Several nautical miles away, a pirate ship flying a ferocious blood-red axe flag drifted slowly on the waves. The ship was alive with a chaotic energy, the noise of a grand banquet carrying for miles across the water. Rough-looking pirates had their arms slung around each other, singing and dancing. They grabbed large chunks of roasted meat with greasy hands while ale sloshed from their mugs, filling the air with the smell of booze and cooked food. A few of the drunkest men were attempting a clumsy, comical dance in the center of the crowd, earning loud bursts of laughter.
Amidst all the noise, only one person seemed out of place. A middle-aged man with a rugged face and a hint of cruelty in his eyes sat like a king on a specially made recliner, which was covered with a thick, comfortable blanket. Several of his subordinates waited on him carefully, making sure his cup was never empty, a clear sign of his high status. This man was Dot, the Captain of the Blood Axe Pirates.
Watching his men celebrate, Dot felt a deep sense of satisfaction. He raised his enormous wine cup, tilted his head back, and chugged the entire thing, letting the liquor run down his thick beard. The subordinate next to him was quick to refill it. A few other crew members, who were good at sucking up, came over with their own cups and began showering Dot with praise.
"Captain! This one's for you! Thanks to your brilliant leadership, we brothers were able to score such a huge prize!"
"That's right! That's why you're the captain! Your courage is something we could spend a lifetime trying to learn!"
"Hahaha! Long live Captain Dot! I'll drink to that!"
Just a few hours earlier, they had successfully raided a wealthy merchant ship, taking half a cargo hold full of gold and treasure. With this massive score, the Blood Axe Pirates could live like kings for quite some time.
"Hey, you should have seen it!" one of the pirates slurred, gesturing wildly. "That stupid merchant actually tried to fight back, saying something about protecting his family. And what happened? Our great Captain Dot just swung his axe—*crack*!—and split the guy clean in two! It was beautiful!"
"Exactly! Only a real man like Captain Dot can lead the Blood Axe Pirates to glory! I bet he could even become the Pirate King one day!"
Under the constant waves of flattery, the smug look on Dot's face grew until he looked ready to burst with pride. He let out a loud, booming laugh. "Guhahaha! You lads just stick with me and pay attention! One day, you'll make a name for yourselves, too!"
"Yes, Captain! You're so wise! We'll follow you to the ends of the earth!" the three men shouted in unison, their flattery growing even louder.
Dot was thrilled to hear it and chugged several more cups of ale, his face turning bright red as he soaked in the feeling of being in charge.
However, just as the party was reaching its peak, something completely unexpected happened. An energy orb, glowing with an eerie red light, flew in from the distant sky. It struck the main mast of the ship with perfect precision.
*Bang—Crack!*
A massive, ear-splitting crack echoed across the deck. The thick main mast, as if hit by a giant's axe, snapped in half and came crashing down. The heavy mast, along with all its sails and rigging, fell like a collapsing tower, plummeting with destructive force onto the celebrating crowd below.
"Ah—!"
"Help me!"
"My leg!"
The sounds of laughter were instantly replaced by screams of pain, the sickening crunch of bones, and the splintering of wood. The once-lively deck was transformed into a scene of chaos and horror. Broken barrels, overturned barbecue pits, and the crushed bodies of pirates were scattered everywhere.
"Enemy attack!"
The drunken haze and smugness vanished from Dot's face, replaced by pure shock. He leaped up from his recliner and roared at the lookout in the crow's nest. "What's going on?! Is it the Marines? Or another pirate crew?!"
The lookout, holding his telescope, sounded utterly terrified, his voice cracking. "R-Report, Captain! There's nothing on the sea! I don't see any enemy ships!"
"Useless!" Dot shoved him aside, snatched the telescope, and frantically scanned the horizon himself. The vast blue ocean was empty. There was nothing but sky, clouds, and rolling waves.
