Chapter 393: Mostly Because He Doesn't Want to Hit Women
On the Coast.
On the battlefield where Andre and Shanks were locked in combat, the scene was intense.
At that moment, Andre stood watching as the dark, surging tide was fully contained within a black sphere, nearly two meters wide, hovering before him.
A grin spread across his face.
This technique, known as the Undercurrent Seal, was not something he had invented himself. It stemmed from the cold, shadowy consciousness that resided within him, a gift of sorts. That was why he could wield such a complex move so effortlessly the first time he tapped into this power.
If he had to develop a technique this intricate on his own, he had no idea how long it would take to master it.
The seal's effect was straightforward but deadly: it trapped the enemy inside a sphere of darkness. If the opponent lacked the strength to break free, they would likely perish instantly. The seal worked by first gathering darkness around the enemy's body, then slowly seeping inside, completely neutralizing their power.
The darkness, fueled by magical energy, was inherently harmful to ordinary beings. For a regular person, this technique would mean instant death.
But, of course, no one would waste such a move on an ordinary person.
Tap, tap, tap.
Andre's dark eyes glinted faintly as he circled the black sphere, which remained motionless, floating in place.
From what he could see, this technique was incredibly powerful. There was no way Shanks could escape it.
This fight was his victory!
"Haha!" Andre burst into laughter, reveling in his triumph. But his celebration was cut short as he coughed up a pool of blood, collapsing to one knee on the ground.
His body was in bad shape, and he could feel it. Taking a deep breath, Andre deactivated his magic pattern form. He had reached his limit.
"Andre!" Hughes shouted, his face twisting with concern as he rushed to his side.
At the same time, several members of the Red Hair Pirates surged forward, ready to act.
Only Beckman and a few others stayed back, facing off against Higuma, the leader of another pirate crew.
"Are you thinking about making a move, Boss Higuma?" one of Higuma's crew asked, eyeing Beckman and the Red Hair Pirates. His gaze drifted to several large bags not far from them, likely stuffed with treasure. The glint of greed sparkled in his eyes.
To him, those bags were practically screaming to be taken. And with Red-haired Shanks, the pirate with a 450-million-berries bounty, seemingly defeated, the odds looked good.
With their crew allied with Andre's, they could overpower the remaining Red Hair Pirates.
Higuma's eyes flickered at the suggestion. His right hand, previously idle, now rested on the hilt of the sword at his waist. Clearly, he was tempted.
"If you want a fight, we're ready for you," Beckman declared, raising his gun. The rest of his crew followed suit.
Though they refused to believe Shanks could lose, the situation didn't look promising. The black sphere encasing their captain was a bad sign. They had no choice but to step in.
Luckily, Andre seemed to be out of commission, which gave them a chance. Even if they faced the remaining enemies, they were confident they could escape unharmed.
Their confidence came from their magic pattern abilities. While their physical strength couldn't match Shanks' Haki, their unique powers were nearly on par with his. These abilities had significantly boosted their strength.
Still, activating the magic pattern form came at a steep cost, immense strain on both body and mind. Unless absolutely necessary, they preferred to avoid using it.
Higuma, observing Beckman's resolute stance, recalled a photo he had seen in a newspaper. Frowning slightly, he decided to assess Shanks' situation before acting. He glanced at Kanika, giving her a subtle signal.
Kanika nodded, then charged toward the battlefield, following Hughes.
On the Other Side.
Hughes and several of Andre's crew had reached their leader's side.
Meanwhile, Roux, Navigator Snake, and Combatant Limejuice stood near the black sphere containing Shanks.
"How do we get this thing open? The boss isn't stuck in there for good, is he?" Roux asked, half-joking as he studied the sphere.
They could still sense Shanks' presence, and their faith in their captain's resilience kept their spirits high. They were certain he wouldn't go down so easily.
"How about you, Limejuice?" Roux said, turning to his crewmate, who held an unremarkable-looking stick.
"Take that stick of yours, shove it in there, let the boss grab it, and pull him out."
Snake and Limejuice couldn't help but chuckle at the absurd suggestion.
"Roux, come on, now's not the time for jokes," Limejuice said, shaking his head. "What, you think the boss is drowning in there or something?"
Roux took a bite of the meaty leg in his hand, grinning mischievously. "Hey, you don't know unless you try! It might actually work!"
Limejuice paused, considering the idea. For a moment, he felt the urge to test it out. If pulling Shanks out didn't work, maybe they could just poke him out!
Just as Limejuice was about to act on the ridiculous plan, the group near the sphere suddenly leaped back.
Kanika had arrived, her hair whipping around like a frenzied demon, lashing out near the black sphere. The chaotic movement forced Roux and the others to retreat a safe distance.
Seeing them back off, Kanika didn't bother with small talk. She turned to Andre and asked directly, "Tyrant King, can this technique of yours be broken by an outside attack? What happens if they try?"
Andre, leaning on Hughes for support, smirked arrogantly. "Haha, don't worry. Even if they break the seal now, it's too late. It won't matter."
Kanika's eyes narrowed. Andre's tone and smug attitude grated on her nerves, as if he were looking down on her. Anger flared within her.
That's just how Andre was. He treated most people weaker than him with contempt and scoffed at those stronger, all while refusing to admit defeat. His attitude made him plenty of enemies, though some admired his fiery defiance.
"You jerk!" Kanika snapped, barely containing her frustration.
Not far off, Roux and the others overheard Andre's words.
"No way we're just standing here!" Roux called out. They had to save their boss, no matter what.
But Kanika, standing in their way, was a problem.
"Hey, lady, get out of our way! Or Snake here will slice you up!" Roux shouted, grinning.
Kanika's face twisted in fury at his words. "What did you just call me?!" she roared. Her, a naturally stunning muscle queen, being called a lady like that? By this guy?!
"You fat pig, say that again if you dare!" she bellowed, her hair writhing like a living weapon.
"Uh…" Snake, standing in front of Roux, froze. He glanced at Kanika's demonic hair and her fiery, muscular presence, then back at Roux, who was hiding behind him.
Snake's dual swords were well-suited for cutting through her hair, sure. But facing down this enraged woman? He hesitated. Truth be told, he wasn't thrilled about fighting her, not because he couldn't, but mostly because he didn't want to hit a woman.
( End of this Chapter )