"Let them witness your power, or they'll truly think our Whitebeard Pirates are just bragging," Marco whispered close to Ashveil's ear.
"That's right, Ashveil! Show this Red-Haired Shanks what real strength looks like!" Diamond Jozu added firmly, his fists tightening with pride. Their captain was a powerhouse, yet these outsiders dared to doubt him. The disrespect alone was enough to make Jozu's blood boil.
"Captain Ashveil is just too lazy to bully you people!" one crewmate shouted. "You think he doesn't dare to fight? You're out of your minds!"
"Ashveil, you should just put them in their place!" Flower Sword Vista called, his voice sharp with irritation.
All around, members of the Whitebeard Pirates echoed the sentiment. Their pride wouldn't allow such mockery to go unanswered. This wasn't merely about Ashveil anymore. Shanks' attitude implied that their entire crew was weaker — a direct insult none of them could overlook.
"Captain Ashveil, show them who we are!"
"Don't let the Red-Haired Pirates look down on us!"
"What's a Red Hair anyway? Even Rocks D. Xebec wouldn't dare look down on us like this!"
"That's right, Captain! Give us another show of your power!"
Their chants filled the air like a storm.
The uproar surprised Shanks for a moment. Had he truly offended them so badly? He hadn't even spoken ill of Whitebeard himself.
Tch, he thought darkly. They're probably just afraid I'll expose this so-called captain of theirs. Trying to scare me off to save face? Not happening.
Gripping his legendary sword Gryphon, Shanks stepped forward, his aura sharp as a blade.
"Ashveil," he said, his voice low but filled with challenge, "enough talk. Let's fight! You've got nowhere left to hide."
The gathered pirates fell silent, tension thick in the air.
Ashveil sighed helplessly. "If I don't deal with this now, I'll never get a good night's sleep," he muttered. Why was Shanks being so stubborn? A fight like this would cause injuries and trouble for both sides — trouble for him, injuries for Shanks. What's the point?
Didn't Dracule Mihawk tell him anything?
Of course, it wasn't Mihawk's fault. During that time, the swordsman had been heading toward Marine Headquarters, while Shanks had rushed to stop Kaido from interfering in the war. Neither had time to exchange information.
The world hadn't yet learned that Kaido had been badly beaten by Ashveil himself — news suppressed by both sides. Even if Shanks had heard it, he probably wouldn't have believed it.
"Sigh… Shanks, you're really troublesome," Ashveil said finally, stretching his neck. "Fine. I'll make my move quickly. It shouldn't take long to deal with you."
He pointed lazily toward the crowd. "But after I'm done, I want silence. I need sleep. Got it?"
The bold indifference in his voice made Shanks' blood boil. 'It shouldn't take long to deal with me'? This brat… too arrogant!
Anger surged through Shanks, his fighting spirit flaring like a blazing storm. His Conqueror's Haki erupted outward, pressing down on everyone around him.
He raised Gryphon, covering the blade in thick, black Armament Haki until it pulsed with lethal intent. The pressure alone cracked the deck beneath his feet.
Just then, a sudden brrr-brrr echoed through the air — the sound of his Den Den Mushi ringing.
"Hello? Mihawk? I'm busy right now; I'll call you later," Shanks grumbled, hanging up immediately. That decision, he would later regret deeply. If he had stayed on the line, he would've heard Mihawk mention that he'd already met Ashveil, and that the man's power was nothing short of monstrous. But it was too late. The moment was gone.
"Feel honored, Ashveil," Shanks said with a smirk. "I just hung up on an old friend so I can personally teach you a lesson." His eyes burned with determination. "Now, shall we begin?"
Killing an Admiral might impress others, Shanks thought, but not me. Not without proving it firsthand.
Ashveil gave a faint shake of his head. "Let's just get this over with. I'm in a hurry."
That tone — calm, condescending, almost bored — made Shanks' veins bulge. Even Whitebeard himself showed him respect, but this captain dared to look down on him so casually.
"Fine," Shanks said coldly. "Don't blame me for what happens next." His Armament Haki intensified, wrapping around Gryphon as he swung with explosive force. The sky itself seemed to split apart.
A massive black slash carved through the air, the sound of it tearing the clouds sending chills through everyone present. It was a strike on par with Mihawk's greatest blows.
Lucky Roux's eyes widened in shock. His large frame trembled slightly. "Sha…Shanks is serious…"
Yasopp paled. "Captain, please… don't overdo it! He's still part of the Whitebeard Pirates!" If Shanks seriously injured Ashveil, it could spark conflict between the two Emperor crews — something none of them wanted.
Benn Beckman, ever observant, glanced toward Whitebeard, curious to see his reaction. But the old man simply watched calmly, a wide grin spreading across his face.
Gurararara, Whitebeard laughed quietly. He's not worried at all, Beckman realized. He trusts that kid completely.
Meanwhile, Shanks, in mid-swing, suddenly felt a flicker of regret. Damn it… I really went all out just now. He hadn't meant to, but his anger had clouded his judgment. There weren't many people alive who could take a full-force strike from Red-Haired Shanks, one of the Four Emperors.
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