The first thing Arthur noticed was the sunlight.
After a night that had seemed to stretch without end, the rising sun finally broke above the horizon, casting pale gold across the ruined harbor. The clouds that had been torn apart by the clash between two Emperors were slowly drifting away, revealing a clear morning sky.
The sea was still restless.
Waves rolled against the shattered remains of the pier, carrying broken planks and fragments of wood back toward the shore. Several buildings near the harbor had suffered heavy damage, while the surrounding forest was scarred by countless sword cuts and craters left behind by their battle.
Yet the island was quiet.
The storm had passed.
Arthur stood at the edge of the ruined harbor, his two swords still in his hands. Blood covered parts of his clothing and armor, some of it his own, some of it belonging to the battlefield around him. His breathing was heavier than usual, but his posture remained steady.
Across from him, Shanks slowly lowered Gryphon.
For several seconds, neither Emperor said anything.
The crews watching from a safe distance remained equally silent. The tension that had filled the air throughout the night was finally beginning to disappear, replaced by the unmistakable feeling that the battle had truly ended.
Shanks glanced at Arthur.
Then he laughed.
It started as a quiet chuckle before growing into his familiar, carefree laughter.
"Hahaha!"
The Red Hair Pirates looked toward their captain.
Shanks wiped a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth before resting Gryphon against his shoulder.
"Looks like you've surpassed me."
Arthur looked at him for a moment.
There was no arrogance in his expression.
"I hope it's not just today." He simply shook his head.
"That's enough." Shanks' grin widened.
The answer drew laughter from several members of the Red Hair Pirates.
Lucky Roux threw his head back, laughing loudly. Yasopp shook his head with an amused smile, while several others began talking among themselves about the battle they had just witnessed.
There was no bitterness or shame among them. Their captain had lost, but none looked at him as though he had failed them.
They had seen what Shanks had given to the fight. He had stood against Arthur at full strength and refused to retreat even when the battle pushed him to his limits. Now, they had witnessed something equally significant: their captain had found someone who could surpass him.
Beckman stood quietly among the others, his eyes moving between Arthur and Shanks.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"The next era has already begun."
Shanks glanced toward his first mate.
For once, he didn't make a joke.
He simply smiled.
Arthur slowly sheathed one sword, then the other. The metallic clicks sounded strangely ordinary after everything that had happened during the night.
Behind him, the ART Pirates began moving toward the ruined harbor. Law was among the first to approach, his eyes immediately examining Arthur for injuries. Robin followed at a calmer pace, while Baby-5 remained focused on Arthur's condition.
"Took too long," Hancock said.
"Disappointed?" Arthur glanced at her.
"Fortunately, no." Hancock sighed. "I know you could have won if you'd used all your Devil Fruits from the start."
"But I will gain nothing from the fight."
"That's why I'm glad you won." Hancock gave Arthur a light kiss on the lips.
"Can't you firlting when not around us?"
Arthur gave a quiet laugh.
The tension around the ART Pirates finally eased.
Nearby, the Red Hair Pirates were doing much the same. Some began inspecting the damage around the harbor, while others checked the remaining supplies and overturned tables. The battlefield that had looked almost apocalyptic only moments earlier was slowly becoming a place where people could breathe again.
Shanks walked toward his crew.
Lucky Roux immediately pointed toward the ruined remains of the banquet.
"Captain, most of the food survived."
Shanks looked at the broken tables.
"Most?"
Roux nodded seriously.
"Enough."
Yasopp stared at him.
"You're thinking about food after that fight?"
Roux looked genuinely confused.
"When else would I think about food?"
A few pirates laughed again.
Even Arthur smiled.
The atmosphere had changed completely.
There was no longer an invisible wall separating the two crews. The battle had settled whatever needed to be settled between their captains, and neither side had any reason to continue treating the other as an opponent.
Arthur looked across the harbor.
The Red Hair Pirates were already returning to their usual selves.
