...
On the screen above, the shockwaves from Red-Haired Shanks' appearance had yet to fade, and the entire Marineford battlefield had fallen into an eerie silence.
Whether it was the blood-maddened Marines or the grief- and rage-filled pirates, all were suppressed by this youngest Four Emperor's sudden intervention and his unquestionable aura—no one dared make a sound for the moment.
Surveying the silent ruins, Shanks' gaze finally settled on a familiar, noisy figure high in the sky.
Without saying much, he gently tossed the straw hat—laden with profound meaning—toward Buggy.
"Hey, Buggy, this… hand it over to Luffy for me."
Under normal circumstances, facing a Four Emperor-level presence, Buggy would already be trembling in fear.
Yet, uniquely when facing Shanks, an inexplicable surge of courage—or rather, resentment and indignation—rose within him.
"Why the hell should this great me listen to you, Shanks!"
Buggy snatched the straw hat, then immediately jumped as if scalded, pointing almost right at Shanks' nose as he launched into his signature loud, saliva-flying rant.
"You think just because you became a Four Emperor you're hot stuff now? That you can boss this great me around? Let me tell you, this great me isn't buying it! Back then if it weren't for you… (the following 500 words of old grievances omitted)"
Buggy's seemingly "fearless of authority" posture—frantically unloading on Four Emperor Red-Haired Shanks—unexpectedly produced a miraculous effect.
The pirates around him—who had just witnessed him "save" Luffy and now saw him acting so boldly—had admiration in their eyes that practically solidified into something tangible!
"Captain Buggy… he's, he's fucking too badass!"
"Facing Red-Hair without flinching, even overwhelming him in presence—oh my god!"
"I'm willing to follow Captain Buggy forever! I offer my life!"
"Me too!"
"And me!"
…
For a moment, declarations of loyalty rang out one after another. Buggy, fully immersed in his "denunciation" and sarcastic jabs at Shanks, had no time to pay attention to this new wave of fervent followers.
He might fear Whitebeard's wrath, might wet himself in front of an Admiral…
But uniquely toward this red-haired man before him, he harbored a "fearlessness" rooted in the past, etched into his very bones. Buggy could fear anyone, but Shanks was the one exception.
Facing Buggy's machine-gun-like "interrogation" and dredging up of old accounts, Shanks showed no trace of irritation. Instead, the corner of his mouth curved into a helpless yet nostalgic smile.
He didn't immediately retort. Instead, he slowly closed those sharp eyes.
Not in avoidance, but together with his nearby crewmates—Benn Beckman, Yasopp, Lucky Roux, and the others—he sank into cherished memories of the East Blue, of that boy.
In an instant, fragmented yet warm scenes flashed across the screen:
The peaceful harbor of Foosha Village, the Red Force docked there, the black-haired boy Luffy—wearing a straw hat, smiling as brightly as the sun—shouting noisily that he was going to become a pirate.
Little Luffy, to defend Shanks' honor, slashing his own face to challenge the mountain bandits.
Then came the fate-deciding moment: to save Luffy from the jaws of the Lord of the Coast, Shanks threw himself forward without hesitation, sacrificing one arm to secure the child's life.
Finally, at the parting dock, he solemnly placed that straw hat—carrier of dreams and promises—onto Luffy's head…
These memory fragments passed in a flash, yet they exploded like thunder in the hearts of every powerhouse in God Valley!
"This… this red-haired guy's arm… was actually bitten off by some… beast just to save Garp's grandson?!"
Kaido's bell-like eyes were filled with disbelief. The image he and Big Mom had speculated—of a earth-shaking duel with some hidden powerhouse—shattered completely.
The truth was so… simple, yet so shocking!
"Mam-ma-ma-ma… truly unexpected!"
Big Mom also dropped her playful expression, her face turning complicated.
To sacrifice an arm that could have secured an Emperor's future… for a child from some small village?
To these profit-driven great pirates, such a choice was simply incomprehensible.
"I'm really curious about the story of how Shanks met Garp's grandson…"
Roger, holding little Shanks, had eyes full of curiosity and an indescribable touch: "In the future… will I give this straw hat to this little guy? Could it be that this Shanks was once a member of my pirate crew?!"
The more Roger thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
The significance of that straw hat was extraordinary—he would never hand it over lightly to a stranger.
Looking at the infant in his arms—who would one day grow into a deeply loyal and righteous Emperor—and then at the red-haired figure on the screen who seemed to share a profound bond with Buggy…
A strong premonition surged in Roger's heart: these two little ones were tightly linked to his own future.
The powerhouses of God Valley all developed strong interest in the story between Shanks and Luffy, while the scenes on the screen continued.
"It's been about ten years since we last met, hasn't it…"
Shanks awoke from his reminiscence with a soft sigh. Seeing Buggy still puffed up and uncooperative, a sly glint flashed in his eyes. He lowered his voice: "Buggy, I think I have a treasure map…"
"What?! Treasure map!"
