Shanks attempted to counter the descending lightning with a flying slash, but he severely underestimated Gustave's growth over the past months. While his attack managed to reduce some of the thunder's power, the majority of the devastating bolt continued its inexorable descent.
With no time to launch a second defensive strike, Shanks found himself facing both thunderous wrath and Po's Conqueror's Haki-infused fist simultaneously. He managed to absorb Po's initial punch, but the lightning struck immediately after, momentarily paralyzing his movements.
Po seized the opening with ruthless efficiency, delivering a second devastating blow that sent the Yonko flying backward through the air.
The tremendous crash brought the rest of the Red Hair Pirates rushing from their ship, arriving just in time to witness their captain's humiliating defeat.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Beckman shouted, catching Shanks as he skidded across the ground.
"What are we doing?" Gustave snarled, electricity crackling dangerously around his form. "Don't you know what you did in Elegia?"
"Wait, let me expl—" Beckman began, but found himself under immediate assault as both Po and Gustave launched coordinated attacks.
"Damn it!" Beckman cursed, forced to defend against the roaring thunder while Shanks blocked Po's relentless assault.
Beckman managed to dissipate the lightning and rushed toward Gustave, but the chef had already transformed into his elemental state, preparing an even more devastating attack. Meanwhile, Tom materialized in his formal swordsman attire, ready to join the battle at a moment's notice.
"GUSTAVE! PO! STOP!" Yasopp's voice cut through the chaos like a blade. "This isn't what you think!"
The unexpected plea caused Po to halt mid-strike, while Gustave's electrical form solidified back into human shape.
"What do you mean by that?" Gustave demanded, his voice low and dangerous. "Didn't you destroy Elegia?"
"Yasopp, don't!" Shanks commanded with desperate authority.
"Captain!" Yasopp shot back, his own pain evident in every word. "If I don't tell them the truth, we'll lose Gustave and his family forever! I'm already devastated by losing Uta—I won't lose any more friends because of your stubborn pride!"
Ignoring his captain's orders, Yasopp stepped forward and began revealing the terrible truth.
"We sailed to Elegia, the Kingdom of Music, and Uta's singing was welcomed by everyone there. King Gordon himself invited her to perform at a grand farewell concert on our final night."
His voice grew heavy with remembered horror. "But Uta's performance awakened something that should have stayed sleeping forever. The Demon King of Song, Tot Musica, had been sealed away in an ancient musical score. The power of Uta's Sing-Sing Fruit resonated with that seal and... broke it."
Yasopp's hands trembled as he continued. "Tot Musica possessed Uta completely, using her body to attack and ultimately destroy Elegia. We managed to reseal the demon, but the damage was done. An entire kingdom was gone."
The sniper's voice cracked with emotion. "To spare Uta the knowledge that her singing had caused such devastation, we made an agreement with King Gordon. We would take responsibility publicly for Elegia's destruction, while he would care for Uta in secret. She could never know the truth."
Silence fell over the beach like a funeral shroud. Gustave and his friends stood frozen, their minds struggling to process the horrific reality. The truth was somehow even more cruel than their worst assumptions—Uta had unknowingly destroyed an entire kingdom with the voice she loved most.
For the Red Hair Pirates, reliving that nightmare was agony. The night Elegia burned remained their deepest trauma.
"Nooooo" Luffy whispered, tears streaming down his face.
Finally, Gustave stepped forward and delivered a thunderous punch directly to Shanks' face, sending the Yonko sprawling once again.
"So you just abandoned your daughter and ran away like a coward?" Gustave roared, his fury now directed at a different target.
"Uta adores Tom and Po! Every time I asked if she wanted to stay with us while you sailed away, she always chose to follow you instead, you bastard!"
He struck Shanks again, his lightning-enhanced fist crackling with righteous anger. "And now you've left that precious girl completely alone! What kind of father abandons his child when she needs him most?"
"But I thought—" Shanks began weakly.
"NO BUTS!" Gustave interrupted savagely. "If you, her father, give up on her, what do you think will happen when she eventually learns the truth? And she WILL learn it someday!"
His voice carried the weight of absolute conviction. "If you truly want what's best for Uta, go get her back right now and tell her everything. That girl is stronger than you think she is!"
Po stepped forward, his usually gentle voice filled with steel. "Shanks, if you won't retrieve Uta, then we'll go ourselves. She can stay with us permanently."
During their time together, Po had come to love the little girl who always ran to him for hugs like his own daughter.
Tom moved to join them, expressing through gestures his determination to bring back his musical partner. The cat who played piano and the girl who sang had formed an unbreakable creative bond.
"That's right!" Luffy declared firmly. "We'll bring Uta home ourselves!"
Even Ace, though silent, positioned himself alongside his family to show his unwavering support.
Shanks looked at their determined faces—these people who loved Uta enough to challenge a Yonko for her sake—and slowly rose from the ground.
"I am Uta's father," he said quietly, then with growing strength: "I'll bring her back myself."
Seeing Shanks finally make the right decision, Gustave and his friends allowed themselves to smile.
"Ace, Luffy, go pack immediately," Gustave ordered. "We're accompanying Shanks to bring Uta home."
"Eh?" both boys looked confused. "If Shanks is going to get her, why do we need to come along?"
"Because I meant what I said earlier!" Gustave replied firmly. "Don't you want to personally bring Uta back? Besides, we need to make sure Shanks doesn't change his mind halfway there!"
"Understood!" This time both boys ran toward the Bamboo Staff Bistro without hesitation.
"Gustave, why don't you trust me?" Shanks asked, genuinely puzzled.
"Because if we don't supervise you, who knows if you'll lose your nerve and leave her there again!" Gustave fixed him with an intense stare. "We're coming along to make sure you follow through!"
After calling Po and Tom to pack their own belongings, the three headed back to prepare for their unexpected voyage.
"Are you going to sea again, Gustave?" Makino asked, noticing him locking up the Bamboo Staff Bistro with travel gear instead of preparing for the day's service.
"Yes, we'll be gone for quite some time on this trip," Gustave replied with an apologetic smile. "I hate to impose, but could you keep an eye on the restaurant while we're away?"
"Of course!" Makino assured him warmly. "Don't worry about anything here—just focus on whatever you need to do!"
"Thank you, Makino. We'll be back as soon as possible."
After brief farewells, Gustave's group headed toward the Red Hair Pirates' anchorage.
"Uncle Gustave," Ace called out as they walked, "shouldn't we be going toward the Luffy instead?"
"Ace, I told you to stop hanging around Luffy so much," Gustave replied with exasperation, tapping the boy's head twice. "Look how it's affecting your thinking!"
"How could the tiny Luffy possibly sail from East Blue to the New World? And since we need to supervise Shanks, obviously we're traveling on his ship!"
"Oh, that makes sense!" Ace said with sudden understanding.
"Hey!" Luffy protested indignantly. "How is any of this my fault? And if there's something wrong with anyone's brain, it's because you people keep hitting us on the head!"
Gustave ignored Luffy's complaints and quickened his pace toward their uncertain adventure. Somewhere in the New World, a heartbroken girl waited unknowingly for the family that refused to abandon her—no matter what the cost.