Shanks' smile stiffened for a moment, his heart filled with shock.
"Someone is watching from the shadows... What an incredible level of Observation Haki. Even with my own Haki, I can't sense them. All I can do is defend instinctively."
"Shanks, you felt it too, huh?" Beckman exhaled a ring of smoke, his expression serious. "I never expected someone like this to be in the so-called 'Weakest Sea.'"
"Hey, hey! We're still in the East Blue, you know! How can you just call it the weakest sea right in front of us?" Yasopp protested with a grin.
"Hahaha!"
The Red Hair Pirates burst into laughter, raising their mugs and drinking merrily.
"It's a shame that Shanks and his crew don't use Devil Fruits..."
Just as this thought crossed Hikaru's mind, a sudden realization struck him.
"Wait... I almost forgot about Conqueror's Haki! Shanks' Conqueror's Haki is among the strongest in the world. If I fight him, maybe I can awaken my own."
With that in mind, he acted without hesitation.
He first maneuvered the Yasuie forward, ensuring it was at a safe distance from the battlefield. Then, in a flash of lightning, he soared through the sky, arriving directly above Shanks and his crew.
Dark clouds gathered overhead, shrouding the once-clear sky in ominous gloom. A heavy, oppressive aura spread through the air.
As Hikaru descended, he leaned back casually, taking his seat on a throne formed from pure lightning. His voice was calm yet commanding:
"Red-Haired Shanks, one of the Four Emperors... I never expected to meet you in the East Blue of all places."
Shanks paused briefly, studying the figure before him. After confirming that he didn't recognize the man, he broke into a hearty smile.
"Hey~ You showed up so suddenly! Are you here to join our party?"
Despite his carefree demeanor and simple country-style outfit, Shanks' presence was anything but ordinary. Someone unaware of his identity might have mistaken him for a laid-back traveler.
The Red Hair Pirates remained composed. As members of an Emperor's crew, they had weathered countless storms. If anything were to truly put them on edge, it would take someone like Whitebeard himself showing up in person.
Hikaru glanced around, noticing the feast spread across the deck—plates of delicious food and barrels of fine liquor. He had been so focused on growing stronger that he had neglected such simple pleasures.
"No need for a banquet, Shanks. I came here to fight you. Meeting a powerhouse like you… it'd be a waste not to test my strength."
"Oh? So you're challenging us?"
Beckman's eyes gleamed with interest as he took another drag from his cigarette, lazily pointing his flintlock rifle at Hikaru. Though his posture was relaxed, his intent was clear—one wrong move, and he'd pull the trigger.
A chill ran down Hikaru's spine. He could feel it—Beckman's aim had locked onto him, as if no matter how he moved, the bullet would find its mark.
But he knew better. With his lightning speed, only Kizaru's light-speed movements could match him.
This scene reminded him of Marineford—the moment when Beckman pointed his gun at Kizaru, making the Admiral play along with his exaggerated surrender. "Truly, that man deserves his reputation as the best 'monkey actor' in the Navy," Hikaru mused.
"Provocation?" Hikaru turned his gaze toward Beckman, his expression indifferent. "Ben Beckman, you can think of it however you like."
A red gleam flashed in Hikaru's eyes as arcs of electricity crackled violently.
[Thunder Art: Lightning Eyes!]
[Those who have mastered future sight through Observation Haki often manifest a brief red flash in their eyes!]
Beckman's eyes flickered red as well. Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger multiple times.
BOOM!
A series of powerful explosions erupted between them.
Hikaru attempted to evade the incoming bullets using his Armament and Observation Haki, but he quickly realized something—every possible escape route had already been sealed off.
However, the bullet was too slow. In a flash of lightning, Hikaru retreated rapidly before arcing around and striking from the side with a powerful kick. A smirk formed on his lips as he muttered:
"Have you ever been struck by lightning?"
Beckman didn't even turn to look. He simply raised his leg and countered.
Their Haki-infused kicks clashed with immense force, sending crackling purple-black lightning surging through the air. The very sky seemed to shift, its colors distorting into black and white.
Beckman was forced to take two steps back before stabilizing himself.
A shockwave burst outward, scattering the clouds above and sending ripples across the sea.
"Not bad! How is it that someone like you doesn't have a bounty?"
Beckman grinned, finally taking a serious look at Hikaru.
"You're not bad yourself. With this level of strength, you're content being Shanks' right-hand man?"
Hikaru reevaluated his impression of Beckman.
He should have realized it earlier—throughout the entire time he had observed the Red Hair Pirates, Beckman hadn't made a single move.
And in battle, the ones who hold back the longest are often the strongest. His strength was likely close to Shanks himself.
"Hahahaha! That's because you don't know Shanks' charm," Beckman laughed. "Stay on our ship for a few days, and it won't take long before you want to join us yourself!"
Hikaru remained silent. His Armament Haki reserves were still too shallow. After just this brief exchange, he had nearly exhausted it.
Adjusting his stance, he redirected the force of their clash skyward before instantly transforming into lightning and teleporting to the distant horizon.
A chaotic explosion of energy shattered the black-and-white distortion, restoring the sky to normal. The resulting shockwave struck the sea, rocking the Red Force as it drifted unsteadily.
"6,000,000 Volt Thunder Dragon!"
Hikaru unleashed a massive bolt of lightning, hurling it straight at Beckman.
But Beckman remained unfazed, calmly raising his rifle and firing several shots. Each bullet disrupted the thunder dragon, scattering the attack.
Undeterred, Hikaru continued his barrage from afar. God's Judgment, Thunder Dragon, Thunderbird... He rained down countless attacks, testing Beckman's limits.
Yet, Beckman dodged or shot down every incoming strike. Though he attempted to counter, Hikaru's speed rendered them ineffective—his movements were simply too fast.
After several exchanges, both warriors' eyes flickered red. They had both pushed their Observation Haki to its peak—future sight—and now simultaneously withdrew from it.
Hikaru, still seated on his Thunder Throne, gazed at Beckman with an unreadable expression.
Beckman, no longer as relaxed as before, exhaled slowly. In a complicated tone, he muttered:
"What a terrifying ability, Shanks… Neither of us can land a decisive blow. His Rumble-Rumble Fruit is absurd. That speed... The only other person I've seen move like this is Kizaru."
"Hahahaha! I saw it all, Beckman. You two look like a real mess~"
Shanks, restraining the red glow in his eyes, teased them playfully.
"Hey, hey! Shanks, now's not the time for jokes~" Beckman sighed, slumping back into his seat. Taking a swig of liquor, he feigned irritation.
Hikaru, however, wasn't here for small talk. He interrupted their playful banter with a sharp tone:
"Enough. It's your turn, Shanks. Let's fight!"
His true goal was to awaken Conqueror's Haki. A chance like this was rare—he couldn't afford to waste it.
The battle earlier had already been enlightening. Facing top-tier powerhouses like these had reinforced a crucial lesson: mastery of Haki and Devil Fruits determined one's place at the top.
Shanks, however, only smiled.
"My friend, what's the rush?" he said, his tone lighthearted. "It's too soon for you to challenge me. With the speed of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, you can only match me at best."
Then, raising a mug of sake, he grinned.
"How about this—you give me some face, and we sit down for a banquet instead? Eat, drink, chat, and make some friends."
Hikaru blinked.
"...What? The Face-Face Fruit just activated?!"
---------------
Check out advanced chapters on : patreon.com/Veni_V