As he stood there, confused and furious, one of his subordinates who had escaped the falling mast pointed in the direction the energy orb had come from. "Boss! I saw it! It wasn't a cannonball! It was some kind of... strange, glowing red thing! It flew from over there!"
He was pointing roughly in the direction of the Red Force.
"Hmph! Cowards who won't even show their faces! All they can do is attack from a distance?!" Dot snarled, his facial muscles twisting with rage. He drew the blood-stained giant axe from his belt, slammed it onto the deck, and let out a deafening roar. "Lads! Grab your weapons! Prepare to fight! Let's show those suicidal bastards the power of the Blood Axe Pirates!"
"Ohhh!" The surviving pirates, their fear turning to rage, grabbed their weapons and let out chaotic war cries, ready to charge towards the unknown enemy.
...
"Hehe, this is fun! Again!"
Back on the Red Force, Shanks was having the time of his life. Having just mastered a cool new skill, he was acting like a big kid who had just gotten a new toy. He brought his palms together, and with a simple thought, a fist-sized, crimson orb of light formed between them. He casually tossed it, and the orb traced a graceful arc before landing in the distant sea.
*Boom!*
A huge pillar of water erupted from the calm sea. The shockwave from the explosion stunned all the fish within several meters, and a few unlucky ones floated to the surface, belly-up.
"Wow..."
The rest of the Red Hair Pirates gathered around, eagerly watching their captain show off. Their eyes were filled with pure envy as they all turned to look back at Takero.
"Why are you all looking at me?" Takero shrugged helplessly. "I've already taught you the method. The rest is up to you to figure out through practice."
He wasn't lying. Cultivating 'Ki', especially an advanced technique like projecting energy, required immense talent. Besides someone as gifted as Shanks, it was nearly impossible for anyone else to master it so quickly. It seemed like the rest of the crew was still missing that final, crucial breakthrough.
"Remember, the foundation of 'Ki' is the body!" Takero said, putting his hands on his hips like a coach. "Your body is the vessel that holds and uses 'Ki'! You have to treat it like your closest partner and learn every muscle, every flow of power! You're all usually too lazy with your training, so your foundations aren't strong enough!"
He looked over the group of powerful but undisciplined pirates and announced some "bad news." "So, starting tomorrow, everyone is going to begin special training with me! The devilish kind!"
"Ah?!"
"You've got to be kidding..."
Everyone's face fell as they groaned in unison. But then they remembered the cool, dazzling energy blast and imagined how awesome it would be to use it in a fight or show it off at a party. They all gritted their teeth, their expressions turning resolute once more.
"Guhahaha! You guys always laughed at me for getting chased around by him! Now it's your turn! Devil training!" Shanks put his hands on his hips and laughed gleefully at his crew's long faces.
Takero glanced over at the smug captain, a "kind" smile playing on his lips. "What are you laughing at? You're joining in, too."
"Huh?!" Shanks's laughter stopped abruptly, as if his neck had been squeezed. "Why?! I already know how to do it!"
"That's exactly why you have to participate," Takero's reasoning was flawless, and his tone held an authority that couldn't be denied. "I need a qualified 'sandbag' to help me with my own training and to test my strength now that I've gotten stronger. And..." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the other crew members. "As the captain, you wouldn't want to let your subordinates suddenly surpass you, would you?"
"..." Shanks opened his mouth, then looked at the mischievous grins on his crew's faces. He sighed in defeat. "...Fine, I get it."
With the matter settled, Takero showed a satisfied smile. Great. Now he had a regular sparring partner again, and he was eager to test the limits of his new power. Shanks, on the other hand, looked completely dejected. He had a bad feeling that his easy days were over.
Just then, Yasopp, the sniper who was keeping watch from the crow's nest, called down. "Hey, Shanks. We've got a pirate ship at ten o'clock, and it's charging right at us. They don't look friendly."
"Oh?" A fierce glint flashed in Shanks's eyes. "Someone actually dares to pick a fight with us?" He had just been looking for a way to blow off some steam, and now a target was delivering itself right to his doorstep.