were the right thing to have happened to her. I won't let her lose that, and I won't let you lose her either."

Shiragami said nothing, and the cell was silent save for both party's heavy breathing. Despite that, Gian could tell that the man was wracked with emotion. Finally the doctor shook his head.

"If that sentiment can get us anywhere, I sure hope it could be now. We are still confined here, after all."

Gian cracked a small smile "Now you're starting to come around. Don't worry man, jails are not as durable as they seem."

Shiragami cracked an eye. "What do you mean by that?"

"Let's just say that this isn't the first time that this Kaiju-Zoan of mine has landed me into one of these things. And in those cases, it's often best to wait and look for cracks."

Meanwhile:

It had all led to this moment, a plan 20 years in the making, now about to come to fruition.

Shiki sat at the head of the chamber, gazing down at the massive crowd seated in an orderly fashion below him, cups with sake placed orderly amongst them. The individuals gathered were all pirates of sizable reputation, drawn to the promise of carnage and glory. Each of them have made names for themselves, but for someone who has been in hiding for 20 years, the name of the Golden Lion still bore enough clout that an audience such as this is easily achievable.

Shiki prided himself as a man with lofty ambitions, even as a child he dreamt of power beyond those of his peers. As a youth, he was powerful enough to become the boss of a local gang on his home island and yet he always knew that his true calling was beyond the waves of the open sea.

And then, one fateful day, he was thrust into a world that even he thought he'd been in way over his head. It was by chance that a pirate crew now lost to history set their sights onto him, but he took to the life of piracy like a fish to water. But when Rocks D. Xebec took him under his banner, that was when Shiki got a taste of what true power really was. They were a family, albeit one extremely dysfunctional and treacherous one, but when their strength was unrivaled, there was no one to oppose them but themselves.

Those days have since past; Xebec had been lost to the passage of time, and those under him that had not perished during the events that lead to their dissolution had gone on to make their claim at the pinnacle of power themselves. Shiki himself didn't idle either, for the Golden Lion Pirates' path of infamy grew by the day during his golden age.

There was only one man he found worthy to consider his equal; the same man who once struck his former captain down and, for that brief moment, prevented the world from shifting to cataclysm whether he wished to or not. It was through him that Shiki found a worthy rival, even more so beyond his former crewmates. The two had clashed many times over the years, but unlike other foes, Shiki never truly felt any ill will towards him. He'd even gone so far as to reach out in an attempt for the two of them to join forces, their combined power could easily bring the world to its knees. The man refused, naturally, yet it was that act of standing up to him that made the Golden Lion see only him as someone who is worthy enough to face him.

Yet despite all that, Gold Roger chose to conclude his legend by ending his tale in the weakest sea of them all, chained up by the same forces that he once crushed beneath his boot. His final words ushered in a new age of pirates, in Shiki's eyes they were nothing but mere wide-eyed idealists who knew nary a thing about true power.

But Roger was no longer here, and the age he brought with his death will henceforth be usurped by his own. Shiki grinned at the pirates gathered before him, watching him with bated expectations; it was time to address the crowd, and if there was anything he was good at, it was making sure the crowd was on his side.

"Respected Captains, tonight we feast to bring forth a new age!" Shiki announced, raising his sake cup "You have all come to witness the balance of powers shift upon these seas. 23 years ago, Gold Roger submitted his fate to die in the weakest of the 4 Blues, tomorrow the very lands he cherished will burn under the might of the Golden Lion Pirates!" The elder pirate grinned as those gathered erupted into raucous cheers.

"Tomorrow, the World Government will awake to find the very structure they cultivated dismantled right beneath them! Together, we will shift the balance of power, where only the truly powerful will rule! From this day forth, you will all gain the glory of the Golden Lion Pirates!" Shiki declared to more applause. He had everything exactly the way he wanted, every plan set forth going off without a hitch.

Except for one detail.

It never occurred to him that, just that moment, the same group of people he wronged were coming to seek retribution. Nothing needed to be said, not when they only had one singular goal in mind.

But he could feel them; in the middle of his toast, the presence of those about to arrive permeated through the walls. And it was not just him too; every pirate in the room could feel a sense of uneasiness growing.

