Boom!!
The spiral light beam pierced into the ocean, creating a deep chasm that the seawater couldn't fill. After penetrating the water, the beam burst internally, causing a massive wave.
Just as the wave rose, a huge slash cut it to pieces, turning into several segments of seawater that fell down and exploded again, transforming into a torrential rain.
Amidst the rain curtain, a retreating figure darted like a cannonball and landed on a piece of reef.
"Shanks!"
Beckman's gaze dropped with the sound and was startled.
The red-haired figure before him was not in good shape.
He was hunched over, gasping for air with blood flowing from his mouth. Although he still held Gryphon tightly with his right hand, his left side noticeably drooped, with a large chasm in his left shoulder.
The chasm was so close that it nearly reached his heart!
It was obviously an injury, and not a light one—Beckman could feel his aura diminishing.
On the other side...
In the rain-shrouded sky, the white-haired man on the black clouds gazed menacingly at them. The gash at his side emitted white steam, and numerous fleshy buds appeared, squirming, leaping, and rapidly stitching together until the wound healed.
Nothing was left behind.
Unlike the chest of this monster, which was clearly attacked and left with an irreparable injury, Shanks' attack left nothing.
The threshold was no longer what it once was.
Just as Beckman thought this, his pupils contracted and instinctively pushed Yasopp aside, standing in front of him. He firmly gripped the gun barrel, veins bulging from his arms, and swung forward as if hitting a baseball.
Whoosh!
Meanwhile, from the white-haired man's fingertips, another spiral light beam shot straight at Beckman's swinging gunstock.
Boom!!
The Externalized Haki from the gunstock condensed into a small point, clashing with the compressed spiral light beam, producing a massive shockwave.
The impact blew Beckman's hair, his face gritted, veins bulging, twisting his usually indifferent expression into one of ferocity.
"Get...out of my way!!"
Beckman shouted, swinging his hands forward, trying to withstand the beam's assault.
But sometimes, the power of will cannot overcome the physical mass.
Wham!
Beckman's hands swung, but the Haki was pierced, and even the gunstock shattered into pieces. The beam passed through the fragments, grazing his body, and shot into the ocean again, causing another tsunami.
At least... it deviated a bit.
"Commendable."
The figure atop the clouds praised, "As expected of the 'Vice Emperor,' the strategic brain of the Red Hair Pirates. Strong power and determination, but still..."
Swoosh!
"Beckman!"
Shanks suddenly shouted.
Just as Beckman tried to catch his breath, Shanks' voice rang out. Resting briefly on the reef, Shanks was about to move when several Thunderbolts descended from the sky.
The massive bolts formed a curtain of light, momentarily obscuring Shanks' view.
By the time he shattered the Thunderbolts with a slash and attacked them with Haki, the sight before him made his eyes widen with rage.
A hand blade pierced through Beckman's chest, revealing the pounding heart on his back.
Sage appeared before Beckman, grinning, "Too bad, you need time to recover; I don't... Despite your Haki running low, it doesn't mean my stamina runs low."
Shanks' slash was merely Sage selling an opening. Such relentless attacks were too bothersome. Although he could wait for Shanks to slowly exhaust his stamina and find an opening, it was too time-consuming—better to be straightforward.
A physique akin to 'Creation Rebirth' is perfect for exchanging injuries.
Utilizing strengths isn't exclusive to Shanks; Sage is quite adept at it.
If that guy cooperated with Beckman, things would drag on longer—better resolve the core strategist of the Red Hair Pirates first, to avoid unexpected surprises.
Shanks still had strength left, but Beckman might not.
His attack moves aren't easily blocked.
Managing to barely block a hit is impressive enough.
"Not an Ability User, relying on skill and will to get this far is commendable—you're a rare strong figure. But unfortunately, I'm stronger."
Sage withdrew his arm and told Beckman, whose complexion was turning pale and body beginning to slump, "That's enough. I'll make sure the newspapers cover your deeds. Falling to me is better than losing to some unacknowledged petty pawn later."
"Such... an arrogant statement."
Beckman chuckled slightly, blood seeping from his lips. "Are you so sure we'll fail in the future?"
"Your clan's old priest works incomplete—inevitable outcomes will occur, not lacking."
Sage smiled and pointed to the side, where the Tenmago Fluctuation gathered into a spiral light beam, effortlessly piercing through the stunned Yasopp's chest.
Sizzle!!
He instinctively held up a gun to block, but the weapon was also pierced. The beam blasted a hole in Yasopp's chest, causing him to stagger back two steps, coughing up a mouthful of blood before collapsing feebly to his knees.