Alucard had left the East Blue over half a month ago. Shortly after his departure, Makino informed the Red-Hair Pirates fighting in Arderay that Luffy had been captured.
While grieving over the news, Ben Beckman, the first mate, suggested an immediate retreat. He had already felt in the previous battle that the fighting could not continue.
Although the intervention of Dracule Mihawk had slightly reversed their initially unfavorable situation, the arrival of Kaido had caused the tide to turn overwhelmingly against them.
If their idiot captain continued fighting, the Red-Hair Pirates crew might all meet their end right here.
Luffy's capture was a hard pill to swallow, but they ultimately had no choice but to accept it. Retreat was now mandatory.
Seeing the Red-Hair Pirates showing signs of withdrawal, Mihawk, who was already heavily injured from his clash with Zephyr, quickly disengaged, sheathing his black blade Yoru on his back. "A strong opponent after a long time. I look forward to our next battle."
"It's unusual for the solitary Hawk-Eyes to help others. That's rare," Zephyr's sunglasses were no longer on his eyes, and despite having the Black Light Virus, his injuries were still significant.
Mihawk remained silent for a few seconds, then said, "I merely wished to challenge a strong foe."
With that, Mihawk swiftly jumped onto his small black coffin boat on the sea and sailed away.
Zephyr thought to himself, 'Red-Hair Shanks is the one who could potentially start a new era. Hawk-Eyes is just a simple man pursuing the path of the sword. Though powerful, he can't cause an upheaval in the era. There is no need to exert so much effort capturing him right now. The key is...'
With that thought, Zephyr shifted his gaze toward the Red-Hair Pirates' exclusive ship, the Red Force, which was retreating fifty meters away from Arderay. 'The one who might truly stir up the tidal wave is Red-Hair Shanks!'
Shanks was currently fending off Kaido's attacks, covering the retreat of his crew. Few of the Immortal Pirates dared to intervene in Kaido's fight. Though the madman wasn't currently attacking Alucard's crew, he would not hesitate to strike anyone who interfered in his battle.
Zephyr had no intention of interfering with the Shanks and Kaido fight, either. That would change the situation from Kaido versus Shanks to Kaido versus Shanks versus himself, or potentially even Kaido and Shanks against him.
He would leave Shanks to Kaido. If that was the case... Zephyr's eyes refocused, locking onto the Red Force.
"Target their ship! Full attack! Without a ship, they're finished!"
Zephyr issued the sharp command. The Red-Hair Pirates didn't have many Devil Fruit users, but more importantly, this was the territory of the Immortal Pirates. Without a ship, no matter how strong their stamina, swimming away from Arderay would still mean they had New Amazon Lily and several other islands waiting for them. They would never make it out alive.
Hearing Zephyr's order, the Immortal Pirates quickly boarded their ships to chase the Red Force.
Shanks, who had just blocked a punch from Kaido, glanced back at the Red Force and gave a wry smile. "This is going to be troublesome."
BOOM!
The thunderous sound of a punch impact reached his ears. Shanks raised his sword to block again, but this time his footing faltered, and his right knee dropped to the ground.
"Ugh!"
Shanks cried out in pain, forcing a difficult smile. "Damn it, I'm only flesh and blood, too."
He looked at Kaido in front of him, whose sword wound was slowly healing. "You monsters who can instantly regenerate... you truly are terrifying."
Zephyr, who had also boarded a ship to pursue the Red Force, turned and glanced back. He muttered, "Red-Hair Shanks is at the end of his rope. Kaido won't let him go. We must use this chance to deal with the rest of the Red-Hair Pirates, led by Ben Beckman."
With that, Zephyr turned to face the Red Force again. "Cannon fire!" "Fire!"
Over ten of the Immortal Pirates' warships began shelling the Red Force, forcing the pirate ship to accelerate. However, in doing so, they moved farther and farther away from Shanks.
"Looks like I'll have to swim away later. Rayleigh-san seemed to use that trick. I didn't expect I'd have to imitate it today." Shanks then looked at Kaido with a distressed expression. "But the problem is this monster..."
When it came to swimming, Shanks was no match for this monster, Kaido. No matter the distance, Kaido had swum the entire way from the New World to the first half of the Grand Line. Even if Shanks swam, being caught by Kaido meant certain death.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Several consecutive gunshots struck Kaido on the back of his head, though they failed to inflict any significant damage.
Who would dare intervene in Kaido's fight?
Shanks, Kaido, and the Immortal Pirates crew members remaining on the island all looked in confusion toward the direction of the gunfire.
A figure with mop-like, yellow, frizzled hair and thick lips was holding a long sniper rifle. Shanks was shocked. "Yassop! Why aren't you on the ship!"
Shanks and Ben Beckman had jointly ordered everyone to board the ship and retreat. Shanks chose to stay behind to cover their escape, planning to leave by swimming or seizing an enemy ship. He never expected Yassop to still be on the island.
"Go, Captain, quickly! I'll hold off Kaido!"
Yassop fired continuously. The bullets felt like mosquito bites to Kaido, who was highly irritated. He temporarily ignored Shanks and threw a punch at Yassop.
Yassop's body flashed, narrowly avoiding Kaido's devastating blow. His thick lips curved into a smile. "Don't underestimate me! I'm the marksman of the Red-Hair Pirates!"
Yassop shouted again, "Go, Captain, hurry!"
"What kind of joke is this! I can't leave you behind!" Shanks yelled back.
"If you don't leave, the Red-Hair Pirates will fall apart! Hurry up and go!!" Yassop shouted back with even greater volume and intensity, stunning Shanks into immobility.
"None of you are getting away!"
Kaido smashed both fists into the ground, causing the terrain to instantly crack and the mountains and rivers to break apart.
"Damn it!"
Shanks drew his sword, preparing to fight again, but Yassop rushed toward him. Before Shanks could register what was happening, Yassop put all his strength into a kick to Shanks's gut, sending him flying hundreds of meters out into the ocean.