As the distance closed, Bardock finally got a clear look at the ship. It was a pirate ship, and not just any pirate ship, but one that Bardock recognized. The sail bore the image of a grinning skull, with three scars over its left eye and two crossed swords behind it. This was none other than the ship of the soon-to-be infamous Emperor of the Sea, Red-Haired Shanks. They appeared to be hosting a banquet once again.
"Hey, Shanks, something's approaching fast. Is everything okay?"
Yasopp, true to his reputation as a top sniper, was the first to spot the fast-approaching Bardock.
"Ah, it's fine. Whoever it is, we can handle them. Hey, Luu, don't hog all the food—bring the meat over here."
Shanks casually adjusted his straw hat, showing little concern. Although he was only in his early twenties and the Red-Haired Pirates weren't yet recognized as one of the Four Emperors, they were already among the top pirate crews on the seas. Shanks was confident they could face any enemy, even if it were the world's strongest man, Edward Newgate, also known as Whitebeard.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming."
Lucky Roux, balancing a huge platter filled with all kinds of food in one hand, took another bite from a large drumstick with the other. As he walked and ate, the pirates sprawled across the deck, drinking heavily, didn't disrupt his stride—proving he was the most agile of the bunch despite his size.
As soon as the food was laid down, everyone eagerly dug in, laughing and drinking heartily. Shanks was in the middle of it all, shouting along with the crew, showing no trace of a captain's authority as he downed drink after drink under the encouragement of his men.
Ben Beckman leaned against the railing, smoking quietly, keeping an eye on the cloud-riding Bardock. He had already ruled out the possibility that this was Big Mom, the monstrous pirate from the New World, approaching them. Whether or not this new arrival posed a threat, the fact that they could ride clouds meant their Devil Fruit ability was no small matter, so Beckman paid close attention. Watching Shanks and the others fooling around, he couldn't help but sigh, thinking, Who's the real captain here? What a bunch of idiots.
"Hey, how's it going? My name's Bardock, from the West Blue. I'm 8 years old and a Devil Fruit user. My ship was overturned by a huge wave, and I was wondering if I could hitch a ride with you guys to the next busy port. I have some local specialties as payment, and if it's not enough, I can help out—I'm really good at grilling meat…"
Bardock shouted from a distance. He had to—if Yasopp or Beckman took a shot at him, he wasn't sure he could survive it.
"Kid, do you know we're pirates?" Beckman asked, curious. Few people would willingly board a pirate ship, especially since most pirates were notorious criminals.
"Yeah, I know. I saw your Jolly Roger," Bardock replied as he steered the Flying Nimbus to run parallel to the ship. He continued answering Beckman's questions, "I can feel your joy. You're different from other pirates. My instincts tell me you won't mind having a temporary barbecue chef on board."
Bardock thought to himself, I can't exactly tell them I've read your story in a manga, so I know what you guys are like.
Beckman glanced at Shanks, leaving the decision up to him. Shanks, intrigued by Bardock's claim to be good at grilling, smiled and said to Lucky Roux, "Roux, looks like you've got some competition." Then he turned to Bardock and said, "I've got an appointment coming up, but after that, we're heading to Sabaody Archipelago. If you don't mind, come aboard and join the party."
Hearing the name Sabaody, Bardock hesitated for a moment. The original plan for his family had been a vacation to the Sabaody Archipelago, before they were caught in extreme weather.
"Let me show my thanks by grilling some meat," Bardock said as he jumped onto the deck, dispelled the cloud, and transformed back into his human form. After quickly cleaning up, he got to work on the barbecue.
The Flying Nimbus ability wasn't the same as the one from Dragon Ball. It was a one-time skill. If you didn't dispel it, it would continue to drain your energy. You'd have to recreate it if you wanted to use it again, with its size depending on how much energy you expended.
"Kid, are you really 8 years old? You're pretty tall, doesn't seem like it," someone from the crowd remarked.
Bardock was now nearly 1.7 meters tall and looked strong and muscular after six months of training. If his parents were still alive, they'd probably boast, "Our son has the potential of an admiral."
"Absolutely. I just spent six months living with wild beasts on a deserted island."
"Kid, you're quite good looking. Which part of the West Blue are you from? Our captain's from the West Blue, too."
"Is that so? I'm from the Kingdom of Ilusia in the West Blue."
Bardock thought, Should I tell them that Shanks is actually a Celestial Dragon child adopted by Roger from God Valley in the West Blue?
