Chapter 387: I Refuse
The ocean waves rose and fell, their foamy crests crashing against the shore.
Tiny, crystal-clear droplets sparkled in the air, dancing to the gentle rhythm of the tide's soothing song.
Two pirate ships glided forward, carried by the tide's melody and the whisper of the breeze.
They held their fire, unlike the Red Hair Pirates' ship, which sat quietly anchored off the coast.
As the ships drew closer, figures on each deck became visible to both sides.
With a creak, the two newcomer pirate ships docked on the shore, not far from the Red Hair Pirates' vessel.
The pirates, led by Power Sword Higuma, and another group led by Golden Toad Hughes, came face-to-face with the Red Hair Pirates.
"We meet again, Red-Haired Shanks," Higuma said in a calm, even voice, his eyes fixed on the red-haired crew aboard the Red Force.
"Hahaha, indeed!" Shanks replied with a hearty laugh. "I didn't expect to cross paths again, but isn't this a strange twist of fate, Power Sword Higuma?"
Shanks studied Higuma's composed expression, sensing a subtle change in the man. But his attention quickly shifted to the notorious leader of the Andre Pirates, the so-called Tyrannical King, who had yet to show himself.
Shanks scanned the Andre Pirates' ships with his Observation Haki, and his expression tightened slightly.
What's this?
"You have grown stronger, Redhead," Higuma said, ignoring Shanks' fleeting reaction and continuing in his steady tone.
To have driven off Gekko Moria, a pirate with a 920-million bounty, the Red Hair Pirates' strength was clearly on another level now. Higuma was certain of it.
But he suspected their newfound power stemmed from something unusual, something tied to that photograph.
He recalled the image of the Red Hair Pirates from a recent newspaper. The strange, unsettling aura it carried was the third reason Higuma had come here.
"Really? You have changed a bit yourself, Higuma," Shanks said, his face relaxing as he turned his focus back to Higuma.
"Maybe," Higuma replied. "Redhead, how about joining the Beast Pirates? In this New World, there is no place for small-time pirates like you."
A fierce sea breeze swept through, rattling the dense forest at the island's edge. But the pleasant wind did nothing to lighten the heavy tension between the two groups.
"I refuse, Higuma," Shanks said firmly. "No matter how many times you ask, my answer will always be the same."
At his words, the Red Hair Pirates beside him broke into bold, carefree grins.
On Higuma's side, the pirates' faces grew stern.
The Red Hair Pirates were no pushovers now. Even a big name like Gekko Moria had fallen to them. Still, Higuma's crew remembered chasing Shanks' group before. Even if the Red Hairs had improved, they believed they could take them down.
Despite the serious mood, Higuma's pirates held onto their confidence. Their boss, Higuma, had awakened the Conqueror's Haki, and his strength was growing. There was no way he would lose to the redhead.
Unaware of his crew's silent encouragement, Higuma stared at Shanks and his men, his resolve unshaken.
Shanks' refusal was no surprise. He had turned them down before, and now, with his crew stronger than ever, he was even less likely to yield.
"Very well," Higuma said. "Then I will leave this to you, Hughes."
Hughes, who had been quiet on the deck of the other ship, gave a small nod. He fixed his gaze on Shanks and his crew, cutting straight to the point.
"Shanks, do you control that power?"
Shanks' eyes narrowed at Hughes' sudden question.
Does he have it too? No, Shanks didn't sense that strange power in Hughes at all.
Hughes, watching Shanks' reaction closely, got the gist of it. The Red Hair Pirates must have mastered that demonic power. Their calm demeanor, unchanged from the past, showed no signs of madness.
Just as Hughes opened his mouth to press further, a sharp sound interrupted him.
Clink! Clink!
The clash of chains rang out from behind him.
At the sound, the pirates gathered near Hughes froze, a chill running through them. It felt as if a ferocious beast had locked its eyes on them.
Thud, thud, thud!
In an instant, the pirates around Hughes scattered, except for a few higher-ranking members who stayed close, though even they eyed the approaching figure with unease.
"The Tyrannical King, Andre… that guy…" a member of the Red Hair Pirates muttered, exchanging wary glances with his crewmates, a flicker of shock in their eyes.
"Hahaha, Hughes, no need to say more!" a voice boomed. "I can't wait to fight!"
All eyes turned to Andre as he stepped forward, chains clanking with each movement. Shackles bound his wrists and ankles, the locks rattling crisply as he walked.
Shanks and his crew were taken aback to see Andre restrained like this, but their attention quickly shifted to his eyes, dark, lifeless, like pools of ink. Is this man blind?
The Red Hair Pirates watched him cautiously. They could feel it too, a power far stronger than their own radiating from him.
On the other side, Hughes sighed, a helpless look crossing his face as Andre approached. Still, he pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked the shackles binding Andre's limbs.
As the captain, Hughes knew it was embarrassing for Andre to appear in chains like some prisoner, it was the kind of thing that could make them a laughingstock.
Clang! Clang!
The shackles fell away, and even the few officers standing near Andre paled, stepping back instinctively. The lower-ranking pirates retreated even farther.
"Ahh, it feels so good to be free!" Andre said, stretching his arms slightly. He turned his ink-black eyes toward Shanks. "My strength is back!"
A savage aura erupted from Andre, like a beast unleashed from its cage. The air seemed to tremble, and a suffocating pressure weighed on everyone's hearts.
Shanks stared at the man known as the Tyrannical King. Behind Andre, he sensed a terrifying shadow, an ancient, monstrous crocodile roaring at the heavens. Its icy form and cruel, domineering eyes sent a shiver through him.
Is this Conqueror's Haki? What's going on with this guy?
Boom! Boom! Boom!
As if answering Andre's challenge, Shanks unleashed his own Conqueror's Haki.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
On Andre and Higuma ships, weaker crew members crumpled under the clashing forces, unable to withstand the pressure.
The remaining pirates swallowed hard, staring in horror at Shanks and Andre. These two are monsters, they have Conqueror's Haki!
Their bodies felt weak, their spirits drained, but they fought to stay upright against the overwhelming presence.
Boom!
As Shanks and Andre's Conqueror's Haki collided, a third force suddenly surged into the fray, shattering the balance. The combined aura exploded outward.
The Red Hair Pirates' eyes snapped to Higuma, disbelief flickering across their faces.
This guy… he has awakened Conqueror's Haki too?!