Fierce Battle

"Guh, ugh!"

Red Nose hung over the ship's railing, gasping for breath as seawater poured from his mouth. Louis could even clearly see a tiny sea fish mixed in with it.

"That's why I said I'd never want to become a Devil Fruit user, even if I died!"

Red Hair Shanks said gleefully, "Isn't it embarrassing for a pirate to be unable to swim?"

"Ugh, just don't fall in the water!"

Buggy lifted his head and glared fiercely at Louis, who stood in front of him.

"I thought you'd say you could just have your crewmates save you if you fell into the sea."

Shanks looked a little disappointed.

"Who would say that?!"

Buggy shouted angrily. "If you're always relying on other people, what's the point of being a pirate?"

"Really?"

Red Hair paused, rubbing his chin. "I think it's better to rely on your crewmates more. You do what I can't, and I'll give my all to do what's my responsibility. That's what a pirate crew is, isn't it?"

"Forget it, you bastard, Shanks!"

Buggy's Big Red Nose was practically touching Shanks's face. "I'd never rely on you, even if I died!"

"But I just saved you a moment ago."

Shanks shook the water off his Straw Hat and laughed.

"I'm not admitting that!"

Red Nose gritted his teeth.

"Bam!"

"Clang!"

Shanks grabbed Buggy by the head and slammed it against the railing. Buggy cried out in pain as his big red nose struck the rail hard. At the same time, Shanks raised the long sword in his hand and knocked a bullet aside.

"What are you two playing at?"

Louis watched the pair fool around and waved his hand. "Open fire."

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!!!"

Behind Louis, the pirates aboard the ship were already seething with rage. They were just two brats, yet they'd run rampant across the ship. The Red Nose brat's bizarre ability and the Red-haired brat's exquisite swordsmanship had left these seasoned pirates unable to do a thing about the two bastards. It was utterly humiliating.

Now was the time to get even.

Dozens of men opened fire at once, filling the air with a dense barrage.

"Tch!"

Shanks gritted his teeth, dragging his sword across the deck and flicking it upward. Several planks sprang up, forming a shield that blocked the pirates' bullets.

"Hm?"

Louis was slightly surprised. By the time the planks covering the two red-haired boys fell, the boys had vanished.

"Careful! They went into the hold!"

Louis spotted the large hole the red-haired boy's sword had cut open.

"Whoosh!"

It was too late. Behind them, the deck suddenly burst open in the middle of the crowd, and a dark figure shot out. The sword in his hand shone with a captivating halo, like a full moon.

"Ah!"

"That guy—"

Screams rang out. In an instant, a ring of victims lay sprawled across the floor.

"You bastards, die, die, die, die!!"

The Red Nose brat followed close behind, flinging several knives from both hands. He'd managed to create a barrage all by himself.

The pirates, caught completely off guard, went down in another wave.

"Honestly..."

Louis sighed helplessly. The no-name pirates in this no-name crew really were unbelievably useless. Red-haired Shanks would become one of the Four Emperors who ruled the New World in his twenties, but right now he was only twelve. It was downright pathetic for a twelve-year-old kid to be beating them without any chance to fight back.

"Whoosh!"

Louis couldn't let the two brats keep showing off. He was counting on this ship to get him through the coming storm, and a properly assembled crew was essential. Louis lowered his body. The scenery around him blurred, wind howled past his ears, and the bodies blocking his way seemed to stretch out in an instant.

"Tap!"

He stamped hard on the ground, and his body shot off at an angle, his sword already gripped tightly in his hand.

"That guy—Buggy, watch out!"

Shanks kicked his partner away and raised his sword in his right hand.

"Clang!!!"

Louis's sword swept upward like a viper, slicing straight toward Shanks's neck. The red-haired boy's sword came crashing down like a waterfall.

"What?"

The force was overwhelming. Shanks was sent flying, and his sword hand went numb. This guy has incredible strength!!!

He's only twelve, after all!

Louis understood. Just like he'd been before, Shanks hadn't entered his full growth phase yet. No matter how gifted someone was, unless he was a natural-born destroyer like Charlotte Linlin, the difference in physical strength would be crushing.

"This guy..."

Shanks staggered back two steps across the deck, his expression grave as he looked at Louis. "He's strong!"

"Do you still have time to marvel?"

Now that he had the upper hand, Louis wouldn't let his opponent off. He stamped down and shot forward at incredible speed, his sword swinging down hard. Beneath his clothes, the muscles in his right arm had already bulged.

"Tch!"

Shanks had only enough time to hold his sword crosswise in front of him.

"Clang!!!"

The clear ring of steel echoed out. The red-haired boy was blasted away, unable to keep hold of his sword. His body flew like a cannonball and slammed heavily into the mast.

"Guh..."

He clenched his teeth as blood rose in his throat. For a moment, his mind went blank. His strength is even greater!

"Die!!"

Louis's attack followed close behind. He leapt into the air, and the next instant his sword would pin Shanks to the mast.

"It's not over yet!!"

Shanks reached back and grabbed the mast with both hands. He pulled hard with his arms, flipped his body over, and sprang upward, upside down.

"Tch!"

Louis's sword stabbed into the mast, but his target was already gone. He looked up.

I can't fight this guy head-on!

Shanks thought this as he pushed off the mast with both legs. His body shot forward and plunged into the crowd below.

"Ah!"

He landed on a pirate, snatched the sword from the man's hand, and ducked to avoid the weapons flying at him from all directions. He swung hard, and another group of pirates went down around him.

"Don't think you can get away!"

Louis wouldn't go easy on his enemy just because he was an important figure in the future. There was no future if he died now.

He used Soru with practiced ease, moving so fast he was almost impossible to see as he charged toward Shanks like a bomber.

"His speed is incredible too!"

Shanks held his sword in one hand and kept the other on the Straw Hat atop his head. He rolled across the ground. His opponent was fast, that was true, but since he was coming straight for Shanks, all Shanks had to do was keep moving.

"Clever guy!"

Louis landed on the deck. Shanks had already blended into the crowd, and even spotting him with the naked eye was no easy task.

"Spread out! Give me some room!"

Louis shouted.

"Die, you bastard!!"

The Big Red Nose, who had finally managed to get back up, bellowed and flung both hands forward. The knives in his hands came whistling toward Louis.

"Hm?"

Louis tilted his head slightly, easily dodging the knives that came at him from behind. He turned around and looked at Buggy.

"Uh..."

Buggy's body trembled, and he instinctively took a step back.

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I like recommendation tickets.

I'm no big shot. I just want to write my story, and ask for recommendations, tips, follows, and reading-list adds.