It was strangely refreshing.
After fighting someone at Shanks' level, Arthur had expected the aftermath to feel heavier. Instead, the island was gradually returning to the same carefree atmosphere that had filled it before the duel.
Arthur had defeated Shanks.
And Shanks accepted it without hesitation.
Arthur glanced toward the damaged sky, where the last traces of darkness were disappearing beneath the morning light.
The night had been long.
Far longer than he had expected.
He rolled one shoulder and exhaled slowly.
"I'm hungry."
Robin looked at him.
"That is probably the first sensible thing you've said since the battle started."
Arthur raised an eyebrow.
"I said plenty of sensible things."
"I'm sure you believe that."
A faint smile crossed Arthur's face.
For the first time since the duel began, he felt himself relaxing completely.
Shanks turned toward the remaining tables.
"Then let's eat."
The Red Hair Pirates immediately responded with cheers.
Within minutes, the ruined harbor began to fill with voices once again.
Broken tables were replaced with whatever could still be used. Food was gathered from the supplies that had survived the destruction, and drinks were passed between pirates from both crews.
The sun climbed higher.
The darkness of the previous night disappeared completely.
Arthur sat among the Red Hair Pirates and his own crew, quietly eating while the others discussed the battle. Some argued about which exchange had been the fastest. Others tried to imitate the movements they had seen, only to be laughed at by those who had actually understood what had happened.
Arthur mostly listened.
Every now and then, someone would ask him about a particular technique, but he offered only brief answers.
Across the gathering, Shanks was doing much the same.
The two Emperors no longer looked like opponents.
They looked like two pirates who had simply finished an extraordinary battle and were now enjoying the calm that followed it.
For a while, Arthur allowed himself to forget everything beyond the island.
The Government.
The Marines.
The next destination.
The consequences of what had happened.
None of it mattered at that moment.
There was only food, laughter, and the quiet satisfaction that came after giving everything one had.
Then—
A strange shadow passed over the harbor.
The sunlight disappeared for a brief moment.
Arthur stopped eating.
Shanks slowly raised his eyes.
The laughter around the tables faded one voice at a time.
Everyone looked upward.
A figure was descending from the sky.
A Marine coat fluttered in the morning wind.
Yellow-striped clothing became visible beneath it.
And a familiar voice drifted down toward the gathering.
"Ooh... Looks like you boys had quite the morning."
Arthur's expression immediately changed.
Borsalino remained suspended above the harbor, his Marine coat drifting lazily behind him as though the destruction below were nothing more than an interesting morning view.
Arthur stared up at him.
Shanks, however, merely rested Gryphon against his shoulder and looked at the Admiral with his usual calm smile.
"Well, well," he said. "The Marines finally decided to join the party."
Borsalino adjusted his sunglasses.
"Ooh... I wouldn't say I was invited."
A few Red Hair Pirates instinctively reached for their weapons, but Beckman raised one hand.
"Don't."
The order was quiet, yet everyone understood.
Borsalino had not attacked.
He had come with a message.
The Admiral slowly descended until his feet touched the remains of a broken section of the pier. He looked around at the ruined harbor, then toward the two Emperors sitting among their crews.
"Quite a mess you've made here."
Lucky Roux glanced around.
"Technically, they made most of it."
Borsalino tilted his head.
"Ooh... that's a rather convenient way to look at it."
Arthur ignored the exchange.
"You're brave to came here alone, Kizaru."
Borsalino's smile remained unchanged.
"Scary... Even after defeating Shanks, your aura hasn't diminished in the slightest." Borsalino raised both hands, wearing an expression that practically invited someone to punch him.
"Why are you here?" Arthur pop high calorine candy to his mouth from his storage ring to incrase his energy.
"Straight to business, huh?" He slipped his hands into his pockets.
"I've been ordered to observe what happened here. The Navy received reports that you and Red-Hair had met. Then those reports changed rather dramatically once the fighting started."
