"This guy..."
Red-haired Shanks looked down at the blood-soaked wound on his chest. A flash of disbelief crossed his normally composed face.
He had just used his Observation Haki, or as some call it, the "power of listening." Through this ability, he could sense the sounds of life and predict his opponent's next move and position.
Yet, with the man standing before him—Bai Ye—he couldn't predict a thing.
Even when he saw Bai Ye's attack coming, he couldn't react in time to stop it.
As if responding to Bai Ye's earlier words, "full of flaws," Shanks realized the opening during his attempt to unleash his Slash Wave was fatal.
For most, such a gap was negligible.
But his opponent was not "most."
Bai Ye, carrying the strength and precision of Yamamoto Genryūsai—a master of kendo whose swordsmanship had reached its zenith over a millennium in the Soul Society—was a true monster.
If this were purely a duel of swordsmanship, Shanks knew the match would already be over.
"You hurt... hurt Shanks?!"
"You bastard! How dare you injure our captain!"
"Do you think we'll just stand by and let you off?!"
The Red Hair Pirates' crew erupted in anger.
Yasopp, Benn Beckman, and the others immediately fixed their furious gazes on Bai Ye, their weapons at the ready.
But Bai Ye's response was calm, almost indifferent. Reiatsu poured out of him, crushing the anger in the air and forcing the pirates to pause.
He glanced down at the furious crew below. His voice was cold and deliberate.
"You can make your move. The choice has always been yours."
"W-What?!"
Yasopp and the others were stunned.
"You're too arrogant!" shouted Bendik Snake, gripping the two long blades in his hands as he stepped forward.
The rest of the crew followed, ready to attack.
Only Benn Beckman remained calm, carefully cleaning his gun in the background, observing the unfolding scene.
Bai Ye remained unfazed, his piercing gaze sweeping over them.
"If you choose to act, know that it will only lead to one conclusion. From the moment you intervene, 'war' has already begun," he declared.
With those words, Ryūjin Jakka erupted in brilliant orange-red flames, its fiery aura distorting the surrounding air.
The overwhelming pressure pressed down on the crew. Bai Ye's eyes, cold and unyielding, bore into them.
"Step forward if you wish, but know that your fate is already sealed. Your end is inevitable."
"You bastard!"
One of the crew members, Lime Jones, could no longer hold back. He brandished his long staff, crackling with golden electricity.
But before he could strike, Shanks' voice thundered over the battlefield.
"Stop!"
"Shanks! This bastard is mocking us!" Lime Jones protested, his weapon still at the ready.
The red-haired captain shook his head, his expression somber.
"We agreed on three moves, and we will honor that agreement," Shanks said firmly.
He turned his sharp gaze toward Bai Ye.
"We have one move left, don't we?"
Shanks' companions glared at Bai Ye, their anger simmering, but they obeyed their captain's command and held back.
Shanks understood their fury.
But he also understood something they didn't.
The swordsmanship Bai Ye had displayed earlier was beyond comprehension.
Shanks had fought countless battles against some of the most powerful beings in the New World. Yet, even he wasn't confident he could take Bai Ye down.
The man before him wasn't boasting when he said he could stand against their entire crew.
If Shanks hadn't experienced it himself, he wouldn't have believed it either.
The third move would be decisive.
However, just as Shanks was preparing to make his final attack, something changed.
Unnoticed by everyone, Rocks—who had been beaten earlier by Bai Ye—had slipped behind him.
Fury burned in Rocks' eyes as he raised his sword high, aiming for Bai Ye's neck.
"You arrogant bastard! You can insult me, but you will not insult the Red Hair Pirates! This is the price for underestimating us! Die!" Rocks roared as he swung his blade with all his strength.
Shanks' face paled.
"Rocks, no!" he shouted, his voice desperate.
But it was too late.
Bai Ye turned his head slightly, his expression as calm as ever.
"It seems the 'war' has already begun. Your subordinate has made his choice," Bai Ye said quietly.
In an instant, the flames of Ryūjin Jakka surged forward, engulfing Rocks completely.
The Red Hair Pirates froze in place as the scene unfolded before them.
The high-temperature flames consumed Rocks in an instant, leaving nothing but scorched earth in their wake.
Shanks clenched his fists, his expression filled with anger and regret.
Bai Ye lowered his blade, his gaze steady and unyielding.
"The moment you raised your blade against me, your fate was decided," Bai Ye said, his voice echoing across the battlefield.
The Red Hair Pirates could only stare in silence, the weight of the confrontation bearing down on them.
Shanks took a deep breath, steadying himself.
"The third move..." he muttered, gripping Griffin tightly.
This was far from over.