Chapter 70
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Chapter 069: The Bow Of The Four Emperors Pirates!
"Guy, Kaido...!" "Die, die!"
The Red Hair Pirates observed as they plummeted from the heavens. With a 'plop,' it landed on Kaido's charred black body not far away, on the now barren battlefield. The entire Red Hair Pirates crew stood there, watching the scene unfold before them, a sense of disbelief washing over them. After all, this was Kaido, no ordinary pirate by any means! He sat at the apex of the countless pirates in the New World, labeled the "Emperor of the Sea" by Guan Yu. A monster among monsters, he held the title of one of the "Four Emperors"! Alongside their own captain, 'Red Hair' Shanks, Kaido was a giant in the world of piracy! Rumors abounded that with Whitebeard's era coming to an end, the next to reign supreme over the maritime realm would be Kaido, captain of the "Hundred Beasts" pirate group. Known as the strongest creature in the sea, land, and air, Kaido was an unmatched force across the oceans after Whitebeard.
Despite the Red Hair Pirates usually mocking Kaido as a brainless fool chasing absurd "suicide" games, they had to acknowledge his inhuman and terrifying power. He was indeed one of the most formidable men in the world. But now, that very monster lay dead on the battlefield in the Grand Line! Yasopp and the other Red Hair Pirates were bewildered by the sight of Kaido's lifeless body, with a massive hole, just a short distance away.
As they turned their gaze to the old man with a robust body and numerous scars, Yasopp and his companions felt an unstoppable shiver run through them. Cold sweat broke out on their foreheads, trickling down their faces, and dripping onto the desolate battlefield. Facing the pressure of two Four Emperors at once, Kaido had been slain! It was unimaginable that, despite Kaido's grievous wounds, anyone from the Red Hair Pirates could have withstood his frenzied attacks, let alone defeat him!
Yasopp and the rest now recalled how Benn Beckman had wisely counseled them not to interfere and potentially cause trouble for Shanks. They considered themselves fortunate. The conflict they had witnessed was beyond the realm of human ability; it was a battle they could hardly comprehend. They couldn't imagine how Shanks would manage them if they had chosen to participate.
Suddenly, Yasopp's group remembered their captain. "Yes... yes! Shanks!" They turned anxiously to where Shanks had been forced to retreat nearly a hundred meters back. He appeared a bit disheveled, but in comparison to Kaido, who had become a corpse, Shanks was still very much alive. The Red Hair Pirates collectively exhaled, relieved. The shock of Kaido's death paled in comparison to their concern for Shanks' well-being.
At that moment, 'Red Hair' Shanks, breathing heavily and clearly affected, raised his head. His eyes sparkled with intensity. Feeling the scorching temperature from the Conqueror's 'Griffin' wrapped around his hands, Shanks stood amidst the turmoil, a testament to his formidable power.
He was the only one who knew the terror of the temperature from Bai Ye's slash that had forced him to retreat. Shanks briefly looked at Kaido's lifeless body, his face twisted with disgust. "This... idiot," he muttered. Instead of leaving when he had the chance, Kaido chose to attack. It was clear that Kaido had brought this fate upon himself by choosing to bet on killing over preserving his life.
Red-haired Shanks found himself, somewhat reluctantly, in agreement with Kaido's decision. Standing in Kaido's shoes, the decision was undeniable. Observing the formidable man in the distance, Shanks instantly felt a colossal threat—the kind of overwhelming power only understood through direct confrontation. Alone, Shanks realized defeating his opponent might be impossible, particularly if the opponent hadn't been weakened by the previous battles.
What a formidable opponent indeed! Had Shanks been in Kaido's position, he might have also seized the opportunity to strike at the man's weakest. However, he was not Kaido. The situation had spiraled beyond his expectations. With Kaido dead, the balance of the New World was sure to collapse. Additionally, his new recruits in the New World had perished under Bai Ye's Ryūjin Jakka, not even leaving a corpse behind.
Though Shanks had wanted to avenge Rocks, there were more pressing matters at hand—the Red Hair Pirates' initial purpose for coming to the first half of the Grand Line and the Summit War. Even with the possibility that the man's physical strength was waning and that Beckman's aid could tip the scales, Shanks decided against such a gamble upon considering the multiple Devil Fruit abilities the man seemed to possess. It could result in heavy casualties among his crew, a risk Shanks was not willing to take.
Clutching his 'Griffin' sword, yet unable to sheathe it for now, Shanks looked at Bai Ye and then dropped the sword at his feet. He turned to his companions, including Yasopp, who had been with him for decades. Amidst the changing expressions of his crew, Shanks addressed Bai Ye, declaring, "Kaido is dead, and my people have paid the price for his arrogance. This battle... let's end it here."
At his words, exclamations of "Shanks!" erupted from the Red Hair Pirates, their eyes widening in shock. Such a scene, were it to be witnessed by the outside world, would surely send shockwaves across the globe. The decision of the Red Hair Pirates—one of the Four Emperors—to end the battle under the leadership of "Red Hair" Shanks against a solitary, elderly man was unprecedented. Rather than a mutual cease-fire, it was a relinquishment of their pride and renown—a bowing of their heads, not to other pirates from the Emperor ranks, nor the Marines or the World Government, but to a solitary individual.