"It's faster than I thought." Shanks chuckled.
"You never really escaped our survilance, Shanks," Borsalino replied.
His gaze shifted between Arthur and Shanks.
"That battle was quite something. But the Government is less interested in who won than in what might happen afterward."
Arthur's expression hardened.
Borsalino continued before anyone could interrupt.
"They're concerned that the two of you might decide to work together."
The laughter around the tables disappeared.
Even the Red Hair Pirates who had remained relaxed moments earlier became attentive.
Shanks' smile faded slightly.
Arthur said nothing.
Borsalino adjusted his glasses.
"If that happens, the World Government won't simply sit back and watch."
His voice remained casual, almost conversational.
"They'll use every force available to them."
The words settled over the ruined harbor.
No one laughed this time.
Borsalino looked toward Shanks.
"Your territory is already troublesome enough for them."
Then his attention returned to Arthur.
"And now you've come here, fought their Emperor, and walked away victorious after revealing the overwhelming power of his Devil Fruits."
Arthur's eyes narrowed.
Borsalino gave a small shrug.
"You can imagine how people in high places might interpret that."
Arthur looked toward the sea.
The sunlight reflected across the water, bright and peaceful.
Only a few minutes earlier, he had been enjoying the first meal after his battle with Shanks. Now the food in front of him suddenly held no appeal.
He pushed his plate away.
Robin noticed immediately.
"We're leaving."
Arthur nodded. "Before sunset."
"You just got here." Shanks frowned.
"You got the answers you want and I got things I want after the fight." Arthur rose from his seat. "And we still have things to do."
Shanks watched him without objection.
Arthur looked across the gathering.
The Red Hair Pirates had welcomed him without hesitation. They had shared their food, laughed with his crew, and treated his victory over their captain without resentment.
He didn't intend to repay that hospitality by giving the Government another reason to target them.
Shanks seemed to understand.
"You're worried they'll come after us."
Arthur glanced at him. "They already are."
"Fair enough." Shanks gave a quiet laugh.
Borsalino watched the exchange from behind his sunglasses.
He said nothing.
He had delivered the warning.
What Arthur chose to do with it was no longer his concern.
Arthur turned toward the harbor where the Athena was anchored beyond the damaged pier.
"Prepare the ship."
The order traveled through the ART Pirates immediately.
Sails were checked. Supplies were gathered. The remaining crew members began making their way toward the vessel.
Arthur remained where he was for a moment longer.
The sun was already climbing higher.
The night of battle had ended.
There was no reason to let its consequences remain behind.
Shanks walked toward him.
Neither man spoke at first.
Then Shanks gave him a familiar grin.
"Leaving already?"
Arthur looked toward the Athena.
"Better than waiting for the Marines to bring more friends."
Borsalino raised a finger.
"Ooh... I might take that personally."
Arthur glanced back at him.
"You shouldn't."
The Admiral smiled.
"That's reassuring."
A few Red Hair Pirates laughed under their breath.
The tension eased slightly, but the warning remained in everyone's minds.
Arthur turned back toward Shanks.
"Thank you for the hospitality."
Shanks waved a hand dismissively.
"Don't mention it."
Arthur nodded.
Arthur stopped and threw a chest filled with his personal supply of alcohol toward Shanks.
Shanks caught it, his face breaking into a wide smile. He opened the chest and inhaled the familiar scent.
With nothing left to say, Arthur finally turned away and boarded the Athena.
Behind him, the Red Hair Pirates remained gathered around the ruined harbor.
For a moment, the island felt strangely quiet again.
The party was over.
The warning had been delivered.
And the next journey was already waiting.
Arthur reached the gangplank of the Athena and stopped.
He glanced back one last time.
Shanks stood at the edge of the harbor, Gryphon resting beside his waist.
Their eyes met across the distance.
Neither raised a weapon.
Neither needed to.
