bioinnovel Chapter 123 Shanks, Challenging the Strongest!
Chapter 123 Shanks, Challenging the Strongest!
On the massive deck of the Moby Dick, which resembled a plaza, a informal yet thrilling 'sparring' had just ended.
Jinbe, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, was kneeling on one knee, breathing heavily.
Sweat dripped from his dark blue skin, leaving a stain on the deck below.
A piercing pain shot through his shoulder blade, and Jinbe grimaced, "Ouch... Belial, you're taking this way too seriously!"
Allen flicked his wrist and said casually, "I don't use anything except physical skills, so this is considered serious?"
"You're too weak, Jinbe."
Jinbe smirked, retorting, "If you've got the guts, let's fight in the sea!"
"Have you no shame? Sending a power user to fight you, a fish-man, one-on-one in the sea?"
……
"Gurararara! Not bad, Jinbe, you managed to hold out against Belial for so long!" A loud laugh came from the white-bearded man, his eyes filled with undisguised admiration.
Jinbe immediately scrambled to his feet and bowed, saying, "Father! Greetings!"
The origins of Jinbe the Knight of the Sea and the Whitebeard Pirates are related to Fishman Island.
Since the beginning of the Great Pirate Era, Fishman Island has become a chaotic place, with countless pirates and slave traders capturing and selling mermaids.
It was Whitebeard who stepped in to protect Fishman Island and declared it his territory, restoring peace to the island.
Jinbe kept this kindness in mind, and even as one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea under the World Government, he maintained close ties with the Whitebeard Pirates.
……
in the afternoon.
On a deserted island.
Allen moved like a ghost, weaving through Vista's dazzling, petal-like sharpness, the short sword extending from its center striking like a venomous snake, each strike aimed at the throat.
Vista was able to hold his own at first, but as the battle continued, he gradually fell behind Allen's reflexes.
"Give me a hand!" Vista shouted.
brush--
The whitebearded pirates' seventh division commander, Lakuyo, unleashed his meteor hammer with a whooshing sound.
Allen stepped back to avoid the meteor hammer: "Is that all? Weren't you aiming for the title of the world's greatest swordsman?"
Vista, wielding two swords, grinned: "I can't help it, I'm just the type who can't get passionate about my comrades."
"If I were an opponent, I could go all out!"
……
"Really? I heard that you've been eliminated from the competition by the public. That Hawkeye has been challenging various sword masters lately, and he's almost at the top, isn't he?"
"Didn't he come looking for you?"
Vista twirled his sword as he approached: "I've seen him... I hate to admit it, but that young man is indeed closer to the highest throne of swordsmanship than I am."
"Actually... if I had to say, I think if he were to come looking for you, the probability of him challenging you is much higher than the probability of him coming for me."
"Your moment of fame was when you shattered nine pirate ships with a single sword strike!!"
Clang——
Allen raised one hand to block Vista's twin swords, and with his other hand he gripped Lacjoo's flail.
"I'm a Devil Fruit user, so I'm inherently excluded from the competition..."
click-
Allen's arms were covered in jet-black Armament Haki, his five fingers clenched together, almost deforming his flail.
"and……"
"I don't need the title of the world's greatest swordsman."
"What I want... is the strongest without any prefixes!!"
……
……
"Is this kid really that enthusiastic about fighting?"
The Moby Dick was docked at the edge of the deserted island. Marco rested his chin on his hand, watching the captains engaged in fierce battle with dead fish eyes.
"Hehe, if you don't work harder, your position as captain of the First Division will be in jeopardy," Sachi said, leaning closer.
"Although their progress isn't as dramatic as Belial's, Vista and the others have still grown a lot in the past two years."
Marco glanced at him and scoffed, "You're a swordsman too, right? Want to try your hand at it?"
"I'm the chef, I'm preparing for the dinner party. What will you do if I get injured and you have no food?"
Marco crossed his arms and grinned, "That settles it then. I'm the captain of the First Division not because of my strength, but because I'm the ship's doctor!"
"On the high seas, the positions of doctors and cooks are unshakeable!"
The two looked at each other and burst into laughter.
……
……
The white-bearded man watched the children play with a smile.
His health deteriorated day by day, and old injuries continued to erode his body, but these mere physical damages could not shake this man at all.
He had absolutely no interest in the so-called struggle for the seas or the search for the ultimate treasure.
His dream has come true.
suddenly,
Whitebeard's expression changed, and he frowned slightly as he looked into the distance.
……
On the deserted island, Allen raised his hand, signaling the attacking crowd to stop.
Joz clutched his head: "No way! You can't just end it after one punch! Let me hit you back!"
Allen ignored him and looked in the same direction as the white-bearded man on the ship.
The captains also realized that something was wrong and they all used their Observation Haki to look in the direction he was looking.
……
……
"Whitebeard!! I'm here to challenge you!!"
Before the red dragon boat appeared, the man's shout shook the sea.
With a bounty of 2.676 billion, he challenged two pirate emperors, Kaido and Charlotte Linlin, and emerged unscathed, earning him the reputation as the man most likely to become the fourth pirate emperor.
With all its members being elites, it's known as the most balanced, iron-clad pirate crew...
The Red-Haired Pirates!!
This man has finally challenged the strongest pirate!!
……
……
"Tsk... What a troublesome guy..."
Marco transformed into a phoenix and flew into the air, watching the approaching Red-Haired Pirates.
Shanks is an old acquaintance; the Whitebeard Pirates and the Roger Pirates have had several team-building activities together.
But Marco never imagined that the trainee crew member from back then would grow to where he is today!
Shanks's ascension to the throne was not a smooth and successful one; his attack on Wano Country failed, and he was repelled by Kaido.
She also failed to defeat Charlotte Linlin.
But the fact that they were able to escape unscathed from these two already speaks volumes.
……
"That guy who was being chased around by Kaido and Linlin dares to challenge Big Daddy?!"
"Shanks, you've witnessed Father's power firsthand, aren't you? You're too arrogant!"
Marco shouted that he did not want to fight the Red-Haired Pirates if he could.
The old man's victory is beyond doubt, but Shanks is no ordinary pirate. If the old man fights him, his injuries may worsen.
call out----
A bullet whistled through the air, and Marco, unable to dodge, was pierced through the shoulder.
Fortunately, his Phoenix Fruit possessed an elemental quality similar to Logia-type Devil Fruits, so he wasn't injured by the bullet that wasn't armed with Haki.
At the bow of the Red-Haired Pirates' ship, Yasopp loads a sniper rifle.
"The first shot was just a greeting; the next shot will be armed with Haki! Be careful!"
hateful……
Marco coldly retorted, "Then I'll say hello too!"
"Azure Flame Goose!!"
A ball of blue flame shot out from the phoenix's wings and headed straight for the Red-Haired Pirates.
-
-
stab-
Without any hindrance, like a hot knife cutting through butter, the fireball was cleaved in two by the jet-black sword energy.
……
Shanks stood at the bow of the ship, looking across at the white-bearded man on the Moby Dick, and smiled faintly.
"As the strongest man, it's impossible for him to refuse a challenge, right?"
……
"Gurarararar..." The white-bearded man stood proudly at the bow of the ship, laughing heartily, "Of course, kid!!"
Just then—
A figure enveloped in scorching heat swept across the sea at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, appearing in front of Shanks' ship as if by teleportation.
Using his hands as a knife, unlike the blazing flames, Allen's eyes were cold and ruthless.
Swing down—
"Divine Fire".
The overwhelming heavenly fire fell, engulfing everything!
Shanks' pupils contracted sharply, and he unleashed his full Conqueror's Haki.
"Gods, beware!!"
A burst of black and red energy erupted, tearing through the air with arcs of electricity!
-
-
At dusk, the sea shone with a light more intense than at noon.