In reality, dealing with Shanks in this current, beast-like state was actually somewhat easier than before.
There was no real need to use an unstoppable killing move like the 'Abyssal Devourer.'
However, Diarmuid was still willing to give Shanks some respect. Although Shanks felt weak right now, he had at least demonstrated a power that could be called world-class.
Therefore, 'entertaining' him a little was only reasonable.
When Diarmuid's palm brushed the tip of Kokorowatari's blade, the entire sword turned jet black. The next second, Shanks's beast-like figure lunged forward again, throwing three punches at Diarmuid.
Diarmuid didn't indulge him. With a flick of Kokorowatari, he executed a black, blossoming slash and cut straight out.
Perhaps instinctively sensing a threat, Shanks paused his movements even without his sanity. He forcibly withdrew the fist he had thrown.
Then, a flash of blood appeared. The blade of Kokorowatari sliced across his chest. The incomparably powerful Conqueror's Haki coating was completely useless, being directly cut through by Kokorowatari, followed by his flesh and blood.
Had his instincts not made him pause, this single strike would have been enough to kill him.
Perhaps the intense pain had stimulated Shanks, or perhaps the dangerous aura had shocked him.
In any case, after this slash landed, the wild, rolled-back look in Shanks's eyes rapidly returned to normal. He cried out in pain and raised his hand to cover the roughly thirty-centimeter wound across his chest.
"Oh, are you awake now?" Diarmuid said with a smile.
However, he was somewhat surprised that after Shanks regained consciousness, the Conqueror's Haki power shrouding his body didn't dissipate; it continued to flare out recklessly.
Shanks pressed his hand against his chest, but he couldn't stop the gushing blood. Yet, after the initial pain, he looked at his own hand in astonishment.
Conqueror's Haki coating?
He looked again, realizing it was coating his entire body.
And yet, he felt absolutely no fatigue?
"What is this?" Shanks looked at Diarmuid and asked, his voice full of confusion.
Diarmuid seemed to be in a good mood and even offered an explanation.
"It seems that during your unconsciousness, you activated your instincts? Talent? Or perhaps an overdraft? Who knows. But your Conqueror's Haki power is indeed very strong. In terms of overall amount, it's even more formidable than what I witnessed from Whitebeard back then. It's just that you still can't control this power. Otherwise, your strength could truly be considered top-tier and formidable," Diarmuid said with a cheerful smile.
"Is that so?" Shanks muttered softly, then said, "No matter what, it was under your pressure that I awakened this power. Thank you!"
"Don't mention it. Go on and experience this power well, because it might be the last time you ever get to use it..." Diarmuid still smiled with composure.
"That's hard to say..." Shanks whispered to himself, then looked toward Gryphon, which had fallen to the ground nearby.
Diarmuid also noticed his gaze. Holding the black-glowing Kokorowatari in one hand, he casually waved the other. "Please."
"Thank you," Shanks nodded. He walked a few steps, picked up his sword, Gryphon.
Although he knew Diarmuid wasn't in a hurry to defeat him, he still thanked Diarmuid for his magnanimity. Gripping Gryphon, Shanks suddenly tightened his hold, and Conqueror's Haki swiftly coated the blade.
With a light flick, Gryphon's edge sliced across the ground, and the powerful surge of Haki carved a clean, smooth cut into the earth.
"Are you ready?" Diarmuid saw this and was even polite enough to ask.
Shanks's expression shifted slightly. He said in a deep voice, "It seems you're still extremely confident that you can defeat me?"
"To be honest, yes," Diarmuid nodded.
"Is it because of that jet-black sword of yours?" Shanks's eyes focused on the Kokorowatari in Diarmuid's hand as he asked.
Compared to before, Diarmuid was clearly stronger, or perhaps the duration for which he could use 'Abyssal Devourer' had grown longer.
That was why he could hold 'Abyssal Devourer' and converse so calmly with Shanks instead of being eager to finish him off.
"This sword is called Kokorowatari, hailed as the strongest cursed sword, and this black light attached to its blade is called 'Abyssal Devourer,' a manifestation of my ability. This is likely your first time seeing it, as I rarely use it. To this day, whether it's Kaido, Charlotte Linlin, or the Strongest Man, Whitebeard, none of them could block this attack... The reason I've given you so much time to talk is because I believe you won't be able to block the next strike either," Diarmuid said softly.
"Kokorowatari... Abyssal Devourer..." Shanks murmured the words, then a sharp light flashed in his eyes. He stopped worrying about the blood flowing from his chest wound, gripped Gryphon's hilt with both hands, and said, "I don't think so!"
The moment his words fell, the Conqueror's Haki surrounding him swiftly converged onto Gryphon. This man was truly a prodigy; in just a brief moment, he was already beginning to gain initial control over the explosive power within him.
At this point, neither of them spoke again. As their Haki converged, the surrounding atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive.
Ultimately, it was Shanks who couldn't hold back first. He forcefully stomped the ground and charged toward Diarmuid. At the same time, Gryphon was raised, carrying a sharp radiance and the power of his Haki.
"Dragonbreaker: Gale Pierce!!!" Shanks roared.
There were no flashy techniques, just a simple, head-on strike aimed directly at Diarmuid.
Diarmuid, likewise, made no superfluous movements. He didn't dodge, didn't resist; he simply raised the cursed sword Kokorowatari and met Shanks's Gryphon with a single, straightforward slash.
"To guide others and oneself, first guide the heart..." Diarmuid whispered.
