Shanks walked up to Giovanni, his steps unhurried despite the destruction around them. Broken planks, splintered wood, and deep gouges in the stone pier told the story of a battle far beyond anything Giovanni had imagined before today.
"You see, Gio," Shanks said calmly, stopping beside him. "This is the Grand Line. That's the level you have to reach if you want to make it to the very top."
Giovanni smiled, blood still trailing down his upper body, but his eyes were clear, burning and even.
"I see," he said quietly. Then louder, firmer, "I see it very well, Shanks."
His hand clenched tightly, fingers curling around empty air as if gripping an invisible weapon.
"I'll get strong," Giovanni continued. "I'll get really strong… so I can be the perfect arm for you, Shanks."
Shanks' expression softened. He smiled, a proud, almost brotherly grin.
"I'm counting on you."
Then his gaze shifted.
"But now," Shanks said, drawing his saber in one smooth motion, "I have to avenge you."
He pointed the blade forward.
"Mihawk. You embarrassed my crewmate. I'm going to make sure you pay for that."
Mihawk stood opposite him, Yoru already in hand. His golden eyes flicked briefly toward Giovanni before returning to Shanks.
"Giovanni is going to become a very strong swordsman in the future," Mihawk said evenly. "I look forward to battling him then. But for now—"
He raised Yoru and pointed it directly at Shanks.
"—my sights are on you, Red-Haired."
Both men moved at the same time.
---
A long while later, the pier was unrecognizable.
What had once been solid ground was now shattered stone and collapsed wood, the remains of the dock scattered into the sea. Deep fissures ran through the ground, and the air itself felt heavy, as though it had been crushed and released over and over again.
Two bruised and battered men lay on their backs atop the wreckage, staring up at the sky.
Shanks let out a weak chuckle.
"That's the third draw in a row, huh?"
Mihawk stared upward, his chest rising slowly.
"This is frustrating," he muttered. "It's always you, Red-Haired."
Off to the side, Giovanni who had balanced himself against a broken wall, his body screaming in protest as he watched the aftermath. He was the only one still conscious on the pier after clash upon clash of Conqueror's Haki had torn through the area.
His breath caught.
"Even holding back…" Giovanni murmured. "They managed to destroy the pier."
His fist tightened, knuckles whitening.
"What ridiculous Haki… what ridiculous swordsmanship."
His teeth clenched as his resolve hardened.
"I need to get to that level. No! higher than that level… if I ever want to be a symbol of fear."
Footsteps approached.
Benn Beckman arrived, carrying supplies slung over his shoulder. His eyes scanned the devastation before settling on the two men lying on the ground.
"How did it go this time?" Benn asked flatly.
Shanks and Mihawk both pushed themselves up with effort. Shanks stretched his shoulder slightly before answering.
"It was another draw."
Benn sighed.
"Is there ever going to be a winner between you two?"
His gaze then shifted, locking onto Giovanni, who was still balancing against the wall, blood running down his torso.
"What the hell happened to him?"
Shanks glanced over and laughed.
"He foolishly challenged Mihawk."
Benn let out a short chuckle.
"I should've expected it. We should really get him bandaged up, or he'll bleed out."
Mihawk stepped forward, his presence as heavy as ever.
"Red-Haired," he said. "It seems we are still at a similar level."
He sheathed Yoru slowly.
"I shall go out and accumulate more experience. You shouldn't slouch around either."
His eyes sharpened as they met Shanks'.
"I consider you my ultimate challenge. If you were to stagnate… I can't promise I wouldn't kill you."
Shanks laughed, the sound easy and unburdened despite the devastation around them. "Mihawk… why are you always so serious?" he said, resting an arm behind his head. "Don't worry. I have a goal that doesn't allow me to get complacent. I'll continue to grow stronger."
Mihawk didn't respond right away. He simply stared at Shanks, his sharp eyes unreadable. Then his gaze shifted, settling on Giovanni, who was still upright but clearly wavering, his breathing shallow and uneven.
"It's quite surprising," Mihawk said calmly, "that you managed to stay conscious even during our Conqueror's clashes with those injuries." His eyes narrowed slightly. "Are you perhaps a Conqueror as well?"
Giovanni's lips moved, but whatever he tried to say came out as nothing more than an indistinct murmur. His head dipped forward as the strength finally left his body.
Mihawk watched him for a moment longer before speaking again. "So the wounds have finally caught up to him." He turned his head back toward Shanks. "Deliver a message to him for me."
Shanks met his gaze.
"He had better get stronger," Mihawk continued evenly. "The next time we meet, I want a proper clash."
Shanks smiled, a confident, almost proud grin. "Don't worry. Gio is one person who truly wants to grow stronger. Perhaps even more than me."
Mihawk glanced at Giovanni one last time, his expression thoughtful. "I wish I could ask him what motivates him," he said quietly. "But it seems now would not be possible. I'll ask him the next time we meet."
With that, Mihawk turned, and without another word, he turned and began walking away, his footsteps echoing softly against the ruined pier.
Benn Beckman watched him go, then looked down at Giovanni, who had finally gone completely limp. "I'll go inside and find some bandages," he said as he turned toward the ship and headed off.
A short while later, Benn emerged with bandages in hand and walked back toward Giovanni. Shanks followed behind him, hands in his pockets, eyes still lingering where Mihawk had disappeared.
Benn knelt beside Giovanni and began working quickly, wrapping the deep cut across his upper body with practiced efficiency. "Shanks," he said as he worked, "we need to find a doctor to join the crew. The Grand Line and the New World are no joke. There are bound to be battles that leave us in far worse shape than this."
Shanks nodded. "That's true. We need a navigator as well. So far we've relied on the Eternal Log Poses I had, but traversing the Grand Line without a navigator is risky business."
Benn finished securing the bandages and leaned back slightly. "Well then," he said, glancing between Shanks and the unconscious Giovanni, "shall we leave for the Grand Line?"
Shanks shook his head. "No. We'll wait for Giovanni to wake up. Everyone deserves the chance to witness crossing Reverse Mountain for the first time."
Benn looked down at Giovanni, then smiled faintly. "I guess you're right."
Shanks's expression suddenly brightened, excitement flashing across his face. "So we'll start at Logue Town to rest."
Benn sighed heavily. "You just want to drink alcohol and gamble, don't you?"
Shanks placed a hand over his chest dramatically. "No, I don't."
Benn deadpanned, "What a useless man I've decided to follow."
Shanks only laughed, the sound carrying easily over the quiet aftermath of battle as the Red-Haired Pirates prepared for the next step of their journey.
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