The two fought intensely in the air for a full two hours before finally stopping. They descended from the sky back to the ravaged ground. Neither had any obvious injuries; they had merely been testing their swordsmanship, a contest of skill rather than a battle to the death.
Bege laughed triumphantly at Shanks. "Shanks, I still won!"
"You only won by half a sword's length!" Shanks retorted with a dissatisfied snort.
"Half a sword is still a win! Hahaha!" Bege's laughter grew wilder. He sheathed his sword, a swagger in his every step.
"Let's go! I'm in a great mood now, let's keep drinking!" Bege slung an arm around Shanks' head, leading him towards his pirate ship.
Hearing the mention of more drinking, Shanks' reluctant expression immediately vanished, and he too slung an arm around Bege's neck, heading onto the ship with a hearty laugh.
"Shanks, you've improved pretty quickly. How about it? Any thoughts of challenging the New World hegemons?" Bege asked suddenly, leaning against the ship's railing with a cigar in his mouth.
Shanks was stunned for a moment, then said, "Now? It's still a bit too early. A year ago, I fought Whitebeard, and I also fought Big Mom. We're not strong enough yet," Shanks shook his head.
Bege's interest was piqued. He quickly asked, "How strong are Whitebeard and Big Mom?"
"Whitebeard's strength is truly terrifying. He fully deserves the title of 'World's Strongest Man.' As for Big Mom, she's a bit weaker. Give me a few more years, and I should be able to catch up," Shanks said.
As if remembering something, Shanks added, "There's another one, Kaido of the Beasts. That guy is a complete monster. His physical durability can even withstand my sword slashes, and his strength is monstrous to the extreme. I reckon no one can compare to him in terms of physical toughness."
"That 'Demon Lord of Fear' guy rarely comes out of Fear Demon Island. I haven't run into him. Otherwise, I could have probed his strength for you."
Benn Beckman picked up the conversation. "However, we did fight the leader of the Three Demon Generals, 'Phantom Demon' Zato Moro. That guy's Devil Fruit ability is quite bizarre and very difficult to deal with. You'll need to be careful when the time comes."
Shanks nodded eagerly. "Right, right, right! Phantom Demon Zato Moro is a user of the Dream-Dream Fruit. He can drag people into dreams he creates, killing them without a trace. Those with weak wills will lose themselves in his dreamscape and be manipulated by him."
"Phantom Demon Zato Moro is indeed very strange, but I already have a way to deal with him. Don't worry," Bege said with a knowing smile. Since he was preparing to take on the Fear Pirates, he had naturally gathered intelligence on them.
Of the Fear Pirates' Three Demon Generals, the one ranked first was Illusory Demon ZatMoro. His bounty was 1.3 billion Berries. User of the Dream-Dream Fruit, he excelled at creating dreamscapes, capable of unknowingly pulling people into dreams he crafted, causing them to lose themselves and obey his commands. He could kill within these dreams without leaving a physical trace. When his Dream-Dream Fruit ability was activated, those with weak wills would be instantly plunged into a dream state, losing their ability to fight, and might even become his puppets. In large-scale warfare, his ability was even more prominent. His greatest atrocity was using his Dream-Dream Fruit to control an entire country—from the royalty and nobility down to the officials and ministers, all were under his sway. He did as he pleased for a full twenty years, transforming a reasonably well-developed nation into an impoverished country where the people lived in extreme hardship. He was later investigated by a CP organization, which discovered Zato Moro and nearly managed to eliminate him.
For such a troublesome opponent, Bege had long been researching ways to counter him and had already found a solution.
"That's good. I'm actually getting a bit excited to see you challenge the Fear Pirates," Shanks chuckled.
"You guys need to pick up the pace too. The Great Pirate Era that Captain Roger started has now passed its buffer period. The time that follows will be the true era of heroes vying for supremacy. More and more pirates are flocking to the New World, challenging the old powers there."
"I can already feel the winds of change gathering in the New World. The situation is becoming volatile and unpredictable. The New World might soon undergo a genuine, major reshuffle. Only those powers that can stand firm in such a Great Pirate Era will be the true hegemons, the Emperors of the Sea," Bege patted Shanks' shoulder, reminding him.
Benn Beckman's gaze sharpened. He hadn't expected Bege to share the same perspective and foresight as him.
Shanks clapped Benn Beckman on the shoulder and laughed loudly. "Beckman, you're not the only smart one in this world! Bege's foresight is something even Captain Roger and the others acknowledged!"
Bege looked at Benn Beckman in surprise, then laughed and gave him a thumbs-up. "You sensed it too, huh? Truly worthy of being Shanks' vice-captain."
"I heard Shanks say before that five years ago, you predicted Captain Roger would usher in the Great Pirate Era. Your foresight is superior to mine," Benn Beckman said gravely.
"No need for modesty, you're both smart guys! Come, come, let's have a drink to our intelligent friends!" Shanks raised his mug and clinked it with Bege's and Benn Beckman's, then downed his drink in one go.
After finishing his drink, Benn Beckman asked Bege, "Captain Demon Dragon, when do you think the Great Pirate Era will end?"
Shanks put down his mug and looked at Bege. He also wanted to know the answer. This sea was too chaotic now; they had sailed to many places, and the civilians on most islands were living in suffering. Such a world was not what he wished to see.
"End? What are you guys thinking?" Bege burst out laughing.
Shanks and the others' pupils contracted, their expressions turning grave.
Bege stood up, gazed at the dark sea, then turned back to look at Shanks and Benn Beckman, speaking in a low, enigmatic tone, "Do you know the true reason the Great Pirate Era began?"
"Isn't it because of Captain Roger's treasure?" Lucky Roo asked doubtfully.
"That was just the fuse, not the fundamental cause. The fundamental cause should be the decay of the World Government," Benn Beckman said in a low voice.
"That's right. It's the decaying World Government. They've lost the power and prestige to suppress the entire world, which is what led to the advent of the Great Pirate Era. Captain Roger was merely the key that unlocked this new age."
"Only when a new order re-establishes control over the entire world will the Great Pirate Era end. This order might be the World Government, or it might not be," Bege said, his gaze sweeping coolly over everyone.
"Are you saying the World Government might be overthrown?" someone exclaimed in horror.
"How is that possible? Even if all the New World hegemons united, they might not be able to overthrow the World Government! What other force could achieve that?" Lucky Roo was deeply shaken. Not just him, but Benn Beckman also wore a startled expression.
Shanks sat on the ground, his face impassive, his expression serious.
Bege spread his arms and let out a wild, arrogant laugh that echoed under the pitch-black night sky, lingering for a long time.
"In this great Great Pirate Era, nothing is impossible!"
Bege suddenly turned his head to look at Shanks and said with a smile, "Shanks, I've already seen a newly emerging force on the rise. It has the potential to contend with the World Government. It won't be long before you see it, and I guarantee you'll be shocked."