The masked warrior "Killer," whose closed helm bore only two rows of exhaust vents, spoke up in his muffled voice:
"Kid, the other 'Supernovas' are all retreating. We should go too—before Marine Headquarters decides to lump us in with Davy Jones's crew or Whitebeard's remnants."
He said this because back at Sabaody, when "Straw Hat" Luffy punched a Celestial Dragon, the Kid Pirates had merely been present—and still the Navy branded them as accomplices.
They had only barely escaped from the Yellow Ape back then.
Luckily, though wounded, not a single member of the crew had been killed or captured.
Kid glanced at the other Supernovas' ships as they sped away, and sneered.
"Those rats… such cowards. To think we're counted as the same 'generation of Supernovas' as them—how disgusting."
Scratchmen Apoo, Capone Bege, Jewelry Bonney, Basil Hawkins, X Drake, Urouge… to Kid, they were nothing but timid weaklings.
"Kid," Killer urged his captain and closest friend once more.
"Alright, alright. You sound like some old hag, Killer… fine, we'll go."
Kid's sharp eyes scanned the sea. Soon, he spotted the Terror Ghost, sailing away from Marineford with calm ease.
At the horizon's edge between sea and sky, it was shrinking into nothing more than a speck of paint on an oil canvas.
Kid raked his hands back through his spiky mane of hair, lips curling into a wicked grin.
"The Whitebeard Pirates are headless as of today, their strength gutted. Their territory will shrink drastically—they'll never be as mighty as before. The stragglers won't survive long. They're no threat."
"But that Davy Jones… heh. Now that's something. I don't know how they pulled it off, but striding out of Marineford in broad daylight like that? It proves they've got serious power."
"Looks like, when it comes time to carve up Whitebeard's territory, they'll be one of the rivals."
He threw back his head in manic laughter.
"We'll meet again in the New World. Then we'll settle it—who's worthy to take Whitebeard's place as the next Emperor!"
His laughter rang above the storm.
From Marineford's harbor, countless pale wraiths began to drift out.
For the Supernovas, this was their first time seeing such a sight. They were stunned, unable to comprehend what was happening.
Their ships waited motionless, not moving until the last of the spirits had vanished. Only then did they come back to their senses.
Meanwhile, the Red Hair Pirates had boarded the Whitebeard Pirates' warship.
They removed their hats and bowed before Newgate's body. When they straightened, they noticed the pounding rain had softened, the thunderous organ music had ceased without them realizing.
The sea breeze no longer raged. The waves calmed to ordinary swells. As the rain thinned and scattered, the clouds themselves began to break and drift apart.
The last of the spirits had gone. The sea was itself again.
Shanks extended his hand. A single drop of rain fell into his palm. A long moment passed before a second drop followed.
Quietly, he folded his right arm against his side and murmured to his crew:
"In a while, I'm going over to the Terror Ghost."
At once, Benn Beckman and long-nosed Yasopp stepped forward, ready to accompany him.
But Shanks waved them off with a laugh.
"Relax. Go back to the Red Force. I'll go alone. There's no proof Davy Jones can pull the soul out of a living man, right?"
Beckman and Yasopp exchanged a glance, shrugged, and didn't argue further.
Shanks then approached Marco, Jozu, Vista, and the others of Whitebeard's crew. He spoke briefly with them, offering both his condolences for Newgate's death and his regret that he had not arrived in time.
At last, he turned to Ace, resting a hand on his shoulder.
"My condolences."
Ace nodded silently, his eyes searching this "Red-Haired" Shanks—once said to have been an apprentice on Roger's ship.
Shanks continued:
"I hope you can inherit the will of both Captain Roger and Whitebeard Newgate. Live well, and become a man the world cannot ignore."
He finished, and without waiting for their reaction, leapt high into the air, landing upon the deck of the Terror Ghost.
From beginning to end, Shanks never once looked at "Straw Hat" Luffy—even though he knew the boy stood among the survivors on the warship.
In truth, he was keeping their promise.
Luffy had not yet become the great pirate Shanks envisioned him to be. Until that day came, it was not yet time for them to meet.
The sudden arrival of "Red-Haired" Shanks upon the Terror Ghost drew every eye.
Most of Davy Jones's crew regarded him warily.
The timid ones—Perona, Mikita, Porche—had already shrunk to the back of the crowd.
They had just witnessed Whitebeard's cataclysmic final strike. No one among them dared to underestimate another Emperor of the Sea, even the youngest one.
If Captain Davy Jones were not on board, many of them would already have fled.
The deck fell into tense silence.
It was Rayleigh who broke it, striding forward with hearty laughter.
"Shanks, it's been too long!"
Shanks's scarred face instantly lit with joy. Even the jagged marks across his eye seemed less fearsome.
"Rayleigh-sensei!"
Of course, with Observation Haki, he had already known "Dark King" Rayleigh was aboard. His display of surprise was for another purpose: to let Rayleigh, as mediator, soften the tension.
Rayleigh clapped him on the shoulder and stepped aside with a smile.
"Look who else is here."
And from behind him, Buggy was revealed.
Shanks's smile widened as he stepped forward—only to be met with a cold shoulder.
Buggy gave him a frosty glance.
"So, the great 'Red-Haired Emperor' finally shows his face. Busy man, aren't you?"
Shanks raised his hands helplessly, smiling wryly.
"Buggy, I know you blame me. But I didn't know Ace was Captain Roger's son until after the war had already begun. And at the time… Kaido was making his move to seize Whitebeard's territory. I had to hold him off before I could come here. By the time I did… Whitebeard was already gone. At least Ace was saved—thanks to you all."
He tapped Buggy lightly on the arm with his fist, grinning.
"You did well. Davy Jones and Rayleigh—those were the reinforcements you called in, weren't they?"
Buggy frowned, saying nothing.
But he thought of Kaido, and had to admit the man was no easy foe. For Shanks to hold him back to safeguard Whitebeard's rear… it was indeed a debt repaid.
And since Shanks hadn't known Ace's heritage beforehand—what else could he have done?
Seeing Buggy's scowl soften, Shanks pressed on.
"It's been what—over twenty years since we last parted in East Blue?"
"About that."
"Never thought you'd come back after all. But it's good. The Grand Line needs new blood."
Buggy bristled at Shanks's tone, as if he were some elder lecturing a junior—when they were of the same age.
But with Captain Davy Jones beside him, he had found some courage.
"We'll be heading into the New World soon enough."
Shanks sensed the edge in Buggy's words, but only chuckled.
Then his gaze sharpened suddenly, locking onto the great doors of the cabin.
With a long creak, they opened.
Davy Jones stepped out onto the rain-slick deck.
Upon his left shoulder perched a crow, its talons gripping tightly into his cloak. The bird tilted its head, black eyes gleaming as it surveyed the scene.
In his hand, Davy Jones held a compass.
His head bowed, tentacled beard shifting, he flipped open its lid. The needle spun wildly at first, unable to settle, turning again and again…
Until at last, it stilled, quivering faintly.
Following its point, Davy Jones raised his head—and his eyes met those of "Red-Haired" Shanks.
The crow upon his shoulder spread its wings wide and gave a harsh, raucous cry.
Shanks's instincts screamed at him.
He was the one Davy Jones had marked.
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