"Is this kid really from the East Blue?"
That was the only thought running through Shanks' mind at the moment.
The East Blue—known as the weakest of the four seas.
And yet, from that very sea, a monster like this had emerged.
Kairos Flint.
He'd already unleashed a level of Conqueror's Haki that rivaled an emperor's. But it didn't stop there—he was now clashing directly with Shanks, matching his own Haki, blow for blow.
Shanks felt it—a numbing, bone-deep tension.
Originally, all he wanted was to show a bit of force. A reminder to this punk that behind Uta was her father. A subtle warning: don't mess with my daughter.
He never imagined it would provoke this kind of power from Kairos.
This intensity… even Shanks didn't possess Haki of this caliber when he was Kairos' age.
"Young man," Shanks muttered, glancing at Cobra—who had already passed out cold under the pressure of their Haki. "Give me some face. Let's stop here."
The force of their clash had nearly torn the palace in two.
Waves of Conqueror's Haki had swept through the entire capital of Alubarna. The ordinary citizens—completely powerless against such force—had surely collapsed en masse.
If this kept up, the entire kingdom's functions would be paralyzed.
Shanks wanted to end this before it spiraled any further.
But—
"Redhead, you think you can just show up, throw your weight around, and expect me to bow?"
Kairos' voice roared like thunder.
"Who the hell do you think you are?"
"You want me to give you face? Come take it."
"Let's fight!"
His anger ignited. Even a clay statue has a breaking point.
Kairos Flint never bowed to anyone. So what if this guy was Uta's father? You dare provoke him and expect no consequences?
He drew the Third Generation Kitetsu.
Wrapped the blade in a dense aura of Conqueror's Haki.
And slashed straight at Shanks.
"Damn it! This kid's unreal!!"
Shanks' eyes widened in shock as he saw the black lightning swirl around Kairos' blade.
Reacting instantly, he drew his saber, Gryphon, cloaked it in his own Conqueror's Haki, and met the attack head-on.
BOOM!!!
Their weapons didn't even need to touch.
The Haki alone exploded on impact.
The palace roof blew apart.
The stone floor beneath them cracked and crumbled under the invisible pressure.
This wasn't a clash of steel—it was a clash between kings.
Shanks cursed under his breath.
What started as a test had evolved into a full-blown duel between top-tier powerhouses.
All he wanted was to give a little scare to the punk who kidnapped his daughter and shook him down for treasure.
Instead, he uncovered a beast.
A bounty hunter from the East Blue, wielding the power of an emperor?
It made no sense.
And that face—still youthful, almost too young.
"Are all kids this insane these days?" Shanks muttered.
He'd only been a Yonko for a few years himself. Had the new generation already caught up?
And more importantly—this was the second time this brat had refused to give him face.
When had his reputation lost its edge?
"Fighting a Yonko... what an opportunity," Kairos shouted, full of battle spirit.
"If you're ready to go all out, so am I."
He had plenty of Legendary Body Crystals in reserve. As long as Shanks didn't strike a fatal blow in one shot, Kairos could outlast him.
If he defeated the infamous Red-Haired Shanks, one of the Four Emperors…
That reputation alone could make him a legend overnight.
His title—Demon Sword Hunter—would echo across the seas.
On the other side, Shanks groaned internally. This young man wasn't backing down. It was as if he truly intended to slice down his future father-in-law.
Just great.
Before he could retaliate, a faint voice rose behind Kairos.
"Kairos… stop… My father's already unconscious…"
It was Vivi.
Struggling to stand under the oppressive pressure, she forced the words out.
Beside her, Nami and Uta were visibly shaken.
Ordinary people couldn't even stand near a clash like this.
If it weren't for their exposure to Kairos' Haki during training, they'd be unconscious too.
Hearing Vivi's plea, Kairos took a deep breath.
Slowly, he withdrew his sword.
The searing Haki radiating from his body faded away.
