Beside Veldanava, three figures appeared, their presence oppressing the air around them.
Their auras were powerful, enough to bring ordinary creatures to their knees.
Velzard, the Ice Dragon, appeared in human form. Her face was calm, but her gaze was as piercing as a thin blade in a blizzard.
Velgrynd, the Fire Dragon, stood majestically with a confident smile, like a flame that knew it would never be extinguished.
And finally, Veldora—still in his young dragon form—stared at Shanks with almost excessive curiosity.
Veldora whispered, though his voice still thundered and was clearly audible to everyone.
"Brother, he doesn't seem very strong for someone on the same level as the Elder Brother. And he came all the way here just to… chat?"
Velgrynd sighed and looked away, reluctant to respond.
But Velzard stared intently at her brother, a single glance making Veldora let out a small cry.
"Hiii!"
He quickly looked away, but still glanced at Shanks curiously.
Velzard then looked at Shanks with gentle but cold interest.
"So you're… Akagami no Shanks. I've often heard your name, as well as Whitebeard's, from Big Sis.
Whitebeard was a true monster. I fought him last year, and if it weren't for Big Sis stopping us, this world might have been destroyed.
But I'm surprised… you're on the same level as him."
Shanks took a sip of wine from his wide plate and smiled casually.
"Hmm… you fought Whitebeard? Hahaha, I don't think that's a good idea.
He's indeed the strongest being in our homeworld. I'm just a youngster in front of him."
Veldanava looked at Velzard and let out a long sigh.
"Haa… how tiring. If only they could hold back a little.
Did you know? Your fight almost caused a massive tsunami to land. Luckily, I arrived just in time."
Velzard simply looked away, clearly not wanting to drag the topic out.
Shanks looked at Veldanava and chuckled.
"Hahaha, he's truly an admirable old man. I respect him."
He stood up, patted his pants, and said casually,
"I think it's time for me to go. My friends must be waiting."
Velzard looked at him with a slightly bored expression, but a hint of challenge flashed in her eyes.
"Is that all? Can't we fight for a bit?"
In an instant, Velgrynd and Veldora turned their heads, their eyes sparkling—the enthusiasm of children who have just heard the word "fight."
Shanks just laughed as he walked towards the door, followed by Ben Beckman.
"Hahaha, maybe it'll be your turn to shine soon."
Veldora tilted his head and shouted,
"Heh! Are you scared, huh?!"
Shanks looked back briefly, his smile gently reassuring.
"I'm not easily provoked."
The three dragons simultaneously snorted in disappointment.
"So boring."
"I'll fight you next time."
"Prepare yourself, redhead."
Shanks stopped in the doorway, turned halfway, and said with his trademark smile,
"Then I hope we never meet again."
Veldanava laughed softly.
"It was a very brief meeting. But well, Shanks... remember, you can always call me whenever you need anything."
Shanks looked at him, raising his wine saucer.
"So do you. Where I come from, drinking together is a sign of brotherhood.
See you later, Veldanava."
Veldanava smiled gently.
"Yes... see you later, friend."
Feldway, who had been standing beside him, immediately bowed and said,
"Allow me to escort Master Shanks back."
They walked out through the portal of light. Upon arriving at the island where his ship was anchored, Feldway bowed again.
"My task is complete. I take my leave."
Shanks waved casually.
"Thank you, you were very stiff, but very helpful."
Feldway stared blankly for a moment, then entered the portal without a word.
The sea breeze greeted Shanks with a chill, making his cape flutter.
Several crew members immediately ran over.
"Okashira! How is it, is everything going well?"
"Are you fighting, Okashira?"
"Is... there going to be a war?"
Shanks just grinned, patting one of them on the head.
"Lower the sails. We're setting sail."
"Aye aye, sir!"
Ben Beckman approached, his cigarette still burning at the corner of his lips.
"This island is halfway between ours and Whitebeard's territory.
We'd better get going. If we don't want a major clash to break out."
Shanks gazed out at the horizon, where the sea on the other side rippled gently.
"Whitebeard, huh... it's been a while since I've seen him."
Ben looked at him calmly.
"Maybe we can handle a clash, but what about the others? They're still developing?"
Shanks paused for a moment, then chuckled.
"You're right. Hey, everyone! Hurry, we have to hurry!
Pirates shouldn't stay in one place for too long. You know that!"
The entire crew cheered loudly, their enthusiasm spreading through the air.
"AYE AYE, SIRRR!"
And with that, The ship sailed slowly away from the island—carrying the sea emperor to his next adventure in a world that was just beginning to move.
Di samping Veldanava, muncul tiga sosok yang kehadirannya menekan udara di sekeliling mereka.
Aura mereka begitu kuat, cukup untuk membuat makhluk biasa berlutut.
Velzard, sang Naga Es, tampil dalam bentuk manusia. Wajahnya tenang, namun tatapan matanya menusuk seperti pisau tipis di tengah badai salju.
Velgrynd, sang Naga Api, berdiri anggun dengan senyum percaya diri, seperti nyala api yang tahu dirinya tak akan padam.
Dan terakhir, Veldora—masih dalam wujud naga muda—menatap Shanks dengan rasa ingin tahu yang nyaris berlebihan.
Veldora berbisik, meski suaranya tetap bergemuruh dan terdengar jelas oleh semua orang.
"Kak, dia terlihat tidak terlalu kuat untuk seseorang yang setara dengan Kakak Tertua. Dan dia datang jauh-jauh ke sini hanya untuk... mengobrol?"
