Chapter 85: Red-Haired Shanks

The seas of the New World grew increasingly turbulent, dark clouds looming overhead.

Yet, amidst the chaos, the battle raged on in an unnaturally calm frozen sea, where the three great powers clashed in a tangled conflict.

"GYAHAHAHA!! The 'Warlords,' the Marines!! And even the 'Red-Hair' who took down Queen!! Doesn’t matter who ya are—you’re all dyin’ here today!! What a show!!"

"With King, the strongest of the 'All-Stars,' plus Nue and Kaido himself joining the fight!! There’s no enemy we can’t crush!!"

"We’ll wipe out whoever’s left!! The next 'Tobi Roppo' to step up is meee—!!!"

"...!! The pirates are gaining momentum...!"

"Hold the line!! We still outnumber them!!"

"Y-yes, sir!"

The battle on the frozen battlefield had turned into an offensive by the Beasts Pirates, with the Marines forced into defense. Though the Navy held the numerical advantage, facing one of the Four Emperors—especially the notoriously violent Beasts Pirates—was proving to be a grueling struggle.

The only reason they were holding on was due to their sheer numbers and key fighters like Marine Vice Admirals and the Warlords of the Sea—but even they were barely managing to hold back enemy executives with bounties exceeding hundreds of millions.

"You bastard!! You’re Ulti, right?! And that’s Page One!!"

"Just like the reports said… To think kids like these are 'Tobi Roppo'…! We’ll crush this evil here and now!!"

"—HUH?! CRUSH ME—?!"

"Tch… You’ve got no idea what you’re dealin’ with."

Two Marine Captains and a Commander stood in the way of two of the Beasts Pirates' key fighters—the Tobi Roppo. But upon seeing them, the two unleashed their true power.

"Lady Ulti and Lord Page One have transformed!!"

"...!! Dinosaur Devil Fruit users…?!"

The Marines tensed at the sight of their drastically altered forms.

The physical prowess of Ancient Zoan users far surpassed that of ordinary Zoans. Even if they were just kids, being high-ranking members of an Emperor’s crew—coupled with their abilities—made them nothing short of a lethal threat.

[Beasts Pirates "Tobi Roppo" Page One - Ryu Ryu no Mi (Ancient Zoan), Model: Spinosaurus]

[Beasts Pirates "Tobi Roppo" Ulti -  (Ancient Zoan), Model: Pachycephalosaurus]

"Alright then… If you wanna fight, we’ll oblige!!"

"Just like Pagey said!! We’ll smash ya to bits!!!"

"...!! Bring it!!"

The two Tobi Roppo, now in their Human-Beast Hybrid forms, charged forward—their speed incomparable to before.

"RAAAAAGH!!!"

"!!?"

"—Commander!!"

"...!!"

A Marine Commander, wielding his sword and reinforcing it with Haki, blocked Page One’s attack—but the overwhelming force sent him flying, skidding across the frozen battlefield. The Marine Captain barely had time to glance his way before the other enemy closed in.

"Quit lookin’ away, dumbass!!"

"...!! "Tekkai" (Iron Body)!!"

Facing Ulti, who had leaped in for a crushing blow, he braced himself with Rokushiki and Armament Haki. Judging by her stance—leaning back before striking—her attack was clearly a headbutt. Countering with Iron Body and Haki would at least deal some damage in return.

"Shatter!!"

"You really think some half-assed Rokushiki can stop MY attack, you ULTRA-MORON?!!"

Yet, seeing his defense, Ulti still chose to headbutt him.

"GET YOUR SKULL CRACKED!!!"

After all, the headbutt was her strongest, most confident attack.

"—"Ultra Head Gun: ZUGAN"!!!"

"!!!"

The Marine Captain took the full force of Ulti’s Haki-hardened skull in her hybrid form—blood spraying from his clenched teeth as his eyes rolled back. The sheer destructive power of the headbutt carved a crater into the ice, sending shockwaves rippling outward.

But few were fazed by the impact. At most, only the nearby Marines and pirates even noticed.

Because the battlefield itself was already shaking from clashes on an even greater scale. Sensing this phenomenon, a towering figure spoke.

"—It’s over."

"! ...Sorry to disappoint, but I’m still in one piece."

"Not you."

"King the Wildfire," the All-Star of the Beasts Pirates, declared mid-clash with "Hawk-Eyes" Dracule Mihawk—their duel existing on a completely different level from the surrounding chaos.

