One Piece: A Guide for Ordinary Players

Although Robert was always wary of Shanks, he also had a natural trust in him.

The wariness stemmed from the fact that Shanks showed his dislike for him from the very first meeting. Robert wasn't some masochist; if someone didn't like him, he couldn't very well fawn over them and say, "I admire you so much."

Although I thought Shanks was very cool when reading the manga and took good care of the protagonist, I felt uncomfortable when I actually entered the story and before I even got into the protagonist's body.

This big shot was lenient with Luffy and his crew, but he didn't tolerate anyone else at all, especially unstable factors like himself who might affect the growth of the main characters. He didn't give them any kindness whatsoever.

The scene where he threatened to fake his death to stimulate Luffy's growth after the Marineford War is still vivid in my mind, with the attitude that if you don't agree, I'll make your fake death become real.

Since then, Robert has lost his affection for Shanks and has gradually begun to see him as a potential enemy, constantly wary of him trying to kill him and clear obstacles for Luffy.

However, at the same time, Robert had great faith in Shanks' promise.

When Uta was kidnapped by the Knights of God, and Shanks told him he didn't need to do anything and that Uta would be in no danger, Robert actually believed him from the bottom of his heart.

Based on his understanding of Shanks, he would never let someone he cherishes be in danger, and would definitely use all resources to save Uta.

So even though Robert had a big argument with Shanks, he actually dared to set a plan to conquer the Skypiea in the second half of the year.

Although it has only been two or three months and the Sky Island issue has been resolved to rescue Uta, Robert still believes that Shanks must have done something, and that even if he comes back in six months, Uta will be safe.

That's why Robert relaxed his guard for a moment when he came into contact with Uta, but that momentary relaxation resulted in serious injury.

That mental attack was too powerful; in an instant, it felt like a giant had swung his arm and delivered a massive mental blow.

Although Robert was physically unharmed, he was in a daze, had a terrible headache, and was nauseous and vomiting – a clear sign of a concussion.

Even so, Robert did not release Uta. Electricity quickly swept across Uta's entire body. Robert was very glad that he subconsciously chose to trust Uta and did not attack her.

Although the attack came from Uta's body, she is still asleep and has no consciousness, so how could she be the target of the attack?

Mori and Bruno, summoned by the leaves, were directly dispersed by the indiscriminate and powerful mental attack.

Despite his headache, Robert activated his Observation Haki to see what had attacked him. The next second, he discovered that through the collapsed layer of earth on his body, a huge figure was stomping down on the ground.

Being in a cavern-like underground space, if you are caught off guard and let this huge enemy step on you, you can passively transform into an element to negate physical damage, but Uta can't withstand it.

Robert's eyes were bloodshot, and he gritted his teeth in anger.

These Celestial Dragons are utterly depraved; they're completely disregarding Uta's safety in their scheme to scheme against him.

Gungnir was summoned by Robert and, aided by a powerful electromagnetic catapult, burst from the ground, aiming straight for the giant's foot.

A large hole was blasted open in Gungnir's path. Robert teleported out with Uta in his arms. Uta, who was in a deep sleep, had no resistance to electromagnetic assimilation and began to transform into elements together with Robert.

Once airborne, Robert finally saw what had attacked him.

Anyone who has seen the movie "Red-Haired Diva" will recognize that this is the ancient demon king who destroyed the music kingdom of Eregia—Totemjika!

The original work describes Totemjika as a super demon king sealed in another world, possessing world-destroying power.

If someone can sing the sealing song completely, the seal can be temporarily broken, allowing it from the other world to break through the dimensional barrier and descend into this world.

Robert couldn't understand it at all. Clearly, only Uta in this world had the complete conditions for summoning. Others with this singing talent didn't have the sheet music for the sealing song, and most of those who did have the sheet music didn't have this singing talent.

But Uta is currently in a deep slumber, so why was this demon king, capable of destroying a country, still summoned?

Gungnir's feet collided with Totemjika's, triggering the Absolute Sharpness ability, which pierced right through him.

Robert beckoned, and Gungnir flew straight at him without hesitation.

But the next second, Totemjika seemed to receive a command, opening its mouth wide in the direction Gungnir was flying, and an invisible sonic cannon followed closely behind.

Robert, who was floating in mid-air trying to put Gungnir away, quickly transformed into his elemental form and dodged several kilometers away upon seeing this.

This type of sonic attack is not considered physical damage and cannot be dodged while in elemental form. He was confident he could withstand a hit or two, but with Uta in his arms, he was hesitant to act rashly.

