Elbaf waters.
Just as Shirogai finished speaking, "They're here,"
"Divine Departure!!!"
From the distant sea and sky, a terrifying slash descended. The heavens shifted, the sea trembled, and even the strongest could not face its edge directly.
Boom!!!
"Fairy Fall!!!"
Shirogai smiled.
With effortless ease, he reached into the void and drew out the familiar legendary blade, Kisame. His movement was smooth, almost casual, as he met the incoming strike with a slash of his own, completely neutralizing it.
"This… this!!!"
Even so, the Straw Hat crew stood frozen in shock at the overwhelming force of that Haki infused attack.
"Hiss! That's insane… someone who can actually match Shanks!"
Behind them, the giants stared at Shirogai's figure with awe and disbelief.
…
In the aftermath of the clash, a massive trench stretched across the sea, spanning tens of thousands of meters.
Crack, crack, crack!!!
Dark clouds gathered above.
Within the drifting mist, Shirogai's pitch black Haki collided with the deep crimson Haki of Shanks. The two forces clashed violently, blending and canceling each other out.
…
For a brief moment, the entire sea fell into stillness.
Then,
Splash, splash, splash…
The ocean surged back to life, waves crashing as water rushed to fill the massive trench left behind.
"Aw-woo! That attack was insane!"
Franky stood at the edge of Elbaf's coast, striking a dramatic pose as he shouted in amazement.
Plop!
Nami dropped to the ground, her mouth slightly open as she muttered in disbelief.
"No way… just one slash did that? And we're supposed to fight someone like that? This has to be a joke…"
Jinbe stared at the distant chasm, his tone serious.
"Whitebeard may have aged, but Red Hair is still at his peak…"
Then his gaze shifted to Shirogai's back, his expression turning more respectful.
To counter that strike so effortlessly, Shirogai clearly stood above even the Four Emperors.
"The force of that would shatter bones!"
Brook reattached his jaw with practiced ease, trembling slightly.
"Yohohoho… how terrifying. Though I'm already just bones, I might turn into dust!"
"Wah! That's way too scary!"
Usopp hid behind Shirogai, his long nose drooping as he trembled.
"Even if we've gotten stronger, there's no way we can beat someone like that!"
"Wuwu… I'm scared…"
Tony Tony Chopper clung to Usopp from behind, his body shaking as sweat dripped from his blue nose.
"Usopp… your dad is on that ship, right? Maybe you should go talk to them instead… fighting is a bad idea…"
"Huh?!"
Usopp turned sharply, baring his teeth as he grabbed Chopper's head.
"You traitor! You're trying to sell me out for peace! You sneaky tanuki!"
"I'm not a tanuki, I'm a reindeer! You long nosed liar!"
"Short legged tanuki!"
"Liar King long nose!"
The two bickered while hiding behind Shirogai.
"The Red Hair Pirates are really something. This is getting interesting."
Roronoa Zoro rested his hand on his sword, his body trembling slightly with excitement.
"Heh…"
A thin trail of smoke rose as Sanji exhaled, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.
"This might actually be fun."
"Dang! Dang!"
Nami smacked both of them on the head with her Clima-Tact.
"You idiots! Fighting someone like that will get you killed!"
"Oh!! Nami-san when she's angry is still so beautiful!!!"
Sanji instantly melted, completely defeated.
"You're all cowards."
Zoro ignored them, glaring forward.
"Fighting strong opponents is how we get stronger."
Nami dropped to the ground again, holding her face dramatically.
"I'm just a weak and helpless navigator. Why do I always get dragged into this?"
"Miss Nami!!!"
Sanji spun around her in adoration, then shot Zoro an angry glare.
"Apologize right now! This is all your fault!"
"Like hell I will, you damn cook!"
Zoro snapped back instantly.
Usopp peeked out and smirked.
"Doctor Chopper, diagnose him. His brain is all muscle, no intelligence. It's terminal."
"Mhm!"
Chopper nodded seriously.
"Diagnosis complete! Muscle brain syndrome, terminal stage! No cure!"
"No cure!"
Usopp echoed.
"You idiots!!!"
Zoro turned, ready to draw his sword.
Whoosh!
A chill ran down Usopp and Chopper's spines as they immediately ducked behind Shirogai again.
"Shirogai, stop him! He's gone crazy! He's going to cut his own crew!"
"Heh… enough."
Shirogai smiled faintly, glancing toward the massive Treasure Tree Adam in the distance, where clouds of dust rose from an ongoing battle.
After confirming that Monkey D. Luffy was already fighting Loki, he spoke calmly.
"You all know how deep Luffy's bond with Shanks runs."
"Without him, Luffy would never have set sail."
"For Luffy to face the Red Hair Pirates… that's not an easy fight for him."
He looked back at them, a slight smile forming.
"So we finish this before Luffy does."
"…!"
The crew's expressions sharpened.
"Then we end it quickly!"
The giants watching from behind were stunned.
These pirates were talking about defeating the Red Hair Pirates as if it were certain.
Where did that confidence come from?
Was it all because of Shirogai?
"Hey… Shirogai…"
Usopp scratched his head awkwardly.
"My dad is on that ship, you know…"
"Usopp."
Shirogai looked at him seriously.
"I trust you."
"And I think there are things you need to say to Yasopp."
…
Usopp fell silent, then slowly nodded.
"Yeah… I do."
…
On the Red Hair Pirates' ship, the Red Force.
"As expected… it got blocked."
At the bow stood Shanks, slowly lowering his sword, his presence still overwhelming.
Then suddenly,
"I say, guys…"
The imposing aura vanished instantly as he scratched his head, grinning foolishly.
"We're in trouble. We definitely can't beat Shirogai. How about we run before we get any closer?"
"Pfft hahaha!"
The crew burst into laughter.
"You're the one who wanted to fight, Captain!"
"And now you want to run? That's shameless!"
"Maybe it's time to give up your title as one of the Four Emperors!"
"Weren't you talking about saving the world earlier?"
Shanks laughed awkwardly.
"Saving the world? Don't joke about that."
His expression softened slightly.
"I can't even save my own child…"
Uta…
He lifted his gaze toward Elbaf, locking onto that overwhelming presence.
If there was one person who could break into Mary Geoise unnoticed…
Then it had to be him.
Shirogai.