"Hahahahaha!"
Roger's fists grew thirty percent faster. A longsword hung at his waist, his energy reversed by a measure, and his killing intent flowed without end. Layer upon layer of kingly power arose within his Haki.
He used no swordsmanship, only Haki. To a master of Rokushiki, that was practically an insult.
But Shane saw no humiliation in it. If he could gain another chance to test himself now, he could not waste it.
In youth, people were most prone to towering pride, inevitably missing many opportunities. When people were pleased with their accomplishments, they would disregard everything and miss many opportunities as well.
Ultimately.
The rarest thing was to seize every last opportunity while one's spirits still soared.
At that moment, a line of poetry Shane had read in his youth echoed through his mind.
"Know that a youth's ambition reaches the clouds; he once vowed to stand among the world's finest!"
He recited the verse aloud, stirring even Roger's yearning.
"I've never liked this poet stuff, but those words couldn't be more right! Hahahahaha!"
Roger threw his fists against Shane's Enma Arms without yielding in the slightest.
In his youth, he had roamed the East Blue, winning every battle and earning countless admirers.
Later, he had left Loguetown, sailed far and wide, and finally found his first crewmate.
Countless times, he had told his Vice Captain, Rayleigh, that he would turn this world upside down.
Yet at his present age, he instead had to stake everything on one final chance.
One person's strength was no more than a little boat adrift in this world.
In forty years of life, he had experienced countless things.
The world called him an Emperor of the Sea. Those who knew no better might think he was already among the strongest few people