After a few seconds of thought, Robert also figured out what this Totemjika was all about.

This couldn't have been summoned normally using the Song of Sealing. Judging from the eerie demonic aura emanating from him, Robert initially thought it was just the special effects of a demon king from another world.

But upon closer inspection, wasn't that the effect of Zilingom summoning the Fear Demon from a dream?

Zoan type, Dragon-Dragon Fruit, Mythical Zoan type, Kirin form. The fruit's name alone is so long, so its effects must be extraordinary.

This Devil Fruit can hypnotize others and turn illusions into reality from their dreams.

Ever since Uta accidentally sang the sealing song in the music kingdom of Eregia when she was ten years old, leading to the destruction of the entire music kingdom, this demon from another world has become her lifelong nightmare.

Just now, Shamlock told Uta to rest. Normally, even if Uta was very tired, he wouldn't fall into such a deep sleep so quickly. Now that I think about it, he must have been hypnotized by the fruit of the Holy Zilingom.

They've probably been hypnotizing Uta to sleep these past few days, partly to help her rest quickly, and partly to reduce the chances of her resisting, so they can use this tactic to guard against anyone who might try to save her, like themselves!

Robert brought a large stack of leaves, on which were recorded many powerful figures he had met. However, Paton's Devil Fruit ability also had limitations. For example, it could only summon one target at a time and could not create a monstrous combination like three Akainus or six Aokijis at once.

Bruno's avatar had just been destroyed, and Robert no longer had the Door-Door Fruit as his escape tool, so he could only teleport away with Uta.

Just as Robert was about to lead Uta away from this place, he suddenly realized that an extremely powerful aura was locking onto him.

Robert had a premonition that no matter how fast the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was, if he made even the slightest move to run away, he would be killed on the spot by some kind of attack that was completely impossible to defend against!

Robert's field of vision extended toward the source of the threat, capturing a figure that he found hard to accept.

Even if Im himself came, Robert would only feel flattered and marvel at the treatment he received from Rocks back then.

But the sight of this person here was something Robert never dared to imagine. Filled with rage, he gritted his teeth and called out a name:

Shanks!

Chapter 21 We All Have a Bright Future

If Robert still doesn't understand what's going on when he sees Shanks himself here, then he's wasted the last two years of his life.

He had been completely baffled by this. Although he had indeed caused quite a few major incidents, he certainly hadn't warranted the intervention of the World Government. Why would someone specifically devise such a scheme?

To put it bluntly, many people in the Navy might grit their teeth when they talk about him, but the Five Elders might never have even heard of him.

Let alone devising a method specifically for dealing with Rocks back then, even their order for the navy to launch a massive, all-out attack on them would be like Verstappen playing Mario Kart, lowering his own status.

Therefore, the fact that this matter was able to move forward must mean that there was a mastermind behind it, who exaggerated the threat they were posing.

This person not only needs to hate himself to the core, but also needs to have deep connections with the bigwigs of the World Government. In fact, Shanks himself is the only person who can meet both of these conditions.

In reality, no one in the current high command of the Navy truly sees him as a thorn in their side. Since Akainu left the Navy, he has not done anything to provoke the Navy.

Among the pirates, the one he offended the most was Blackbeard, but Blackbeard himself was not clean, so how could he dare to take the initiative to contact the World Government to deal with him?

The case is now solved. Shanks stared at Robert from afar with a cold expression, both of them radiating fighting spirit.

"Is it worth it? To go to such lengths to deal with me?"

Shanks' face was frosty, as if he had no intention of wasting words with Robert: "Put Uta down."

Robert wore a mocking smile: "And then what? You send him to Im's men to be marked?"

Shanks unleashed a burst of red and black lightning unique to Conqueror's Haki, but because Uta was still in Robert's arms, he did not act immediately.

Robert continued to provoke Shanks with words, secretly calculating how he should respond.

Shanks is now full of cheat codes. He not only has super strong Conqueror's Haki that can suppress Devil Fruit abilities, but also the ultimate move, Divine Evasion, which can instantly kill the supernova Kid with a net worth of 3 billion.

Most importantly, his Observation Haki allows him to foresee the future, and all his actions are based on others' predictions and deductions. It seems like he's destined to lose no matter how he fights.

Robert held a large number of leaves with the names of powerful figures written on them, but these leaves were just replicas and were likely to be destroyed by Shanks using some special means before they could achieve the desired effect.

