Chapter 351 Surprise
"Captain! They're attacking again!"
Time was early morning. On the deserted island where the Red-Hair Pirates were stationed, someone shouted, their cry immediately shattering the early morning silence.
On the sea surface, massive ships came breaking through wind and waves. The unfurled sails alone resembled dark clouds, blocking the sunlight of the sun rising on the horizon.
"Ah, well then—"
Shanks walked to the shore in disheveled clothing with messy hair, gazing at the fleet rapidly approaching in the distance. His gaze had already met with the man standing on the deck of the fleet's foremost ship.
"Can't you let us get a good night's sleep?"
"Stop with the nonsense. Prepare for battle!"
Beside Shanks, Ben Beckman stepped forward with his rifle to stand shoulder to shoulder with him. The Red-Hair Pirates' vice-captain loudly announced the start of battle. Then his voice lowered slightly. "This might be the final battle!"
The war with the Beasts Pirates would likely come to an end today, barring surprises.
"Worororororo!! Red-Hair!! You damn brat!!"
From the distant sea surface, wild roaring already came like a hurricane. A massive blue dragon took flight from that ship's deck, soaring straight into the sky.
"Come quickly and let me slaughter you!! Blast Breath!!"
Searing flames crossed several kilometers' distance, crashing down toward the Red-Hair Pirates like a falling meteor.
"No matter how many times I see it, I always have the same feeling."
Shanks casually thrust his beloved sword into the rock beneath his feet, then gripped the hilt and drew the famous blade Griffin from its sheath.
He stepped forward leisurely. His blade had already turned pitch-black. Lightning coiled around it.
"Is Brett's ability really just a knockoff?"
He swung his blade.
A black-red slash instantly shot skyward, directly dyeing the entire sky.
The flame breath was directly split in two by the slash, futilely dividing toward both sides and crashing heavily into the sea, splashing enormous waves.
Holding his blade, Shanks looked up at Kaido in the sky with a light smile. He sighed. "No matter how you look at it, Brett's ability still seems stronger."
Bang bang bang bang!
The Beasts fleet had already opened fire. Cannons continuously spewed tongues of flame. Pitch-black cannonballs shot skyward propelled by flames, then crashed down like a rainstorm toward them.
"Return fire!"
Beckman raised his rifle and casually fired a shot.
Even an ordinary rifle, propelled by advanced Haki, could make bullets explode with astonishing speed and power.
The bullet shot from the gun instantly streaked across the sky, then a chain of explosions erupted.
Just one bullet detonated countless cannonballs.
This amazing insight was truly awe-inspiring.
"Oh! Should we compete to see who can blow up more cannonballs with one shot, Beck?!"
The ship's sniper also raised his gun.
Bang.
After one shot, another series of explosions.
"AWOOO!"
A rough-featured man opened his mouth wide. Dazzling light gushed from within. As he turned his head, a laser swept across the sky.
Then—
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!
Chain detonations caused dazzling fireworks to bloom in the sky.
Then the man raised his eyebrows smugly at his comrades.
"Hey! Gab! That's not fair!"
Sniper Yasopp protested loudly. "If I could fire continuously, I could do that too!"
"Hehe."
The man called Gab paid no mind, just smiling smugly.
"Alright. Stop fooling around. They're here!"
Beckman's tone grew grave.
What he meant was—
"Worororororo!! Roaring Thunder Eight Trigrams!!"
Thunder exploded in the sky. Kaido crashed down. The iron club in his hand struck down mercilessly.
"Well... I'll go first..."
Shanks shook his head somewhat helplessly, then his body shot upward.
BOOM!!
The next moment, the collision of famous blade and iron club burst with pitch-black lightning in the sky.
The collision between Emperors naturally caused the cloud layer above to begin fracturing.
After Kaido came the monsters under his command.
King arriving on wings. Doflamingo following behind!
The fleet on the sea also approached. Standing at the ships' bows were Queen and Jack.
"Haa—"
Beckman slowly exhaled. "Should be in time." He murmured lowly.
The two pirate crews engaged in fierce battle once more on this deserted island.
The Emperors' battlefield was at the island's center. Every collision of long blade and iron club made the entire island tremble continuously.
The shore was the subordinates' battlefield.
Top officers versus top officers. Low-level officers versus low-level officers.
The Beasts Pirates held absolute numerical superiority, yet the battle remained intense.
The Red-Hair Pirates had far fewer people, but their average level far exceeded the Beasts Pirates'. Even their high-ranking officers were stronger than the Beasts Pirates' officers.
"What a remarkable bunch!"
King flew in the air, dodging bullets shot from below. His heart felt very grave.
The Red-Hair Pirates' vice-captain, Ben Beckman?
This strength was absurdly powerful!
"But how unfortunate."
Doflamingo also dodged bullets the Red-Hair Pirates' sniper sent skyward. He chuckled lowly. "This time, it's not a fair contest between good children."
Not long after the battle began, at the island's center—Shanks, fiercely fighting Kaido, froze slightly. His Observation Haki had already sensed something.
"Worororororo! Finally here!"
Kaido laughed heartily. "Red-Hair, I've prepared a surprise for you!"
In the distant sky, a shadow was rapidly approaching.
"Mamamama! You brat from Roger's ship, hurry up and honestly hand over the Final Island's information!"
"Ah, it's been quite a while since I've heard that form of address. Rather nostalgic."
Shanks sighed somewhat, calmly watching Charlotte Linlin rapidly approaching on her cloud.
"Hmm?"
Kaido frowned.
What was going on? Why was this kid's reaction somewhat off?
Seeing Linlin's arrival, wasn't he worried at all?
"This truly is a huge surprise."
Suddenly, Shanks winked at Kaido. "But Kaido, I've also prepared a surprise for you."
WHOOOM!!
The air resonated. Green light streaked from the distant shore.
The earth was instantly torn open with an enormous chasm.
"What?!"
Charlotte Linlin froze, then quickly reached for the hat on her head, drawing the great blade Napoleon.
"Elbaf Spear—"
BOOM!!
An astonishing explosion.
"A slash of this caliber!"
Kaido's eyes widened. He said in shock. "Could it be—"
On the sea surface at the island's other side, a small boat with eerie green candlelight was slowly approaching.
On the boat, holding a black great blade, a man with eagle-sharp eyes curved his lips upward.
"Seems I've arrived at just the right time."