Onepiece:Ares

Golden Lion Shiki observed Ares closely, noticing his cluelessness about Armament Haki. With a sly grin and cigar perched in his mouth, he motioned to the boy.

"You're curious, huh? Well, come in first."

Once Ares entered, Shiki shut the door behind him.

"Sit down," he said with a grin, disappearing momentarily before returning with several bottles of rum.

Shiki plopped down across from Ares with a grand gesture, crossing his legs. "Jie hahaha... Ares, care for a drink? This is my treasured rum. Even that big oaf Whitebeard couldn't get his hands on this."

With a flick of his finger, the cork popped from one of the bottles, hovering in midair before landing neatly on the table. Shiki chuckled smugly as he displayed his mastery of the Piao Piao no Mi.

"I don't drink," Ares said flatly, his curiosity about Armament Haki overriding any interest in alcohol. "Tell me more about this… Haki."

Ares' sharp, beast-like eyes gleamed with unbridled excitement as he leaned forward. To him, Haki wasn't just a power—it was a means to forge himself into an indestructible sword.

Shiki, unfazed, chuckled and took a swig from his bottle, downing half of it in one go. "Hahaha… A pirate who doesn't drink? That's not right."

Wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, he added, "A pirate can live without food or weapons, but not without wine!"

Shiki leaned forward, placing a bottle of rum in front of Ares. "Trust me, you'll love this. Finish the bottle, and I'll tell you all about Armament Haki."

His grin widened as he puffed on his cigar, amused at the thought of Ares—clearly a first-timer—trying strong rum.

Ares hesitated, holding the bottle between his massive fingers like it was a toy. Lifting it to his mouth, he paused for a moment.

"Go on, drink! After this, we'll talk Haki!" Shiki urged, his tone playful.

Taking a deep breath, Ares tipped the bottle, letting the rum flow into his mouth. The fiery liquid burned his throat and sent a sharp heat coursing down his esophagus. His chest tightened, and his stomach churned with the unfamiliar warmth.

"Ahem! Cough! Cough!"

Ares sputtered, coughing violently as the potent alcohol hit him. The heat in his stomach spread, leaving him uncomfortably warm.

Shiki burst into laughter, slapping his knee. "Jie hahaha! A pirate's life is incomplete without wine! You'll understand the joy of drinking soon enough!"

Shiki tilted his head back and took another long drink from his bottle, the rum gurgling as he swallowed.

As for Ares, the initial burn faded, replaced by a strange warmth that left his body feeling lighter. His face flushed red, though he didn't realize it.

"Is this… what drinking feels like?" Ares muttered to himself, his voice slightly slurred.

The haze in his mind made him feel oddly content. Without hesitation, he tipped the bottle again, finishing the remaining rum in one go.

"Burp~ This… this wine is good," he muttered, reaching for another bottle.

Shiki's grin faltered as Ares flicked the cork off the next bottle, sending it flying with enough force to embed it into the wall.

"Hey, you little drunkard!" Shiki exclaimed, watching in disbelief as Ares poured the second bottle down his throat. "That's my treasured wine! You can't just drink it all!"

But Ares, drunk and disoriented, didn't seem to hear. He grabbed another bottle and started drinking again.

Shiki scrambled to protect the remaining bottles, cradling them like a mother hen guarding her chicks.

"Ares, stop! You've had enough! These are irreplaceable!"

Drunk and unaware of his own strength, Ares reached out, attempting to grab another bottle. In the process, his arm accidentally shoved Shiki, sending the Golden Lion flying across the room.

"What the—?!"

Shiki crashed through the window with a loud bang, shattering the glass. His body soared out of the Skull Castle and landed with a resounding thud in the middle of the street below.

Dust and debris erupted around him as shocked pedestrians scrambled to see what had happened.

"Did something just fall from the castle?!"

"What was that noise?!"

"Wait… isn't that…?!"

The dust settled, revealing Shiki's disheveled figure as he floated upright, brushing debris from his clothes.

The crowd gasped.

"Golden Lion Shiki?!"

Shiki glared at the castle above, his cigar hanging limply from his mouth. He muttered under his breath, "Damn kid's strength is no joke. Drunk or not, he doesn't know his own power!"

Back in the room, Ares was oblivious to the chaos he had caused. He reached for another bottle, his sharp, beast-like eyes dulled by intoxication. His massive hand fumbled with the cork as he muttered:

"This wine… It's delicious…"

End of the Chapter.