Bardock casually answered their questions while beginning to focus on grilling the meat, using his beastly abilities to enhance his senses.
Before long, the aroma of the barbecue wafted through the air, and the crew's mouths began to water. Despite having frequent banquets, each crew member had a refined taste for food, and just from the smell, they could tell that Bardock hadn't been lying about his cooking skills.
"Roux, this is bad. Once Bardock leaves the ship, we won't be able to eat such delicious barbecue anymore."
"Yeah, Roux, you better think of something," a few pirates who were close to Lucky Roux teased him.
Without lifting his head, Roux kept eating at a rapid pace, taking big bites from both hands. At a time like this, whoever ate the most won.
"Hey, Bardock, how about joining my crew? Your barbecue is amazing, and everyone loves it!" Shanks laughed as he extended an invitation.
Shanks never cared about whether someone was strong or not—no one would be stronger than him anyway. He only cared about whether they felt like a good fit.
"Haha, Shanks, I'm only 8 years old. I'll have to think about it."
By saying he'd think about it, Bardock was politely declining. Shanks smiled, not bothered, and went back to joking around with the others.
During his six months on the island, Bardock had thought long and hard about his future:
First, the Navy. He had no interest in joining the Navy. Not only were they the lapdogs of the Celestial Dragons, but he wanted to live freely on the sea. In the Navy, you had to follow orders. Even as Fleet Admiral, you couldn't disobey the World Government's Five Elders. So he ruled that out, though he was still interested in learning the Navy's Six Powers.
Second, pirates. Bardock wasn't fond of pirates. Most pirates were destroyers of order, bringing tragedy in their wake. A few pirates were more like adventurers, but even they caused a lot of destruction and were constantly being chased by the Navy. If he had to become a pirate, Shanks' crew would be a good choice. The captain was easygoing, the crew was united and harmonious, and their strength was undeniable. In the future, they'd be one of the Four Emperors. However, the freedom of pirates was ultimately the captain's freedom, and Bardock, if given the choice, preferred to be his own boss.
Third, other professions. He had considered being a gourmet, a traveler, a scientist, a doctor, a journalist—he'd thought about trying all kinds of things. But for now, his main priority was getting stronger.
How can I get Shanks and the others to help me train my Haki?
The banquet had ended, and the ship was still sailing. Bardock was diligently helping clean up. He had already gathered some information—Shanks was headed to meet none other than Dracule Mihawk, the top swordsman on the seas. At this point, Mihawk wasn't yet the world's greatest swordsman, but just the thought of these two clashing made Bardock's blood boil with excitement.
"Hey, Bardock, hurry up! I'll show you where you'll be staying," Lucky Roux called out with a cheerful wave, beckoning Bardock to follow him.
"Here, I think you'll need this." At the doorway to the cabin, Lucky Roux handed over a package.
Bardock took it and found a new set of clothes inside. They fit him perfectly, though he had no idea where Roux managed to find them.
"Thanks, Lucky Roux! I don't have to look like a wild man anymore."
"Haha! Rest up well, and when you have time, let's exchange some tips on grilling meat."
"Of course! Honestly, grilling is all I can do, so I've been meaning to learn a few tricks from you."
---
Two days quickly passed. In this time, Bardock had gotten to know everyone on board, including an actual monkey. Beyond the characters he knew from the manga, he had also met some new faces. The most interesting discovery was meeting Shanks' adopted daughter, Uta—the future superstar singer.
Despite her young age, Uta was the musician of the Red-Haired Pirates. She was always seen wearing headphones, and it seemed she had already eaten the Uta Uta no Mi (Song Song Fruit). Her voice was indeed mesmerizing, and people would unknowingly be drawn into her songs.
One time, Bardock got so entranced by her singing that, without thinking, he blurted out, "Uta, I want to have a baby monkey with you!"
Heaven knows it was just a joke, but Shanks didn't care about that.
"You idiot! Uta would never have a baby monkey with you!" Shanks, acting like Nami, immediately gave Bardock three hard knocks on the head—duang, duang, duang—leaving three bumps.
"Shanks, what does 'having a baby monkey' mean?" Uta innocently asked, which only fueled Shanks' irritation. He delivered another three duangs on Bardock's head.
Watching Bardock with the three bumps on his head, the crew burst into laughter.
As Bardock rubbed his head, he couldn't help but admire Shanks' strength. He didn't even have time to react before he was hit.
"Shanks, where does my strength stand compared to others on the sea?"
This was something Bardock had been eager to know for a while. Without knowing his own strength, he couldn't confidently make future plans.
