You really are his best friend!

The battle between Haku and Shanks has really escalated!

"You brat, what's wrong with your body! We've been fighting for so long, how come you don't seem to have any stamina left?"

After fighting with Haku for so long, he finally realized that Haku's stamina and endurance were even more exaggerated than those of Zoan Devil Fruit users!

Haku twisted her aching neck; Shanks had almost cut it open with his Kamunagi.

Fortunately, he managed to cover it with Armament Haki in time.

After the soreness in her neck subsided, Haku brandished her knife at Shanks and said, "Are you kidding me? We've only been fighting for a short while; I've only just warmed up."

Upon hearing this, Shanks' lips curled into a playful smile. His signature Red-Haired fluttered in the wind, and his eyes gleamed with a passion for battle and an acknowledgment of Haku's strength.

"Oh? Warm-up complete? Then I'd better step up my game, or you'll look down on me."

Before he could finish speaking, Shanks' figure blurred, seemingly vanishing from his spot in an instant, leaving only a blur. When he reappeared, he was already close to Haku, his Rapier "Griffon" gleaming coldly, aimed directly at Haku's heart. This strike was as fast as Inazuma, carrying the power to tear space apart.

Haku's pupils contracted slightly, but his reaction was swift. He sidestepped the fatal blow, and simultaneously swung his sword back with tremendous force, aiming for Shanks' side.

The exchange between the two was so fast that it was impossible to keep up with the speed of the eye. Each collision stirred up visible shockwaves, and the surrounding air seemed to be ignited, with waves of heat rolling in.

On the Straw Hat crew's ship in the distance, Luffy, Zoro, and other talented individuals watched the battle intently.

They always had a nagging feeling that there was a window in their hearts that they hadn't yet broken through.

If they can figure out the secrets of the battle between Haku and Shanks, their strength will be further enhanced!

They might even be able to raise their strength to the point of suppressing the Five Elders.

After all, the abilities of these Five Elders have always been closely related to Imu, and dealing with them is not something that can be done simply by talking.

"Well done, Haku!" Shanks laughed, not retreating but instead charging at Haku's blade. The two blades clashed fiercely in mid-air, producing a deafening metallic clang.

In that instant, both of them unleashed their full power, speed, and skill, as if engaged in a silent contest, vying to see who was the true strongest in this sea.

"Shanks, it seems your swordsmanship is just as good as Dracule Mihawk's!" Haku said slowly.

Sweat streamed down his resolute face, but his eyes shone even brighter, brimming with fighting spirit. "However, I wonder, in your opinion, how does my swordsmanship compare to his?"

Upon hearing this, Shanks' eyes flashed with excitement, a mixture of respect for his close friend Hawk Eyes and genuine admiration for Haku's abilities.

He chuckled softly, the tip of his sword trembling slightly, as if responding to Haku's words, while the rhythm of their battle remained unchanged.

"Haku, you and Hawk Eyes represent two completely different Swordsmanship. Hawk Eyes pursues ultimate sharpness and precision; every strike of his seems to penetrate the weaknesses of the human heart. You, on the other hand, are like a raging storm in the ocean, powerful and invincible. If we really have to compare them, I can only say that each has its own merits, and it's hard to say which is better."

Upon hearing this, a glint of surprise flashed in Haku's eyes; she knew full well that Shanks' words were true.

Shanks looked at Haku seriously and said, "If you want to deal with Mihawk, remember to help me cut him a few more times!"

"Ha! You really are his best friend!" Haku retorted.

"Shanks, I accept your assessment. Now, let's use this battle to prove our respective Swordsmanship!" After saying this, Haku's aura surged once again. He seemed to transform into a ferocious beast about to charge, surrounded by a dense Armament Haki. Every strike he made was accompanied by a whistling sound that tore through the air.

Shanks was not to be outdone. He also raised his own aura, and the Rapier "Griffon" seemed to come alive in his hands. Every swing was accompanied by an elegant arc, both precise and full of power.

"Kamunagi!"

Shanks still relies on a single, signature move that he can use to his advantage!

However, Haku dared not be careless in the face of such a tactic.

It's important to know that the technique Shanks used was the signature move of the former Pirate King, Gol D. Roger!

That's a move Conqueror's Haki coating around a weapon and slashed out in the form of sword energy!

Its power is such that it can destroy a large fleet with a single blow. If a powerful expert with extremely high mastery of Haki were to use this move...

Its power might at least double!

"Extreme! The heavens are collapsing!"

This is a move that Haku developed herself.

The principle is to infuse the Three Types of Haki into the Zanpakuto and unleash a single, powerful slash!

Haku let out a low growl, and his Haki seemed to reach its peak at that moment. His Zanpakuto shone brightly in the sunlight, a brilliance of Three Types of Haki intertwined.

As Haku's roar subsided, Haku swung her sword fiercely, unleashing a powerful slash that cleaved through the air, aimed directly at Shanks's Kamunagi.

Two powerful forces converged in mid-air. The moment they collided, space seemed to be torn apart, and visible ripples spread outwards, carrying an aura of world destruction.

The surrounding seawater was churned Raging Waves by this force, and ships in the distance even felt the shock and gave way.

A hint of seriousness flashed in Shanks' eyes. He hadn't expected Haku to be able to create such a powerful move to counter his Kamunagi. But he was, after all, one of the Four Emperors, with extremely rich combat experience. Faced with Haku's powerful attack, he not only did not back down, but instead his fighting spirit was ignited even stronger.

"What a brilliant move! Heaven's Collapse! But my Kamunagi won't be so easily broken!" Shanks roared, his eyes becoming even sharper, his Conqueror's Haki surging wildly, and the sword energy wrapped around his Rapier "Griffon" becoming even more condensed and sharp, as if it could even split the air in two.

The two powerful attacks finally collided head-on. In an instant, the entire sea seemed to be shaken by this force. The sky was obscured, and the seawater boiled. Only the center point where the two beams of light intersected was the only place of tranquility in this chaos.

Finally, with a deafening roar, both attacks vanished into nothingness, but the aftershocks lingered for a long time, with waves rolling and clouds swirling.

Haku and Shanks stood still, gazing at each other with unwavering respect for their opponent.