The deck of the Red Force had been cleared, creating a makeshift arena in its center. Takero and Shanks faced each other, both settling into their fighting stances. The sea breeze whipped across the ship as the energy around the two fighters began to build, growing thicker with every passing second.
"Hold on!" Shanks suddenly called out, raising a hand before the fight could begin. His expression was serious, with a hint of leftover fear from their past spars. "Let's set some ground rules first. No spitting, no gouging out my eyes, and absolutely no," he paused for emphasis, "shots to the crotch!"
For Shanks, the training sessions over the last two months had been more than just physical exercise; they were a form of mental torture. He had no idea where the kid had learned so many dirty tricks, but his attacks were vicious and nearly impossible to predict.
"Yeah, I know! You're so annoying," Takero complained with an impatient pout. He muttered under his breath, "You're a bunch of wild pirates, but you're always going on about fighting fair..."
In his past life, he had survived countless life-or-death battles in underground boxing rings. He had seen every dirty trick in the book. The moves he used on Shanks were, in his mind, just a "friendly exchange"—nothing more than child's play.
Shanks just chuckled at his words, not bothering to argue.
Takero took a deep breath, and his gaze sharpened until his eyes were as piercing as blades. He turned sideways, planting his left foot forward and his right foot back, keeping his center of gravity perfectly balanced. He raised his left arm to guard his jaw and ribs, while his right arm bent at the elbow, his fist ready to be thrown at a moment's notice.
This was a fighting stance he had perfected in his previous life as an underground boxer, a perfect blend of offense and defense. Now, with his Saiyan bloodline and the system enhancing his body to superhuman levels, these old techniques were more effective than ever. They were like wings on a tiger, allowing him to get the most out of his incredible speed, strength, and agility. This stance let him strike like a venomous snake or retreat to defend his vital points like an unmoving rock. It gave him the ability to adapt and protect himself, even against opponents far stronger than him. Even when facing an enemy he couldn't beat, he could use these skills to survive.
"Hoo..." Takero exhaled, his chest heaving as he let out the stale air. His eyes burned with fighting spirit. "Here I come!"
Bang!
With a heavy sound, he kicked off the deck with his back foot, unleashing his power in a single explosive burst. His body shot forward like a compressed spring, closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye. He pulled his right arm back to build momentum, twisting his waist and hips like he was drawing a bowstring. A powerful right hook, carrying the full force of his body, whistled through the air straight towards Shanks's face.
Facing such a ferocious blow, Shanks didn't dare to be careless. He knew how monstrous Takero's strength was. Even with Armament Haki protecting him, a direct hit would still hurt. Besides, his Observation Haki told him that the kid's punch was even stronger than it was yesterday.
In that split second, Shanks made the smartest possible move. He leaned back, his upper body swaying gracefully like a willow branch in the wind. Takero's powerful fist, stirring up a strong gust of wind, flew right past his nose, missing by mere inches.
Missing the attack was exactly what Takero had expected. He used the momentum from his twisting body to transition smoothly into his next move. The moment his right fist passed Shanks, he swung his left leg around like a steel whip, aiming for Shanks's waist. The two attacks flowed together perfectly, with barely a fraction of a second between them.
Faced with a combination that cut off all paths of escape, even a powerhouse like Shanks had no room to dodge. His eyes narrowed. He instantly crossed his arms to block, and a deep black Armament Haki coiled around them like a living shadow.
Boom!
A deafening impact echoed across the deck. Takero's powerful kick slammed into Shanks's iron-hard, Haki-coated arms.
"Tsk! Armament Haki again!" Takero clicked his tongue in frustration. That powerful defensive ability was the main reason he couldn't land a solid blow on Shanks.
Their bodies became a blur of motion as they exchanged fists and feet, clashing fiercely for several more rounds. The air cracked with the sound of their blows, and visible shockwaves erupted from every impact. But the outcome was never in doubt. With Shanks holding back so much of his true power, Takero was still completely unable to break through his impenetrable defense.
Suddenly, Takero pushed off the deck and performed a clean backflip, creating some distance between them. His chest was rising and falling from the effort, and his eyes burned with an unyielding fire.
"What's wrong?" Shanks asked as he settled back into his stance.
"Hey, Shanks!" Takero's voice was full of frustration. "Can you stop holding back and fight me for real? What's the point of this if you're not even trying?!"
"I'm just trying not to hurt you, kid," Shanks replied with a shrug and his usual friendly smile. "You're one of us now, after all."
However, those words of concern had the opposite effect, only serving to fuel Takero's anger.
Takero's face grew dark and serious. "If you really see me as a comrade, then you'll stop treating me like a kid and fight me with your full strength!"
He was a Saiyan. The blood of a warrior race flowed through his veins. This kind of soft, gentle sparring wasn't helping him; it was an insult to his pride and his heritage.
"Besides," Takero continued, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's, a hint of excitement creeping into his voice, "I can feel it! I'm right on the edge of figuring out Armament Haki! I know that if I have one real, all-out battle, I'll be able to grasp it and awaken it myself!"
Shanks looked into Takero's eyes and saw the undeniable determination burning within them. His smile slowly faded. He fell silent for a moment. When he opened his eyes again, the easy-going look was gone, replaced by the heavy, solemn presence of a Yonko.
"Are you... sure about this?" his voice was low and deep.
"I'm sure!" Takero answered without a hint of hesitation.
"Alright, then," Shanks said. He took a deep breath, and when he looked up again, a terrifying pressure erupted from his body like a dormant volcano suddenly coming to life.
A vast and overwhelming Conqueror's Haki—the Haoshoku—swept out from Shanks in every direction. In an instant, the very air seemed to turn solid. The loud sea breeze died down to nothing, and even the crashing waves seemed to fall silent. The entire Red Force was suddenly crushed by a suffocating pressure, as if it had been dragged to the bottom of the deep sea.
Yet Takero, who stood at the very center of this storm of power, showed no fear. Instead, a wild, almost crazed smile spread across his face. "Hehe! Now that's more like it! This is how it should have been from the start!"
Boom!
The next moment, a different pressure, just as commanding but far more primitive and wild, burst from Takero's small body like an untamable beast. Although it was weaker than Shanks's Haki, its pure, unbending will was so strong that it carved out its own space within the overwhelming aura, creating a tense standoff.
All across the ship, the members of the Red Hair Pirates had stopped what they were doing. They held their breath, their eyes glued to the two figures on the deck. Every single one of them wore an expression of awe and anticipation. They were all wondering the same thing: just how far could this unbelievably talented young Saiyan go when facing their captain's true power?