As Leno saw the change in Shanks's expression, the smile at the corner of his mouth gradually faded. Blood-red mist began to swirl around the blade of Huangquan.
With both of their auras intensifying, the atmosphere instantly turned oppressive and heavy. Even the distant wind seemed to have stilled.
The spectators in the distance were drawn in by the overwhelming pressure, their expressions solemn and tense as their eyes locked on the two figures before them.
Crack—crack!
Two crisp shattering sounds pierced the silence. The icy surface beneath the two men collapsed inward, and their figures vanished.
Clang!
Sparks burst as steel clashed with steel—their silhouettes flickered through the air, vanishing and reappearing in the blink of an eye.
That piercing sound was like a fuse, igniting the flames of battle between them.
In the next instant, sparks flared from every direction, the clang of blades—ding, ding, ding—echoing endlessly.
Clang!
Another midair collision—Shanks landed back on the ice, his body tensing as he prepared to strike again.
"Lightning Bind!"
As Leno's voice echoed in his mind, a crimson light flashed in Shanks's eyes, and his sword, Griffon, swept forward.
Swish, swish, swish!
Chains of lightning appeared—only to be instantly shattered by a barrage of sword slashes.
Anticipating that, a ten-meter arc of thunderous energy followed.
"Thunder Execution!"
Clang!
Shanks reacted with astonishing speed. A scarlet blade aura slashed outward, instantly dispersing the thunderblade.
He vanished in a blink, reappearing before Leno, bringing his sword down in a flash.
Ding!
Their blades met—Leno was driven backward, cracks spiderwebbing across the ice beneath his feet from the impact.
ROAR!
A dragon's roar erupted as Leno's body expanded, transforming into his draconic hybrid form. His gaze grew solemn as he looked upon his opponent.
He had to admit it—Shanks, even with one arm, was still a monster in his prime. Against him in his base form, Leno found himself strained.
He wasn't stupid enough to keep fighting at a disadvantage. After all, the "dear readers" would call him brain-dead if he didn't use the full extent of his powers.
Crack, crack.
Leno twisted his neck, bent his legs, and launched forward like a cannonball.
BOOM!
The ice shattered underfoot, the air rippling as he surged toward the oncoming Shanks.
The Huangquan sliced through the air, leaving trails of blood-red afterimages that slashed outward in a sweeping arc.
Clang!
Sparks erupted—the sharp, grating sound of steel scraping echoed. Their blades locked, and for the first time, Shanks's expression darkened.
Leno's power had increased dramatically after activating his Devil Fruit ability. This strength… it was like facing Kaido all over again.
The sheer force was nearly identical to what he'd felt in that legendary duel—and Leno clearly had more than one ability up his sleeve.
At that moment, Leno's lips curved upward, revealing his sharp fangs as he chuckled darkly.
"Two billion volts—Discharge!"
Zzzzz—crackle—!
Shanks's face changed. He'd foreseen the attack, but at such close range, even he couldn't react fast enough. Lightning surged through him before he could fully evade.
His body flickered and vanished from sight, reappearing some distance away, smoke rising from his body, his hair frizzed and wild.
Leno's grin widened.
"This isn't good. That Rumble-Rumble Fruit is too much trouble—Shanks is at a disadvantage," Benn Beckman muttered, cigarette in mouth, his face grave. "Who the hell has multiple Devil Fruit powers?"
He watched Leno's draconic form with growing unease.
A Mythical Zoan that erased his physical limits, combined with the Rumble-Rumble Fruit that empowered every aspect of his body—Leno was practically a Kaido Plus Edition.
Beckman vividly remembered Shanks's last fight with Kaido—it had taken everything Shanks had to stand toe-to-toe with that monster. And now...
Lucky Roux, clutching a slab of meat, stared nervously at the battlefield. "You think the boss is in danger?"
"Not really," Yasopp replied calmly, his hands in his pockets, sniper rifle slung across his back. "Shanks's Observation Haki can dodge most danger. Don't forget—he still has his trump card."
Though Shanks seemed to be taking hits, they were nothing more than surface wounds—nothing serious.
To men who lived by the blade, a few cuts only stirred the beast within.
The officers of the Red-Haired Pirates knew well—Shanks possessed a terrifying technique that could bypass Observation Haki itself. That was why he remained confident.
Leno gave Shanks no chance to recover, his lightning-clad body flashing around him like a storm.
The clash of blades rang endlessly, sparks forming a fiery halo around Shanks's battered form.
The Huangquan moved so fast it left countless red trails, whipping through the air like bloody serpents, striking again and again.
Each collision unleashed a shockwave that rippled outward like waves across the sea.
From the Gale in the distance, fierce winds battered the crew so hard they could barely keep their eyes open. Even Hancock and her group had to brace themselves, while the weaker members struggled to stay upright.
Yet no one looked away—their eyes were fixed on the raging storm of battle ahead.
"Are people outside really this terrifying now? We just ran into someone, and they're this strong—and what's with Captain Leno's form?!"
Olga clutched her father protectively, her voice trembling. She'd been sealed away for two centuries, but this scene defied every law of reason she knew.
"Those aren't just any people," Carmen said, trying to calm her. "That man's one of the strongest on the seas—one of the newly risen Yonko."
She thought to herself, You haven't even seen the thunder giant versus dragon fight yet… if you had, you wouldn't still be talking right now.
"Yonko???"
"Ah—well, that's a long story," Carmen sighed. "Just know that there are fewer of their kind than you can count on one hand. I'll explain the rest later."
Seeing Olga's utterly clueless expression, Carmen could only shake her head. This was not the time for a history lesson—the battle was far too intense to look away.
And just as they spoke, the clash on the battlefield shifted once more…