"Grimm took many of his top officers with him, but the real trouble will start once we land.
Giana and Kel'Thuzad might well step in," Beckman explained to the Red‑Hair crew.
"Giana is manageable — her powers are similar to Admiral Kuzan's. Kel'Thuzad hits harder, but as long as we stay clear of his chains…"
Beckman was laying out his strategy when —
WHOOSH!
Something blazed down from the night sky like a falling meteor, slamming to a halt right beside Shanks.
"Finally — someone worth fighting!" Shanks turned, grinning — then froze, his eyes widening in shock. "Z… Zephyr?!"
The man stood bare‑chested in black military trousers and tall boots, a heavy cloak slung over his shoulders, his old glasses replaced by dark sunglasses.
There was no mistaking him: Black‑Arm Zephyr, the man who had clashed with Captain Roger himself countless times.
"Master Z is here!"
"The greatest guardian has arrived!"
The Holy Light crews roared and raised their weapons at the sight, their morale soaring — an Admiral‑class powerhouse had come to defend them.
"Quiet, you brats!" Zephyr barked, and the shouts died instantly.
He bit down on a toothpick and swept his gaze across the battlefield, Haki ringing in every word: "Disgraceful fighting — double your training when this is over!"
Cheers turned to groans all around.
"And don't call me Zephyr — I've laid that name aside. From now on, I am Z!"
He channeled Haki until both arms gleamed pitch‑black, then surged forward like a falling star.
"Prepare yourself, Red‑Haired Shanks!"
At the last second Shanks raised his blade to block — but the blow sent him hurtling backward, smashing through the ship's rail and skipping across the waves for a hundred meters.
Ten seconds later a column of water erupted as he righted himself and leaped back, shouting: "What is this about?! Grimm was always your greatest foe, wasn't he?"
Of all the Four Emperors, Zephyr bore the deepest grudge against Grimm — more than even Whitebeard.
It was strange enough that he had left the Marines; joining a pirate crew, and Grimm's at that, was unthinkable.
"I act only by my own sense of justice — and that includes striking you down right here, Shanks!"
Zephyr bounded forward with blinding Geppo, wielding the Six Powers with effortless mastery.
"This is bad — I never guessed Grimm's stronghold held a beast like this!"
Shanks grunted as he parried again and again. Each clash sent waves crashing outward for miles.
The true battle had only just begun.
"Hmm?" Shanks reversed his grip, red lightning crackling along his blade as he slashed upward toward Zephyr's waist.
"Not a Devil Fruit user, yet you've reached this level? I almost want to praise you!" Zephyr laughed.
Red runes flared across his skin, straining against the shackles that held back his full fury — yet his strength surged still higher, smothering Shanks's slash.
Shanks was forced skyward, his blade lighting up the night for several seconds.
Ten miles away, on a small ship shaped like a black coffin, a man looked up at the crimson glow and frowned.
"That's… Red‑Hair's signature. And that direction…"
---
CRASH! THUD!
Both strikes landed at once.
Shanks's blade bit five centimeters deep into Zephyr's right hip — a grave wound — while Zephyr's fist smashed into Shanks's face, swelling it instantly.
They landed on separate decks. Several Red‑Hair crewmen rushed to Shanks's side.
"Captain — are you all right?"
Shanks touched his throbbing cheek and winced. "Ow… that punch has some weight behind it!"
On the other side, Zephyr's wound was deep — but anyone watching closely could see countless fine threads of blood weaving together, knitting flesh back together.
Shanks's sharp eyes picked up the motion and remembered how Grimm and Planck had fought, and the unnatural traits of Artemis's defenders.
"Do all his people have that power?"
Zephyr grinned. "You're strong enough. But I heard you lost your arm on a trip to the East Blue — who cut it off?"
Shanks glanced at his stump. Could he say he had given it away willingly? "Just… a bet on the new era."
"Tch. Whatever. But you sailed with Roger — you will carry on his will. If I let you live, you'll only plunge the world into chaos!" Zephyr leaped skyward again.
Carry on his will? Shanks thought wryly. That's not me. I just want to sail free.
Roger wanted to shake the world itself — and Grimm is the one walking that path. But he said nothing, only smiled back.
"Coming from a pirate, that's a hard sell!"
He charged, and they clashed again. Shanks sliced through Zephyr's Armament Haki time and again, drawing blood — but Zephyr's fists found their mark just as often.
The difference was clear: Zephyr was a berserker who grew stronger with every blow, feeding on blood to heal himself.
Shanks, by contrast, was already flagging — pushed steadily onto the defensive, unable to press his own attacks.
When they landed once more, the Red‑Hair crew stared in disbelief. "The Captain's being outmatched!"
"Amazing — Master Z is unstoppable!"
"He even gave Kaido a hard time… and now he's got Red‑Hair on the ropes?"
"No need to trouble Lord Grimm — finish them off now!"
Morale on the Holy Light side burned white‑hot.
They circled the Red Force like wolves, forgetting any thought of sending word to the East Blue — this was already won.
CRACK!
Zephyr clenched his fist until his knuckles popped.
"The 'Merciful Admiral' is dead. I am no Marine, and I cannot throw you into Impel Down — so drown here, Shanks!"
__________________
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