The battlefield they had occupied earlier was now a molten lake from King’s flames, forcing them to relocate as they fought.

"Hmph!!"

"!!"

King’s downward slash made the frozen earth tremble again. Mihawk narrowly evaded, the flying slash carving through the ice for kilometers—a stray blade striking some unfortunate Marine in the distance.

Mihawk retaliated with his own slash, which King blocked with his sword, letting out an impressed grunt.

"Not bad… I could enjoy trading blades with ya for a while…"

"So it seems."

Mihawk didn’t deny King’s arrogant remark. In truth, King’s Armament Haki, raw power, and durability made him a foe even the World’s Strongest Swordsman couldn’t cut down easily. It wasn’t a lack of skill—neither was going all out yet, but even if they did, this fight would drag on.

"—But your rival, 'Red-Hair,' won’t last long."

"...!"

Mihawk deflected King’s simultaneous flame and sword strike, shifting his stance to evade—only for King to close the distance again, another overhead slash forcing a blade lock. King’s sharp, reptilian eyes locked onto Mihawk’s piercing gaze.

"Not a single waver in your swordplay… Impressive. No panic, either… But I ain’t lyin’. Kaido’s boarded his ship…!!"

"...And why tell me? He has his own battles. I’m not his ally."

"Figured. You’d be more rattled otherwise… What I’m sayin’ is—this war’s endin’ soon."

"You seem quite confident in your captain. Though I never took you for a man who follows another."

"Hmph… If Kaido has set foot there, it makes no difference whether it’s an island or not. That place will be wiped from existence. The only one who could stop it is Lady Nue. As for Red-Hair… no, the entire Red-Hair Pirates—they’ll be dead soon."

"Hmph."

Mihawk parried King’s blade and counterattacked. King deflected it in turn, their swords clashing in a relentless exchange—steel ringing through the air.

"I warned you in advance… So don’t go panicking now. It’d leave a bad taste in my mouth if I had to cut you down while you’re flustered…!!"

"—You’re jumping to conclusions. Both about that… and this fight."

"!"

Mihawk redirected King’s slash, guiding the monstrous blade aside before sweeping his own toward King’s throat. King barely evaded, his black wings and flames flaring as he leaped back.

"I care not how the battle between Red-Hair and Kaido unfolds… But just as with our duel, it’s too soon to call it."

"Hah… Say what you want. Red-Hair dies by Kaido’s hand!! That bastard humiliated us by taking down that fool Queen…!! If Lord Kaido and Lady Nue don’t do it, I’ll kill him myself…!!!"

"…………"

The flames on King’s back surged, his Haki and raw power intensifying. The shockwaves from their locked blades rippled outward, yet Mihawk remained composed—though a single thought crossed his mind.

—In pure strength, he may not match Kaido… But his will…

"…Try it, then."

"! Heh… Finally accepted your fate?"

King sneered down at Mihawk’s quiet words, only for the swordsman to correct him.

"Neither he nor I are so weak as to surrender to fate after a fight. If he dies… then that’s simply as far as he could go."

"! …I see—then I’ll kill you whenever I damn well please…!!!"

"Yes. Come."

Mihawk raised the world’s strongest black blade. King’s flames raged in response, the two poised to clash—yet in that moment, Mihawk remembered something from long ago.

—"Red-Hair." What burden do you carry on these seas? What do you seek at the peak of strength?

…Hmm. Well… I guess what I carry is—

Back then, he’d dueled that carefree pirate with the straw hat time and again. Recalling the words of that formidable man, Mihawk silently willed him a message.

(—Overcome it, Red-Hair…!! If you truly aim for the summit, this is a path you cannot avoid…!!)

And with that, "Hawk-Eyes" Dracule Mihawk turned his gaze solely to the battle before him—never once looking back.

---

The Red-Hair Pirates Are Far From Weak

Since the dawn of the Great Pirate Era, the Red-Hair Pirates had risen from the East Blue—founded by a former apprentice of the Roger Pirates, "Red-Hair" Shanks.

His crew was a band of eccentric talents gathered from across the seas: Ben Beckman, Yasopp, Lucky Roux, and others. Though not vast in number, they carved their names into history through sheer strength.

None relied on Devil Fruits. Instead, they honed their Haki and combat prowess, standing toe-to-toe with the New World’s fiercest. Their clashes with Mihawk were legendary, but each member had made their mark individually. Now, nearly all bore bounties, their collective sum and individual averages speaking volumes.

