Chiga stood rooted to the spot, arms crossed. He had also been within the range of Vice Admiral Purple Kirin's attack, but as a Rumble-Rumble Fruit user, lightning was part of his very being. There was no way he could be harmed by his own element.
In contrast, Shanks was in rough shape—one could even say he looked pitiful.
His normally smooth red hair was now streaked with black, every strand singed and curled by the lightning. His upper-body clothing had been completely vaporized, and one leg of his capri pants had been blown off, leaving it barely hanging above the thigh.
But the most shocking change was the loss of his left arm.
It was completely gone, the stump scorched black. Shanks was half-kneeling on the ground, propped up with his remaining arm, head bowed, lost in thought.
Chiga wasn't about to let him play philosopher. He lowered his arms and began walking toward Shanks, his body quickly enveloped in Destruction Armor—preparing to deliver the finishing blow.
Sensing danger, Shanks abruptly raised his head, his eyes glowing with an eerie red light.
"Hm?"
Chiga paused. That aura... It was the same as what he had felt in Mary Geoise.
The red glow in Shanks' eyes flickered before fading. He rose to his feet, his face grim as he stared at Chiga.
He was truly enraged. He had narrowly survived Vice Admiral Purple Kirin's devastating attack. At the last moment, he had poured everything into his left arm to block it, but the price had been steep—he lost the arm.
Chiga, of course, couldn't care less. To him, Shanks with both arms intact always looked awkward. Now that he had one less, he looked far more pleasing.
However, recalling the strange sensation he had picked up earlier, Chiga casually asked,
"Red-Haired Shanks, what's your relationship with the World Government?"
Shanks' pupils shrank. That was supposed to be a secret known only to the highest echelon. How could Uchiha Chiga possibly know?
This was dangerous knowledge—if it got out, it could destabilize everything. Shanks snapped coldly,
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh? So I guessed wrong. I thought you were with them. Good to know."
"Know what?"
"That I can finish you off without worry."
Chiga vanished from Shanks' sight—only to reappear above him the next instant.
Shanks' eyes widened as he reacted, sword in hand. But Chiga was faster. His right leg transformed into a bolt of purple lightning and came crashing down on the stump where Shanks' arm had been.
Boom!
A violent burst of lightning exploded as Chiga's foot struck down, caving in the ground below.
Shanks collapsed under the blow, unable to continue resisting.
Chiga stepped onto Shanks' chest, expression calm. No more words. He raised his hand, ready to deliver the final strike—
Suddenly, a black hole opened beneath Shanks, swallowing him whole and pushing Chiga back.
Shanks vanished, and Chiga's devastating blow missed, slamming into the ground instead.
He stared down at the spot where Shanks had disappeared, expression unreadable, muttering to himself,
"So you've finally made your move…"
---
Mary Geoise – Room of Flowers
A lone figure sat upon the Empty Throne: the shadowy ruler of the World Government, Imu.
Shrouded in black mist, only a pair of red, ominously patterned eyes could be seen. He stared silently at the ground below.
Without warning, a black hole opened beneath him—like a dish serving a broken man.
Shanks emerged, his body dropped unceremoniously onto the floor. Though saved, he didn't look relieved. He simply rose to his feet and stared at Imu.
Imu looked back, with a gaze colder than death itself.
The two locked eyes. After a long silence, a bitter smile spread across Shanks' face as he shouted,
"What's wrong? The always elusive Imu-sama actually decided to save a 'lowly pirate' like me? Afraid to let me die now?"
The moment he finished speaking, pain contorted his face, and he dropped back to his knees, his body unable to resist the oppressive presence before him.
Shanks knelt in silence, head bowed—not out of loyalty, but from sheer, helpless humiliation.
From the throne, Imu's voice finally echoed:
"I warned you about Uchiha Chiga's threat. Why did you ignore me and engage him?"
"It wasn't intentional. I didn't expect him to show up in Fusha Village."
"Nothing is accidental. He possesses abilities similar to mine—spatial teleportation. Distance is meaningless to someone like him. Your current state is the result of your arrogance, charging into East Blue alone."
"I was visiting an old friend."
"Friend?" Imu sneered. "You mean that 'hope' you've been nurturing. Roger really did leave his mark on you."
Hearing Roger's name, Shanks' body tensed. He spoke in a low, suppressed voice,
"He taught me what freedom meant… he made me see—"
His voice rose sharply. Eyes burning with hatred, he stared directly at Imu.
"—he made me see the hope of killing you."
Imu burst out laughing.
"Hahahaha! How naïve. But good. Hate me with everything you have. That hatred only makes you more valuable."
He leaned forward slightly, voice chilling.
"I'll keep that brat alive just for you—so I can savor the despair on your face."
Shanks trembled with fury. Clutching his severed arm, he said nothing.
Imu's laughter faded. With one final glance at the missing limb, he sneered,
"Overconfident fool. Let that arm serve as your lesson."
---