The two swords instantly clashed. Then, to Shanks's astonishment, he saw Diarmuid's Kokorowatari virtually ignore the powerful Conqueror's Haki coating on his blade.
The moment they touched, the black light seemed to devour the Conqueror's Haki. With no resistance whatsoever, Kokorowatari cut through the Haki and struck the blade of Gryphon.
The next moment, Gryphon felt like anything but a legendary sword. Words like 'fake,' 'paper-mâché,' and similar terms flooded Shanks's mind.
Because his Gryphon was instantly cut in half by Kokorowatari!
Shanks had never imagined such a thing would happen. Now he understood: Diarmuid's words just moments ago were not boasting.
In this world, probably no one could block that slash. Charlotte Linlin couldn't, Kaido couldn't, Whitebeard couldn't, and naturally, he, Shanks, couldn't either!
The sudden turn of events shocked Shanks somewhat, and the effortless way Gryphon was severed was completely unexpected, leaving him unable to react for a moment.
The next second, Shanks snapped back to his senses. Trembling with dread, he instinctively took a step back. He clearly understood that this strike couldn't be blocked; it could only be dodged.
But at this moment, he only managed to half-dodge. Had he not taken that step, Diarmuid's strike would have killed him instantly. Though the step avoided death, it was ultimately a fraction of a second too slow.
A piercing pain shot through his arm. Then, two clattering sounds hit the ground: first, the severed blade of the great sword Gryphon, and second, an arm, cut cleanly off at the shoulder.
That's right. Shanks ultimately could not escape his fate of losing an arm. Without that boy Luffy to interfere, he had met Diarmuid.
The 'Abyssal Devourer,' even his absolute Conqueror's Haki, still couldn't stop it.
His arm, along with Gryphon, was directly severed by Diarmuid!
"Ugh..." Shanks gripped his stump, his expression utterly ferocious. The pain stimulated his brain, turning his eyes bloodshot.
Suffering such a severe blow, compounded by his inability to truly control the overflowing Conqueror's Haki, the Haki enveloping him quickly dissipated after that cry of pain.
Simultaneously, Diarmuid sharply flicked Kokorowatari, and the black light attached to the blade also vanished.
Then, Diarmuid executed a graceful flourish and returned Kokorowatari to its sheath.
His slightly mocking tone entered Shanks's ears.
"See? You couldn't block it, could you?"
Shanks clutched his severed arm, staring intently at Diarmuid. Diarmuid's gaze, however, was completely relaxed. He smiled and said, "I told you from the start that if you surrendered, I could let you keep some dignity, but you just wouldn't listen... You said I underestimated you. Well, do you know now? You're still a long way off."
Hearing this, Shanks spat out a mouthful of blood. He knew Diarmuid was deliberately saying this to break his will, but the words were also profoundly true.
Not long ago, he had defeated Charlotte Linlin with Beckman and the others, and even though it was a group effort, Shanks had felt a surge of confidence and happiness.
But today, Diarmuid had summarily, with a few effortless movements, cut off an arm, completely shattering that confidence.
How could he not feel depressed?
"Universal Pull..." Diarmuid slowly extended his arm and made a grabbing motion toward Shanks.
Shanks instantly felt his body lose control, and a tremendous force began pulling him toward Diarmuid.
Before he could prepare himself, Diarmuid had already clamped his hand around Shanks's throat.
"By the authority of Marine Headquarters Admiral Rodriguez Diarmuid, I declare you arrested, 'Straw Hat' Shanks. Congratulations, your remaining life will be spent enjoying special single-room accommodations in Impel Down..." Diarmuid said with a chuckle.
"Kill me..." Shanks choked out a low growl, his neck in Diarmuid's grip.
"Go tell the judges at Enies Lobby that. I am a Marine Admiral of Justice," Diarmuid said dismissively, then tightened his grip, causing Shanks to suffocate.
A moment later, due to the anoxic unconsciousness caused by suffocation, Shanks completely lost the ability to resist. Diarmuid held him by the neck, lifted him, and turned toward the merchant ship docked at the shore.
However, after a few steps, Diarmuid seemed to remember something. He turned back, searched for a moment, and then reached out and pulled in a certain direction.
The straw hat, which had fallen to the ground and was now crumpled, flew out from where it lay and landed in Diarmuid's hand.
He had originally intended to pull out a lighter and burn it, but after a moment's thought, Diarmuid smiled and said softly, "I still haven't given Luffy a gift. I'll keep this for now..."
Carrying the half-dead Shanks onto the deck, Diarmuid looked at Hina, who was waiting there. "Contact Sakazuki. Tell them we've finished up here. 'Straw Hat' Shanks has been captured by me. Move quickly, and completely annihilate the Straw Hat Pirates!"
"Yes, Admiral!"
Hina glanced at the wretched-looking Shanks and immediately saluted.
After a slight pause, Hina looked at Shanks and said, "I thought you were going to kill him, Admiral..."
"Hahaha, I initially intended to, but this guy is too weak. I lost interest. Besides, this guy is a former crewmate of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger. All the other Roger Pirates are in hiding, and he's the only one constantly stirring things up. We'll take him back and see if Admiral Sengoku and the Fleet Admiral can use him to lure out some bigger fish. If not, so be it. Moreover... a living man is always more valuable than a dead one. You never know when he might come in handy." Diarmuid said with a laugh.
And, perhaps this Shanks guy knows something about the missing fourth Road Poneglyph?