To the World Government and Marines, they were no longer a crew to ignore. Against ordinary pirates or soldiers, they’d never lose.

—But when the enemy was an Emperor of the Sea, especially the most dangerous of them all… the story changed.

"Dammit…!! What the hell’s up with this guy’s skin…?!"

"—Ugh… Annoying…!!"

"!!"

"—Yasopp!!"

A man who had challenged both Emperors and the Marines 23 times, surviving:

—Over 1,000 degrees of torture.

—60 death sentences.

—Countless battles (some say over 10,000).

"Die, you monster!!"

"Hup!! Ughhh… You’re in the way!!!"

"…! Lucky Roux…!!"

Bullets bounced off him, electricity failed to burn, blades shattered, boiling water did nothing, spears snapped upon impact—

"Hm!?"

"Then I’ll shoot inside your body…!!"

"…!! …You really think cheap tricks… will work on me, Ben Beckman…!!!"

"! Guh—!!?"

"! Beckman…!!"

The result?

—18 massive prison ships sunk.

—Innumerable Marine and pirate vessels destroyed.

"You know my strength…!! Quit wasting your time… Just give up…!!!"

"…!! Like hell I will…!!! I’ll win… I’ll beat you…!!!"

"!"

In other words—

"—"Raimei Hakke" (Thunder Bagua)!!!"

"！！！"

──No one could kill him……!!! Not his sworn siblings, not the Navy Admirals, not even the Emperors…

That’s right—the man who landed on the deck of the Red Hair Pirates was the invincible pirate hailed as the strongest creature among all living things on land, sea, and sky.

"Brat……!!! Who the hell do you think you can beat……?! ——Do you even know who I am?!!?"

——"Emperor of the Sea"… "Kaido of the Beasts."

For this strongest creature, numbers meant nothing.

Kaido doesn’t dodge attacks. He rarely evades.

So attacks do hit him. Bullets, swords, cannons—if you fire, landing a blow isn’t hard.

Kaido’s fighting style is simple. He just keeps attacking.

He might block or deflect by clashing his own strikes against the enemy’s, or by crushing techniques before they start… but otherwise—he takes everything head-on. No attack, weapon, or blade can harm his monstrously tough body.

The only exceptions? The Emperors. Those on their level. Navy Admirals. His sworn siblings.

But even then, he doesn’t bleed. At most, a scratch. The last time he bled in battle was eight years ago—and that opponent is long dead.

"——Heard you were one of Roger’s brats, got my hopes up… but this is all you’ve got?"

So few can satisfy Kaido. Hence his disappointed sigh.

Just swinging his club, knocking them down one by one. Ignoring their pitiful attacks, like swatting flies.

That alone is enough to wipe them out.

His verdict? "Weak." ——But usable.

"Have Nue bring the whole ship… These ones might make decent fighters."

That’s right—to build the strongest pirate crew, to wage the greatest war… and then—become the "Pirate King."

What he needs most for that is power. Strength.

A gathering of power—combat force.

Kaido crushes those who challenge him, those pirates strong enough to reach the New World aiming for the throne—then recruits the survivors.

That’s how he’s built his crew. Alongside his sworn sibling, Nue.

So he’ll do the same here. As Kaido hefts his club onto his shoulder—

——But then, he senses it. That haki.

"…………Still conscious…? No… You’ve got enough strength left to stand?"

"……!! Tch… Obviously… Haah… Haah… You think I’d fall from something this light…?!!"

——Behind him, "Red-Haired Shanks" rises, sword raised. Kaido turns, glaring down at the defiant gaze still burning in his eyes.

His haki’s not dead yet. Still got fight left…?

Kaido readies his club, intrigued.

"——If you wanna join my crew, you’re welcome to."

"——Hahaha… Cut the crap…!!!"

In that instant, the sound of Kaido’s club echoes once more.

---

Meanwhile, on the ice, lasers continue flying.

But sensing distant presences, I sigh and call it off.

"Haaah… Enough already!! Don’t you think this pointless brawling’s getting old? Laser tag’s fun, but it’s boring if that’s all we do~"

"Then how ‘bout you retreat? That’d help~~…"

"Nah. I’m still having fun~! So to keep things fresh—let’s change things up a little♡"

"! What’re you—?"

