Gern's conviction was: "I saw it. I swung my blade. Next time, I'll win."
Shanks's conviction might have been: "I've seen it. I'm afraid. So 'he' (Luffy) has to win."
One seized destiny in his own hands, with the audacity to throw a punch even at a god.
The other placed his hopes in someone else, acting as a guide while forever lingering at the edge of the shadows.
The difference was clear!
"Phew..."
Shanks slowly exhaled and tightened his grip on Griffon's hilt.
He knew that today, he probably wouldn't be able to easily "talk Gern down" or "intimidate" him into retreating.
But Shanks hadn't come unprepared.
Since he had dared to intercept Gern on this unavoidable route to Wano Country, he had already anticipated the worst.
After all, one man might not be confident of holding Gern here, let alone driving him back, but...
He hadn't come alone!
Just as Shanks's Conqueror's Haki was being forced back step by step by Gern's dark-purple tide, nearly showing signs of collapse-
An equally immense "wind," carrying an entirely different presence, joined this invisible contest!
The addition of this "Haki" instantly changed the balance of the Conqueror's Haki clash above the sea.
Shanks's suppressed dark-red Haki gained a powerful ally, its momentum surging.
It fused tightly with the newly arrived blue-gray "Haki," forming a combined field of pressure.
Together, they forcibly halted the advance of Gern's dark-purple Haki and pushed the dividing line back to the center of the sea!
Whoosh!!!
At the same time, fierce winds sprang up over the sea, rocking Gern's speedboat violently and making the Red Force's pirate flag snap in the wind.
The spectacle in the sky grew even more chaotic as dark red, blue-gray, and dark purple intertwined and collided.
The raging air currents and