With blinding speed, Akagami no Shanks (Red-Haired Shanks) drew his famed saber, Gryphon, its polished steel gleaming under the New World sun. In the same fluid motion, he lunged, slashing towards the seated figure of Edward Newgate! SHIIING!
Whitebeard met the attack with a booming laugh, not a hint of weakness in his stance. Gurararara! Thanks to Alex's miraculous Senzu, many of his old, debilitating wounds had healed. He'd been itching for a chance to truly test just how much of his former strength had returned!
With a mighty heave, Whitebeard brought forth his own legendary weapon, Murakumogiri, one of the twelve Saijo O Wazamono (Supreme Grade Swords). The massive polearm met Shanks' saber head-on! CLANG!
In that instant, the presence of the two Yonko (Emperors) exploded outwards, fierce and untamed! The sheer force of their wills, their potent Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki), erupted without restraint, colliding violently in the space between them! CRACKLE! BOOM!
Marco frowned, instantly moving. In a blur of blue flames, he appeared beside Alex, enveloping them both in a protective shield of Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki), deflecting the crushing pressure radiating from the two titans. "Stay close, Alex-kun!"
The impact of steel on steel sent a visible shockwave ripping across the Moby Dick's deck! Above them, the very heavens seemed to acknowledge the clash – the clouds were split cleanly in two, revealing a stark blue sky beyond!
So this... this is a battle between Yonko (Emperors)?! Alex watched, utterly captivated, his eyes reflecting the god-like figures locked in combat. With power like this... you could truly go anywhere, do anything in this world! Hirahira~rahaha!
The moment their blades connected, Shanks' brow furrowed. This strength…! Whitebeard's power was immense, far greater than he'd anticipated! Thank goodness he hadn't underestimated the old man; he'd put his all into that strike. Any less, and Gryphon might have been sent flying from his grasp!
So the rumors are true, Shanks thought, gritting his teeth against the overwhelming force. That miraculous medicine... it really healed him! This level of power... the Senzu beans must have cured many of his old injuries!
"GURARARARARA! Not bad, Red-Hair brat!" Whitebeard roared, exhilaration clear in his voice. "Your strength has grown! To think you could block that blow from me!" This feeling… fighting without the constant agony, the crippling limitations of his failing body… it felt incredible! For years, every major exertion had brought waves of torment. Now, while some aches remained, some limitations lingered from the deepest wounds, it was nothing compared to before! "Again! Again!"
With another surge of power, Whitebeard pressed his attack, forcing Murakumogiri down with relentless force!
Shanks, however, quickly realized continuing this fight was pointless. Whitebeard's strength had clearly recovered significantly. There was no winning this exchange, not without causing massive, unnecessary destruction and potentially harming both crews. This wasn't the time or place.
With incredible agility, Shanks disengaged, twisting away just as Whitebeard's massive blade slammed down where he'd been moments before. WHOOSH! The sheer force of the missed blow sent a terrifying pressure wave washing over him, stinging his face!
"Oi! Red-Hair brat! Why'd you stop?" Whitebeard demanded, lowering his weapon slightly, looking genuinely confused. "Weren't you going to knock some sense into this old man?"
"Nah, nah! Fighting you now, old timer? Not much fun in that!" Shanks suddenly sheathed Gryphon, his serious demeanor evaporating completely. He plopped down cross-legged on the deck like a common deckhand, grabbed the giant sake gourd he'd brought, and took a long, hearty swig. "Ahhh! How about you spare some of those Senzu beans instead, eh?"
Whitebeard blinked, momentarily taken aback by the abrupt shift. Then, seeing Shanks acting like a shameless mooch, he couldn't help but chuckle, a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Gurarara! You brat! Coming onto my ship to play the beggar now, are you?!" He stroked his magnificent white mustache.
"Yup!" Shanks grinned widely, completely unabashed. "Not leaving 'til I get a few bags of those beans! You can try and kill me, I still won't leave!" He laughed heartily.
Whitebeard sighed, though a smile played on his lips. "Fine, fine. Your warning earlier... it came from a place of concern, I suppose." He waved a hand towards the upper deck where Marco stood watching.
Marco understood immediately, vanishing into the ship's interior. A few moments later, he reappeared carrying four or five full cloth pouches.
Seeing Marco return with the goods, Shanks leaped to his feet excitedly, rushing over to take the pouches with an eager grin. He carefully placed them on the deck beside him, then opened one, peering inside at the abundance of small, green beans.
"So these are the Senzu beans that healed you up, Whitebeard-san?" he asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
"Naturally!" Whitebeard boomed proudly. He then gestured towards the upper deck where Alex stood observing. "And this young man here is the inventor! Alex!"
Shanks' head snapped up, his single eye fixing intently on Alex. A wide, appreciative grin spread across his face. "Hoh! So you're the one! Little brother, you truly are a genius! A miracle worker walking among us!" he praised loudly.
"You flatter me too much, Akagami-sama (Captain Red-Hair)," Alex replied modestly, giving a polite bow.
"So, how about it?" Shanks continued, his grin turning sly. "Come join my Akagami Kaizokudan (Red-Hair Pirates)! Whatever that old geezer Whitebeard offered you, I'll double it!"
The offer hung in the air, stunning everyone present except perhaps Whitebeard himself!
"RED-HAIR BRAT!" Whitebeard roared, practically bristling. "You dare try and poach my crew right in front of me?!"
"Get lost, Shanks!" Marco added dismissively, waving a hand as if shooing away a fly. "Alex isn't going anywhere with you, yoi!"
But Shanks, renowned for his thick skin as much as his power, merely ignored them, keeping his intense gaze locked on Alex, waiting for his answer.
Alex shook his head politely but firmly. "Thank you for the generous offer, Akagami-sama (Captain Red-Hair), but I have no intention of leaving for the time being. Captain Whitebeard and Commander Marco, everyone here... they have treated me exceptionally well. I wouldn't betray their kindness." (Besides, a small voice added in the back of his mind, betraying people who've helped you? That goes against the principles I was raised with back on Blue Star!)
Shanks studied Alex for a long moment, then nodded slowly, a look of genuine respect in his eye. "I see."
"However, Akagami-sama (Captain Red-Hair)," Alex spoke again, his voice clear and carrying across the suddenly quiet deck. "There is something I'd like to ask you."
"Oh?" Shanks tilted his head, taking another swig of sake. "Ask away."
Alex met the Yonko (Emperor)'s gaze directly.
"Have you ever considered... getting your missing arm restored?"
Silence.
The question dropped like a depth charge into the stunned silence. Every single person on deck stared, wide-eyed.
Shanks froze, the sake gourd halfway to his lips. His breath hitched. His single eye widened almost imperceptibly. And then... it happened.
CRACKLE!
An immense, suffocating wave of raw Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki) exploded outwards from him uncontrollably, washing over the deck! The weaker-willed Whitebeard pirates standing nearby gasped, their eyes rolled back into their heads, and they collapsed to the deck, unconscious foam bubbling at their lips. Thud. Thud. Thud.
Whitebeard snapped out of his own shock instantly. "RED-HAIR BRAT!" he roared, his voice thundering with command. "Get yourself under control!"