Carl's mouth curled into a smile.
Twice!
He had been GANKed twice by Conqueror's Haki knockouts.
No, if he counted properly, it was actually three times—Golden Lion had also unleashed his before dying.
Having been caught off guard before, Carl had long since steeled his mind against the effects of Conqueror's Haki. He refused to be subdued by it again!
Shiiing!
Sakura Ten slashed downward with a terrifying force.
A deep, jagged wound tore through Shanks' back, even through his Haki-coated defense. Small black lightning-like snakes slithered through the gash, biting at his flesh, the residual effect of Carl's enhanced Haki infusion.
Even for someone like Shanks, who wielded one of the strongest Armament Haki defenses in the world, this was not a wound he could easily ignore.
Cough…
Shanks stumbled to the side, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"This level of Haki…" He pressed a hand against his wound, only to recoil slightly as a sharp shock coursed through his arm. The black snakes weren't just an illusion—they were Carl's own unique application of Advanced Armament Haki.
"No wonder Teach and the others were defeated…" A glint of understanding flashed in Shanks' eyes. "You're Solomon Carl, aren't you?"
"That's right." Carl gritted his teeth, eyes cold. "Thank you so much for exposing my strengths, Red-Haired Shanks."
He hadn't forgotten what Garp had once told him—how Shanks and his crew had openly discussed his duel with Mihawk at the Baratie, spreading word of his combat prowess across the New World.
"Well, I only did what anyone should do," Shanks replied with a carefree grin. "Although I did help you get some fame in the seas, there's really no need to thank me."
"Heh," Carl scoffed. His grip on Sakura Ten tightened. "Great. Then I really should return the favor—with interest."
"Quit your yapping, Carl! Just get rid of him already!" Garp growled, his tone carrying years of pent-up frustration. "Damn Red-Hair! The old man's been wanting to settle accounts with you for a long time!"
Shanks raised his hands in mock innocence. "Come on, Mr. Garp, we don't have any personal grudges, do we?"
"Huh?" Garp's expression darkened. "You led my grandson into piracy!"
"Uh…" Shanks scratched his head, looking sheepish.
Yeah, that part wasn't exactly honorable. The grandson of the Marine Hero himself had chosen the path of a pirate—and Shanks had certainly played a role in nudging Luffy in that direction.
Initially, Garp hadn't minded too much. He had always been lenient toward Luffy's stubbornness.
But after what had happened to Ace…
Garp realized that if things continued like this, he might lose Luffy, too.
That thought had turned his frustration into barely-contained fury.
"…Three…"
Shanks felt a cold sweat form on his brow.
Sengoku, the Fleet Admiral of the Marines…
Garp, the Hero of the Marines…
And Solomon Carl, a monster whose Conqueror's Haki could devour his own.
Each of these individuals was a top-tier combatant.
With this kind of lineup against him, even one of the Four Emperors would struggle.
"Hey, is this really fair?" Shanks forced a laugh. "You're all representatives of the Marines, yet you're ganging up on little ol' me?"
Even for an Emperor, this was a ridiculous situation.
"Pffft-hahaha!" Garp laughed heartily, unconcerned. "You're one of the Four Emperors ruling the New World! Why the hell should we play fair?!"
The surrounding battlefield fell into a stunned silence.
Benn Beckman, engaged in a fierce clash with Kizaru, turned his head slightly. His sharp eyes immediately caught the deep wound on Shanks' back.
"This is bad…" Beckman muttered under his breath.
Not far away, Akainu—who was locked in battle with Marco and other remnants of the Whitebeard Pirates—glanced over and sneered.
"Pirates will always be pirates. There's no need to consider fairness when dealing with scum. It's better to eliminate them outright," Akainu remarked coldly.
"Stop running your mouth!" Marco roared, his hands engulfed in green flames as he lashed out with a powerful kick.
Boom!
Marco's attack met Akainu's magma-coated fist, sending a shockwave through the battlefield.
Akainu barely flinched. "What's wrong? Am I wrong? You sea trash think you deserve mercy?"
Despite the wounds he had sustained from his battle with Whitebeard, Akainu's durability was second to none. As a Logia user with one of the highest offensive capabilities, combined with his exceptional Haki, his combat ability was still overwhelming.
Meanwhile, the battle against Shanks had already become one-sided.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Golden shockwaves from Sengoku's Buddha Palm smashed down.
Garp's iron fists, wrapped in Advanced Armament Haki, rained destruction.
Carl's slashes, infused with black lightning, cut through the air.
Shanks was forced to retreat at an alarming pace—he had no choice. Taking those attacks head-on would be suicidal.
"How did things turn out like this…?" Shanks wiped blood from his lips.
Originally, he had stepped in to balance the battle, preventing the Marines from completely crushing the remnants of Whitebeard's forces.
Now, he had become the prime target.
Lion's Thousand Slice Valley!
Carl swung his blade, unleashing a wave of black and gold energy slashes.
Shanks barely raised Gryphon in time to block.
"What is this insane cutting power?!" His expression darkened. He had seen this kind of attack before—Shiryu of the Rain had been just as confused when facing Carl.
The very earth beneath Marineford's harbor was splitting apart from the sheer intensity of the battle.
Suddenly, Carl's instincts screamed a warning.
Clang!
A bullet, infused with Haki, struck Sakura Ten, sending sparks flying.
Carl's gaze snapped toward the source.
"…Yasopp."
Atop the Red Force, a middle-aged man with brown hair—his resemblance to Usopp undeniable—smirked from behind his sniper rifle.
"Tch." Carl clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Unlike Van Augur, Yasopp's bullets weren't just fast—his Haki enhancement was on another level.
Carl flicked his wrist.
From the sky, pink cherry blossom petals rained down—before instantly transforming into razor-sharp blades that shot toward Yasopp.
The sharpshooter's expression stiffened. He flipped backward, rapidly firing, his rifle coated in Armament Haki, shooting down the incoming blades.
With Carl's focus momentarily split, Shanks finally found a chance to counterattack.
Carl turned his head just in time to see Shanks gripping his sword, a serious expression on his face.
"…This time, we settle the score."
Carl's left hand gripped the hilt of Deadwood.
A terrifying sword intent condensed around the blade.
Shanks' gut twisted.
From a distance, Benn Beckman gritted his teeth. He knew he had to break away from Kizaru—Shanks couldn't win this alone.
But Kizaru, as usual, remained annoyingly elusive.
Slash!
A giant green energy blade suddenly cut through the battlefield.
Carl turned and countered with his own black-gold Slash Wave.
"…Mihawk?"
From the shadows, Dracule Mihawk stepped forward, blade in hand.
Carl's expression turned utterly dark.
One by one, they all come after me…
Yasopp shot him.
Mihawk slashed at him.
Was he that easy to bully?!
Carl exhaled slowly. His eyes glowed a crimson red.
"I want to see who can stop me today!"
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