"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"
The battlefield.
Both of them were leaning on their blades, panting heavily.
Sweat covered their foreheads.
"Continue." Red-Haired Shanks tore off his tattered trench coat and drew his blade.
Kevin, however, picked up his blade and sheathed it: "Forget it, no more fighting."
Red-Haired Shanks frowned, looking at Kevin.
Then he looked at his bleeding severed arm.
"Alright." Red-Haired Shanks plopped down on the ground, greedily gulping in oxygen without regard for his appearance: "When I've recovered from my injuries, I'll fight you again."
"Gladly, but next time, I won't fight you for three days and three nights again."
Red-Haired Shanks narrowed his eyes.
He didn't speak.
So confident, that he can surpass me.
"Next time, that's not for sure." Red-Haired Shanks was very confident; even though Kevin was younger than him, he had full confidence in himself.
Who doesn't grow?
"It's finally over. If they kept fighting, it would affect the distant kingdom." Jabba, who had watched for three days, looked at Shanks and Kevin with approval.
"It's over, is this a draw?"
"Of course!"
Laluji and his group rushed to Shanks' side: "Boss, can you still move?"
Shanks flipped over, casually wrapped a tattered cloth around his severed arm wound, and excitedly roared: "Let's have a banquet!"
It was hard to refuse the warm invitation.
Kevin was also invited.
"Are you going?"
"Not interested." Hancock looked at the group of stinky men below.
She wasn't interested at all.
They all stayed on the ship, unwilling to participate.
"Huh? Kevin, your Pirate Crew isn't joining the banquet?" Red-Haired Shanks poured wine for Kevin, his gaze fixed on Tomorrow.
To be precise.
It was Makino.
"They don't want to."
Red-Haired Shanks immediately became dejected.
Soon, infected by the enthusiastic atmosphere of the banquet, he became excited and started cheering again.
During the banquet.
Two little brats snuck around.
"Ace, what are you afraid of? Be bold. If you have a dream, go chase it." Sabo cheered Ace on.
Ace was uneasy, secretly making his way over to Kevin.
"Where did these little brats come from?" Shanks, drinking heavily, looked at Ace and Sabo in surprise.
Where did they pop out from?
"Two very bold brats, who actually snuck onto the battlefield to watch the fight up close," Benn Beckman said.
Shanks curiously sized up Ace.
Ace had a burning gaze.
Is his dream also to become a pirate who seeks freedom?
Does he want to join?
Red-Haired Shanks chuckled, "Little brats, you're still too young. It's too early to become pirates. There's no chance for you to get on my ship."
"Shanks, they're not…," Benn Beckman couldn't help but remind Shanks, it has nothing to do with him.
Ace's eyes sharpened.
Fearless, he met Red-Haired Shanks's gaze: "Don't underestimate me!"
His voice interrupted Benn Beckman's words.
At the same time, a Haki, though still faint but very domineering, burst forth from Ace.
Conqueror's Haki.
In an instant, everyone's eyes turned to Ace.
Their shock was unmistakable: "How is that possible? He actually awakened Conqueror's Haki. Has Conqueror's Haki become so common now?"
"Is it real or fake?"
Yasopp and the others were stunned.
Possessing the aptitude of a king, and so young, they had never seen it before.
"Oh?"
Red-Haired Shanks stood up, also looking at Ace with great shock: "Alright, I apologize. You have the right to join my Pirate Crew."
Conqueror's Haki awakened before the age of ten.
Such a talented prodigy.
Red-Haired Shanks also found it hard to remain calm, willing to break his own rules to take Ace to the sea and personally train him.
Benn Beckman helplessly covered his face with his hand.
He couldn't bear to watch Shanks embarrass himself anymore.
"I'm not interested in you." Ace, with a snotty attitude, gave Red-Haired Shanks an arrogant back.
Red-Haired Shanks wasn't angry either.
"The aptitude of a king, indeed unwilling to submit to others. Then I will wait at the top…."
Before he could finish his inspiring words.
Shanks saw Ace walk up to Kevin.
He wasn't arrogant like he was with him; instead, he became hesitant: "Mr. Kevin, can I get on your ship?"
His eyes were full of longing and aspiration.
Kevin: "...?"
Kevin had already noticed Ace and Sabo and recognized their identities.
Just like when he faced Luffy.
He wasn't interested.
"Why?" Kevin hadn't expected Ace to want to join the Sun and Moon Pirates.
It was unexpected.
"Because I want to become a great pirate like Mr. Kevin, someone respected by others," Ace excitedly stated his dream.
At this moment.
The intensity of his Conqueror's Haki seemed to subtly increase.
Red-Haired Shanks felt sour again.
What am I lacking?
"It seems the Sun and Moon Pirates will add another powerful member in the future. Congratulations," Shanks couldn't help but offer his congratulations.
He was 100% certain that once Ace grew up.
He will definitely become a powerhouse of the sea.
Looking at Ace, who was requesting to join his crew, Kevin couldn't help but picture a scene in his mind.
A scene from the future.
At Marine Headquarters, Marineford, Ace is captured by the Marines and publicly executed.
And I, Kevin, will lead the Sun and Moon Pirates to start the Summit War.
Kevin: "Ace, I've come to save you."
Ace bursts into tears: "Father, I…"
Bah, bah, bah.
Kevin quickly banished the image from his mind.
"Can you take me with you?" Ace continued to plead.
Kevin: "Scram!"
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