Robert didn't want to reveal his trump card of being able to summon other powerful beings too early, lest he lose the element of surprise when he actually needed to use it.

Shanks was afraid of hurting Uta, but Robert was just as afraid. Now, Shanks' distrust of him had become his best bargaining chip.

If Shanks is certain that I won't let Uta get hurt and attacks me without any regard for her safety, then I, who am holding Uta, will face a major nerf.

"It was indeed I who brought Uta out of Eregia, but she's only a 20-year-old girl. Do you want her to be trapped on a deserted island for the rest of her life?"

"Now that the Knights of God have taken Uta away, you don't dare to confront those Celestial Dragons, but you only dare to vent your anger on me. You're truly displaying the demeanor of a Yonko."

Shanks' anger grew, and he looked at Robert as if he were a dead man: "Just keep stalling for time. Once the Knights of God surround you, you'll have even less chance of escaping when we attack from both sides."

Robert pulled out an image capsule with a playful look: "Finally, you've said it. Celestial Dragon Shanks, it must have been quite a challenge for you to be an undercover agent in the pirate world for so many years."

"What a coincidence! I just happened to prepare a Shadow Shell. In a moment, our conversation will spread throughout the sea, letting all the pirates see what kind of people the Four Emperors they admire really are."

"You always boast that you were an orphan adopted by Roger, but when I asked you to recite the 'Ode to a Humble Abode,' the first line you uttered was: 'The six kings are gone, and the four seas are united!'"

Although Shanks didn't know what Robert meant, he knew that his last few words were definitely not nice.

With a sharp look in his eyes, Shanks vanished from his spot and was already in front of Robert the next second, his sword tip pointing directly at the image shell in Robert's hand.

Robert, along with Uta, dodged backward in his elemental form. Shanks' powerful Conqueror's Haki erupted instantly, nearly forcing Robert out of his elemental state.

Fortunately, Robert now possesses Conqueror's Haki. Although he is still not as powerful as a monster like Shanks, he can withstand a brief confrontation.

Without hesitation, he activated his ultimate move, Thor. Robert's enormous avatar, clad in beast-scale armor, appeared between heaven and earth, completely obscuring his and Uta's figures.

Shanks's sword strikes create holes through the massive Dharma Image, but with an almost inexhaustible supply of electricity, the Dharma Image is instantly restored to its original state.

As the two chased and fled, they had already run several kilometers away from Shamrock and his group.

Robert suddenly stopped, his body crackling with electricity as he launched a counterattack against Shanks.

Shanks remained fearless, his sword wreathed in two colors of Haki. Each strike he made shattered Robert's lightning, and the extended sword energy finally dissipated the Dharma form, revealing Robert's true form.

Suddenly Shanks' expression froze, then he erupted in a thunderous roar: "Where did you take Uta?!"

Robert wore a smug smile. The sleeping Uta was like a shackle to him, restricting her movements and forcing him to devote a lot of energy to assimilating her with lightning.

Robert is no longer the rookie he was when he first met Shanks. How could he be suppressed or deceived by Shanks' Observation Haki? Even if Shanks could foresee events a minute or two in the future, he absolutely could not restrain Robert, who was determined to escape.

Robert's only worry was that Uta would be stopped by his ability to constantly foresee the future.

He deliberately turned the lightning effect to the maximum. He could have used his ultimate to fight Shanks, but he still fought and ran away, just to take the opportunity to hide Uta.

The enormous form completely obscured Uta's figure, and Robert continued to use Conqueror's Haki to disrupt Shanks's Observation Haki perception, finally finding an opportunity to quietly hide Uta behind a large rock.

More importantly, along with Uta, a leaf formed from Padon was also put down!

Only now was the plan to rescue Uta finally complete, achieving its intended goal. With no more worries, Robert prepared to take advantage of the situation and test the strength of this Yonko.

Given the current situation, Shanks would certainly not hold back any longer.

“I told you in the Den Den Mushi before that if you didn’t save Uta, I would. Now she has been taken to a safe place.”

Shanks looked at Robert, his emotions suddenly softening: "Why can't you just stay put? I don't actually want to kill you."

Robert didn't believe it at all: "You wanted to kill me two years ago because you chose Luffy as your future, and my influence on him has clearly exceeded the control of you old guys."

Shanks seemed to be talking to himself: "Yes, after decades of waiting, the most crucial moment has finally arrived. We absolutely cannot let someone like you, who is not part of the predetermined future, ruin it!"