"Kid, strength isn't something you can measure just by comparing numbers. Here, punch my palm with all your might," Shanks said, raising his hand.
Bardock didn't hold back. He transformed into his Great Monkey King form, his strongest state. In this form, his power and defense were at their peak. He threw a full-powered punch. The strike was fierce and imposing, but to his surprise, Shanks' hand didn't even budge.
Since Bardock had mentally prepared himself for this, he wasn't too shocked. He knew he was still far from Shanks' level.
"Your current attack strength is comparable to a pirate captain with a bounty of 35 million berries. However, your defense is much stronger than his. But remember, bounty amounts are only a reference. Considering your age, you're already quite impressive."
"35 million? I wonder how that compares to Luffy when he first set out. Still, I can grow larger and increase my combat power even more," Bardock thought to himself. "But what I really need is actual combat experience—I haven't fought anyone yet."
---
That afternoon, the Red-Haired Pirates finally met up with Dracule Mihawk. The rendezvous point was a desolate island, about half a day's journey from the Sabaody Archipelago. The island was so barren and small, it was barely the size of a soccer field. No wonder they chose this spot for their duel; even if the island got destroyed, it wouldn't matter.
Mihawk looked much like how Bardock remembered him from the manga, just a younger version, with no beard. He was still in his prime.
"Mihawk! Long time no see! How about we have a banquet?" Shanks, as usual, was always trying to find an excuse to party.
"Shanks, we can have a banquet anytime, but first, let's finish our duel. It's been a while since I've had a proper challenge."
Though Mihawk's tone was calm, he was clearly getting excited. There were very few people on the seas who could match him in a swordfight.
As soon as he finished speaking, Mihawk had already drawn his famed sword, Yoru, which was shaped like a cross. His whole presence suddenly radiated sharpness.
Bardock noticed that Yoru hadn't yet turned into a black blade, guessing that Mihawk hadn't yet claimed the title of the world's strongest swordsman.
Seeing this, Shanks grew serious and drew his sword, Gryphon, preparing for the battle.
The crew, well-rehearsed for this, quickly moved the ship and Mihawk's small boat far away from the battlefield. Judging by their efficiency, this wasn't the first time they had seen such duels.
Bardock transformed into his Great Monkey King form and activated his Fiery Eyes, Golden Vision technique. He didn't want to miss a single move in this match. In the future, he planned to model his own swordsmanship training on the techniques of these two greats.
Thanks to his enhanced memory from being transported to this world, Bardock was confident that his Fiery Eyes, Golden Vision would allow him to catch every detail of their fight. Not observing these masters closely would be a wasted opportunity.
Both Mihawk and Shanks simultaneously unleashed massive flying slashes at each other. The two massive slashes met in mid-air and slowly wore each other down until they both disappeared.
Just as Yonko-level fighters start with a clash of Conqueror's Haki that splits the sky, it seemed that great swordsmen initiated their duels with flying slashes.
Next, the two charged toward each other for close combat.
Mihawk's strikes were heavy and precise, showing a mastery of technique where every move served a purpose. Shanks, on the other hand, fought with his left-handed sword style, attacking with lightning speed and unpredictable angles, but his strikes still packed plenty of power. They were truly a perfect match for each other, equals in every sense.
As the battle raged on, the shockwaves from their clashes grew stronger. Occasionally, a flying slash would slice through the ocean, traveling far into the distance.
Suddenly, Bardock was startled as one of Mihawk's slashes flew straight toward their pirate ship. Before he could cry out in warning, a figure leapt into the air and shattered the slash with a single strike. Only when the figure landed back on the ship did Bardock realize it was none other than Benn Beckman, the vice-captain of the Red-Haired Pirates.
"These guys are getting out of hand… Move the ship even further away," Beckman calmly instructed the crew. The crew responded in unison, showing no signs of panic. This level of coordination was to be expected from a Yonko crew.
The duel lasted from noon until sunset. By this point, Mihawk and Shanks were standing still, facing each other, not making any further moves.
"Mihawk, it's getting dark. Let's finish this with one final strike. This next move is going to be powerful, and my control over it isn't perfect, so watch out."
"I'm looking forward to it, Shanks."
"Divine Departure!"
Boom!
A massive explosion echoed through the air. Bardock, watching from afar, clearly saw that their swords didn't even make contact. The air between them was violently shaking, and the thunderous sound came from the shockwaves created by the clash. This was the result of Conqueror's Haki coating their swords and being unleashed with Armament Haki.
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