And it all culminated as the main doors to the chamber was-

"-ah crap… I think my foot's stuck!"

"Jeez, you need to put more force into it! Here let me show you."

"Oh, thank y-WAIT, I HAVEN'T GOTTEN FREE YET SAN-!"

*BOOM!"

Shiki's smile warped into a snarl as the doors to the room were blown off their hinges. Light streamed in, overshadowing even the well lit interior. The elder pirate's eyes never left the 8 silhouetted figures standing in a single-file row, waiting as their captain emerged through the light. He had thought a display of power would be enough to cow these rookies, only now did he see the true depths of their determination.

"You… you've come all the way here?"

Luffy's eyes snapped up; normally he'd be gushing at the stylish attire Franky chose for this rescue mission, but right now the captain's mind was only on one thing.

"Nami, Gian. You give them back to us right now!" His voice, dead serious, was a stark contrast to what Shiki's seen before. The rest of the crew were in similar form, dressed in the fashion not unlike mafia members and wielding firearms that seemed to prioritize style and intimidation first and foremost. The two pirates glared at each other for a few more moments, before Shiki burst into laughter.

"Jihahaha! Well you've certainly seemed to come prepared. Still, you are merely 8 people; this is a suicide mission if I've ever seen one!"

The moment his voice dropped, the hidden paneles within the rooms fell open, revealing scores of hidden militia ready to strike. Numbers that easily out-matched their own, the Straw Hats showed no fear in spite of that.

"You've done all this, just for a girl who's foolish enough to believe that she'd be able to save her hometown by giving herself up, and a boy who doesn't even grasp the true extent of his power? I'm surprised you've made it this far by how reckless you've been!"

"Who told you this is a suicide mission?" Luffy snorted "Nami and Gian were merely the precursor to all this, we're the main force!"

At once, the remaining Straw Hats readied their weapons before opening fire, right as the hordes of pirates rushed towards them.

Meanwhile:

The sound of the resulting firefight could be heard even where Gian was imprisoned, as he and Dr. Shiragami felt the vibrations even through their cell.

"Well, looks like they're on schedule." the Kaiju-Zoan user grinned as he saw more of Shiki's personnel moving towards the scene of action in a haste.

"Shiki has an army, tens of thousands strong; he easily has the largest armada ever gathered by a pirate. This isn't even factoring the beasts we've developed. I'm aware of the strength of your crew, but even this-!"

"-Is hardly the first time we've encountered such a problem." Gian brushed it off "Now it's just a matter of time before they get here."

Sure enough, mere moments later the soldiers of Shiki were blown back by a loud boom before 3 very familiar folks entered as well. Gian grinned as he knocked on the glass, drawing their attention.

"Yohohoho! Looks like we made it!" Brook laughed in relief.

"Stand back!" Franky grinned before cocking his left arm open. Gian braced himself as a bazooka launch shattered the glass prison, freeing

"You magnificent sons of bitches…" Gian breathed in relief "And Robin." the archaeologist chuckled as the Kaiju-Zoan user wrapped her up in a hug.

"Hope being stuck here didn't dull you out too much." the cyborg stated.

"I'd say so far everything is going well." Gian noted, especially taking note of the crew's new attire "And looking all schmancy as well, way to make a statement."

"Heh, Shiki's holding a big social event. We had to dress the part!" Franky responded.

"And I am glad you did." Gian laughed "Where's mine?"

"Huh?"

Gian blinked "You're all dressed in fancy clothes and brandishing fancy weapons, where's mine?"

"I didn't bring one?" Franky replied in confusion "Considering you weren't there when I handed them out, I didn't think this meant so much."

"So you had this whole thing planned of dressing to the nines and showing up that creep at his big event and you didn't even think to include me?!"

"YOU WERE IMPRISONED WHY IS THIS YOUR FIRST CONCERN?!"

"WELL I STILL WANT TO-!"

"Gian, please focus." Robin cut in.

"Oh, right…" the Kaiju-Zoan user composed himself "What's the situation so far?"

"Luffy-san's going after Shiki, it's safe to say that'll be his main challenge. The rest of us are keeping the remaining Golden Lion forces at bay." Brook revealed.