As Borsalino and the Marines watch warily, I prepare.

Against him, the UFOs aren’t useless, but they take damage, he dodges most barrages, and coating every shot with haki’s a pain.

So I gather the UFOs around me, hiding my form, and shout—

"Music~~~~… Start♫"

"——Yes!! Lady Nue!!!"

My crew—my fans, the ones who handle my live sound setups—respond instantly, even mid-battle. Impressive.

As upbeat music plays, both my crew and the Marines turn their eyes (or ears) toward me.

"Cuuute Nue-chan’s big transformation♫
Beauty remains, but now she’s even prettier~~~♫
——Yes♡
The New World’s #1 idol♫
The Beast Pirates’ extra boss♫
The grand finale’s top idol~~~♫
And her name is——!!?"

My singing echoes as the UFO lights silhouette my growing form.

My fans pause—then scream the name of the seas’ top idol:

"「「「Nue-chaaaaaaaan♡」」」"

"——Yeees, cuuute♡ That’s right!! Nue-chaaaaaan!!!!"

『Beast Pirates Vice-Captain "Grand Finale" — "Mythical Beast Nue"』

"…!!"

"Whoa… She grew up!?"

Now in my transformed state—a little more mature—the Marines gape.

First-timers and veterans alike are captivated by this new charm.

"WOOOOAH!!! Nue-san’s all grown up now~~~!!!"

"This version—no, her real form’s cuter, but this one’s amazing too~~~♡"

"KYAAAA♡ This Nue-sama’s so dazzling~~~♡"

"Ugh… She is stunning…!!"

"Wait, is that her true form!? Hey, someone get a photo, just in case!"

"Y-yes, sir!"

Oh, better strike a pose. Yeah!♪ Wink and peace sign♡

(Not that I think they’d do this, but if my bounty poster gets updated with a bad pic, I’d hate it. Always stay camera-ready. That’s idol basics.)

"Commander Kuzan!! Th-that’s…"

"Eyes on the fight, dumbass!! ——Wanna say that, but damn, that is shocking… If that’s her real form, at least she’s got some charm… Still, way too young though…"

——Hm? Someone’s being a little rude, aren’t they~?

I’ll just send a UFO their way as a prank. Beat ‘em up later. For now—

"Fufun♪ So? Not as good as before, but this look’s pretty cute too, right~?"

"……And? What’s the point~~?"

"Eh? Not obvious? ——This form’s… better for close combat, don’tcha think?♡"

"!"

In an instant, I close the gap, haki surging into my leg—

"ROCKET KICK-UP!!!"

"!!!"

"Ad-Admiral Borsalino!!"

I kick Borsalino sky-high with all my might. A simple move, really—but even this much is enough to crush weaklings.

Which means Borsalino isn’t that weak. Just a tiny bit stronger. Using Haki and his Logia intangibility to mitigate the damage.

——But did he really think that would be the end of me? I soar back into the air.

"...!! Fast, aren't ya...?! Faster than before...!"

"Ahaha!! What’s wrong, Mr. Light-Man?! Can’t keep up with my speed?!"

"What kinda trick is this~~...?!"

As I press my close-range assault, inwardly, I’m gloating. Fufun~. Can’t blame him for not figuring it out.

This form isn’t my usual Mystery-Mystery Fruit shenanigans. No—it’s a combination of my Zoan transformation and Life Return, fine-tuned for flexibility.

It doesn’t match my true Hybrid Form, but it does boost my physical abilities—especially speed.

Honestly? My normal form’s usually enough, and it’s stronger power-wise. I mostly save this for live performances. But like I said—better reach, and for fistfights without my spear? Perfect.

Less of a "power-up," more of a "style shift" to mess with my opponent. Oh, and mood. When I’m kinda serious… might as well look the part, right? ♪

But if he wants to think the speed boost is just from the form change, fine by me. Truth is?

——I’m just taking this a little seriously now.

"Here we go!! The relentless Nue-chan Massacre Show!!! Try keeping up with my combos!! ——If you can!"

"!"

I flick my wings for a burst of speed, blitzing behind Borsalino—then hammer him down with another kick. Mid-air, I multiply my spear, "Purple Mirror," into a dozen copies and grab them all.

"So~, which one’s gonna kill ya?"

I hurl them at Borsalino as he crashes into the ice.

"——DEMON’S DINER FORK!!!"

"...!!"

