Shanks finally crashed into a rocky slope, shattering the massive ridge into pieces.
After all, Elior's power was overwhelming.
At this point, Elior had already surpassed all Yonko — he was unquestionably the strongest force in the New World.
Of course, Mary Geoise didn't count as part of the New World.
For the first time, Shanks was being truly suppressed.
Both attacks had been slashes, yet Elior's was far stronger.
Although Elior had already obtained the swordsmanship of a Great Swordsman, his sword power continued to evolve as his overall strength increased.
Even though Shanks also possessed the might of a Great Swordsman, he could no longer match Elior.
Shanks rolled several times after smashing into the slope, finally stopping on one knee.
Dust clung to his body, but he didn't have the time nor the mind to brush it off.
Because Elior was already upon him.
His high-speed movement was impossible to track with the naked eye. Only someone with exceptional perception or advanced Observation Haki could follow Elior's trajectory.
Still, Elior didn't use cheap tricks. He simply rushed in and attacked Shanks head-on.
Elior descended from above with a brutal downward strike, Enma carving a terrifying arc through the air like a massive battle axe.
Shanks could only raise Gryphon horizontally to block. But under Elior's monstrous strength, he was crushed down again, forced onto one knee. The ground beneath them shattered under the impact, tearing apart everything within nearly fifty meters.
"I have a question for you… Are you a Celestial Dragon?"
Elior looked down at him from above.
His posture and tone made Shanks bristle with anger. But even if he was furious or humiliated, what could he do?Right now, he was being completely overpowered.
The ground broke apart even further.
Pinned down by Elior's strength, Shanks's hands trembled as he fought to resist, Gryphon vibrating violently.
He couldn't escape.
Not in the short term, at least.
Red-Hair didn't answer the question.
Yes, he was a Celestial Dragon — but he would never admit it. He had learned about his true identity more than ten years ago. Back then, several powerful Celestial Dragons had come down from Mary Geoise, urging him to return and reclaim his status as a "noble ruler of the world".
He refused outright.
He loved freedom. And besides, the reputation of the Celestial Dragons was nothing short of filthy.
Seeing that Shanks refused to answer, Elior pressed Enma harder with his right hand and swept his right leg sideways—straight toward Shanks's head.
His leg carried immense physical force, wrapped in freezing cold and crackling lightning.
Even before the kick landed, Shanks could feel the temperature plummet and hear the roaring sound of thunder surging through the air.
This was one of Elior's hybrid attacks—combining two different powers at once.
Shanks's brows tightened. With Enma pressing him down, escaping was nearly impossible.
Elior was simply too strong.
Then Elior's right leg connected solidly with the right side of Shank's face.
From Elior initiating the kick to it landing, only three seconds had passed.
BOOM!
The next instant, Shanks felt like his head was exploding. His entire body was blasted away uncontrollably.
The pain in his skull was so intense that he barely registered he was flipping through the air.
The right side of his face—and part of his hair—was frozen solid.
BOOM!!
He was hurled for hundreds of meters, finally slamming into a massive boulder with such force that it caved into a large crater. Along the way, he shattered dozens of enormous trees, each thicker than houses.
"Shanks!"
Beckman shouted, watching his captain get launched by such a devastating strike.
He felt a deep, urgent fear.
But that distraction lasted only two or three seconds.In the next instant, Bullet — who had been fighting him — smashed a fist into Beckman's face. The sound of bones breaking echoed through the battlefield. Before Beckman could even react to the shock, another attack followed —
Right behind him, Shiryu struck.
A purple thunder-infused slash shot from Shiryu's blade carving into Beckman's back.
RIP—
A deep, horrifying wound tore open across his back, blood erupting in a crimson fountain.
Before Beckman could even turn his head, Bullet stomped down on his chest.
Another sickening crack rang out—Beckman's chest collapsed inward.
PUFF!
Beckman vomited several mouthfuls of blood.
His body was sent flying again. Shiryu didn't even need to pursue—Barrett's brutality was more than enough.
Against Barrett and Shiryu together, the situation was utterly devastating.
Shiryu alone was already a difficult opponent. Adding Barrett—someone nearly as strong as Red-Hair—made it natural that Beckman was being beaten mercilessly.
And both Bullet and Shiryu were infamous for their ruthlessness.
They were born battle-maniacs.
"If we don't have enough opponents… then you'll do!"
Barrett roared and shot toward the direction Beckman had flown, disappearing almost instantly.
Shiryu followed without hesitation.
Their plan was simple:
Obliterate the Red Hair Pirates first.
With the alliance of three Yonkō-level forces, wiping out the entire crew of one Yonkō was not a problem.
When the Marines finally arrived, then the real battle would begin.
Beckman had already been thrown over a hundred meters. He had been severely injured before—but now he was far, far worse.
A massive wound across his back, a collapsed chest, a mangled face—his entire body soaked in blood.
Anyone else would already be dead.
Seeing Bullet and Shiryu charging toward him again, Beckman felt a wave of despair.
He knew he couldn't overcome the combined might of those two monsters.