"Struggle to survive!"
It was like a signal for war.
In the distance, a ship exploded with a thunderous boom.
Shanks, who had still been in a slight daze, instantly sobered up.
His pirate crew... was gone.
"DOFLAMINGO!!!"
Blood vessels filled Shanks' eyes as rage took over.
Griffon swung in his hand at blinding speed.
Waves of flying slashes tore through the air.
Beside him, Mihawk also launched his attack.
At this point, survival depended solely on victory.
In an instant, the sky was filled with countless slashes, like a deadly rain.
"Fuffuffuffuffu! Good! That's it!!"
Doflamingo laughed wildly as he opened his arms to the sky, fully unleashing his awakened powers.
Boom—!
A pitch-black hand burst from the earth, like a Titan from myth breaking free of the gods' shackles.
It blocked all of Shanks and Mihawk's attacks effortlessly.
Along the coastline of the entire island, threads rose into the sky.
Under the stunned gazes of Shanks and Mihawk, the threads gathered in the air, weaving together.
Lightning from the skies was drawn into it, crackling along the threads.
It formed a massive semicircular cage above the island.
This was—
Birdcage!
High above, Doflamingo looked down at the two grim-faced men, his voice laced with amusement.
"Next up... is a game of whack-a-mole."
Doflamingo clenched his fist.
Rumble!
The ground quaked violently as if struck by an earthquake.
The earth itself turned into countless fists made of threads, surging up from below.
Meeting each other's gaze, Shanks and Mihawk used a Geppo-like technique to leap into the sky, dodging the onslaught.
They charged straight toward Doflamingo.
For Devil Fruit users, the only way to stop their abilities was to kill the user.
"Heavy Strike!!!"
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!
Thousands of thread fists smashed toward the center, as if a swarm of tunnel borers were working in unison.
The entire island trembled violently under the assault.
Among the civilians at the center of the island, there was a collective sigh.
Raijin Island had been quiet for years.
But in the past few years... it had become far too lively.
Off to the side, a slacking worker named Jenomie rubbed his dark eye circles and scrawny limbs.
Once again, he seriously considered running away.
He grabbed two of his buddies.
But just as they stepped out the door...
They saw the lightning net flashing across the sky — and silently retreated back inside.
The boss's boss had arrived. Better to behave for now.
...
Elsewhere—
Seeing that the situation was under control, Smoothie maneuvered the Numancia Flamingo to anchor in the waters near Raijin Island to watch the battle.
As the island trembled violently, Smoothie's eyes lit up with excitement.
This was her invincible husband! Two nameless swordsmen trying to pull a sneak attack? Hah!
The little people stood dumbfounded.
They had never seen an island dancing and tipping over like this.
After a long while, someone finally whispered in awe.
"So terrifying... even the island is dancing."
"Is this the Heavenly Yaksha?"
"Idiot! That's His Majesty Doflamingo!"
"Yeah, and—"
"..." Ganfu's heart was filled with gratitude.
His Majesty Doflamingo hadn't killed them outright.
He had even spoken kindly to them and gifted them IQ plants.
He was truly too merciful, too kind.
Ganfu voiced his feelings, and the little people were moved all over again.
"His Majesty Doflamingo!!!"
...
Back at the heart of the battlefield—
Mihawk and Shanks were like players in a bullet hell game, weaving through the rain of giant fists, looking more than a little bedraggled.
"Fuffuffuffuffu! That's it! As Celestial Dragons who've left the Holy Land, you're supposed to run like this!!!"
Watching the two struggle, Doflamingo licked his lips in excitement. The pleasure was nearly overwhelming.
Shanks, despite losing everything at the start, had still ended up with a legendary captain.
Like a foster father, almost.
Later, his mere reputation alone commanded respect across the seas.
As for Mihawk? No need to say more—treated like royalty.
His contemptuous attitude toward the Marines, his possession of a Supreme Grade sword, and that overwhelming aura... all spoke volumes.
So why?
Why the hell had it been just him and Rosinante who were hunted down?
This missing "rite of passage"—
He was going to make sure Shanks and Mihawk experienced it properly!
In the midst of battle, Shanks, fueled by rage, began regaining his composure.
Beating Doflamingo here and now was a fantasy.
What mattered now was breaking out of this cage.
Once they reached the sea—
Neither of them were Devil Fruit users; they could absolutely shake Doflamingo off.
Decision made, Shanks glanced at Mihawk with a heavy expression.
"Mihawk, buy me some time."
"Go."
Mihawk didn't ask questions. The black blade Yoru danced even faster, intercepting the barrage meant for Shanks.
Battle was the ultimate catalyst.
Shanks closed his eyes and bowed his head slightly, finally understanding something Roger had once said to Bullet.
"Armament Haki—your body is the source. Whether it's strong enough depends on your will.Conqueror's Haki—your spirit is the source. Whether you can use it... depends on if your will is strong enough."
But it was too late now.
Thinking of the shattered Straw Hat, Shanks' face grew even darker.
It had been the final treasure Roger had left behind.
To Shanks, Roger was as much a father as anyone could be.
"Captain... I think now, finally, I have enough will."
Shanks muttered to himself.
Black and red lightning slowly crackled along Griffon.
He slashed out.
But he wasn't aiming at Doflamingo in the sky—
He was aiming at the flashing birdcage overhead!
BOOM!
Thunder and sword-light exploded outward.
Advanced Conqueror's Haki—one of the strongest offensive powers—was unleashed.
The birdcage covering the entire island tore open a gaping hole.
"Mihawk, move!"
Sensing the break, Shanks called out.
They dashed toward the opening.
But rather than anger, Doflamingo's face lit up in delight.
The stronger the resistance, the more he loved it!
"Fuffuffuffuffu! Leaving just like that? What a poor host I'd be if I didn't give you a proper send-off!"
Two identical voices echoed one after another, sending chills down their spines.
At the hole in the cage, the threads wove tighter and tighter, fusing with lightning—
Forming two humanoid figures attached to the birdcage.
Mihawk and Shanks turned to look—
Two identical figures boxed them in from front and back.
Seeing their confusion, Doflamingo graciously explained:
"This is Shadow Rider!"
The words had barely fallen—
The heads of the Shadow Riders exploded into endless threads and lightning, blasting toward Mihawk and Shanks like a localized thunderstorm.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
The ground within the targeted area was torn apart.
Shanks and Mihawk, both bloodied and their clothes in tatters, barely caught their breath—
When an even greater shadow loomed overhead.
"Sixteen Holy Bullets: Divine Execution!"
Sixteen tendrils of black-and-red lightning thundered down like mountain peaks.
Summoning the last reserves of their Conqueror's Haki, Shanks and Mihawk met the attack head-on.
BOOM!
Yoru and Griffon were blasted away.
The birdcage over the island began to unravel.
Moments later, as the smoke cleared—
Shanks, his left arm severed at the root, and Mihawk lay gravely wounded at the bottom of a massive crater.
Step. Step. Step...
...
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Fanfic is finished 527 chapters in total on p@treon/tambeerg