Spears rain down, shattering the frozen battlefield.

Ice explodes. A stray Marine gets impaled. Others are sent flying. The entire ice sheet quakes, throwing everyone off balance.

"WAAAAAH~~?!"

"...!! Nue-san...!"

"Keep this up and we won’t have any footing left...!"

Ah~. Jack and Who’s-Who are glaring up at me. Oopsie~♪ No mercy, though. Deal with it~♡

"...!! "Yasakani no Magatama...!!"

"Ahaha!! Back to bullet hell?! Too bad!! I’m not in the mood for that now!! ——"Phantom Tempest"!!!"

Borsalino fires a barrage of light orbs—but I dash through them, closing in for a tackle. He dodges.

I pivot instantly. Second try. This time—

"!! Tch...! Annoying as hell~~...! This is why monsters are...!"

"Monsters~~? Ahaha, a cute idol’s playing with you! Be more grateful!!"

"! "Ama no Murakumo"...!!!"

A sword of light this time. I could tank it, but why not have fun? I cross my arms and summon black mist with my powers.

"UNDEFINED DARKNESS!!!"

"...!! This is...!"

Borsalino loses sight of me in the fog. Trying to sense me with Observation Haki? ——Too bad. No time.

"——Over here, monkey boy~♡"

"!"

Whoa. Fast reflexes. Wrong guess, though.

"TRICKSTER... DEVIL!!!"

"Gh—!!"

"Ahaha!! Gotcha, didn’t I~? Surprised? ——I’m good at dancing too~♪"

I pivot, shifting my hands into beastly claws for a brutal two-hit combo. Then—the setup.

Borsalino goes flying but adjusts mid-air. Trying to warp away? Too bad—I already know.

""Yata no Kagami"...!!"

"Sorry~, no free escapes! "Spear The——""

"...!!"

I hurl a Haki-coated spear, multiplied by "Purple Mirror," straight at his trajectory.

"——GUNGNIR!!!"

"!!!"

"ADMIRAL BORSALINO?!"

The spear pierces his gut, blasts through a warship, and explodes into the horizon.

One down~. ——Or so I let myself seem careless.

"——Victory hinges... on a moment’s lapse...!!!"

"!!? Oh shi—!!"

Borsalino—already repositioned—swings his light-sword down at my back. Blood sprays.

"Got her?!"

"Whoa...! As expected of Admiral Borsalino...!"

The Marines cheer—for a single, fleeting second.

"——Victory hinges on a moment’s lapse. Sooo true~♡"

"...!!?"

——A fake...?! Bet that’s what he’s thinking. The "me" he just cut dissolves into UFOs.

Ahh~, my powers are so handy~♡ Watching people fall for my Mystery-Mystery illusions never gets old~♪

——Now then. I channel full-power Haki into my spear—not throwing it this time.

"——SPEAR THE INVADER!!!"

"!!!"

I pierced Borsalino's real body with that spear. Blood sprayed into the air. Borsalino collapsed onto the icy sea—but immediately pressed his right hand against his left shoulder, kneeling on his right knee as he glared at me.

"Mmm~♡ No matter how many times I do it, the feeling of stabbing someone with a spear is just irresistible♡ ...But—even though I meant to kill you, all I got was your left arm. You're still alive, which is kinda disappointing~ Ahaha♪"

"Hah... hah... Just losing... a left arm... If that's enough to survive... you're pretty damn tough... Wheez... Hah...!!"

"Bo... Borsalino Vice Admiral!?"

"Y-Your left arm...! Someone get medical help, now!!"

As expected of the future Marine Admiral candidate. Borsalino coughed up blood, breathing heavily but still alive. —Losing just a left arm was a cheap price to pay. I couldn't help but laugh in delight and amusement.

"Impressive, impressive♪ Not many could make that call♡ Plus, it's been ages since I fought someone who didn't die when I meant to kill them... That was fun~ So you should be proud♡ Hold your head high♪ Just being able to fight me means you're plenty strong!! —Well, the only reason it got to that point is because you're weak though~"

"That... stings to hear... Wheez... My left arm too... Hah...!!"

I praised Borsalino. He really was incredible. Surviving when I genuinely meant to kill him was no small feat.

Though maybe I should say he was incredible. He still wants to fight, but in this state, he won't last long.

"But... sigh... what a shame. We were just getting to the fun part, but now you can't fight anymore. How boring. I could just torture you for kicks, but I don't have time for that... Guess I'll just kill you here."

