Sorry, I Don't Have Any Smaller Underwear

"Huh?"

Before Austin could react, Buggy was the first to jump up, smacking his lips with an exaggerated expression.

"Shanks, what are you thinking? There's a limit to showing off! How could you possibly be Austin's opponent?!"

Though those words stung a little, Shanks himself had to admit that there was indeed far too great a gap between his current strength and Austin's.

They were both thirteen years old, yet Austin had already begun to touch upon the threshold of Conqueror's Haki Infusion.

As for himself, even giving it everything he had only let him vaguely sense Haki. He could not even put it into practical use.

But sometimes, becoming stronger meant daring to challenge yourself.

"I see..."

Austin smiled knowingly. Shanks was treating him like an experience farm.

And it was true: the fastest way to improve was to fight an opponent one level stronger than yourself.

You would neither gain nothing from crushing weaklings nor set your sights too high because the gap was too vast.

"Since you have that determination, then come at me."

Austin looked at Shanks, who was considerably shorter than him, and suddenly had an idea. His playful side stirred.

He recalled the scene of their duel from several years ago.

The legendary line:

"Sorry, I don't have a smaller knife."

But after searching around, Austin found that he only had a spear and a longsword on him. There was no small dagger at all.

"Hmm..."

After thinking for a long while, Austin put his combat wisdom to full use and found a substitute for a small knife on the clothesline at the stern.

A large pair of underwear.

"Austin!"

Shanks stepped forward, gripping his sword with both hands. His voice brimmed with youthful vigor. As expected of the future King of the Next Generation, he naturally possessed the courage to raise his blade against someone stronger.

"Accept my challenge!"

Ignoring his passionate declaration, Austin strolled over to the clothesline and took down a freshly washed pair of his own underwear.

Under Buggy and Shanks's dumbfounded stares,

he gave it a shake, twisted it into the shape of a rope, and then—

Clang—

Pitch-black Armament Haki coated it! (Armament Haki: Had I known I'd be coating this thing, I might as well have rotted inside his body...)

"Sorry, I don't have any smaller underwear."

Shanks had been filled with excitement, immersed in the coming battle as he constantly pondered how to find an opening in Austin's defenses.

But when he saw Austin directly harden a pair of underwear with Armament Haki and prepare to fight him with it, he had to admit he could not hold it in anymore.

"D-Damn it!"

"Austin, you bastard!!"

"There's a limit to looking down on people!!!"

Last time it had been a small knife. Now he had directly switched to underwear. He was not even pretending anymore!

As companions who had lived and fought together for five years, Shanks knew Austin's strength well.

Whether it was spear techniques, martial arts, swordsmanship, Haki... Austin was proficient in every aspect related to combat, and his mastery of them all ran deep.

Whenever he faced a different enemy, he could always instantly choose the most suitable fighting style.

Even barehanded, Shanks had seen Austin coat both fists in Armament Haki and carve a bloody path through encirclements with brute force. Austin had also sought guidance from quite a few martial arts experts aboard the ship.

But now that he was fighting him, he had just casually grabbed a pair of underwear and hardened it?

Shanks took ten thousand points of critical damage.

Was this Austin's twisted sense of humor, or did he truly think underwear was the most suitable weapon for dealing with him?

What kind of joke was this?!

Even if you were not using your prized spear techniques or monstrous strength against me, at least use the longsword at your waist, damn it!!!

Shanks tightened his grip on his sword. As if fighting for his pride, he unleashed every sword technique he had inherited from Roger. His sharp gaze was utterly unlike that of a child.

After all, he was the King of the Next Generation praised by Roger. Even if he was not as absurdly gifted as Austin, he was still one of the best among his peers. A faint sword aura emerged around his blade.

It was the sign that he was about to become a swordsman.

"Not bad swordsmanship."

Austin did not even move his feet, nor did he activate Future Sight. He merely watched Shanks charge at him with his combat instincts.

That casual attitude even gave Shanks an illusion.

I can hit him!

I have a chance of winning!

Even you aren't completely invincible, Austin!!!

Clang—!

The sound of metal striking metal resounded through the area. Under Buggy's watchful gaze, Shanks's fierce, full-power slash had clearly struck Austin's...

Uh,

underwear.

The confidence on Shanks's face suddenly turned to shock.

When had he blocked it?

Even Buggy, watching from the side, had not expected this.

Shanks's mouth hung slightly open as he looked up at Austin with a grave expression. All he could see was Austin's mischievous smirk and an expression as though he were enjoying a show.

"That was close. I almost didn't react in time."

Austin's mischievous streak flared up as he grinned.

Shanks's eyelids twitched violently.

"Shanks, I knew you still couldn't do it. You're completely outmatched." Buggy shouted at the side, though it was unclear whether he was trying to persuade Shanks to give up or fan the flames.

Sure enough, Shanks's face turned even redder.

Veins bulged on his forehead, and faint black Haki even surfaced on his blade as he turned and slashed at Austin again.

Clang—!

Once again, Austin blocked him with the underwear.

Then a dense barrage of such sounds rang out. Austin fought while retreating, calmly wielding the "Supreme Underwear" in his hand.

With Armament Haki coating it, it could be considered a "black blade."

And one that had fought a Four Emperors, at that.

Compared to Austin's distraction, Shanks was truly on the verge of breaking down.

I can't even cut through a pair of underwear. Is the Armament Haki on my sword fake?

He unleashed every sword technique he had ever learned, sending a frenzied curtain of blade shadows sweeping through the air.

His slashes, already showing some mastery, became a complete joke before those constantly shifting underwear. They could not break through its defense at all.

There were even chips in the blade's edge.

Yet the underwear remained exactly as it had been, as sturdy as if it could last until the end of time.

Gradually, rage gave way to helplessness. Though Shanks had surpassed his original limits in his fury, he still had no way of dealing with Austin.

Until Austin's stomach let out a growl.

Grrr...

"Sorry, let's stop here for today."

Shanks had not even processed those words when Austin suddenly vanished from before him. A gust of wind came from behind his head.

Could it be...

No...

I don't want to get knocked out by underwear...

Shanks resisted with all his heart, but there was nothing he could do. A black rod flew straight toward the back of his head with a crisp impact.

Unfortunately, before he could finish speaking, Austin's black rod had already struck his head.

Under Buggy's astonished gaze,

Shanks was put to sleep by Austin once again.

A huge red lump swelled up on his head. Buggy winced just looking at it.

Shanks...

His strength had improved in desperate circumstances, but the price...

was a lifetime of embarrassing blackmail material.