Velgrynd menghela napas dan memalingkan wajah, malas menanggapi.
Namun Velzard menatap adiknya dengan tajam, satu lirikan saja membuat Veldora berteriak kecil.
"Hiii!"
Ia buru-buru memalingkan wajah, tapi tetap melirik Shanks penuh rasa ingin tahu.
Velzard lalu menatap Shanks dengan minat yang lembut tapi dingin.
"Jadi kamu... Akagami no Shanks. Aku sering mendengar namamu, juga Shirohige, dari Kakak Tertua.
Shirohige itu monster sejati. Aku pernah melawannya tahun lalu, dan kalau bukan karena Kakak menghentikan kami, dunia ini mungkin sudah hancur.
Tapi aku terkejut... kau punya kedudukan yang sama dengannya."
Shanks meneguk anggur dari piring lebarnya, lalu tersenyum santai.
"Hmm... kau melawan Shirohige? Hahaha, kurasa itu bukan ide yang bagus.
Dia memang makhluk terkuat di dunia asal kami. Aku hanya generasi muda di hadapannya."
Veldanava menatap Velzard dan menghela napas panjang.
"Haa... melelahkan sekali. Andai mereka ini bisa menahan diri sedikit saja.
Tahu tidak? Akibat pertarungan kalian, hampir terjadi tsunami besar ke daratan. Untung aku datang tepat waktu."
Velzard hanya memalingkan wajah, jelas tak ingin memperpanjang topik itu.
Shanks menatap ke arah Veldanava dan tertawa kecil.
"Hahaha, dia memang kakek tua yang mengagumkan. Aku menghormatinya."
Ia berdiri, menepuk-nepuk celananya, dan berkata dengan santai,
"Sepertinya sudah waktunya aku pergi. Teman-temanku pasti menunggu."
Velzard menatapnya dengan sedikit bosan, namun ada percikan tantangan di matanya.
"Itu saja? Tidak bisakah kita bertarung sebentar?"
Sekejap, Velgrynd dan Veldora menoleh dengan mata berbinar—antusias seperti anak kecil yang baru mendengar kata "pertarungan".
Shanks hanya tertawa sambil berjalan menuju pintu, diikuti oleh Ben Beckman.
"Hahaha, mungkin nanti akan tiba waktunya giliran kalian bersinar."
Veldora mencondongkan kepala dan berteriak,
"Heh! Kau takut, ya?!"
Shanks menoleh sebentar, senyumnya lembut menenangkan .
"Aku tidak mudah diprovokasi."
Tiga naga itu serentak mendengus kecewa.
"Membosankan sekali."
"Aku akan melawanmu di pertemuan berikutnya."
"Persiapkan dirimu, manusia rambut merah."
Shanks berhenti di ambang pintu, menoleh setengah, lalu berkata dengan senyum khasnya,
"Kalau begitu, semoga kita tidak bertemu lagi."
Veldanava tertawa pelan.
"Pertemuan yang singkat sekali. Tapi baiklah, Shanks... ingatlah, kau selalu bisa menghubungiku kapan pun kau butuh sesuatu."
Shanks menatapnya sambil mengangkat piring anggurnya.
"Begitu pula denganmu. Di tempat asalku, minum bersama adalah tanda persaudaraan.
Sampai jumpa lagi, Veldanava."
Veldanava tersenyum lembut.
"Ya... sampai jumpa lagi, sahabat."
Feldway yang sejak tadi berdiri di samping segera membungkuk dan berkata,
"Izinkan saya mengantar Tuan Shanks kembali."
Mereka berjalan keluar melalui portal cahaya. Begitu tiba di pulau tempat kapalnya berlabuh, Feldway kembali membungkuk.
"Tugas saya selesai. Saya pamit."
Shanks melambaikan tangan santai.
"Terima kasih, kau benar-benar kaku, tapi sangat membantu."
Feldway menatap kosong sesaat, lalu masuk ke portal tanpa kata.
Angin laut menyambut Shanks dengan dingin, membuat jubahnya berkibar.
Beberapa awak kapal segera berlari menghampiri.
"Okashira! Bagaimana, apakah semuanya berjalan lancar?"
"Apakah kau bertarung, Okashira?"
"Apakah... akan ada perang?"
Shanks hanya tersenyum lebar, menepuk kepala salah satu dari mereka.
"Turunkan layarnya. Kita akan berlayar."
"Aye aye, Sir!"
Ben Beckman mendekat, rokoknya masih menyala di ujung bibir.
"Pulau ini di tengah-tengah wilayah kita dan Shirohige.
Lebih baik kita segera pergi. Jika tidak ingin bentrokan besar pecah."
Shanks menatap ke arah cakrawala, di mana laut di sisi lain tampak beriak lembut.
"Shirohige, ya... sudah lama aku tidak bertemu dengannya."
Ben menatapnya dengan tenang.
"Mungkin kita bisa menghadapi bentrokan, tapi bagaimana dengan yang lainnya. Mereka masih berkembang?"
Shanks terdiam sejenak, lalu tertawa kecil.
"Kau benar. Oi, kalian semua! Cepat, kita harus bergegas!
Bajak laut tidak boleh diam di satu tempat terlalu lama. Kalian tahu itu!"
Seluruh kru bersorak keras, semangat mereka menular ke udara.
"AYE AYE, SIRRR!"
Dan dengan itu, kapal berlayar perlahan meninggalkan pulau itu—membawa sang kaisar laut menuju petualangan berikutnya di dunia yang baru saja mulai bergerak.