"...!"

"Tch... Bad news...!! Someone stop the 'Beast'!!!"

A Marine rear admiral or commodore, maybe? Someone of that rank was urgently barking orders at their subordinates... But did they really think that could stop me?~

"Bye-bye♡ Better luck next life♪ Maybe reincarnate as Nue-chan's fan or a spotlight next time~~♡"

"! Stop—"

"—'Ice Block'... 'Pheasant Peck'!!!"

"! —Whoa there!!?"

—Or so I thought, but an ice pheasant came rushing at me at the last second, forcing me to leap into the air to dodge. Only one person could pull that off. I glared down at the culprit and complained.

"Ughhh. You ruined the moment~. No cutting in line, okay? If you want a turn, wait your turn. Where are your manners, Kuzan~?"

"Fall back with that left arm!! I'll handle this one...!!!"

"...Hah... Hah... Sorry 'bout this...!!"

"Vice Admiral Borsalino! Over here, quickly!"

"Wow, and now I'm being ignored... Rude much? Oh, and—Jack~~? Hey, Jack~~~?"

"—Hah! My bad, Nue...!! I'll tear this bastard apart right...!!"

Kuzan butting in and everyone ignoring me was kinda pissing me off. When I called for Jack—who must've chased after Kuzan mid-fight—he answered immediately and even apologized. As he squared off against Kuzan to resume their fight, I crossed my legs on my UFO and called for a timeout. Or rather, gave him a warning.

"...I thought Jack could at least keep Kuzan busy for a while~~~. Was I wrong? Are my eyes just for show? What do you think?"

"S-Sorry, Big Sis Nue...!! I'll make up for it...!!"

I could feel Jack shrinking a little. Scared, huh... Well, Kuzan is strong, and for his age, Jack's doing pretty good. Holding his own against Kuzan at just 16... Hm? That's actually impressive? Then he's doing plenty.

"—Ahaha! My bad, my bad!! Jack's doing great!! I mean, Kuzan's strong, so what can you do? Totally fine by me♪ If anything, you're working hard, so I'll give you a reward later♡ —How about an autographed TD?"

"...Yeah, that's fine, but Nue. You still want me to take this guy?"

"Hmm~? —Oh, well... Sure, why not? I'll just go slaughter some randos for fun!!"

"Right... Leave it to me...!!"

"...!! Damn it... How much longer... At this rate...!!"

Jack was fired up. Kuzan and the other Marines were gritting their teeth in frustration. Hehe, perfect fear. That's what makes killing them worthwhile♡

"—Oh, right. While we're at it, let me show you something spe·ci·al♡"

"What...!?"

"Hehe... Feast your eyes."

I raised my right hand, summoning UFOs and gathering them together.

To terrorize, to despair, to annihilate and trample them all—

"'Unidentified'... 'Pleasure of the'—...Huh?"

"...?"

"What's...?"

The moment I tried to activate the technique, I sensed it—a UFO being shot down.

And not here. Not in Wano either.

Far from here, in our territory's waters—the entrance to our domain. A UFO patrolling there had been destroyed in an instant.

"This presence... No way..."

"!"

"—Nue!? Where are you going!?"

Without even time to acknowledge Jack, I took to the skies, manipulating my UFOs as a den den mushi appeared in my hand. —Then, right as I was about to call, the person I wanted to contact reached out first.

"Hello, Joker? What's up?"

'—Yeah, Nue. We've got a bit of a situation... The territory's defense line—'

The voice from the receiver confirmed my suspicions—and at the same time, I sensed something approaching, making me frown.

It was flying through the air toward us.

"Hm...? Is King flying over again...?"

"Hah!? No way, King's fighting Hawk-Eyes over there!!"

"But—"

"!! No... That's...!!"

Then, my subordinates saw it too.

A figure soaring through the sky wreathed in flames. Under normal circumstances, King would be the first to come to mind.

But these flames were blue. And in these seas, there was only one person who flew cloaked in azure fire.

I raised my left arm to guard as the blue-flamed bird closed in. My crew shouted its name in shock.

"—It's Marco the Phoenix!!"

"Beasts Pirates... What the hell are you doing in Pops' territory?!"

['Whitebeard Pirates 1st Division Commander "Phoenix" Marco – Bounty: 1,124,000,000 Berries']

The blue, bird-like figure shifted, his torso reverting to human form as he shouted, then lashed out with a kick from his avian legs. This was Marco—Whitebeard’s right-hand man, for all intents and purposes.

