Beckman fell shortly after Rayleigh and Jabba.
This Marine-recognized powerhouse, often called the strongest First Mate of the Great Pirate Era, truly possessed strength that could not be underestimated.
He had mastered all three types of Haki with balanced proficiency. His marksmanship and close combat skills had no obvious flaws, making him an extremely well-rounded fighter.
However, being well-rounded also meant he lacked a defining edge.
His defense was comparable to Rayleigh and Jabba, slightly better than Shanks when facing ordinary threats. His offense, without fully utilizing his Black Gun, was less lethal than the blades and axes of Rayleigh and Jabba. His close combat ability was solid, unlike Yasopp's weakness in that area, but his speed was clearly inferior to the others.
His Haoshoku Haki was below Shanks, his Observation Haki inferior to Yasopp, and his Armament Haki weaker than Lucky Roux.
This perfectly reflected the overall image of their crew.
Balanced like an iron wall.
No obvious weaknesses, but no overwhelming strengths either.
Against weaker opponents, such balance made him an insurmountable force. But against fighters of the same level, it became easier to exploit that lack of specialization.
With Shanks supporting him, Beckman was extremely dangerous. Alone, however, he could only be considered a lower-tier Emperor-level fighter.
Against someone of equal level, one opponent could hold him off, and two could defeat him with relative ease.
Among top-tier fighters outside the Dawn faction, Beckman's strength was likely comparable to Zephyr before his illness, and even then, it was uncertain whether he could defeat Issho.
It was no surprise that his most famous move was "Don't Move," a standoff technique that relied on mutual restraint.
Even after defeating Beckman, Youki felt unsatisfied. He and Kirk had worked together to bring him down, which dulled the sense of accomplishment.
Still, being allowed to participate in the fight was enough. Without complaint, Youki shifted his attention back to Shanks.
After Beckman's defeat, Shanks' attacks became even more aggressive.
Kirk, now holding Beckman's Supreme Grade Black Gun, chose not to interfere in the battle between Pini and Shanks. Instead, he repositioned himself on another part of the battlefield, standing in front of Saff and Tsuki.
With Kirk guarding them, even if Shanks attempted to break away after defeat, he would not be able to harm the weaker members.
As Shanks pressed harder, Pini's situation grew increasingly dangerous.
Unlike Rayleigh and Jabba, who were past their prime, or Beckman, who lacked a decisive specialty, Shanks possessed overwhelming lethality. His attacks carried far more killing power than most Emperor-level fighters.
Worse still, due to the unique nature of his Observation Haki, Pini's Future Sight was completely ineffective against him.
Pini was being pushed to his limits.
"Youki, finish this quickly!"
...
Hunger struck suddenly and violently.
Once it began, it intensified rapidly, overwhelming both body and mind until it sent a clear warning to the brain.
Eat now, or collapse.
Ash, feeling the sharp pressure of hunger, gave the order without hesitation.
Pini and Youki were momentarily stunned, then quickly interpreted his intent.
During the battle in Wano, Ash had explained that in fights between equals, swords posed far greater danger than blunt weapons.
Back then, even though their strength was lacking, Ash had not been overly concerned.
But Shanks wielded a sword.
After fighting for so long, both Pini and Youki had already realized that Shanks was stronger than Rayleigh, Jabba, and Beckman combined. His attack power even surpassed Kaido's.
When they first faced Rayleigh together, they had nearly been killed if not for Ash's timely arrival.
Now, facing Shanks, the situation was far more dangerous.
They sought growth through battle, not death.
Taking a fatal blow was not worth it. Losing their heads would end everything.
They both understood what Ash meant.
Without hesitation, they joined forces again.
Half a year ago, they would not have dared. But now, their combined strength was enough to challenge any Emperor-level opponent.
Even so, that was their limit.
Though their coordinated attacks forced Shanks into a defensive position, he continued to evade them effortlessly, leaving them unable to land a decisive hit.
Something felt wrong.
Not only Pini and Youki noticed it, but Ash frowned as well.
At that moment, a realization surfaced.
In his previous life, there had been endless speculation about how Shanks maintained his status as one of the Four Emperors.
Mastery of all three types of Haki, possibly the strongest Haoshoku, and swordsmanship rivaling the world's greatest swordsman, these were impressive, but not enough on their own.
Compared to the other Emperors, Shanks lacked physical dominance.
Later revelations clarified the truth.
Shanks possessed one of the most powerful Observation Haki abilities in existence.
Not just Future Sight, but control.
This control gave rise to a terrifying ability.
Observation Haki suppression.
By wrapping his entire body in Observation Haki, Shanks could completely conceal his presence. Not even a trace of his aura could be detected.
As a result, opponents could not sense him through Observation Haki.
Even Future Sight became useless.
Ash had once dismissed this as exaggerated speculation.
Now, watching the battle unfold, he realized it was very real.
This explained everything.
Pini's Future Sight was nullified. Shanks, on the other hand, continued to use his own Future Sight to evade attacks.
His suppression of presence disrupted their perception. His swordsmanship handled unavoidable strikes. His techniques, even more dangerous than Rayleigh's, forced Pini and Youki to hold back.
They could not risk trading injuries.
Rayleigh had already proven how deadly that approach could be. If they tried the same against Shanks, he would aim straight for their heads.
With victory already within reach, there was no need to gamble their lives.
Ash watched silently as their thoughts raced.
Once he fully understood Shanks' advantage, he made his decision.
He would step in himself.