The battle had already said everything that needed to be said.
Arthur gave a small nod.
Shanks returned it.
Then Arthur stepped aboard the Athena.
The ship began preparing to depart.
Above the harbor, Borsalino watched in silence.
His eyes followed the vessel as the sails slowly began to rise.
The ART Pirates were leaving before the day grew old.
But the warning he had delivered would not leave with them.
Somewhere far beyond the island, the World Government was already waiting for his report.
The Athena's white sails caught the morning breeze, carrying the ship beyond the broken pier and toward the open sea. Arthur stood near the stern, watching the island grow smaller behind him.
The Red Hair Pirates remained on the shore.
Shanks stood at the front of the group, one hand resting on Gryphon. Beside him, Beckman, Yasopp, Lucky Roux, and the others watched the departing vessel in silence.
The Athena continued forward, gradually widening the distance between the two crews.
Arthur turned away from the island.
The battle was behind him now.
Ahead lay another route, another island, and another part of the world waiting to be explored.
Back on the shore, Shanks remained where he was until the Athena became little more than a white shape against the horizon.
Beckman stepped beside him.
"They probably wish you'd kept Arthur here for at least a month."
"He has somewhere else to go." Shanks smiled.
Beckman glanced toward the distant ship.
"And the Gorosei?"
"They'll come eventually."
Shanks' expression remained calm.
"But that's not our problem today."
A short silence followed.
Then Shanks looked toward the sea again.
"I don't know whether my captain's plan will succeed, or whether you'll be the one to create a new world first."
His voice carried softly across the harbor.
"I can't wait to see which one comes true."
Arthur was already too far away to hear the words.
Perhaps that was fitting.
Some things did not need an answer.
The Athena sailed onward.
Several hours later, the island had disappeared completely beyond the horizon.
Only then did Borsalino finally turn away from the sea.
He removed the Den Den Mushi from inside his coat and opened the communication line.
"Borsalino reporting."
The response came almost immediately.
His expression remained hidden behind his sunglasses as he delivered the details.
"Confirmed. Arthur and Red-Hair met inside Red-Hair territory."
He paused.
"They fought."
Another pause.
"Arthur won."
The Den Den Mushi remained silent for several seconds.
Borsalino continued.
"No alliance was formed. However, considering the circumstances... I recommend treating the possibility seriously."
He closed the communication.
The report began moving through the highest levels of the World Government.
It did not take long for the news to reach the people who mattered most.
On another sea, a messenger delivered the report to Big Mom.
She read it once.
Then again.
Her expression changed.
"Arthur defeated Red-Hair?"
The messenger nodded nervously.
Big Mom's laughter suddenly echoed through the room.
"Mamamama...!"
Elsewhere, another report reached Kaido.
He listened without interrupting.
When the messenger finished, Kaido remained silent for several moments.
Then he lifted his drink.
"So he really did it."
His eyes narrowed.
"Interesting."
Elsewhere, another report reached Kaido.
He listened without interrupting.
When the messenger finished, Kaido remained silent for several moments.
Then he lifted his drink.
"So he really did it."
His eyes narrowed.
"Interesting."
Kaido listened in silence as one of his subordinates delivered the information.
"Red-Hair has been defeated."
The room fell quiet.
Kaido's expression changed.
"Where?"
The subordinate hesitated.
"Where did they fight?"
"The location hasn't been fully confirmed, but—"
Kaido slammed his hand against the table.
"I asked where!"
The subordinate immediately lowered his head.
"A small island within Red-Hair's territory. We have the approximate location."
"Give it to me." Kaido's eyes narrowed.
The subordinate quickly provided the coordinates.
Kaido stared at them for several seconds.
"So that's where they fought." Then a grin slowly spread across his face.
He stood.
The atmosphere inside the room changed instantly.
Several members of the Beasts Pirates looked at their captain in confusion as Kaido walked toward the open balcony overlooking the sea.
