"Splaaaash..."
"Ugh... cough..."
A mouthful of salty seawater suddenly flooded Hailan's mouth, causing him to cough uncontrollably. More seawater took advantage of his open mouth, trying to force its way in. Hailan had to endure the discomfort and tightly close his mouth.
Shanks swam towards Hailan, ready to claim his victory. Unfortunately, Hailan was not a Devil Fruit user as he had hoped.
"?!"
Shanks was taken aback. Despite appearing to be "drowning," Hailan showed none of the typical weaknesses of a Devil Fruit user. Just as Shanks got close, Hailan kicked out hard with his right leg.
Although water resistance diminishes the impact force, this is only relative to ordinary people. Even Captain Wagner could break rocks underwater at depths of several dozen meters.
Shanks raised his arms to block Hailan's right leg crashing into them.
Boom!
Shanks successfully intercepted the Tempest Kick but failed to release its signature blue vacuum slash. However, the force from Hailan's leg still caused a high water column to surge as if a cannonball had exploded underwater.
"Ugh..."
Saltwater stung Hailan's eyes, making them feel cold and swollen. But Shanks was in no better shape, squinting his eyes to mere slits against the discomfort.
Realizing Hailan wasn't a Devil Fruit user, Shanks turned and tried to return to shore to retrieve his sword. But Hailan wasn't about to let him go quickly.
Hailan grabbed Shanks' ankle, yanking him back. Utilizing the Moonwalk technique, Hailan propelled himself like a torpedo towards the surface, where light filtered down.
Hailan's hat has been washed away since falling into the water. If not for the string around Shanks' neck, it would have floated off. His red hair spreads out in the water like seaweed.
Even ordinary people, when drowning, exhibit a powerful survival instinct, capable of dragging even the best swimmers underwater. Shanks, whose strength matched Hailan's, was no exception.
Just as Hailan grabbed his ankle, Shanks gripped Hailan's, trying to drag him back underwater. Hailan stomped hard on Shanks' head, but Shanks, summoning all his strength, refused to let go.
Though Shanks hadn't mastered techniques like Moonwalk, his vast experience and strong swimming skills, honed through countless adventures, made him a formidable opponent in the water.
Using his legs to push down on Hailan, Shanks propelled himself upwards at a speed matching Hailan's.
"Ugh... I..."
Shanks barely had time to breathe before Hailan pulled him back underwater. The two grappled beneath the surface, no longer resembling a Navy Captain and a pirate captain but rather schoolyard brawlers with no regard for dignity, each aiming only to defeat the other and reach the surface first.
Just as Shanks was about to breathe fresh air, Hailan forced him back down. Seawater flooded Shanks' mouth and nose, causing intense discomfort.
Driven by instinct, Shanks hit Hailan with all his might, trying to shake off the tenacious Navy officer. Hailan, enduring Shanks' blows, choked him from behind with one arm while reaching for Shanks' eyes with the other.
Shanks felt a chill in his heart. He had encountered countless ruthless pirates, but this was his first time facing such a vicious move. Even the Navy's legendary Garp, who had chased Roger for a lifetime, never stooped to such tactics in their battles.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Shanks gritted his teeth, wrapped his Armament Haki around them, and bit down hard on Hailan's arm.
Hailan winced in pain, his brow furrowing. Pain could sap a creature's strength more effectively than strenuous activity.
Sensing Hailan's grip weakening, Shanks mustered all his strength and broke free. He glared at Hailan, this Navy officer who had tried to gouge out his eyes.
Those eyes were filled with rage, dominance, and intensity, like a ruler looking down upon the world. Hailan's mind went blank for a moment—an experience he hadn't even had facing Dragon.
All marine life within nearly a kilometer radius suddenly fainted, creating an unusual sight of fish floating belly-up, as if the sea had been electrified.
This pirate...
How could I lose here?
Hailan's mind quickly cleared. He kicked towards Shanks, his fists clenching tightly, delivering blow after blow to Shanks' face.
Why does the world seem to favor pirates? Why don't any Navy officers possess the Conqueror's Haki?
Why did the only one with such potential join the Revolutionary Army?
Why do even relics like Chinjao wield Conqueror's Haki so freely?
Why can a mere rookie like Shanks awaken such powerful Haki?
I'll beat you to death!
Using his Iron Body technique, Hailan pinned Shanks down, pressing him towards the seabed like a boulder.
Shanks could only protect his face with his arms, enduring Hailan's relentless punches.
In the water, Shanks' excellent swimming skills were no match for Hailan's mastery of the Navy Six Styles. Fortunately, Shanks' physical strength and mastery of Armament Haki were superior due to his four-year age advantage.
Even so, for the first time, Shanks felt the threat of death looming over him.
Their battle intensified...
By twilight, the horizon's remnants of sunlight stained the sea blood-red.
On an unknown stretch of Alabasta's coastline, two exhausted figures crawled out of the water and collapsed on the beach, drained of all energy.