The natural system started off strong, but the navy finally reached its peak!

Although they managed to hold on with their strong will and domineering spirit, and were not instantly defeated, the situation was already in grave danger!

At this moment, Gern's eyes turned cold, and his attacks became even more ferocious.

"What's wrong? Is this all the Yonko Red-Haired Shanks is capable of?!"

With a cold shout, the Eight Desolations rose again, and an even more terrifying power of vibration began to gather.

"How long can your domineering aura last?!"

Shanks gritted his teeth, his dark red aura still boiling, staring intently at Gern, searching for even the slightest opportunity to retaliate.

"I absolutely cannot... fall here!"

So, just as Guern's slash came again, and the shockwave shield tore through the air, Shanks made up his mind!

Rather than risk losing the position after a prolonged siege, it's better to take a risky gamble!

Instead of continuing to block or dodge, he suddenly exerted force with his feet and flew towards the direction of the slash!

"Huh?!" Gern raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by Shanks' near-suicidal behavior.

"Clang!" Griffin's blade clashed violently with the power of the Eight Desolations once again!

This time, however, Shanks did not fight back with all his might. Instead, he cleverly used the moment the blades made contact to take advantage of the immense force of Guern's strike and go with the flow!

"Pfft!" He felt a sweet taste in his throat and forced down the surging blood. He was sent flying backward at an even faster speed than when he came, as if he had been hit by a giant hammer!

But this is not a defeat, but a deliberate displacement!

So, after confirming that he had reached a distance where he wouldn't be caught off guard by Gern, Shanks forcibly twisted his body in mid-air, and the moment his feet touched the ground...

With a loud thud, two deep craters were created, dissipating most of the impact.

Then, he slightly bent one knee to steady himself, raised his head, and his eyes were filled with an almost insane ferocity!

"Gern—!!!"

A terrifying aura, far exceeding anything seen before, erupted from Shanks' body!

The dark red Conqueror's Haki was no longer just swirling around him, but soaring into the sky centered on him!

The gold that Enel's Raikou had dyed in the sky was now completely stained by this overwhelming crimson!

He gripped the hilt of Griffin's sword tightly with both hands, channeling every bit of his Conqueror's Haki into the renowned blade without reservation!

Griffin's blade hummed under the strain, dark red arcs of electricity flickered violently, and it emanated an oppressive aura.

This caused Beckman and the others, who were fighting Enel in the distance, to turn pale!

"Screech!!!" A majestic and violent cry suddenly rang out!

Behind Shanks, the boiling dark red Haki frantically condensed, transforming into a gigantic phantom of a griffin with outstretched wings!

The symbolism and will of Conqueror's Haki are fully manifested!

This is Shanks' ultimate, all-or-nothing strike!

As Gern gazed at the enormous griffin phantom and felt the overwhelming pressure that locked onto his soul, his usually calm face finally revealed extreme solemnity.

"Interesting, he has about 80% of Roger's power at his peak..." Gern muttered to himself.

Just then, the ground beneath Shanks' feet exploded with a deafening roar, and his figure transformed into a dark red meteor that tore through the sky.

The griffin phantom behind him let out a deafening roar and merged with him, carrying the kingly momentum to crush everything, and shot towards Gern!

"If you're so capable, let me see what Captain Roger and Mr. Rayleigh praised about you..."

That's the side that belongs only to the strong!

Chapter 398 What is a Strong Person?! (Part Two)

Faced with Shanks' all-out attack, Gern's pupils reflected the destructive torrent and the griffin phantom, and a smile crept onto his lips.

"Isn't this just telling me not to hide? Sigh!"

"But I can say nice things too..."

Having no intention of retreating, Gern frantically suppressed his dark purple Conqueror's Haki!

With one hand gripping the Eight Directions, the dark purple arcs of electricity that had been surrounding him no longer erupted outwards.

Instead, it emitted a low, humming sound, like the ocean embracing all rivers, and was actively drawn into the vast expanse of the world.

In an instant, the dark blade of Bahuang seemed to come alive, greedily devouring Gern's domineering aura. Dark red cracks lit up one by one, emitting a deep, dark purple light.

Not only the knife, but Gern's entire body began to tremble slightly, and the surrounding space emitted a faint sound like shattering glass!

"A strong person? What truly defines a strong person?"

Gern took a deep breath, slightly raised the Eight Desolations, and slowly took a step back with his left foot, causing the ground behind him to collapse in a fan shape!

"Is it the kind of pure mastery that Rocks and Roger pushed to the extreme in terms of Haki and swordsmanship?"

"Or is it like Kaido, Whitebeard, and Big Mom, relying on Devil Fruit abilities combined with Haki to roam the seas?"

Gern moved, his entire body transforming into a shooting star as he charged forward.

"Or perhaps like Garp or Zephyr, who, with mortal bodies, rely on unparalleled physical skills and Haki to confront everything head-on?"

"No! None of those!" Gern's eyes suddenly sharpened, and the frequency of the Eight Desolations Blade Cries far exceeded that of the past!

It's excited!

It's roaring!

It saw the aura of that man from back then, yearning to fight him, even if it only had 80% of that man's power!