His sudden appearance and its implications made me laugh.

"—Ahaha!! I get it now~!! You want us to go home!!!"

"—Damn right!! If you understand, then get the hell out!!!"

"...Now that you say it like that, I don’t wanna leave... Kinda pisses me off... Oops."

I blocked Marco’s kick again. Strong Haki, strong power. And on top of that, his phoenix regeneration made him a pain in the ass. To take him down, you’d have to beat the hell out of him over and over.

And besides—there was no way Marco came alone.

"O-Oi, that’s…!!"

"!! They’re here…!!"

The Marines paled as they saw the ships approaching across the frozen sea. They’d been trying to stop us from clashing, so of course they’d react like this.

That ship with the white whale figurehead—there was only one like it. And after all, this was their territory.

"—The Whitebeard Pirates!!!"

"...!!"

One of the Four Emperors—the Whitebeard Pirates.

Their arrival sent a ripple through the battlefield.

But their captain, "Whitebeard" himself, wasn’t among them. Which meant…

"Ahaha...!! Hey, Joker? You hearing this? Marco’s Whitebeard strike team just showed up over here."

"Yeah, loud and clear. Over here—it’s Whitebeard himself... And, perfect timing, the Marines showed up somewhere else too."

"—I see."

"Tch!!"

I knocked Marco back, calmly processed the situation, let out a sigh… and thought to myself—

Time to fold.

---

Just a little earlier, before the Whitebeard Pirates arrived...

On the deck of the Red-Haired Pirates’ ship… lay a bloodied man.

The man, gripping a bloodstained sword, was glared down at by one of the Four Emperors—Kaido.

"—You’re tough."

"...!! Ugh... Wheez... Hah..."

The man was—"Red-Haired" Shanks.

The foolish pirate captain who had recklessly picked a fight with Kaido.

And now, he was paying the price.

Beaten half to death by Kaido’s club, he was on the verge of death. It wouldn’t be strange if he died at any moment.

—And yet, he was still alive. His eyes hadn’t dimmed.

That fact puzzled Kaido.

"P-Please... stop...!!"

"Our captain’s gonna die...!!"

"Damn it... We can’t...!!"

"…………"

Kaido paid no mind to the Red-Haired Pirates’ underlings, keeping his gaze solely on Shanks.

It was rare for someone to endure his attacks without passing out.

And so, he was intrigued. He wanted this man as a subordinate. That was why he’d beaten him down—but before finishing it, Kaido asked:

"Why stand? In that state, you can’t fight. You planning to keep going till you die?"

"Hah... Hah... Yeah... guess so..."

Surprisingly, he still had the strength to speak. ...But that wouldn’t last. Kaido snorted and continued.

"I’ll make you my subordinate. That’s why I ain’t killing you... But if you refuse, you die. —Or do you want to die?"

"Hah... No... thanks... I’ll pass on dying...!!"

—Then become my subordinate.

Kaido’s unspoken words carried the weight of his Conqueror’s Haki, pressuring Shanks.

If he submitted, all would be forgiven. That was the deal from the start.

But... "Red-Haired" Shanks began to answer the first question—the why.

"Why stand...? Why fight...? ...Heh..."

"The hell?"

Before one of the Emperors of the Sea, Shanks reflected on his own will.

—"I’m entrusting this hat to you."

"…………"

At first, it had been passed down to him.

Something precious, entrusted along with the will of someone he respected—his savior.

And he had made a promise. But—

—"Come return it to me someday. Become a great pirate."

And then, he had made another promise—passing on that will in turn.

Remembering that moment as clearly as if it were yesterday, Shanks locked eyes with his opponent.

"If I fall... here and now... that promise gets broken...!!!"

"Promise...?"

Kaido didn’t understand. And Shanks wasn’t speaking for Kaido’s sake.

These were words to reaffirm his own resolve. A way to force strength back into his battered body.

"I’ve... gotta become... a great pirate first...!!!"

Right. To do that, we’ve got to surpass even the "Four Emperors."

We’ve got to steal one of the "Four Emperors'" seats—anything less won’t cut it.

Gripping his sword, he channels his Haki, his fighting spirit, and takes his stance.

"Come at me… Kaido… a one-on-one fight…!!!"

