These were crews Grimm had recruited over the past two years, forming a vast allied fleet much like the one that served Whitebeard.
"Black Thorn Pirates… Mick Pirates… Giant Claw Pirates…"
Yasopp, whose eyesight was legendary, picked out every flag without even a spyglass.
"All well‑known crews. When did he bring so many under his wing?"
"Nothing but ants," someone scoffed.
"Just like Kaido's crew, these are mostly fillers. The real threats are still the two left behind —"
"— the Ice Witch and the Scourge Lord!" Beckman finished, stepping forward to address the crew.
"We are not here to conquer Artemis. Our only goal is to make enough noise — enough danger — to force Grimm to abandon the East Blue and rush back to the New World."
Shanks nodded in agreement. "I just heard from Makino — Luffy is still free, for now."
"All the better," Beckman said, his expression hardening. "Move out!"
The Red Force surged forward into Artemis's waters.
BOOM!
Before anyone could react, a shell slammed into the Black Thorn Pirates' flagship, setting its bow ablaze.
"Enemy attack! Take cover!" lookouts screamed from the docks.
Dockworkers immediately dropped their loads and streamed toward the reinforced shelters — orderly, no panic.
"Where did that shot come from?!"
The Black Thorn Pirates were stunned.
Who would dare strike within an Emperor's territory?
The Marines? Or one of the other Emperors?
They followed the shell's trajectory and paled. It was the Red‑Hair Pirates.
"Just snatch one island from Kaido, and now you think you can run wild here, Red‑Haired Shanks? You're arrogant!"
Their captain, Cas Falon — a man with spiky black hair — suddenly swelled to enormous size.
Closer inspection showed it was not his body growing, but his hair, hardening into thousands of sharp, needle‑like spikes.
"Bounty 380 million Berries, Zoan Zoan Model: Hedgehog — Black Thorn Cas Falon," Lucky Roux mumbled through a mouthful of ham.
"So he's joined Grimm."
A blonde swordsman in a black headscarf leaped from the Red Force, landing lightly on the Black Thorn's mainmast.
"Cas Falon — you look ridiculous!"
Falon did not rise to the taunt.
"Red‑Hair crew swordsman — Golden Eye Ivaris, bounty 366 million Berries."
"Bounties don't mean anything. Let's see what you can do!"
Falon plucked two hair‑spikes, each nearly five feet long, and hurled himself forward.
They clashed steel on steel. "You asked for it!"
All around, patrol ships from the Holy Light fleet swarmed to surround the Red Force.
Shanks tensed to unleash Conqueror's Haki, but Beckman stopped him.
"We're here to make noise — don't reveal your full hand yet."
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Cannon fire erupted from every direction, aiming to sink Shanks's ship.
"Leave this to me!"
Yasopp raised his rifle with blinding speed.
Six shots rang out in less than two seconds — every incoming shell detonated in mid‑air, leaving the Red Force untouched.
"Fire! Kill Shanks!" a woman's voice boomed from another ship, marked by a skull flanked by two crossed clawed arms.
"Giant Claw Pirates captain — Hydraena Eorzea, bounty 290 million Berries."
Beckman fired a long sniper round; she swatted it aside with a claw.
"Grimm has gathered some formidable new allies."
Eorzea raised both hands, claws wreathed in pitch‑black Armament Haki.
"Charge!"
---
As the battle raged, Zephyr stood in Indigo's clinic, having just been examined.
Heavy red shackles — forged to suppress the "Kazhan Curse" — clamped his right forearm tight against his shoulder.
"It slows the corruption for now," Indigo said. "But has Lord Grimm shown you how to master it fully?"
Zephyr studied the restraints.
"He has. But it won't be mastered overnight. I can only hope these work as well as promised."
"Master Z?"
Giana drifted into the lab, drawing every eye.
"The Red‑Hair Pirates have launched a full assault," she said calmly.
The room fell silent.
The Red‑Hair Pirates were widely seen as the strongest force outside the Four Emperors themselves.
"Shanks?" Zephyr frowned.
"He takes one island from Kaido and thinks he can storm an Emperor's home? Pure hubris."
He had no way of knowing Shanks was risking everything for a single boy.
"Will you not intervene?" Zephyr asked Giana.
"This is your duty, Master Z — not mine. I will only step in if you fall."
Zephyr gave a sharp smile. "Then I shall defend this land and its people with everything I have."
Now he would see if these shackles truly held back the curse — so he could fight without holding back.
---
Artemis Waters
SLASH!
Shanks swept his blade; a wave of concentrated energy cut a Holy Light patrol ship clean in two. It began to sink.
Bounding onto the deck of a second vessel, he kicked back a dozen attackers, then planted his sword in the planks.
"You're wasting my time. Send your real masters."
The Holy Light crews cursed — this was exactly the kind of strike only possible when Grimm was away.
Shanks watched Beckman bring Eorzea down without breaking a sweat, then frowned.
"Every single one of them is sharp. It feels like fighting the Marines. Who trained them?"
Usually pirate crews were undisciplined rabble — Marines were always better drilled, especially those from Headquarters.
But these men — even the lowest rankers — were tough, and some were using the Six Powers.
It raised a chilling question: had a Marine deserter built this army?
__________________
For more advance chapters visit patreon.com/bars45.
For 10$- All advance chapters.
"Schedule"
Monday - Friday - Update 3 Chapters a Day
Saturday - Sunday - Off