Boom!
Violent thunder ripped through the overcast sky. The entire sea had become a forbidden zone under the crushing pressure of two Emperors clashing with their Conqueror's Haki. The world was cast in a dim, eerie light as purple lightning danced within the dark clouds that churned overhead. Gale-force winds howled, and the sea below roared as if shaken by a massive earthquake, heaving and creating monstrous waves hundreds of meters high.
Every so often, arcs of black and red lightning would split the sky, colliding with a flash so bright it was impossible to look at. The resulting shockwaves slammed into the ships of the Beasts Pirates and the Red Hair Pirates, forcing them to retreat again and again.
For men like Kaido and Shanks, the sky was just as much a battlefield as the land. They moved like lightning, their forms blurring into streaks that an ordinary person could never follow. Only those with skilled Observation Haki could hope to catch a glimpse of the action, but even that was useless here. Both combatants possessed Haki strong enough to block the senses of others. Not that Kaido or Shanks could afford to be distracted by the small fries watching from below.
Even so, the sheer destructive power of their battle left the crews on both sides utterly dumbfounded. Even those who had sailed with their captains for years had rarely witnessed a true battle between two of the Four Emperors.
"Is… is this the power of an Emperor?"
"This is way too crazy."
"This isn't human strength at all… They're like gods."
…
On the deck of the Red Force, Kozuki Sukiyaki stared, completely mesmerized by the cataclysm unfolding before him. He finally understood why Whitebeard and Shanks had been so hesitant to help Wano. Even from this distance, the shockwaves from their fight made it difficult for him to even stand. The gap in power was just too immense.
"This… this is…" Sukiyaki stammered. He squinted, shielding his eyes from the blinding flashes of light, and turned to the man beside him. "Beckman-dono, can Shanks-dono defeat Kaido?"
"Hey, old man, what kind of question is that?" Yasopp called out, a confident grin on his face as he also shielded his eyes. "Of course Shanks can win!"
"That's right! He's our captain!" Lucky Roux added with a hearty laugh.
Ben Beckman glanced at his cheerful crewmates before turning his calm gaze to Sukiyaki. "I have no doubt that Shanks will be the one standing at the end," he said slowly. "But as you can see, Mr. Kozuki, even if he wins, the price will be severe. The Red Hair Pirates have no reason, and no obligation, to sacrifice so much for Wano Country."
"I…" Sukiyaki was at a loss for words.
Beckman continued, his tone serious. "Besides, you have more pressing concerns than Wano Country right now. You should be thinking about your granddaughter and your son's loyal samurai. Have you forgotten what Kaido threatened to do?"
Sukiyaki's body went rigid. He looked at Beckman with grim determination. "Beckman-dono, I have a request. Can the Red Hair Pirates protect Hiyori and the others?"
He thought it would be a simple request. In his mind, protecting the children of a friend was a noble act, something that aligned with the spirit of a samurai.
He was not prepared for Beckman's response. The first mate's brow furrowed, and his refusal was decisive. "I'm sorry, Mr. Kozuki. I refuse."
Sukiyaki looked as if he'd been struck. He never expected such an outcome. "Why?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief. "Is Red Hair-dono also afraid of Kaido of the Beasts?"
"Hey!" The comment immediately drew angry glares from the crew of the Red Force.
Ben Beckman, however, remained calm. Fear had nothing to do with it. As one of the Four Emperors, the Red Hair Pirates feared no one on the sea—not the Beasts Pirates, not Whitebeard, and not even the World Government. But that didn't mean he was willing to invite unnecessary trouble. More importantly, he knew what mattered most to Shanks. His captain, with his impulsive nature, might have actually agreed. As the Vice-Captain, it was his job to say no. That was his purpose.
"Mr. Sukiyaki, I think you've misunderstood something," Beckman said. "Conflicts like this between Emperors are not supposed to happen. It could shatter the balance of power in the New World, which is the last thing Shanks wants to see. The fact that he's even here fighting now is a sign of his immense respect for you and for Oden."
"This… this…" Beckman's cold logic left Sukiyaki flustered. "Then… then what should we do?"
"Haven't you considered any other escape routes?" Beckman asked, looking at the old man as if he were an idiot. Sukiyaki's face flushed red under his mask.
"I… I thought that with the strength of Whitebeard or Red Hair-dono, driving Kaido away from Wano would be a simple matter."
Beckman was almost speechless. "You certainly think highly of us. But as you've seen, Kaido is an Emperor, just like Shanks."
Because of Wano's isolation, Sukiyaki knew very little about the outside world. He knew Whitebeard was Oden's former captain and Shanks was his friend, and that they were now great pirates on par with Kaido. In his mind, getting help from either one should have been enough.
A sudden idea lit up Sukiyaki's eyes. "Then what if Red Hair-dono and Whitebeard-dono united? If they worked together, they could definitely drive Kaido away, right?"
His words stunned the entire crew into silence. Beckman took a deep breath, trying to remain patient. "Mr. Kozuki, you seem to have already forgotten what I just said. Whether it's a war or an alliance between the Four Emperors, the impact it would have will be—"
Sukiyaki eagerly cut him off. "I know, Beckman-dono, and I know it's a difficult request! But I'm not just asking for myself, or even just for Wano. This is for the entire world! In two years, Wano must open its borders. Lady Toki's prophecy must come true, or it will bring an irreversible disaster. This is the duty our Kozuki Clan has guarded for 800 years!"
Beckman was truly puzzled now. However…
"It's useless," he said simply.
"?" Sukiyaki was startled, not understanding what he meant.
Beckman explained, "Even if the world were going to be destroyed tomorrow, an alliance between Shanks and Whitebeard is impossible. It's not just about their pride as Emperors or the chaos it would cause. The truth is, the Whitebeard Pirates have something more important to do right now than save the world."
"What is it?" Sukiyaki asked.
"Whitebeard is going to war to save his son," Beckman replied. "He has no time to bother with a trivial matter like saving the world."
Sukiyaki was left completely bewildered, his mind unable to process what he had just heard.
And just at that moment, an even more incredible sight appeared on the distant battlefield.
BOOM!
With a colossal impact that seemed to tear the sky itself apart, the captain of the Red Hair Pirates, Red-Haired Shanks, was sent flying backward by a single, devastating blow from Kaido.
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse