To be honest, Buggy felt somewhat played when Shanks suddenly declared that he wanted to search for the One Piece. However, hearing Shanks apologize softened the irritation in his heart. In the end, he merely let out a cold snort and said nothing more.
Shanks understood Buggy's feelings, so he casually shifted the topic.
"Buggy, do you still remember Teach?"
Buggy frowned.
"Teach? You mean that guy from the Whitebeard Pirates?"
"That's right. After the Whitebeard Pirates fell apart, he formed the Blackbeard Pirates. Now, he's become quite a notable figure."
"He actually managed to escape from Lloyd? That guy really is strange. I still remember he stayed awake for three days and three nights."
Shanks paused briefly before replying,
"Well... you're pretty strange too, staring at him for that long."
Buggy clicked his tongue and crossed his arms.
"That bastard is sneaky. I was worried he'd launch a surprise attack!"
"Hahaha! That's exactly like you, Buggy!"
Buggy clearly enjoyed the praise. He lifted his chin proudly, looking smug.
At that moment, Lucky Roux, who had been standing lookout atop the mast, suddenly shouted,
"There's a pirate ship ahead!"
Katakuri and the others below barely reacted. Since leaving their own territory, running into pirate ships had become normal.
Lucky Roux waved dismissively.
"Roux, this sea isn't our territory anymore. It's normal to see pirate ships around here!"
Yasopp also laughed and joined in.
"Exactly! No need to care about it. Honestly, I can't imagine any pirate crew reckless enough to provoke us now."
His words sounded arrogant, but they were undeniably true.
In today's world, three of the Yonko had already fallen. The Red Hair Pirates stood alone at the peak of pirate power. Aside from foolish newcomers who didn't understand fear, almost no pirate crew dared challenge them directly.
Then Lucky Roux leaned forward and shouted again,
"Wait! Looking at their flag... it seems to be the Blackbeard Pirates!"
The atmosphere on the ship changed instantly.
Everyone stopped what they were doing.
Benn Beckman calmly lit a cigarette and turned his gaze toward Shanks.
The corner of Shanks' lips lifted.
"What a coincidence. We were just talking about him."
He slowly stood.
"I originally planned to find him after visiting Fish-Man Island, but it seems he's delivered himself to us."
Meanwhile, aboard the Blackbeard Pirates' ship, Van Augur had also spotted the Red Force in the distance. He immediately informed Teach.
Unlike Shanks, Teach did not remain composed.
Right now, the last person he wanted to provoke was Red-Haired Shanks.
Still, he held onto a small sliver of hope.
Shanks didn't seem like the type to actively stir up trouble.
The next second, that hope shattered.
A scarlet slash of sword energy tore across the sea.
Its terrifying pressure split the air itself. Even Jesus Burgess, famous for his recklessness, froze where he stood.
Fortunately, Teach reacted fast enough.
He instantly appeared at the bow of the ship and threw out a quake punch.
Violent tremors erupted from his fist, colliding head-on with the incoming slash. The impact stirred towering waves across the sea.
Even so, Teach had acted hastily.
Most of the aftermath crashed directly into his ship, nearly capsizing it.
Teach's expression darkened.
The crew quickly gathered behind him, every single one looking tense as if facing an overwhelming enemy.
This was the pressure of a true Yonko.
At the bow of the Red Force, Shanks stood with Gryphon in hand.
Scarlet sparks of Haoshoku Haki still crackled faintly around his blade.
Behind him, Buggy stared blankly, utterly stunned by the strike.
Shanks turned his head with a grin.
"So, Buggy, was that attack cool enough?"
Buggy almost nodded instinctively.
But he quickly caught himself.
Crossing his arms stubbornly, he scoffed,
"Just average! Their ship is still floating, isn't it?"
Shanks placed a hand on his waist and laughed.
"Alright then, how about this?"
The moment he finished speaking, his body rapidly transformed.
Scales spread across his skin as he instantly entered his Dragon-Man form.
Buggy's eyes widened so much they nearly popped out.
He collapsed onto the deck in shock.
Pointing at Shanks with a trembling finger, he stammered,
"Y, you... how are you a Devil Fruit user too?! Didn't you swear you'd never eat one?!"
Shanks burst into laughter.
"Sorry, Buggy. Looks like I broke my promise again."
He grinned broadly.
"After all, Lloyd gave me this Devil Fruit."
In his Dragon-Man form, Shanks' voice echoed like thunder.
Dark storm clouds churned violently overhead.
The sky rapidly turned black as bolts of silver lightning twisted through the clouds like furious serpents.
Teach clenched his fists tightly.
The tremor power coating his hands never weakened for even a second.
He suddenly roared,
"Burgess! Stop standing there like an idiot! Move the ship!"
Burgess snapped back to reality and rushed toward the controls in panic.
Laffitte and the others exchanged glances before silently turning toward Teach.
Teach inhaled deeply and spoke in a heavy voice.
"Everyone, prepare to fight the Red Hair Pirates!"
Bang!
Van Augur moved instantly.
The moment Teach finished speaking, he fired a shot directly at Shanks.
Shanks did not move.
Yasopp merely sneered.
In an instant, he appeared beside Shanks, crouched slightly, and pulled the trigger.
A black Haki-coated bullet shot through the air.
Van Augur's bullet shattered instantly upon impact.
The remaining force pierced straight through Van Augur's shoulder blade.
Had the collision not altered the bullet's path, his head might have been blown apart.
In this exchange between snipers, the Blackbeard Pirates suffered complete defeat.
Teach had no time to worry about Van Augur.
He could already feel Shanks' Observation Haki firmly locking onto him.
The moment he moved carelessly, an attack would undoubtedly follow.
What he could not understand was why Shanks had come at him with killing intent from the very beginning.
Was it really because of that encounter all those years ago?
Was it worth going this far?
And those eyes...
Why was Shanks looking at him like prey?
Did Teach possess something Shanks wanted?
His bounty?
Or something else entirely?
Unfortunately, there was no time to think.
Shanks had already risen high into the sky atop thunderclouds.
He opened his mouth.
A blazing Dragon Breath descended.
Teach gritted his teeth and met the attack head-on.
Thankfully, the destructive force of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit was overwhelming.
With several air quake punches, he barely managed to neutralize the Dragon Breath without suffering major damage.
But Teach dared not relax.
Because what came next was the real danger.
Shanks had already dived from the sky, sword in hand, charging directly toward him.