Since awakening his Conqueror's Haki and realizing his true aspirations, Shanks felt his Haki growing stronger.
Once, he had to look up to stronger men. Now, rumors spread across the seas that he was the most Haki man in the world.
He never knew when he began to believe it himself, but he did.
His crew and officers believed it too and took pride in it.
But today, a young man with Conqueror's Haki stronger than his own stood before him. Shanks thought of his captain, who wielded a powerful Haki with the weight of the times.
As Shanks clashed with Arthur, his perspective shifted. Arthur's Haki was not weaker than his captain's; it was even stronger. This was Conqueror's Haki of boundless ambition and dominance.
What kind of ambition did Arthur have to possess such terrifying Haki at such a young age?
It couldn't be. Shanks had bet his arm on Luffy, believing him to be the boy who inherited the will of D. Arthur couldn't be that person.
The thought of Arthur potentially dominating the sea weighed heavily on Shanks.
"Your Haki is strong. In the new era, you will undoubtedly have a place," Shanks said, both admiring and wary.
Arthur's eyes burned with intensity, stronger than Shanks'. He smiled, a curve of confidence. "A place?"
"Shanks, my ambition is far greater than just a place! The world you see is too small!"
Arthur's voice rose with his last words. As he thought of the secrets he knew, his Conqueror's Haki, which had remained steady for the past six months, surged again.
"What!? How is this possible?" Shanks' eyes widened in shock.
Even Mihawk, usually calm, was visibly shaken. For the first time, his expression changed drastically.
The elite pirates, already struggling against the powerful Haki clash, began to faint, their eyes rolling back. Those who remained standing turned red, straining to hold their ground.
The officers, facing this intense Haki confrontation, stood up in disbelief. Beckman, known for his wisdom and calm, was stunned. His mouth hung open, and his eyes widened as he looked at Arthur.
"How is this possible? How can someone be stronger than the captain? No, how can there be someone with such powerful Conqueror's Haki?" he murmured to himself. "Is he... a monster?"
'What kind of world has he seen to be this terrifying? Should the next era be called Arthur's?' Beckman thought, though he did not say it out loud.
In the center of the Conqueror's Haki clash, Arthur realized his Haki had grown stronger again. He pressed his Haki against Shanks with all his might.
If they could see it, they would notice blue-violet waves pushing back dark red waves, forcing them to retreat.
In this top-tier Conqueror's Haki collision, the air seemed to wail, as if the space itself couldn't bear the pressure. Cracks spread from the point of their clash.
Though invisible, the intensity was palpable. The officers and Mihawk could feel it clearly: Shanks, the man known as the world's most Haki, was losing ground.
Finally, Shanks looked at Arthur with a complex expression, unsure if he was mourning the loss of his title as the world's most Haki man or contemplating the depth of Arthur's Haki.
Both men's Conqueror's Haki retracted simultaneously, as if by mutual understanding.
After a long silence, Shanks spoke. "I want to know, what kind of world do you see, and what ambitions drive you to possess such a terrifying Conqueror's Haki?"
His eyes were fixed on Arthur, serious and intense.
"Even at the end of the Grand Line, at Laugh Tale, my captain, who knew the world's truth, didn't have Haki as terrifying as yours."
"Your Haki surpasses mine. No, it surpasses even my captain's. It is more ambitious than anyone I've ever seen. What exactly do you want to achieve in this world?"
Shanks muttered to himself, struggling to comprehend. Arthur simply smiled, his eyes filled with profound joy.
"Shanks, you seem to care a lot about history. One Piece Roger must have had a deep influence on you. But you don't understand that there is a more important and limitless future in this world beyond history."
"And my Haki is for the future!"
Arthur's words exuded an indescribable confidence and aloofness. Even Shanks was momentarily at a loss for words.
"Well, you win! From now on, you are the most Haki man in the world." Shanks couldn't fully grasp Arthur's subtle words. Those deep eyes seemed to hold unfathomable depths.
Shanks, always free-spirited, decided not to dwell on it. Though he inherited Roger's will, he lived for himself. The future belongs to the young!
Arthur smiled and raised his glass, drinking it down. The wine was strong.
"It's nice to win with Haki, but that's not my goal. I just wanted to test my strength. With Haki alone, I can't stand at the top of the world!"
Arthur looked at Shanks, who was clearly trying to process everything. "How about it? Let's fight! Let me see how far I am from the top of this world!"
Shanks, sipping his wine, gave Arthur a pained look and said, "Hey, Arthur, do we have to? Wouldn't it be nice to have a banquet instead?"
"Although your Haki is very ambitious, I can feel that you are not a bad person. My instincts are very accurate. Being friends, drinking, and eating meat together at a banquet—isn't that the happiest thing in the world? Come on, drink up. You're already at the top, really, I never lie!"
Shanks, with his characteristic laugh, looked sincerely at Arthur. Arthur couldn't help but laugh in return.
Such a man is truly charming. Becoming friends with him would be something to celebrate.
Similarly, when Shanks spoke, the Red Hair Pirates crew smiled kindly at Arthur. This is their way: if you can drink and eat meat together, you're good friends! This is the most free-spirited pirate crew!
"No, this fight has to happen." Arthur shook his head firmly. But then he added, "However, it can wait until after the banquet!"
As a young man from the 21st century, Arthur couldn't resist the urge to join in this unique and lively atmosphere.
Shanks, initially disheartened by Arthur's refusal, immediately brightened up at the second part.
"Haha, no problem, no problem! Drink and drink! There's no better wine in the world than our West Blue wine!"
Shanks became cheerful, and the Red Hair Pirates' atmosphere grew even livelier.
The crew members who had been knocked out by the Conqueror's Haki slowly regained consciousness. Learning what had happened, they joined the banquet without hesitation.
However, no one knew what Shanks was thinking about how to avoid the duel.
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Sorry for the delay