"Huff... huff..."
The battlefield was quiet, with both fighters leaning on their swords, panting heavily.
Sweat dripped from their foreheads.
"Let's keep going," Shanks said, tearing off his torn coat and gripping his sword again.
But Kuke sheathed his sword. "Nah, let's call it. I'm done."
Shanks frowned at him, then glanced down at his bleeding stump.
"Alright," Shanks finally said, collapsing onto the ground, completely out of breath. "Let me heal up, and I'll fight you again."
"I'd be happy to, but next time, I'm not spending three days and nights fighting you again."
Shanks narrowed his eyes.
So confident that he'll surpass me, huh?
"Well, we'll see about that next time," Shanks replied, full of confidence. Even though Kuke was younger, Shanks had total faith in himself.
Everyone grows stronger, after all.
"It's finally over. If they kept going, they'd end up destroying the kingdom over there," Rayleigh's former crewmate, Gaban, remarked, having watched the entire three-day fight. He gazed approvingly at both Shanks and Kuke.
"It's done. So, would you call this a tie?"
"Of course it is!"
Lucky Roux and the rest of the crew rushed over to Shanks, concern on their faces. "Captain, can you still move?"
Shanks stood up, lazily wrapping a ragged cloth around his bleeding arm. Then, with renewed energy, he shouted, "Let's have a feast!"
Unable to refuse such hospitality, Kuke was invited to join them.
"Are you all going to the feast?" Kuke asked his crew aboard the Radiant Eclipse.
"No interest," Hancock scoffed, glancing at the rowdy group of men.
Not a single one of the women wanted to attend, so they all stayed aboard the Radiant Eclipse.
"What? Your crew doesn't want to join the party?" Shanks asked, pouring Kuke a drink while stealing glances toward the Radiant Eclipse.
More specifically, he was looking at Makino.
"They just don't feel like it."
Shanks immediately deflated.
But before long, he was swept up in the festive atmosphere and returned to his usual rowdy self.
During the feast, two young boys sneaked closer.
"Ace, what are you afraid of? Go for it! If you have a dream, you have to chase it," Sabo whispered, encouraging Ace.
Ace, nervous and unsure, tiptoed over to where Kuke was sitting.
"Where did these brats come from?" Shanks asked, raising an eyebrow at the sight of Ace and Sabo.
Where had they come from?
"Two very brave kids snuck into the battlefield to watch the fight up close," Ben Beckman explained.
Shanks examined Ace with curiosity.
Ace's eyes blazed with determination.
Was this kid dreaming of freedom on the seas?
Did he want to join?
Shanks smiled. "Kid, you're still too young. You've got a long way to go before you can join my crew."
"Shanks, they're not..." Ben Beckman began to speak, but Ace's gaze sharpened.
Without fear, Ace met Shanks' eyes. "Don't look down on me!"
Ace's voice cut Ben Beckman off, and in that instant, a faint but undeniable force radiated from him.
Conqueror's Haki.
For a moment, everyone turned to look at Ace, eyes wide with shock. "No way... this kid has the Conqueror's Haki? Has it become so common?"
"Is this for real?" Jesus Burgess muttered in disbelief.
A child, already displaying the traits of a king—this was something they had never seen before.
"Oh?" Shanks stood up, equally surprised as he looked at Ace. "Alright, I take it back. You're qualified to join my crew."
A boy not even ten years old, already awakened to the Conqueror's Haki.
Such a prodigy.
Even Shanks couldn't stay calm; he was willing to break his rule and take Ace to sea, personally training him.
Ben Beckman sighed, covering his face with his hand. He couldn't bear to watch Shanks embarrass himself further.
"I'm not interested in your crew," Ace said, turning his back on Shanks with an air of arrogance.
Shanks didn't get upset.
"Of course, a true king doesn't bow to anyone. Fine, I'll be waiting for you at the top—"
Before Shanks could finish his inspirational speech, he saw Ace walking over to Kuke.
Ace, who had been so defiant toward Shanks, was now acting all shy and hesitant. "Mister Kuke, can I join your crew?"
His eyes were full of admiration and hope.
Kuke: "...?"
Kuke had already noticed Ace and Sabo from earlier and recognized who they were.
Just like when he met Luffy, Kuke had no real interest.
"Why?" Kuke asked, surprised that Ace wanted to join the Radiant Eclipse Pirates. He hadn't expected this.
"Because I want to be like you, Mister Kuke! A great pirate, respected by all!" Ace blurted out, his voice filled with excitement.
At that moment, his Conqueror's Haki seemed to grow stronger.
Shanks, watching from the side, felt a pang of jealousy.
What did Kuke have that I don't?
"It seems the Radiant Eclipse Pirates are about to gain a powerful new member. Congratulations," Shanks said, offering his congratulations with a strained smile.
There was no doubt that once Ace grew up, he'd become one of the strongest pirates on the sea.
As Kuke watched Ace eagerly request to join his crew, a vision flashed through his mind.
The future.
The Marineford War.
Ace, captured by the Navy and sentenced to public execution.
And me, Kuke, leading the Radiant Eclipse Pirates into the Summit War.
"Kuke: Ace, I'm here to save you."
"Ace: Dad, I..."
Ugh, no way!
Kuke quickly shook the ridiculous scenario out of his head.
"Please, let me join," Ace pleaded again, eyes filled with hope.
Kuke: "Get lost!"
...