Akainu sat calmly, waiting for his subordinate to bring over the Flame-Flame Fruit.
But just when he thought he had been mistaken, Red-Haired Shanks boldly strolled past him, even tossing him a casual greeting.
What an audacious move!
Akainu shot to his feet, steam starting to rise from his body.
Shanks noticed Akainu's obvious intention to fight. With no desire for a confrontation, he turned on his heel and took off running.
"Shanks, let's see where you think you can run!" Akainu shouted, his face darkening as he prepared to give chase.
The surrounding Marines quickly moved to stop him. "Admiral, this is the busiest trading hub in Alabasta. We can't afford to cause a scene here; it'll draw unwanted attention."
"We're the Navy, and he's a pirate. It's our duty to catch pirates—let's see who dares to complain!" Akainu shoved the Marines aside and immediately gave chase, his body turning into molten magma.
With the power of the Magma-Magma Fruit, Akainu could transform into magma, making him nearly invulnerable to most attacks. His searing heat could even melt the ground beneath him.
Now, his body partially transformed into magma, Akainu quickly closed in on Shanks, leaving deep, molten scars on the ground wherever he passed.
Buffalo and Monet, who had planned to ambush whoever won the Flame-Flame Fruit, realized that their rival was also a Devil Fruit user—and not just any user. This one could turn into magma. A name instantly came to mind.
"Is that… Admiral Akainu?" Buffalo gasped in shock.
Monet's expression darkened. "I never thought the Navy would send an Admiral just for a Devil Fruit… Buffalo, we're not getting that Flame-Flame Fruit. An Admiral is way out of our league. We need to report this to the Young Master."
Buffalo nodded reluctantly. "There's no other choice…"
"Hey, Akainu, I'm not here to pick a fight with you," Shanks called out, half-laughing as he continued to run.
Akainu's voice was cold and unyielding as he followed close behind. "I'm with the Navy. I don't need a reason to catch pirates! If you dare show up in front of me, be ready to be captured."
It was nighttime, and with no special events happening, the streets of Yuba were fairly empty, making it easier for the two to continue their chase.
Akainu, surprisingly restrained, didn't launch an immediate attack on Yuba's streets.
Noticing this, Shanks began to zigzag through the narrow alleys and streets of Yuba.
But Akainu was getting tired of the chase. When Shanks dashed into a slightly wider street, Akainu extended his magma-formed arm and sent a swift, scorching attack directly at him.
"Seriously?" Shanks sighed as he stopped, drawing his sword, Gryphon, and bracing himself to block the incoming magma fist.
A wave of intense heat exploded from the impact between the magma fist and Gryphon's blade, shattering the nearby empty market stalls.
Any ordinary sword would have melted instantly from Akainu's magma.
But Gryphon was no ordinary sword, and with Shanks's strength behind it, blocking Akainu's attack wasn't much of a challenge.
"Akainu, I don't want to fight you," Shanks said, frowning slightly as he pushed the magma fist back.
"Whether we fight or not isn't up to you!" Akainu growled, transforming his arm into a massive dog's head made of magma, launching it toward Shanks again.
This move, known as "Inugami Guren," was devastatingly powerful, with the dog's head capable of biting into its target with immense force.
"You've got to be kidding me…" Shanks muttered, exasperated. He adjusted his stance to counter the attack but was distracted by a sudden scream.
"No!" A woman in a headscarf was sprinting toward her crying daughter, who was about to be struck by a piece of debris from the shattered market stall.
The woman was fast, but not fast enough to reach her daughter before the debris.
Seeing the girl in danger, Shanks quickly changed course, appearing beside her in an instant and slicing the wooden shard away with ease.
But Akainu's magma dog head, following Shanks's movement, changed direction and continued its relentless pursuit.
Shanks quickly scooped up the girl and tossed her to her mother. "Get out of here!"
The mother, clutching her daughter, quickly bowed in gratitude before running off.
But Akainu's attack was already closing in.
Shanks prepared to counter it, but the magma dog head sank its teeth into his left shoulder before he could react.
Though it looked like his arm was about to be severed, Shanks didn't even flinch. He raised Gryphon and, as if slicing through butter, severed the magma dog head.
Akainu's arm quickly reformed. Even though his magma body made him nearly impervious to most attacks, Shanks's seemingly simple strike had managed to wound him.
Akainu glanced at the bloodstain on his right hand, frowning.
The severed magma dog head that had bitten Shanks's shoulder gradually dissipated.
Shanks looked at his own bloodied shoulder and chuckled. "Well, that could've been worse. Seems like my luck isn't so bad after all."
Akainu scoffed, "Shanks, I'll give you one last chance: surrender, and I won't kill you."
Shanks scratched his head and grinned. "Sorry, but I'm not planning on getting caught that easily."
"Fine, then you'll die here."
With that, Akainu transformed his arm back into magma.
Just as Shanks prepared to counter again, he noticed a small figure in the distance, casually walking and sipping from a flask.
Takumi?
Shanks paused, a grin spreading across his face. Without a second thought, he bolted towards Takumi.
Akainu noticed Takumi as well.
Isn't that the arrogant kid from the auction?
Wait, this kid was sitting with Shanks earlier. They must be working together!
Akainu's eyes narrowed. Without hesitation, he unleashed another Inugami Guren, aiming it at both Shanks and Takumi.
Takumi had been looking for an inn to spend the night.
But Yuba was bigger than he expected, and somehow, he'd wandered into the middle of a fight between Shanks and Akainu…
As he saw Shanks running towards him, a magma dog head in tow, Takumi couldn't help but feel a deep sense of exasperation.
If I'd known this was going to happen, I would've taken a different route…
******
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