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"You say that as if my common sense is nonexistent," Arthur quipped, snapping his fingers with a grin. "Aren't you surprised I'm here?"
"If you couldn't find a place like this, that would be surprising," Vegapunk replied coolly, heading straight for the exit. He did not want to spend another second in this den of mediocrity, and then he paused.
"However... your 'common sense' does surprise me. You have no formal scientific training, no grasp of theory, yet you possess knowledge that baffles even me."
"Hahahaha! Let's not worry about that for now," Arthur laughed, falling into step beside the scientist. "I've never seen you lose your cool like that. You're usually so... detached."
"Being surrounded by fools provokes an emotional response," Vegapunk said stiffly, refusing to admit his own lapse in composure.
They walked through the corridors, chatting casually, making no effort to hide their presence.
"Stop! Who are you?" the balding, red-faced scientist, having recovered from his fainting spell, roared in fury.
"Oh?" Arthur stopped and turned. His eyes narrowed.
A wave of invisible, crushing pressure exploded outward: Conqueror's Haki.
A gale-force wind swept through the lab, sending papers flying. Every scientist in the room foamed at the mouth, their eyes rolling back as they collapsed, unconscious.
"Woooooo-woooooo!"
Alarms blared throughout the Revolutionary headquarters. Squads of well-trained soldiers, led by Terry Gilteo and Hack, flooded the corridors, blocking the exit with swords and guns.
"YOU! THE THUNDER EMPEROR!"
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East Blue. Foosha Village.
Amidst the ruins, the Red Hair Pirates had formed a perimeter. Don Chinjao was locked in a stalemate with Benn Beckman, while Shanks and Shiryu were a blur of motion, engaged in a frenzied duel.
Shiryu was lost in his bloodlust, a demon in human skin. His presence alone sent a chill down the spine of anyone watching.
The fight looked even, but time was against Shiryu and Chinjao. They were outnumbered.
Little Luffy, clinging to Mayor Woop Slap's leg, peeked out at the battle. His innate fearlessness—or perhaps just his childish innocence—shielded him from the terror that gripped the other villagers.
"Shanks! Beat that bad guy up!" Luffy yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Hm?"
Shiryu, locked in a clash with Shanks, narrowed his blood-red eyes. He glanced at the boy, and to see a three-year-old completely unfazed by this level of pressure stunned him.
Truly extraordinary. Must be the D. bloodline.
Shiryu's killing intent shifted. In the split second as he and Shanks broke apart, he no longer aimed his next strike at the Red Hair. He slashed, a wave of deadly energy flying straight at Luffy.
"STOP!" Shanks reacted instantly, diving toward the boy.
With his speed, he could easily have grabbed Luffy and dodged. In that fraction of a second, though, a thousand thoughts flashed through his mind. He thought of the boy's unique potential, of the uncanny resemblance to Captain Roger.
A decision was made. A gamble, staked on everything.
Shanks smiled, a faint, enigmatic expression. Instead of dodging, he threw his body in front of the blade. He did not move Luffy; he simply took the hit.
"Squelch!"
The sound of steel cutting flesh rang sickeningly loud. Blood sprayed, pooling on the dusty ground.
A left arm, still clad in a white sleeve, fell to the earth.
"SHANKS!"
"CAPTAIN!"
Villagers and pirates alike screamed, their eyes wide with horror.
"Shanks... WAAAHHH!"
Blood spattered across his face, and Luffy did not recoil in fear. Seeing Shanks lose an arm to save him shattered him. He wailed, tears streaming down his face, his small hands pressing futilely against the wound, trying to stop the flow of blood.
"Click-clack!"
"Shing!"
Swords were drawn, and guns cocked. The Red Hair Pirates' eyes burned with murderous rage, locked onto Shiryu. They were ready to die for their captain.
"Hey! Stand down!" Shanks said, his face pale but his smile unwavering. He waved his men back.
"Why?"
Even Shiryu, cold-blooded as he was, was stunned. Shanks could easily have saved the kid and kept his arm. Why sacrifice it? Was the kid his son? Even Dragon probably would not go that far.
"To lose a swordsman's arm for a brat... was it worth it?" Shiryu asked, genuinely baffled. He would only ever sacrifice himself for Arthur; no one else was worth it.
"Hahahaha! Whether it is worth it or not is not for me to say. Just consider it a foolish mistake on my part," Shanks laughed, his tone open and unbothered.
Then his voice dropped, becoming serious.
"Every era has a leader. The last era belonged to Captain Roger. Many say this era belongs to the Thunder Emperor. So... I decided to bet this arm on the next era."
Shanks had been Roger's chosen successor, the one meant to inherit his will, and he had lived up to that potential.
Here, in this tiny village, he had found something else. A child with a potential that defied description, a light that shone even in ignorance.
Luffy had a gift, an infectious charisma that drew people in, that made them want to follow him, to die for him. He possessed an indomitable will that refused to break. He respected everyone's dreams, friend or foe.
It was the same quality Roger had possessed. Shanks was talented, but he knew he lived in Roger's shadow. He could be great, but he could not be him.
The next era, though, was wide open.
And this infection, this power to turn enemies into allies, was the most terrifying power on the seas.
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