Chapter 131: Chapter 131 Red Pirates
The Red-Haired Pirates lingered just beyond the chaotic battlefield, watching the unfolding chaos with mixed emotions. Their ship rocked gently on the waves, but the tension in the air was palpable.
"Two Emperors working together... that's a rare sight," Shanks muttered, leaning against the ship's railing. His eyes were locked on the battlefield, where ice cracked and explosions erupted in rapid succession.
"Rare? It's like the world turned upside down," Ben Beckman added, exhaling a plume of smoke. "But that's what makes it interesting."
From the deck, Lucky Roux and Yasopp exchanged a heated argument, voices carrying over the hum of the battlefield.
"I could handle a few of them!" Roux insisted, slamming his fist into his palm.
"Yeah, if by 'handle' you mean getting knocked out in two seconds," Yasopp countered, smirking. "Stick to eating meat, Roux."
"Enough," Shanks interjected, his tone calm but commanding. The crew instantly fell silent.
Beckman gave him a knowing look. "You're not really considering stepping in, are you?"
Shanks shrugged. "We didn't come here to babysit. Let's wait for the right moment. If things go south, maybe we'll balance the scales. For now, we watch."
As Shanks spoke, a golden streak of light zipped across the sky. It was the unmistakable arrival of Admiral Kizaru, descending onto the battlefield with his usual nonchalance.
"Finally, reinforcements for the Navy," Beckman said, his cigarette tilting slightly as he leaned forward. "This is going to get messy."
Shanks grinned faintly, his attention shifting to the now uneven fight below.
---
The arrival of Kizaru electrified the battlefield. The Navy's morale surged as the admiral materialized in mid-air, exuding his signature lazy demeanor.
"Looks like I made it just in time," Kizaru said, his tone as casual as ever. His golden light illuminated the frozen battlefield below, drawing the attention of both pirates and marines alike.
For the Big Mom Pirates, the situation took a grim turn. Katakuri clenched his fists, glaring at the admiral. He was battered and frostbitten, having endured relentless attacks from Admiral Aokiji.
"This changes everything," Katakuri muttered under his breath.
Kizaru wasted no time. His body shimmered as countless light bullets rained down on the pirates, targeting their densest clusters. Explosions rippled across the ice as screams of pain echoed through the battlefield.
Big Mom's fury erupted as she witnessed her crew being torn apart. With a roar, she broke away from Mihawk, aiming her rage squarely at the admiral.
"Yellow Ape! You dare?!" she bellowed, slashing her thunder-laced sword at him.
Kizaru, ever unfazed, dispersed into light, narrowly avoiding the attack. "Ah, Big Mom, such a temper," he remarked, reforming several meters away.
Before Big Mom could press her assault, Mihawk reappeared, intercepting her with his black blade raised.
"Your fight is with me," Mihawk stated, his tone calm but unyielding.
The two clashed again, their overlord-coated weapons sending shockwaves that rocked the battlefield. Even Kizaru, as aloof as he seemed, regarded Mihawk with newfound respect.
"The world's greatest swordsman, indeed," Kizaru murmured.
---
Meanwhile, Aokiji battled fiercely against several Big Mom Pirates. Though he was holding his own, the pressure was relentless. Spotting Kizaru watching the duel between Mihawk and Big Mom, Aokiji snapped.
"Yellow Ape, stop sightseeing and help!"
Kizaru chuckled, adjusting his jacket. "Oh, my apologies, Aokiji. I got a little distracted."
He joined the fray with his light-speed kicks, instantly reducing the pirates' numbers and alleviating the strain on Aokiji.
---
As the battle raged on, the Red-Haired Pirates continued to observe from a distance.
"That Mihawk... he's not just holding his own against Big Mom; he's matching her," Yasopp said, lowering his binoculars.
Shanks' eyes gleamed with a mix of admiration and nostalgia. "That's Mihawk for you. He's not just the strongest swordsman of this era—he's the strongest of any era."
"But even he has limits," Beckman warned, gesturing toward Big Mom's relentless attacks.
Shanks nodded. "True. Let's hope the Navy can capitalize on this advantage before those limits are reached."
For now, the Red-Haired Pirates waited, poised on the edge of the storm, ready to act when the scales tipped too far in either direction.