Across from him, Shanks did the same. His crimson aura receded as he sheathed his blade.
No more fighting.
Thank God.
Had they gone any further, the capital of Alabasta might've been leveled. Already, half the city's population was unconscious.
A full-scale battle would have been a massacre.
Shanks hadn't come here to destroy a kingdom. He came for his daughter.
After King Cobra welcomed the Red-Haired Pirates with honor and feasts, he had no intention of bringing disaster.
"Father!"
With the pressure gone, Vivi rushed to Cobra's side.
Kairos scratched his head, looking awkward.
He'd knocked out his own father-in-law with a burst of Haki.
Then he glanced at the palace—roof shattered, walls cracked, floor torn.
Kairos: "...Oops."
Yeah… things had definitely gotten out of hand.
This was not how he wanted to meet his father-in-law.
"Shanks," Uta said, walking over.
"You've grown up, Uta," Shanks replied, smiling warmly.
"Yeah! You've gotten so big, I barely recognized you!"
"We've missed you all these years!"
"We still remember your songs!"
The crew chimed in one after another, bringing Uta to tears.
"Still crying like a kid?" Shanks teased, a bit emotional himself.
Then he turned to Kairos.
"The man you chose… he's not bad."
That made Uta freeze—then blush furiously.
"No, no, he's not my man!" she stammered.
"Got it," Shanks replied with a knowing grin.
Behind him, Beckman, Lucky Roux, Yasopp, and the others all smirked too.
Their faces said it all—even if Uta tried to deny it.
Soon after, King Cobra stirred awake.
When he opened his eyes and saw the wreckage of the palace, he was stunned.
He looked from Shanks to Kairos, then back again.
Words caught in his throat.
What was he supposed to say?
Shanks—an emperor of the sea.
Kairos—a man who had just stood toe-to-toe with that emperor.
Even the World Government wouldn't risk directly challenging one Yonko, let alone two people of this caliber.
Cobra sighed.
But when he looked at his daughter, and the way she looked at Kairos...
A strange calm came over him.
Maybe… this is a blessing in disguise.
Still, a tiny part of him wondered—
Will this kid compensate for all the palace damage...?
The moment of reunion between Uta and her father finally passed.
Shanks walked over to Kairos.
"Take care of Uta. Don't bully her."
His words weren't just paternal. They were recognition.
He was entrusting Uta to him.
Kairos nodded. "Of course. As long as I'm around, no one touches my crew."
He wasn't joking.
He didn't come to this world to be bullied.
Anyone who dared hurt his people?
He'd burn them, scatter their ashes—and dig up their ancestors for good measure.
"I can't stay long. The Navy will sniff me out. Come to the New World sometime—we'll drink and feast."
Shanks clapped him on the shoulder.
"Looking forward to it," Kairos replied with a grin.
To him, bounty hunting was just a job. Pirates, Marines—he judged people by their deeds, not their titles.
And the Red-Haired Pirates weren't bad folks by any stretch.
"Let's move, boys!" Shanks shouted.
The crew followed, waving goodbye.
Uta waved back, eyes misty.
As the crew disappeared into the distance…
Kairos turned to survey the destroyed palace.
And muttered under his breath:
"Those bastards left me with the mess…"
"Damn redhead."
At that moment, Vivi approached with her father.
"I've heard everything from Vivi," Cobra said slowly, his voice mixed with pride and weariness.
"From now on… I leave Vivi in your hands."
Kairos straightened up.
"You have my word, Father-in-law."
He gave Cobra a respectful nod.
Then Cobra looked around at his ruined palace.
"Well, about the damages…"
"Say no more," Kairos interrupted.
"I'm going to kill Crocodile, the bastard behind all of this."
Cobra tried again. "But this palace—"
"I know Vivi is my woman. I'll clean up Alabasta's rebellion myself."
Kairos cut him off again.
Cobra: "…"
Yeah, this kid was clearly dodging the compensation talk.
Typical son-in-law behavior.
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