Takero clapped his hands in satisfaction, as if he had just dealt with a minor inconvenience. As for Doflamingo, the former Heavenly Yaksha could only leave in a daze, carrying his tattered pride and a deep, burning humiliation. His broken feather coat fluttered helplessly in the wind, and his retreating figure was heavy with resentment.
But what did any of that matter? To a Saiyan, the strong took what they wanted from the weak. Besides, the other guy was a pirate. Robbing a pirate was perfectly natural in Takero's mind; he felt no guilt whatsoever. Doflamingo, however, had one last trick up his sleeve. He knew that after attacking a Celestial Dragon and having his territory stolen, Ambri Island would soon become the center of a storm. Just you wait, Doflamingo thought to himself. This island is a poisoned piece of meat. I'll make you spit out everything you've taken.
Takero, of course, couldn't read minds. "Alright, time to head back," he muttered to himself. Although he didn't regret beating the Celestial Dragon, a tiny, almost negligible feeling of guilt flashed through his mind at the thought of the trouble he might have caused Shanks. See? I just got them an entire island to use as a resting place, Takero's thoughts cleared instantly. Consider it compensation! He felt he was being incredibly considerate. With a whole territory to his name, surely Shanks would have nothing to complain about.
Thinking this, Takero's mood brightened. A dark red aura erupted around him, and he shot toward Ambri Island like a dazzling meteor, leaving an afterimage across the sky.
…
At Ambri Island's port, the faint smell of gunpowder still lingered in the air, but the chaos had subsided. The Marines had retreated, and the Celestial Dragon had been taken away by a secret World Government ship. All that was left were the scarred streets and a group of startled residents.
Tesoro stood before the ruins of the slave shop, its windows shattered and walls collapsed. His face was expressionless, but deep in his eyes, a wildfire of excitement was beginning to burn. A top Marine officer… that sparkling monster… just ran away? The power his new boss possessed was beyond his comprehension, and to a man who had struggled at the bottom his whole life, it was both terrifying and exhilarating.
Just then, a wailing cry erupted from the end of the street. "My shop—!!!"
Gollier, the slave trader, rushed back with his thugs. The moment he saw his shop reduced to a pile of rubble, he collapsed, beating his chest and stomping his feet in despair. His slaves, his life's work—all gone. His bloodshot eyes then landed on Tesoro.
He jumped up, pointing a trembling finger. "It's you! You damned bastard, you ruined everything for me!" In his twisted logic, if Tesoro hadn't interfered, none of this would have happened. "All of you, get him!" Gollier shrieked. "All my 'goods' have run away! I'll use this guy to pay off the debt! He can be the main attraction at my new shop!"
The thugs swarmed forward, surrounding Tesoro. He hadn't expected Gollier to return so quickly and was instantly trapped.
Just at that critical moment—
Boom—!!!
A dark red meteor tore through the sky and crashed into the open ground right beside Tesoro. A violent shockwave sent several nearby thugs flying. As the dust settled, Takero's figure was revealed, his tail swaying casually behind him.
"Yo! I'm back!" Takero shouted, looking around for the Red Hair Pirates but finding no one. "Hmm?" The excited smile on his face froze.
"Boss!!!" Tesoro cried out in surprise, like a drowning man grasping a lifeline. He scrambled through the stunned thugs and ran toward Takero. "Boss, save me!"
Gollier stomped his feet in frustration. "What are you looking at me for?! Go! Take them both down!" He hadn't seen Takero fight the Marines and assumed he was just some punk who got a lucky shot in on the Celestial Dragon's guards. "Kill—!!!" the thugs roared, charging forward.
And then… there was no "then."
Takero didn't even look at them. He casually waved his hand, his arm moving like a phantom. Bang, bang, bang, bang—! A series of dull thuds echoed as the charging thugs were sent flying backward, their bodies crashing into walls and the ground with the sickening crunch of breaking bones.
The ferocity on Gollier's face instantly melted into extreme terror, his mouth hanging open. As Takero walked toward him, he stumbled backward, his voice trembling. "Wh-what do you want?! This is Donquixote Family territory! Doffy will be here soon! He won't let you get away with this!"
Takero almost laughed. "You mean that pink-haired birdman? Don't worry, he won't be coming."
"You…" Gollier started to say, but Takero was already tired of listening. He struck like lightning, grabbing the man by the neck and cutting off all his words.