"Good, Luffy will handle Shiki." Gian nodded.

Footsteps sounded as Usopp and Chopper ran up to them, panting as they carried something atop Chopper's back. The transformed reindeer knelt down and deposited a barely conscious Nami. Gian grimaced upon seeing the green splotches on her skin.

"We found her… she was trying to destroy the Daft Green trees around the castle, but it seems that Shiki was aware of that." the doctor gestured to the more physical wounds on the navigator's body.

"Plus it looks like she's inhaled too much of those spores." Franky cursed.

"Damn it… she really had to go so far." Gian seethed "At least she'll be safer now."

"Then I assume you will go find the girl?" Robin inquired. Gian looked at her, before nodding firmly.

"Erika's still here somewhere. No matter how volatile the Kaiju-Zoan she has is, none of it is her fault. I have to make this right."

"Go get her." Robin nodded with a smile. Gian was about to leave, when he turned just to see Doctor Shiragami shuffle up to them."

"You… You're really willing to risk so much? Face so many challenges just to try and get through to my daughter?"

"Doctor," Gian answered "When I was her age, I was fortunate enough to run into the one group of people that showed me that this power could be controlled; if they hadn't been there, I would've never met the ones I call my friends today. Erika has no one for that; she at the very least needs a father. Whatever plans you have, you need to enact it with her."

"The rest of us don't understand much about this whole Kaiju-Zoan thing." Franky shrugged, "We trust him."

"Gian is possibly the only one here that knows how to bring Erika peace, out of all of us." Robin added.

"Don't worry… doctor…" the group turned to see Nami stirring back into the light, albeit still very worn out. "Gian will… save her…She doesn't need… to be afraid… of her Kaiju-Zoan."

The doctor looked on silently; still processing the emotions. This stranger, whom he's only heard of through whispers before today, would go as far as to throw himself out for the sake of his daughter, it was something even he found it hard to do.

"...Shiki must've kept her in one of the other labs in this facility." Shiragami finally gave a determined reply "Considering this is just his initial operation, he wouldn't want to show his hand on an asset like her just yet."

"Then that's where I'll look." Gian nodded.

"Your friend here needs medical attention too." the doctor stated as he gazed at Nami "Daft Green inhaled in such an amount will be lethal within minutes. I know where the lab Dr. Indigo keeps the IQ plants, she will need that."

"W-We'll come and help you then!" Usopp stammered. Shiragami nodded before running off with Usopp and Chopper carrying their catatonic patient.

"We'll buy you guys some time." Brook revealed to Gian. The Kaiju-Zoan user nodded.

"Thanks Brook, I'm depending on ya."

"Good Luck." Robin nodded. The two shared a gaze before Gian too raced off deeper into Shiki's fortress, only one thought on his mind:

"Erika… you've been afraid for so many years. Always fearing that the power you possess will hurt the ones you love. That, when we're all done here, will end today. There's more to that power than destruction, that I promise I will show."

A/N: Man having real life obligations suck. I never knew having a puppy would take up so much time, but she requires way more attention than I thought. The fun kind, but it occupies you all the same. I had hoped to get this out before my camping trip last weekend, but unfortunately packing also took up too much time so, well, here it is.

Strong World is almost done, should be just 2-3 more chapters after this, depending on the situation. We should be getting to the resolution of Gian and Erika soon. I also realized that, up until now, I haven't been getting any emails regarding FFN at all, due to the fact that for some reason my email alert was rejected. Because of this error, I haven't been getting alerts to any reviews. It's surprising how this site is even functional at times.

G: The fact that we've been on this dinosaur site for almost 7 years is lunacy.

Eh, we're transferring it to AO3 as we speak.

Anyway, thank you all for being patient. I'm thinking of restarting any responses to reviews in the next chapter. I know I said that I'll do them for this chapter, but it's midnight here and I am very sleepy haha.

G: For context, his current job starts at 6:30 in the morning and even if its the weekend, the puppy usually wakes him up around 5:30 anyway because she needs to pee.

I miss sleeping so much…

Anyway, we'll see you for the next chapter!