Even if Shiryu didn't speak, they all knew how terrifying King was.
For Blackbeard's initial core group, when they were dealing with the Navy, King had slain Van Augur in front of all of them, and also killed Strawberry in the presence of Blackbeard, Momousagi, and Yamakaji.
If it weren't for Kuzan's timely arrival, the voyage of the Blackbeard Pirates might have ended right then and there.
Shaina's feats weren't as glorious, but she had crossed paths with Kizaru many years ago, not to mention that when King was killing Blackbeard just now, Shaina had the same overwhelming stance towards them.
Everyone here knows now that facing these two monsters won't be easy, but it's also not simple to have them join forces.
The Blackbeard Pirates and the Rocks Pirates are similar in nature; most of the members have little camaraderie, brought together more by the captain.
When the captain is alive, they'll work together, but if the captain dies, they'll scatter like birds and beasts, at most a few might choose to team up with a companion.
Ordinary battles are fine, but in such life-and-death struggles, no one in the Blackbeard Pirates would entrust their backs to so-called comrades. If abandoning a comrade meant escaping safely, they'd have done it already.
But if King and Shaina are both experts in aerial combat, and with Shaina's unpredictable chains, rashly fleeing would be suicide.
"I've heard from Blackbeard about the specifics; we joined him more to leave Impel Down, with not much of a connection to him.
Now that he's dead, we have no conflicts between us. Why not each go our separate ways?"
Looking at Shaina in the sky and King who was gradually approaching, Shiryu made his suggestion, as he didn't want to engage in such meaningless combat here.
Coming here was originally part of Blackbeard's plan; by his plan, the destruction and darkness would form his spear and shield, but now that Blackbeard is dead, there's no reason for Shiryu and the others to linger.
Shiryu enjoys killing, but not courting death. When he was in Impel Down, his targets were defenseless prisoners; he dared not provoke those real monsters of the Sixth City.
Even with Seastone Chains, such people could pose a significant threat to Shiryu.
While Shiryu spoke, neither Vasco Shot nor Pizarro said a word, and even Devon, who had old grudges with the Hundred Beasts, chose to stay silent.
Having regained their freedom, their best solution was to leave smoothly.
"This is Navy Headquarters. I don't know why you came, but if it was to kill Blackbeard, you've succeeded. No one could have survived that situation; there's no need for meaningless combat."
"Flame Emperor!"
A fireball was thrown at Shiryu by King, and the exploding flames made Shiryu take a few steps back, his expression growing tense.
Though when he first met Blackbeard, Blackbeard was also getting a beating, nearly wiped out by Magellan's Poison Dragon, Shiryu still recognized Blackbeard's strength; his performance on the sixth level of the Undersea Prison wasn't something an average person could achieve.
Now even the stronger Blackbeard was killed by King; they are no match for these two, not to mention there's a menacing Kaidou behind them.
...
"Is this really the end this time?"
"Of course, but these guys might have learned things they shouldn't have. To be safe, it's better to make them disappear."
"Then let's do it. Will you or should I?"
"Why not do it together? Sometimes the moves taught by Brother Kaidou come in handy, especially since there's a big guy here."
In just a few words, King and Shaina have already planned out the fate of the remaining Blackbeard Pirates, and they're not hiding it at all, openly plotting in front of everyone.
This was nothing short of an insult to Shiryu and the others, who once held prominent names across The Sea, being regarded like ants, their fates casually decided.
"I just don't want to fight with you; don't push it too far!"
"Doop, doop, doop, since you put it that way, we have no choice but to fight, right?"
Vasco Shot grabbed the wine gourd from his back and began drinking boldly in front of everyone.
Vasco Shot, known as the Great Wine, a Paramecia-type: Glug-Glug Fruit Ability User, is usually drunken-looking.
Due to long-term drinking, his nose is always red, and combined with his clown-style hat, Vasco Shot looks quite like a clown, and he followed up with an even more clown-like action.
His wine gourd was like a bottomless pit, never emptied no matter how much he drank. After a massive intake of strong liquor, he spat a series of alcohol bubbles towards King and Shaina.
"Rengoku Shukai!"
Bang bang bang, the alcohol bubbles all burst, and at the moment of bursting, the area around Shaina and King turned into a sea of fire.
"Fool! What's the use of burning the two of them with fire?!"
Vasco Shot's attack made Shiryu beside him unable to refrain from cursing. How could people perpetually bathed in flames fear fire? This sea of fire did nothing but prevent them from approaching.
"Doop doop, haven't you read the files at Impel Down? My ability releases vast amounts of ethanol; if there's enough of it, those two will get drunk! Wolf! Stop staring and act quickly!"
Wolf had a special ability, often marginalizing himself; people around him would inexplicably forget about him until crucial moments.
Wolf's size was his greatest weapon, and upon Vasco Shot's urging, he raised his fist and slammed it down. The rest of the Blackbeard Pirates launched their own attacks.
However, amidst Shot's sea of fire, King and Shaina remained unaffected; not only did the flames not harm them, but there was no intoxication as Shot imagined.
Underestimating the Lunarians' physical resistance was his mistake; their ability to survive in any environment is no joke.
At this moment, the two were standing together, with their weapons already crossed; both were injecting their Haki continuously into their weapons, and as Evil Wolf attacked, they also swung their blades.
"Ughrahrahrah, they actually mastered it? As expected of subordinates I value and Arceus's capable assistants."
Watching King's and Shaina's combined strike, Kaidou grinned. This attack was none other than the technique he learned from Charlotte Linlin of the Giant Race.
"Hakai!"