"Let me tell you something," Takero said, his tone casual. "I already dealt with that guy on my way here. As of now, Ambri Island is my territory. Calling for help won't do you any good." As he finished speaking, his fingers squeezed tight.
Crack!
A bone-chilling snap. Gollier's head slumped to the side, and he went limp.
"What's wrong?" Takero asked, casually tossing the body aside like a piece of trash. He turned his head, pure confusion on his face.
Tesoro swallowed his words. "N-nothing." He had wanted to deal with Gollier himself, but he hadn't expected his boss to be so decisive. He could only spit fiercely at the corpse. "Dying so quickly is too good for you, you scumbag!"
When Tesoro had kicked the body a few more times, Takero finally spoke again. "Are you done? Then let me ask you, where are Shanks and the others?"
Tesoro looked at the "instigator" before him, who wore an innocent expression as if he'd just returned from a short stroll. He took a deep breath, trying to choose his words carefully. "Boss… about Captain Red-Haired Shanks and his crew… they've already left."
"Left?" Takero blinked, still not understanding. "Where'd they go? To buy more booze?" He hadn't even considered the possibility that he'd been left behind.
Tesoro could only steel himself and deliver the message as tactfully as he could. "Well… Captain Shanks asked me to tell you before he left…" He cleared his throat and mimicked Shanks's tone. "He said, 'Takero, kid! The whole crew wishes you a pleasant journey! For the Grand Line ahead, please be sure to shine brightly on your own! We're… heading off now!'"
After Tesoro finished, he held his breath, nervously watching Takero's reaction. The air seemed to freeze.
"But… I haven't even gotten back on the ship yet," Takero said. His expression slowly transformed from pure confusion to unbelievable blankness. He tilted his head, trying to understand. "Pleasant journey? Shine brightly on my own?" He repeated the phrases, his gaze slowly focusing as a hint of crimson light began to gather in his eyes.
Finally, he understood.
"HEADING OFF NOW?!" The towering fury of being abandoned erupted like a dormant volcano, instantly igniting all his nerves.
"Shanks—!!!" A roar filled with savage rage, like that of a wounded beast, exploded like a clap of thunder, shaking all of Ambri Island. The violent dark red aura was no longer controllable, erupting wildly from his body like lava. It formed a terrifying pillar of energy that shot straight into the sky, connecting heaven and earth. The ground beneath him cracked and shattered.
"YOU BASTARD—!!!" Takero trembled with rage, his tail as stiff as an iron rod, his fists clenched so tight that his knuckles cracked. "What about being partners?! What about adventuring together?! How dare you abandon me and run off?! Very well! Don't let me catch you again, or you'll be in for a world of pain!"
[Ding! Detecting strong emotional fluctuations. S-cells activating…]
[Super Saiyan (Stage One) Progress: 40%]
The system's notification echoed in his rage-filled mind, instantly bringing him back to his senses. Super Saiyan. Now was not the time to chase Shanks. He needed to focus on this. He exhaled slowly and turned his gaze to Tesoro. "I remember you're Tesoro, right? You should be familiar with this place. Help me find a place to stay."
Tesoro's eyes lit up. "Yes, Boss!"
…
Aboard the Red Force…
On the deck, Shanks was trying to drown his persistent unease with wine when, without warning, he let out another massive sneeze. "Achoo—!!!" This time, the force was so strong that the wine bottle slipped from his hand and shattered on the deck. A bone-chilling, terrifying cold, as if he were being targeted by a primeval beast from a deep abyss, swept through his entire body. His face instantly turned ashen white.
"Cap… Captain? Are you alright?" Lucky Roux asked, munching on a chicken leg.
Shanks stiffly turned his head to look at his calm first mate, his voice filled with unprecedented terror. "Beckman, I… I think that kid Takero found out!!"
Beckman slowly exhaled a smoke ring, his gaze calm. "Oh. Take care, Captain." After speaking, he silently took two steps toward the ship's railing, increasing the distance between himself and Shanks, just in case the blood splashed on him.
Shanks's vision went dark. He could already see his miserable future, being chased around the world by some monster for a "spar."
"It's… it's over…" he covered his face, letting out a wail of despair. The future Emperor of the Sea was now like a trembling bird targeted by an eagle.
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