Buggy's eyes instantly turned into Berry symbols. Though his mouth said, "You think this great me will still fall for your nonsense?"
His body was far more honest…
Under Shanks' "believe it or not" smile, he ultimately chose (half-reluctantly) to trust this "bribe." Clutching the straw hat, he hurriedly chased after the direction where Luffy was retreating.
…
At that moment, the gravely injured Luffy and Jinbe had already been rescued onto the Polar Tang by the Heart Pirates' captain, Trafalgar Law.
Law had crossed paths with Luffy at Sabaody Archipelago; now, by a twist of fate, he had stepped in to save them.
Law had been observing the situation from the deck. When Buggy tossed the straw hat, he instinctively caught it.
Urged by his crew, he quickly returned inside the submarine to prepare emergency surgery for Luffy and Jinbe.
"I really want to see him face-to-face… but meeting now would go against our promise, wouldn't it, Luffy…"
Shanks gazed toward the direction where the submarine vanished, murmuring softly. A flicker of anticipation and gentleness passed through his eyes.
But the next second, when his gaze returned to the battlefield, all emotion instantly withdrew!
In its place was the calm dignity of a Four Emperor—his aura shifting abruptly!
"You're not getting away that easily!" Admiral Kuzan (Aokiji) saw the targets slipping away and instantly leaped into the air, both arms releasing biting freezing air!
Crack! The bay's sea surface—already shattered by tremors—was frozen over again at astonishing speed. The thick ice layer even affected the Polar Tang, which had already submerged, causing violent shaking to the hull.
However, inside the cabin, Law remained undisturbed by the outside world. Fully focused, he began the operation, racing against time to save them.
The submarine's engines roared to full power. Relying on its superior performance, it forcefully broke through the ice barrier and dove toward the deep sea.
Just as everyone on board breathed a sigh of relief, the "surrendering" Kizaru transformed into a streak of golden light and instantly appeared in the air above the sea surface over the submarine.
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
Countless dazzling laser beads poured down like a rainstorm, blanketing a wide area of sea and sending towering water columns exploding upward!
Yet, astonishingly, not a single one of these dense, rain-like laser attacks managed to hit the agilely diving submarine!
"If you can survive even that, it can only mean your luck is just too good…"
Kizaru ceased his attack. In a flash, he stood atop a tattered sail, tilting his mouth as he spoke in his signature lazy drawl.
"If that really is the case… then we'll just have to give up, won't we…"
From beginning to end, Shanks had not stopped the two Admirals' "routine" interception.
He believed in Luffy's luck, and even more in the promise between them that would never end here.
He stepped forward, treating the surrounding swords and blades as nothing, walking straight to Marco and the other Whitebeard Pirates division commanders.
"Red-Hair…"
Marco opened his mouth, voice hoarse, fists hanging limply.
He had lost his father-like Whitebeard, lost his good brother Ace. The immense grief and emptiness left him momentarily unsure what to say.
"Marco…"
Shanks' voice carried understanding and consolation: "Don't keep fighting anymore. Stop now… in this war, you've already lost more than enough."
He understood the Whitebeard Pirates' current sorrow and rage, but continuing the battle would only bring more meaningless sacrifices.
On the other side, the world's greatest swordsman, Dracule Mihawk—Hawk-Eyes—also sheathed his black blade Yoru.
"Whitebeard is dead. My promise to Marine Headquarters has been fulfilled."
He spoke indifferently to the Marines trying to block him, then ignored everyone around and turned to leave gracefully.
He had joined the battle solely to test the gap between himself and Whitebeard. With his goal gone, he had no reason to linger.
At that moment, Shanks made an even more shocking move.
Ignoring the remaining Marine forces and bypassing the Whitebeard Pirates' remnants, he finally stopped in front of the Blackbeard Pirates!
His gaze stabbed straight at Teach like a sharp sword!
An invisible, suffocating wave of Conqueror's Haki rippled outward with him at the center.
"If this continues, it will only endlessly increase the losses on both sides!"
Shanks' voice suddenly rose, echoing clearly across the entire battlefield with the weight of an ultimatum: "If there's anyone who still hasn't had enough…"
He abruptly drew the famous sword "Griffon" from his waist, its tip pointing directly at the Blackbeard Pirates!
At the same time, the entire Red Hair Pirates crew—Benn Beckman, Yasopp, Lucky Roux, and the other officers!
Instantly assembled behind their captain, weapons drawn, killing intent sharp!
"Come on, then—let us keep you company!"
Shanks' gaze locked dead on Teach, his tone resolute and unyielding: "How about it?! Teach… no—Blackbeard!"
In an instant, the battlefield atmosphere—which had just begun to ease—tensed to the breaking point once again!
The newly ascended dual-fruit wielder Blackbeard Pirates versus the veteran Four Emperor Red Hair Pirates—both sides stood at sword's point!
...