The next day, Yake left Thunder God Island without stopping for a moment.
The residents of Thunder God Island tearfully bid Yake farewell and planted the Ark Pirates' flag at the island's entrance. Blue lightning ran through a giant ship—that was the Ark Pirates' emblem, quite different from an ordinary pirate flag.
Yake flew over the sea, blue-violet lightning streaking across the waters. Ever since absorbing Thunder God Island's lightning, the electricity he released had turned blue-violet. Its power had not changed much; it just looked cooler. Yake was very satisfied with that.
"Is that... the Red Force?" Yake spotted the ship ahead and immediately recognized the pirate flag bearing a red mark through the skull's left eye. That was undoubtedly Red-Haired Shanks' ship. Six years ago, Red-Hair had come to the Sabaody Archipelago and found Old Man Rayleigh. By then, he had already lost his left arm and his signature Straw Hat.
"It's been a long time since I saw Uncle Shanks. I'll go have some fun with him." Yake grinned. When he was fourteen, he had challenged Shanks, only to get thoroughly beaten. It was time to win back some face.
"Captain, someone's coming after us from behind," Benn Beckman said without looking up, wiping down his beloved gun.
"Oh? Let me see. That lightning looks familiar. Is it that brat Yake?" Shanks recalled the kid who had challenged him a few years ago.
"Uncle Shanks, long time no see." Yake flashed onto the Red Force's deck and spoke with a smile.
"Hahahaha! It really is you, kid! You've changed so much! Your tattoos look pretty damn cool!" Shanks burst into laughter. He had not seen Yake in six years and had not expected the kid to become even more handsome. The once fair and clean-looking boy had actually covered himself in tattoos, though they seemed strangely familiar.
"Hahaha, they're all right. Uncle Beckman, Uncle Yasopp, Uncle Lucky Roux, did you miss me?" Yake waggled his eyebrows at them.
"Yeah, you little brat! I still haven't settled the score over you secretly shocking me back then!" Lucky Roux angrily charged toward Yake, looking menacing. Yake merely watched with a smile and did not dodge.
Sure enough, Lucky Roux was only putting on a show. His plump body wrapped Yake in a huge embrace as he laughed loudly.
"Captain, shouldn't we throw a party now that Yake's here?" Lucky Roux punched Yake's solid chest muscles, then turned to Shanks.
"Of course! Brothers, party time! Let's welcome our little brother Yake!!!"
Shanks excitedly raised and waved his right hand, and everyone cheered in unison! The ship instantly became a sea of joy.
The Red-Haired Pirates never hesitated when it came to throwing a party. The moment they said party, they switched straight into party mode.
"Hahaha, Yake, what have you been doing these past two years? You gave us one hell of a scare when you killed a Celestial Dragon!" Shanks drained his drink in one gulp and slung an arm around Yake.
"I founded my own country, up in Skypiea. You've been there too, Uncle Shanks!"
"Skypiea? That really brings back memories. I was just a kid back then." Shanks recalled the days when he had adventured with Roger, as well as Buggy, his best friend and rival.
"I became Skypiea's new god. It's now called the Sky God Kingdom, and it officially opens today," Yake said calmly.
"Hahaha, that really suits your personality. But even if it opens, it won't be easy to get up there!"
"I built a massive Heaven's Ladder. Skypiea can now be entered and exited freely. Otherwise, why would I bother founding a country?"
"Yake, why did the new god of Skypiea come to the New World instead of staying behind to watch over his country?" Benn Beckman asked doubtfully.
"My crew will protect Skypiea. As for me, I came to challenge the Four Emperors and use that to announce to the world that the Sky God Kingdom is my private territory," Yake said indifferently.
"That makes sense. So who are you planning to challenge?" Shanks asked curiously.
"Far away in the sky, close before my eyes."
"Huh? So it's me? Hahaha!"
"That's right, Shanks. I lost horribly six years ago. This time, I'll definitely win back some face. But we can talk about that tomorrow. Today, let's drink our fill first!" Yake raised his drink and gulped it down in one go.
"You brat, you really are still holding a grudge. Ah, looks like I'm done for tomorrow!" Shanks said theatrically, as if his fate would be utterly miserable.
"Idiot Captain, Yake's abilities are definitely much stronger than before. You're dead for sure. I'm backing Yake!" Lucky Roux tore into a chunk of meat, making it clear he was all-in on Yake.
"By the way, Yake, how is Uncle Rayleigh doing?" Shanks asked. It was only when he met Rayleigh six years ago that he learned Rayleigh had a son. Though Yake was adopted, it had still greatly surprised him.
"How else could he be? Coating ships, selling himself as a slave to earn money and support the family, that sort of thing." Yake had not called his dad much, but his mom often called to urge him to have a child with Hancock as soon as possible, which embarrassed him immensely. Still, given his dad's strength, there were not many people who could defeat him.
"Hahaha, Uncle Rayleigh really hasn't changed at all!"
"Shanks, that kid you entrusted with your dream has already set sail, right?" Seeing Yake reminded Yasopp of that brat in East Blue who was the same age as his own son.
"Yeah. Luffy will definitely keep our promise." Shanks suddenly became calm and unconsciously touched his empty left sleeve.
"Luffy? Who's that?" Yake pretended not to know who Luffy was.
He casually picked up a piece of meat and stuffed it into his mouth, then refilled his cup.
"Luffy... I gave that kid my hat. We promised we'd meet again on the sea someday, and he'd return the hat to me then. Right, he's the future I bet my left arm on," Shanks said seriously.
"It sounds like Uncle Shanks thinks very highly of him. Is he aiming to become the Pirate King?"
"That's right. That's what he said."
"Then that might be a little difficult. Robin, who can read the Poneglyphs, is my crewmate..." Yake said rather proudly. After the Ohara Incident, someone who could read the Poneglyphs was truly one of a kind, and the only known one was aboard his ship.
"Hahaha, an orphan of Ohara? That's wonderful! Oh, and if you run into Luffy out at sea, don't go too hard on him! Sorry for the trouble..."
Shanks knew that as long as they sailed the seas, Luffy and Yake would meet someday. What he meant was that no matter what happened when Yake met Luffy, he should at least spare his life.
"Don't worry, Uncle Shanks. He's the man you think so highly of!"
On these seas, the only person with a stronger background than Yake was Luffy.