"..."
Shanks had many secrets, but he knew that the old friend standing before him carried no fewer secrets than he did.
Ever since their first meeting when he was still in his teens and Wright was a fledgling newcomer, Shanks had noticed it.
Now, with the two of them standing in the positions of a Yonko and a Marine Admiral respectively, the word "cooperation" seemed almost ironic.
"We'll talk about that later. When the time comes, everything will become clear, won't it?"
Wright winked, easing the stern expression on Shanks' face.
With a wry smile, Shanks shook his head.
"I never thought I'd hear such news from you... Be careful not to anger those five geezers."
"Hmph! Just five puppets..."
Wright's words made Shanks' pupils contract, cold sweat trickling down his back.
Just as he was about to speak, he caught sight of the golden glow flickering in Wright's eyes and immediately calmed down.
After a brief silence, Shanks nodded lightly.
"This deal is quite worthwhile... but I have one condition."
"Condition?"
Shanks' only remaining right hand reached for the hilt of his sword, a confident smile appearing on his rugged face.
"Fight me!"
"That bastard Mihawk refuses to spar with me, but every time he finishes a match with you, he comes to brag—calling it 'exchange'..."
"As a swordsman, I want to see for myself the man who reignited Mihawk's drive to climb higher!"
Wright downed the wine in his cup, laughing heartily.
"Hahaha! Just what I was thinking!"
"Back then, I was a greenhorn, left panting like a dog after our duel. Now, I want to see if the great 'Yonko' can still repeat that feat!"
"Ha! The captain's gonna brawl with Wright!"
"Admiral! Wright's an Admiral now—he's not that little guy from back then!"
"When Wright was a bounty hunter, he had a fiery temper—if anyone hurt civilians, he'd take them down along with the criminals!"
"Heh, his temper's better now... but his strength is unfathomable!"
"Vice Captain, who do you think will win—Captain or Wright... I mean, the Admiral?"
Ben Beckman glanced helplessly at the gossiping crew.
"At their level, it's not so easy to determine a winner."
"If they fight for days and nights, the entire New World will know!"
"Uh... Uncle Beckman?"
Beckman noticed Ace had wandered over, stuffing food into his mouth as he asked.
"How did sensei fight Captain Shanks back in the day? I have no idea!"
Yasopp pulled Ace to his side.
"Oh? Interested, huh? I'll tell you all about it—Vice Captain's not one for long stories!"
"Oh... zzz..."
"Hey—how'd you fall asleep while eating?!"
"Hahaha!"
...
"Boom—"
"Crack—!"
The Red Force pitched and rolled on the stormy seas, with Ace and the Red-Haired Pirates gathered on deck, watching the earth-shattering battle on the distant island.
It was a deserted island within the Red-Haired Pirates' territory—one of countless such islands in the New World, barely capable of sustaining even large animals.
Now, two titanic Conqueror's Haki clashes were rending the island apart!
Black-red lightning and golden lightning divided the battlefield, the heavy clouds above torn asunder by the collision.
The famed sword Gryphon and the golden sword Ashes clashed countless times, both imbued with Armament Haki.
"Rumble—"
At last, the island could no longer withstand the onslaught. The ravaged land split in two, seawater surging into the massive chasm.
Shanks, surrounded by swirling Haki, and Wright, golden wings fluttering, forehead flame burning, and fully powered up, stood on opposite sides of the fractured island.
"Tch... damn, I'm so jealous..."
Shanks grimaced, staring at the radiant Wright. Watching those effects the entire battle was not only mentally taxing, but downright blinding.
But... damn, he looked cool!
"Alright, let's call it here—at this rate, we could fight for days without deciding a winner."
The Conqueror's Haki lightning vanished as both men sheathed their swords. Wright leapt over to Shanks' side, casting a Holy Light spell.
"Heh! Haven't felt this in over a decade—still as good as ever!"
Shanks exhaled, grateful for Wright's absurd healing powers. Prolonging the fight would've made the outcome anyone's guess.
"Too bad... not against your perfect form."
Wright shook his head in regret.
"When I figure out limb regeneration, we'll have a rematch!"
"You're just like Mihawk!"
Shanks sighed. Losing his dominant left arm had undoubtedly affected his swordsmanship.
Yet, even one-handed, he stood among the Yonko—not because of his sword skills alone, but his overwhelming Haki!
"I never imagined... you've awakened Conqueror's Haki too... and such a rare form of it!"
Shanks glanced at the devastated battlefield. Though the damage on Wright's side was lesser, his Haki had clearly affected the environment—an advanced form still deepening with each clash.
"Did you forget how unique my Armament and Observation Haki are?"
Wright's laughter made Shanks realize—Wright's abilities could enhance Haki.
So he'd been a sparring dummy for Wright's Conqueror's Haki training?
"What a monster..."
Shanks grumbled, then burst into laughter.
"A Marine with such powerful Conqueror's Haki! Hahaha... I can't wait to see the faces of those five old geezers!"
"It's not like the Marines don't have any... though rare, it's not unheard of—Sengoku just doesn't like showing off."
"Oh, by the way... that kid over there has it too."
"What?!"
Shanks couldn't keep his composure.
"Luffy's brother? Ace? Conqueror's Haki?"
"Yeah... awakened it as a kid saving Luffy. I've already taught him how to use it—but I don't let him."
"..."
Shanks stared at Wright.
The Marines' third generation...
"That child... he's not ordinary, is he? The Will of D..."
"Ah, I've met Rayleigh-sensei."
Shanks froze.
"Huh? The Vice Captain's grand...son? But that 'D'..."
Wright nearly choked.
"Nonsense! That brat's connected to you and Rayleigh... he's your captain, Gol D. Roger's son!"
Shanks stood thunderstruck.
"You can't be serious..."
Wright's serious expression confirmed it.
Shanks' face contorted again.
"All those years... so close, and I never noticed!"
"The Pirate King's son... joined the Marines..."
Wright, you're playing one hell of a game!
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