The instant the rifle stock collided with the twin blades, sparks exploded.
Beckman and Vista clashed at close range, the violent Haki aftershocks blasting the surrounding rubble in every direction.
Teach glanced over from the corner of his eye, and his expression immediately darkened.
Benn Beckman, vice-captain of the Red Hair Pirates.
Of course Teach knew how strong this man was.
He was no ordinary Emperor commander, but a monster capable of truly influencing the flow of an Emperor Class battlefield.
If Beckman were allowed to free up his hands completely, this battle would only become more troublesome.
Teach made his decision at once and roared, "Go help Vista. Red-Hair is mine!"
Lafitte struggled to his feet from the rubble and gave a slight bow.
"As you command, Captain."
Burgess grinned wildly as the ground beneath his feet suddenly shattered.
"Wihahaha!"
Doc Q coughed twice atop his horse, gray-green sickly vapor slowly seeping from his sleeves.
"What a... tiring fate."
The three of them immediately changed direction and pressed toward Beckman.
The fury in Shanks's eyes intensified.
"Teach—!!!"
He took one step forward, and Conqueror's Haki suddenly surged atop Griffin.
But Teach had already steadied himself.
Darkness churned in his left hand while the power of vibration gathered in his right fist.
A savage grin spread across his coarse face once more.
"Shanks!"
"Looks like you've forgotten."
"How that scar over your eye came to be!"
As soon as the words fell, he abruptly raised his left hand.
"Dark Water!"
Terrifying gravitational force erupted.
Darkness transformed into an invisible vortex, forcibly dragging at Shanks's body.
The ground beneath Shanks instantly exploded, rubble flying backward toward Teach.
His cape snapped violently in the pull, but his gaze did not waver in the slightest.
Griffin was held across his body, black-red Haki