"………… Didn’t I say I’d kill you if it came to this?"

The Strongest Creature raises his kanabo, pouring his Haki and strength into the swing—fully intending to kill Shanks.

And then—the moment their weapons clash.

"!!?"

"Whoa…!!!"

Shanks’ body… his sword… wasn’t sent flying.

A shockwave like black lightning tears through the air.

A clash of Conqueror’s Haki.

The overwhelming pressure of the collision shakes the ship violently.

Kaido’s eyes widen at the exchange of blows between their weapons in that instant.

But the outcome of the battle was still—

"——"Raidon: Thunder Bagua"!!!"

"!!!"

——Decided in Kaido’s favor.

Of course… there was no way he could win.

No matter how much he steeled his will, no matter how much he believed in himself… everything paled before overwhelming strength.

Even if his Haki had reached its peak in a life-or-death battle, that power still couldn’t surpass Kaido’s.

——And yet… Kaido lightly runs a finger over his own neck.

"…………"

There—was a scratch.

Not even a drop of blood. Just the faintest mark. If anything, it was nothing more than that. Even if he landed a hundred such hits, it wouldn’t be enough to kill or defeat him.

But he had wounded him. His blade, his will—had reached Kaido.

"Hmph…"

But even that was meaningless.

Beaten, he falls into the sea. He’s still breathing, but… left alone, he’ll die.

No saving him now. Even if treated, it might already be too late. No time to fish him out.

All that’s left is to deal with his crew and the Marines—just as Kaido thinks that, it arrives.

"! That’s… Whitebeard’s ship!!"

There, on the frozen sea—the detestable vessel of the Whitebeard Pirates.

But Kaido realizes—that old man’s presence isn’t among them. And his fury ignites.

"You think sending your underlings is enough to stop me…!!? Don’t fuck with me… I’ll slaughter every last one of ‘em…!!!"

At this point, he’s so enraged he briefly considers declaring all-out war—but it doesn’t come to that.

"Kaido!!"

"——Hah? What is it, Nue?"

His sworn sibling, Nue, came flying through the sky. For some reason, she was in her adult form—not that it mattered.

She looked amused, but there was irritation in her eyes. Kaido knew that meant something unexpected had happened.

And he was right.

"Whitebeard and the Marines are attacking our territory! We gotta go back!!"

"The hell?! What did you say?!"

Now that pissed him off. Like Nue, his irritation flared.

"Looks like Whitebeard and Sengoku both had the same damn idea!! They’re hitting our turf to drag us away from here… They’ll probably run the second we show up, but if we ignore it, things’ll get even worse! Hurry up!!"

"…!! Tch… So it’s over already…?!"

"Joker’s intel says Linlin’s making moves too, so move it!! My live venue’s gonna get wrecked again!!"

"…!! …Goddammit—LISTEN UP!!! We’re heading back to our waters!!"

Transforming into his dragon form, he barked orders at his crew. The Marines were one thing, but if Whitebeard himself was at their territory, they had no choice.

And with Linlin stirring too, they needed to shore up their defenses. Even Kaido knew fighting two Emperors at once was inefficient—the losses would be insane.

Nue, meanwhile, was practically vibrating over her precious live venue island getting trashed. That was all she could think about—she looked ready to bolt ahead on her own.

"…………"

For a split second, Kaido’s gaze lingered on the Red Hair Pirates’ ship, on Shanks sinking into the sea—but then he took to the skies with Nue, returning to their own crew.

---

——And the conflict that day in the New World, involving the Four Emperors, the Marines, and the Warlords, would dominate the next day’s headlines.

The World Economic Journal’s exclusive report, combined with anonymous leaks, revealed the details to the world.

In the New World, the "Four Emperors" crew, the Beasts Pirates, clashed with a Marine fleet, the Warlord "Hawk-Eyes Mihawk," and the Red Hair Pirates.

The result—a stalemate. The Whitebeard Pirates’ main force and the Marines invaded the Beasts Pirates’ territory, forcing them to retreat to respond.

Afterward, minor skirmishes broke out between the Emperors, but the balance of power remained intact. No faction suffered significant losses. No notable injuries were reported in most papers.

…Except for one. The World Economic Journal’s headline carried news of a casualty.

——Red Hair Pirates Captain, "Red-Haired Shanks," DEAD!!

…As an aside, despite the lack of confirmed remains, that day’s papers reportedly sold out instantly.