"The true path to ultimate strength is never about being fixated on one particular aspect!"

Rather, it's about integration and comprehensive understanding!

"Based on top-tier natural fruits, leverage the power of heaven and earth!" The vibrating particles on the Eight Desolations Blade suddenly surged, and the vibration caused the surrounding space to hum.

"Using the supreme grade sword [Hyakkō] as its blade, this ultimate destruction possesses the attribute of cutting through anything!"

The blade sliced ​​through the air, leaving a twisted trail and dragging out a purplish-black torrent that stretched across the heavens and earth!

Driven by the "Peak Physical Techniques" honed through countless trials and surpassing the limits of the human body, power erupts in the most efficient, violent, and unpredictable way!

Finally, under the command of the supreme and refined [Three-Colored Haki], I perfectly fused Devil Fruits, swordsmanship, and physical techniques, transforming them into an absolute power that is uniquely mine and without any flaws!

Conqueror's Haki's intimidation, Armament Haki's defense and attack, Observation Haki's insight and prediction—unifying everything!

Top-tier Devil Fruit power, a legendary sword capable of cutting through anything, unparalleled physical prowess, and an aura of dominance that surpasses all!

All four are essential and none can be missing!

This is the true power that stands at the pinnacle of this ocean!

This is... the 'strongest' I, Gern, have always sought!!!

"Do you understand, Shanks!" Gern shouted, his increasingly ferocious attack exploding with a deafening roar.

"Mastering a single field might make you a regional overlord!"

"But facing me, who has mastered everything..."

Gern suddenly ducked low, facing Shanks, and decisively unleashed a full-force attack.

Your defeat was already destined!

"God—avoid!!"

"God—fallen!!"

The two swords clashed, silencing heaven and earth, and freezing all things in place.

As Guern gazed at Shanks, who was fighting against him with all his might, a slow smile crept across his face, and he burst into laughter.

“You know, Shanks… when I first met Roger, I stood in front of him just like you.”

Back then, I gave it my all, but I couldn't even withstand a single blow from him.

Upon hearing Gern's words, Shanks' pupils dilated, and his memories were abruptly pulled back to that year.

The figure standing at the bow of the ship, looking down upon all living beings; the boy who was cleaved into the sea by a single stroke.

So he knew all too well, because he had been on the ship back then.

However, the roles have now been reversed; Gern, who was instantly killed by Roger back then, is now in a different position...

"So, I survived, like a stray dog."

Before he finished speaking, the Eight Desolations in Gern's hand suddenly trembled!

"But now, it's your turn."

Shanks' arm trembled violently, and the Griffin blade began to bend.

He watched helplessly as his crimson torrent of domineering aura was gradually swallowed up by the purplish-black domineering aura!

Just like when Gern faced Roger!

This strike was...

A power that transcends generations!

"Bang!" The Eight Desolations pressed down without any fancy moves, and Shanks' knees began to tremble and bend.

Fresh blood gushed out from the ruptured tiger's mouth.

Back then, it was a battle between a general and a king; now, it's a battle between an emperor and a king!

Now, it's finally Gern's turn to say those words!

"Remember this, you pirate!"

The pinnacle of this era is not for you to decide!

Gern roared with unbridled joy, "Because, now, in this era..."

"It belongs to me, Gern, it belongs to me, 'Skyquake,' Gern Reginald Sigma!!!!!"

"You...are too weak!!!"

Boom! A crushing, utter crushing!

Griffin dropped his grip, and a slash pierced through Shanks' right chest and down to his lower left waist, spraying blood like rain.

The piercing slash caused Shanks' eyes to roll back, and he completely lost his will.

But at the last second, Gern withdrew his power, preventing Shanks from being sent flying. Instead, Shanks' body jolted, followed by a loud 'clang'.

The moment Griffin hit the ground, Shanks' legs buckled, and he knelt before Gern, his head bowed, his chin resting limply on the cold blade of the Eight Desolations...

Gern stood there, sword in hand, surrounded by lingering shockwaves and arcs of domineering electricity, looking down at the defeated emperor.

Recalling Roger's words to him years ago, he let out a cold laugh and looked at the clearing sky.

"Shanks, what a pity!"

“If you were born in the same era as me…” The sea breeze blew away the stray hairs on Gern’s forehead, revealing his disdainful eyes.

Immediately afterwards, with a flick of his wrist, the Black Blade Eight Desolations emitted a deep hum.

The blood belonging to Shanks on the blade was instantly evaporated by the shockwave, turning into a wisp of dark red blood mist that dissipated in the wind.

The action of sheathing the sword was also swift and clean, as if he had just completed a routine slash.

As the blade receded, Shanks, having lost his support, slumped forward.

There was no dramatic, thunderous roar, only a dull thud as the body made contact with the ground.

Then, he collapsed onto the shattered earth, crimson blood slowly spreading from beneath him...

"You might lose to me for the rest of your life... not just for this half of your life."

Chapter 399 Are you really that afraid of... the old era?

"Shanks!!!"

A near-scream ripped through the noise.

Beckman, who was dealing with Enel, caught a glimpse of that decisive moment out of the corner of his eye.