"Captain?"
Kaido ignored them.
His body began to change.
Scales spread across his skin as his massive frame expanded. Horns grew from his head, his limbs transformed, and an enormous serpentine body emerged from the transformation.
Within moments, a colossal blue dragon towered above the fortress.
Kaido opened his enormous jaws.
"Arthur..." His voice echoed across the sky. "So you've finally beaten Red-Hair."
With a powerful movement of his wings, Kaido launched himself into the air.
The wind exploded outward.
The enormous dragon disappeared beyond the clouds, heading toward the location where the two Emperors had clashed.
No one in the fortress needed to ask why.
Kaido was going to see the battlefield with his own eyes.
Elsewhere, another report reached a very different Emperor.
aboard the Moby Dick, Whitebeard sat beneath the deck's open sky when one of his men approached with the latest news.
"Pops, we've received information about Arthur."
Whitebeard opened one eye.
"Arthur?"
The subordinate nodded.
"He fought Red-Hair."
A quiet murmur spread among the Whitebeard Pirates.
Whitebeard remained silent as the man continued.
"According to the report, Arthur won."
Several members of the crew exchanged surprised looks.
Whitebeard, however, simply took another drink.
"Gurararara..."
"Not surprised?" Marco glanced at him.
Whitebeard shook his head.
"Not really." He looked toward the horizon. "Arthur and I fought years ago."
The younger members of the crew listened carefully.
"The result was even." A faint smile appeared beneath Whitebeard's mustache. "Back then, I already knew that brat would eventually reach this level."
"So you expected him to defeat Shanks?" Marco folded his arms.
"I expected Arthur to keep growing."
Whitebeard's expression became thoughtful.
He lowered his drink.
"As for whether he'd beat Shanks..." Whitebeard gave a low chuckle. "That's something only those two could answer."
The crew relaxed slightly.
But Whitebeard's gaze remained fixed on the distant sea.
Something was bothering him.
Marco noticed.
"Pops?"
Whitebeard didn't answer immediately.
His fingers tightened slightly around the bottle in his hand.
"Have you heard from Ace, Marco?"
The atmosphere changed.
Marco's expression became serious.
"Not yet."
"How long?" Whitebeard's eyes narrowed.
Marco hesitated. "A month."
Silence spread across the deck.
Whitebeard slowly lowered his bottle.
"A month..." His voice was quieter now.
Ace had never been the type to disappear without leaving word.
Whitebeard stared toward the horizon for a long moment.
The news of Arthur's victory no longer mattered to him.
Something else had begun to weigh heavily on his mind.
"Find him."
"We'll keep looking." Marco nodded immediately.
Whitebeard remained silent.
The wind moved through the sails of the Moby Dick.
His eyes stayed fixed on the endless ocean.
For the first time that day, the old Emperor's expression carried genuine concern.
"Where the hell are you, Ace...?"
Far above the ordinary channels of the world, the same report reached the World Government.
The officials read every detail.
Arthur.
Red-Hair.
Their meeting.
Their battle.
And the result.
For years, Arthur's name had continued rising through the seas.
His bounty had already placed him among the most dangerous pirates alive.
But a bounty was still only a number.
A reputation could be exaggerated.
Rumors could be dismissed.
This was different.
Arthur had fought one of the Four Emperors at full strength.
And he had won.
The information spread.
From pirate territories to Marine headquarters.
From underground brokers to kingdoms.
From newspapers to taverns.
The world began to understand that the balance of power had shifted.
The name The Art of Death – Phantasm D. Arthur no longer represented an Emperor who was merely approaching the summit.
He had reached it.
And somewhere beyond the horizon, aboard the Athena, Arthur stood at the bow with the morning wind against his face.
He looked toward the endless sea.
The next island was waiting.
The next journey had already begun.
But behind him, the world was beginning to move.
And before Arthur could reach his next destination, the consequences of defeating a Yonko would soon find him.