CHAPTER 394: CHAPTER 394: I DIDN’T EXPECT YOU TO BE THIS KIND OF BOSS

Chapter 394: I Didn’t Expect You to Be This Kind of Boss

When Kanika and Roux were locked in a tense standoff, neither side giving an inch, a sharp sound broke the silence.

Click, click, click!

The grating noise cut through the air.

Kanika, who had been seething with anger just moments before, quickly swept her hair to one side and turned her cautious gaze toward the source of the sound. It was coming from where the red-haired Shanks was seated.

She noticed that the black sphere encasing him was starting to crack, jagged lines spreading across its surface. A brilliant red light seeped through the gaps, casting an eerie glow.

"How is this possible? This guy..."

Andre, who had been watching the scene unfold, couldn’t hide his shock. His expression tightened, and he clenched his teeth in frustration.

"It’s so bright! Looks like the boss doesn’t need our help after all!"

The sudden turn of events snapped Roux back into action, and he stepped forward with newfound energy, reclaiming his place at the center of attention.

Snake, standing nearby, gave him a look of exasperation, clearly unimpressed by Roux’s theatrics.

Bang! Bang!

Two deafening explosions rang out as the sphere shattered completely, its fragments dissolving into the air.

A striking figure emerged from the wreckage. Shanks’ red hair seemed to blaze with fury, and his entire body shimmered with an unsettling, blood-like aura. A terrifying presence radiated from him, sweeping across the entire area and silencing everyone in its wake.

"Boss, are you okay?" Roux asked, his usual playful tone gone.

He and the rest of the crew had never seen Shanks in such a state. The sheer intensity of his appearance made Roux worry that their leader was on the verge of losing control.

"Roar!"

Instead of answering, Shanks let out a guttural, almost inhuman bellow that echoed through the air.

It’s over! He’s lost it! Why else would he not even be able to speak?

Roux’s mind raced with panic, and he wasn’t alone, Snake and Limejuice, standing nearby, shared the same grim thought.

"I’m fine, of course," Shanks finally rasped, his voice hoarse but clear.

"Uh... uh..."

The sudden response caught Roux off guard, nearly throwing him off balance.

I didn’t expect you to be this kind of boss!

He thought.

If you’re fine, why do you have to look so terrifying?

At that moment, the red glow surrounding Shanks began to fade, and his wild hair settled back into its usual style. He hadn’t meant to roar like that, it was just that he had been overwhelmed by a flood of violent impulses. The only way to release the pressure was through that primal shout, or he feared he might have suffocated under the weight of it.

Shanks glanced at Roux and the others, who stood there speechless, and then at the enemies lined up in formation not far away. But his attention wasn’t on them. At the moment the sphere had shattered, he had sensed something else.

He tilted his head upward, gazing into the sky.

The blue expanse stretched endlessly, dotted with soft white clouds.

And then, there was that figure.

As Shanks stared upward, the others followed his gaze, their eyes locking onto the same sight.

"What... is that?"

High above, a figure resembling a pterosaur circled in the sky. Most bizarrely, a ball of flame trailed behind it, leaving a streak of light in its wake.

"That’s... the vice captain of the Beast Pirates, King the Conflagration!"

"How is this possible? Why would he show up here?"

Roux’s jaw dropped, and the large chunk of meat he’d been holding slipped from his hand and hit the ground with a thud.

He knew what this meant, they were in serious danger now.

That man, King, had once competed in a swordsmanship tournament. Though he hadn’t won, his strength had been undeniable, leaving a lasting impression. Compared to Gekko Moria, whom they had fought not long ago, King might even be stronger.

And now, with the Beast Pirates’ forces surrounding them, escaping unharmed seemed nearly impossible.

"Perfect! That’s our Beasts Pirates’ Vice Captain! The Red Hair Pirates are done for!"

On the coast, aboard a pirate ship docked at the beach, Zhen Da, standing next to Higuma, couldn’t contain his excitement.

He didn’t understand why King, rumored to have been imprisoned by the Snake Lord, was here. But his presence made one thing clear: the Red Hair Pirates were in deep trouble.

High in the sky, King had already noticed that those below had spotted him. With a powerful flap of his wings, he began his descent from over a thousand meters, spiraling downward.

He landed smoothly on the coast, transforming back into his human form. Dressed in dark clothing that covered his skin, he wore a mask and goggles, his presence imposing and enigmatic.

"King-sama, you’re here!"

A crew member from Higuma’s ship rushed over, eager to brief him on the situation.

King’s gaze shifted to Higuma on the pirate ship and then to Andre and the others on the shore. These were new faces, people who had joined the Beast Pirates after he had left Wano Country.

He was familiar with the Supernovas of the Worst Generation, both before and after they had joined the crew. While on Shiki the Golden Lion’s floating Sky Island, King had access to newspapers and had kept up with recent events.

He gave a nod to Higuma, Andre, and the others as a greeting.

Before this moment, King had witnessed Andre’s strength firsthand. With some refinement, Andre could one day rival the big names of the Beasts Pirates.

Unfortunately, Andre hadn’t joined directly but had aligned with them as the leader of an independent pirate crew.

Tap, tap, tap.

The sound of crisp footsteps echoed as King’s tall figure approached the red-haired Shanks.

King had already pieced together the situation. He was on his way back to Wano, and capturing the Red Hair Pirates to bring them back for Kaido’s mines seemed like a perfect opportunity. If he could recruit them, great. If not, he’d at least neutralize their threat.

"Red-haired Shanks," King said in a low but steady voice, "would you like to join the Beast Pirates?"

It was a question posed before any fighting began. In the New World, it wasn’t uncommon for powerful pirate crews to subdue others and absorb them as subordinates.

As territories became more defined, smaller crews operating in the domains of major pirates were often targeted. The Red Hair Pirates, a young and renowned crew, naturally drew attention.

"I refuse," Shanks replied firmly, his tone unwavering despite the immense pressure King exuded.

Unlike when they had rejected Higuma earlier, the faces of Shanks and his crew were no longer relaxed. They looked grave, fully aware of the threat before them. King’s presence seemed to freeze the very air around them.

Whoosh!

As Shanks faced King, Beckman and the rest of the crew rushed to his side.

They had left only two members to guard their ship, with everyone else rallying around their captain.

Boom! Boom!

A surge of powerful energy erupted from Shanks’ companions. Black lines began to spread across their bodies, a sign of their resolve.

A fearsome aura rippled outward, commanding respect even from their enemies.

Despite King’s arrival, the Beast Pirates didn’t dare underestimate the Red Hair Pirates, whose reputation preceded them.

"Interesting," King remarked, his curiosity piqued as he observed the demonic patterns forming on the bodies of Shanks’ crew, each one slightly different but unmistakably similar.

"King, if you want a fight, we’re ready for you anytime," Shanks declared, his voice steady and resolute.

I didn’t expect you to be this kind of boss, talking just like that, Zhen Da, standing beside King, thought to himself, his heart sinking at Shanks’ boldness.

"Anytime, you say?" King replied, his voice calm but laced with menace as he looked down at Shanks, whose height barely reached his thigh.

From what King could sense, the red-haired man, despite his solemn demeanor, was already at his physical limit.

With your body in that state, you still dare to act so bold? King thought, sizing up his opponent.

( End of this Chapter )