"Stop, no!"
Shanks reached out with a wail.
"?????"
Everyone looked at Shanks, puzzled.
"The true essence of Ace is in the golden handguard. Without it, the sword won't be complete!" Shanks pleaded, drawing his own sword, which also had a golden handguard. "Doesn't it look nice?"
Kuke shook his head.
Gaban shook his head.
Ben Beckman, Yasopp, and the others all shook their heads.
Shanks was crushed.
After losing the chance to claim Ace, Shanks had spent considerable effort finding a similar famed blade, Gryphon, which also had a golden handguard.
Shanks wore a dejected look as he watched Kuke dismantle the golden handguard from Ace.
The light in his eyes seemed to fade.
Onboard the Radiant Eclipse, Makino blinked in confusion. "What's going on?"
She didn't quite understand why the Red-Haired Pirates were all looking so shocked and envious, and why Shanks, a man who lost his arm without much concern, seemed so devastated.
"Seems like our captain got his hands on the Pirate King's sword, while Shanks wasn't worthy. That's why he's upset," Lily remarked proudly.
"Oh, is that it?"
Makino glanced at the disheartened Shanks and then back at Kuke's strong, steady figure.
The difference in their stature was obvious.
Shanks remained downcast for a long while before he finally regained his spirit.
As he looked up, his eyes met Kuke's. Both men exchanged a silent message.
It was clear to both: this rare encounter might not come again for a long time.
No words were needed.
"Let me be your sparring partner to test the blade," Shanks offered.
"Can you fight with just one arm?" Kuke asked.
Shanks slowly stood up, his aura as a ruler of the seas emerging. "It doesn't matter."
He unsheathed Gryphon.
This is how pirates acted—no need for any complex reasons. If they wanted to do something, they did it.
"Are they really going to fight?" the Red-Haired Pirates said as they quickly backed away, eager to watch.
"Is it really happening?" Gaban's eyes widened. The sight brought back memories of his days sailing with Roger, living life freely, and fighting without hesitation.
"But can Kuke really match Shanks?" Gaban questioned.
Claiming Ace didn't necessarily mean Kuke had the strength to wield it effectively.
Gaban had watched Shanks grow up. Much of Shanks' training had come from him. He knew better than anyone just how strong Shanks was.
His talent and potential made Shanks one of the top contenders in the current era.
And Kuke? Gaban knew he was strong, but Shanks was stronger, at least right now. Kuke's youth made Gaban skeptical—Shanks had to be the superior fighter today.
Initiating the challenge alone was already impressive. If Kuke could hold his ground for even a little while, it would exceed Gaban's expectations.
"Who do you think will win?" the members of the Red-Haired Pirates gathered in a huddle, discussing among themselves.
"It's gotta be the captain."
"Of course. We've followed him for years and never seen him lose a fight. There's no way he'll lose to someone younger."
"Kuke might catch up to the captain someday, but that day isn't today."
They had absolute faith in Shanks.
Even the legendary Dracule Mihawk had only fought Shanks to a draw, and Mihawk was four years older than Shanks. When both were younger, that four-year gap had been significant.
Now, Shanks was around 25 years old, while Kuke was almost 19.
The six-year difference was meaningful.
"But I think Kuke might be able to hold his own for a while. He did fight Akainu and survive," Ben Beckman analyzed, balancing his optimism with realism.
Details of Kuke's battle with Akainu had already spread far and wide. The Navy had made it clear that they didn't want stories of Akainu's defeat circulating. Official reports claimed that Kuke might possess some form of invincibility for short periods.
"I won't hold back," Shanks declared, his fighting spirit burning.
He wanted to prove himself now more than ever.
Makino was watching, after all.
As his words fell, the ground began to tremble, and the once tumultuous waves on the shore stilled. A powerful, overwhelming presence emanated from Shanks.
It was his Conqueror's Haki.
Like a crimson sun, Shanks' haki enveloped the entire shoreline, creating an oppressive, almost suffocating atmosphere that made it hard to breathe.
"What is this feeling?" Makino, who lacked combat strength, felt her chest tighten, staring in terror at Shanks.
She had never witnessed the effects of Conqueror's Haki before.
"No wonder he's seen as a prime candidate to become the next Emperor of the Sea. He's incredibly strong," Gion, back aboard the ship, hurried to shield Makino and the others.
"Luckily, Shanks is precise with his Haki. Otherwise, you all, aside from Hancock, would have already fainted."
"Conqueror's Haki?" Makino asked curiously.
"It's the mark of a king. The weak can't even look a true king in the eye," Gion explained.
"Does Kuke have it too?" Makino couldn't help but ask.
Gion frowned, not answering immediately.
The truth was, Kuke didn't.
She worriedly watched as Kuke stood his ground, facing the full brunt of Shanks' intense Haki.
"The battle's off to a bad start," Gion thought.
"It's just Conqueror's Haki. What's the big deal?" Hancock, unable to stand seeing Kuke being overwhelmed, let out a burst of her own aura.
Gion turned in surprise toward Hancock. Could it be?
"The captain's Haki is as strong as ever," a crew member remarked.
"Wait, does Kuke not have Conqueror's Haki? That could put him at a real disadvantage," another noted.
Out on the battlefield, Kuke stood motionless, enduring Shanks' powerful pressure.
It was beginning to affect him.
"So this is Conqueror's Haki," Kuke thought, analyzing the sensation carefully.
Shanks, watching him closely, smirked. Finally, something he had that Kuke didn't.
This would give him the upper hand.
But then suddenly, Kuke's eyes shot open, and a fierce golden light erupted from within them. In the midst of Shanks' crimson Haki field, a radiant gold aura burst forth.
It was like a second sun at its peak, radiating its own dominance.
"Conqueror's Haki? It's nothing special," Kuke remarked with a smirk.
In that moment, Kuke's Conqueror's Haki had fully awakened.