Chapter 311 Father and Daughter
As the distance rapidly closed, the other people on the Fish-Man Island warship also noticed the approaching ship.
"That ship is—!"
Apoo's eyes widened. "The Red Force!"
That ship wasn't obscure on these seas. Quite the contrary—in this New World, few people didn't recognize this vessel and the pirate flag flying from it.
Because this ship's owner was truly renowned.
People said he was the man most likely to become the new emperor—a powerhouse who sailed the seas with an incomplete body and as a non-ability user, making countless heroes fall in defeat.
His name was Red-Haired Shanks.
"Shanks, is Shanks-san coming?!"
King Gordon was incredibly delighted.
Uta's father had arrived!
"It really is Red-Hair!"
Apoo said in astonishment. So the reinforcements Tesoro-san mentioned were the Red-Hair Pirates?
But why would this crew come to help?
Apoo knew Fish-Man Island had an alliance with the Whitebeard Pirates.
Director Brett's cooperative relationship with the Charlotte Family wasn't a secret either.
But why weren't they the ones coming—why the Red-Hair Pirates instead?
Could it be that without anyone knowing, Director Brett had already quietly formed an alliance with the Red-Hair Pirates?
That would be truly terrifying.
The Red-Hair Pirates had drawn close. Gordon couldn't wait—he ran to the ship's rail, waving both hands while shouting loudly.
"Shanks-san, I'm very sorry I disappointed your expectations and let things turn out this way!"
"It's fine. No need to blame yourself, King Gordon."
Red-Hair's hand rested on his sword hilt. As the two ships drew almost side by side, he smiled and turned back. "Leave what comes next to me."
"Enough talk, Shanks."
Tesoro shouted loudly. "You know what you need to do, right?"
Red-Hair nodded lightly. "I'm really grateful to you all this time."
"Don't say stupid things."
Tesoro snorted coldly. "Don't forget—no matter what, Uta is also my disciple."
"Haha."
Red-Hair laughed heartily. "Then, I'm heading up!"
The next second, he'd already shot from the deck, kicking off the water surface and racing forward.
"Alright, no need to worry anymore. With this guy here, there's no problem."
Tesoro nodded.
"Tesoro-san, the person you said was more suitable to awaken Uta than me—is this Shanks-san?" Queen Otohime asked somewhat surprised.
"Didn't I mention it?"
Tesoro smiled. At this point, there was no need to continue hiding anything. Besides, everyone here was an ally—no need to be secretive.
"Uta is Shanks' daughter!"
"Eh!"
Red-Hair was already racing across the sea surface, finally landing on a piece of island debris that hadn't yet sunk.
In midair, Brett—who was tangling with the Demon King—spared a moment to look down. "You came really fast, Shanks."
"Can't help it. This concerns Uta. I have no reason to dawdle."
Red-Hair said with a smile.
At precisely that moment, the Demon King's attack came again. Its massive claw smashed down toward Red-Hair through empty air.
The famous blade Griffin at Red-Hair's waist instantly unsheathed. Black lightning coiled around it.
CLANG!
A heaven-shaking explosive sound.
The ground beneath Red-Hair's feet shattered, but the Demon King's arm was also deflected back.
"From here on, it's up to you, Shanks."
Brett fired a breath attack that directly blasted the Demon King backward.
Though he couldn't injure it, forcibly displacing it was still achievable.
"Go awaken your daughter. Leave the restraining to me."
"What a reliable man!"
Red-Hair smiled. "Then you'd better cover me properly!"
Before his words finished, he'd already shot into the air, charging directly toward the Demon King.
"Roar!"
The stabilized Demon King roared. Several light beams instantly condensed and shot toward Red-Hair simultaneously.
"Forward, Shanks!"
Brett laughed heartily. Flame clouds swept out, appearing directly beneath Red-Hair's feet, providing him a foothold in the air.
"Perfect support!"
Red-Hair laughed and jumped again, evading the Demon King's attack. In the blink of an eye he'd already closed in.
Before the Demon King could launch another attack, Brett had already shot forward wrapped in lightning.
"Thunder-Fire Breath!"
Thunder, flames, and fierce wind—three forces converged as one. A wild flaming dragon roared forth, directly engulfing the Demon King.
"So hot! I'm completely covered too!"
Red-Hair, his entire body covered in Armament Haki to block Brett's flames, complained loudly. Then he landed atop the Demon King's head.
"But well done!"
His right hand's famous blade Griffin had already risen high. The next instant it stabbed down heavily into the Demon King's head.
Though it caused no injury, as black lightning shot forth, ripples spread outward in circles.
"Uta! Time to wake up!"
Very distant from these seas, yet also very close—another world.
The monster was roaring there as well. In its belly, a young girl was wrapped in darkness.
Her eyes were wide, but her pupils held no light whatsoever.
Before her eyes, a man wearing a straw hat and cape, with red hair, was walking away without looking back.
This scene kept replaying, constantly telling her she was the abandoned one.
In the surrounding darkness, countless faces appeared and disappeared.
They were screaming, cursing, resenting. Malevolent whispers continuously drifted around the girl's ears.
So it was me who destroyed this country?
That's why Shanks left me—
The girl didn't move. She'd already sealed off her heart. The sudden shocking truth had completely shattered her.
The outside world didn't matter anymore. She'd just stay here until the very end.
But at precisely that moment.
This world suddenly began trembling. The ominous figures surrounding the girl dissipated for an instant.
"Uta, time to wake up."
A voice came from somewhere.
The girl's body suddenly trembled.
Such a familiar voice.
As if she'd always been anticipating it, always waiting for it.
Who was it?
"It's me, Shanks. I've come for you."
Shanks...
Shanks—
"SHANKS!!"
In the real world, inside the monster's body, the girl's eyes suddenly opened.
She screamed, "It's Shanks!"
"It's me, Uta!"
Red-Hair stood atop the Demon King's head. He smiled, his gaze seemingly penetrating the Demon King's body to meet the girl's inside.
"Let me into your world. We haven't talked in a long time, have we?"
"Shanks—"
Where Shanks couldn't see, tears were already welling in the girl's eyes.
Then she began to sing.
Almost the next second, Shanks standing atop the Demon King's head rolled his eyes back. His body began falling directly downward.
Just as he was about to plunge into the sea, fortunately clouds caught him.
Then a lightning-wrapped figure rapidly approached, kicking away the Demon King's arm that smashed toward him.
"Really don't make things easy, do you."
Brett smiled.
But fortunately, the operation succeeded.