Light Spar
"Shanks, is that who I think it is?" Lucky Roo asked, walking to his captain's side, a curious yet wary expression on his face.
"Yep," Shanks replied, his grin widening. "It's definitely her. No doubt about it. No one in the world could forget her, even if they tried."
"Are we going to fight her?" Ben Beckman asked, his tone calm but edged with anticipation. "It's a good day today, but I wouldn't mind seeing some blood."
"Let's just wait and see," Shanks said, his voice light but underpinned by a rare seriousness. "No need to start anything unless she does."
On Imai's ship, the tension was palpable as the Red-Haired Pirates' ship approached. Imai's sharp gaze was fixed on the vessel, her lips curling into a subtle smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Nico, maybe just for this battle, I'm going to have to sit you out," Imai said, her tone firm but not unkind. "The Red-Haired Pirates… these guys are on a different level."
Nico frowned but nodded in understanding. Memories of the Summit War of Marineford flooded her mind—the moment Shanks had entered the battlefield. His mere presence had shifted the atmosphere, commanding respect and fear in equal measure. She knew better than to argue.
"I'll stay back," Nico said quietly, stepping aside. She couldn't help but glance nervously toward the horizon, the imposing silhouette of the Red Force now close enough to make out its distinct figurehead.
Finally, the two ships were close enough for the crews to communicate freely. Imai stepped to the ship's edge, her posture relaxed yet commanding, as if she already held the upper hand.
"Empress of the Blade, it's good to see you again," Shanks called out, his grin as roguish as ever. "It's been a while."
"Red-Haired Shanks," Imai replied, her voice calm and smooth, "good to see you too." She shifted her gaze behind him, her sharp eyes catching the subtle movements of his crew. "I see your men are well, but… why does Ben Beckman have a gun pointed at me?"
Her dull smile and sharp tone sent chills down the spines of the Red-Haired crew. Even without moving, Imai's presence was suffocating, her aura unpredictable and dangerous.
"Put the gun down, Ben," Shanks said with a wave of his hand, his tone light but commanding. Ben hesitated briefly before lowering his weapon.
"Come aboard," Shanks said. "Let's talk."
Imai turned to Nico with a quick smile. "I'll be right back," she said, then leapt onto the Red Force. Her movements were fluid and confident, drawing the wary eyes of every crew member.
"It seems I'm not very welcome here," Imai said, tilting her head as she noted the tension in the air. "Do we have a grudge I've forgotten, Shanks?"
"Ahahaha! Nothing like that," Shanks replied, laughing. "My guys are just cautious of you."
"And you have no intention of stopping them if they attack," Imai said, her smile growing sharper. "Do you think I can't tell? Your crew is strong, and you, Shanks, are especially strong. But… do you really think you have the strength to take me down?"
The atmosphere shifted dramatically. Imai's words weren't a boast—they were a declaration. She wasn't threatening them; she was stating a fact.
"Then I'll do it…"
"Wait!"
BOOM!
Ben Beckman fired a shot at Imai, but she moved with almost supernatural speed, tilting her head slightly to dodge the bullet. Her smile widened into something unsettling as she closed the distance in a single step, her sheathed katana aimed directly at Ben's chest.
Before her strike could land, a blade intercepted hers. Shanks had moved faster than anyone expected, his sword blocking her attack with ease.
"Your man fired first," Imai said, her voice laced with amusement. "And you couldn't let me return the favor?"
"A single hit from you would've killed him," Shanks replied evenly. "What kind of captain would I be if I let that happen?"
"He wouldn't have died," Imai said, her tone almost playful. She lifted her katana slightly, revealing its sheathed state. "I'm not so reckless as to spill blood without cause."
Ben's hands trembled as he stared at Imai. He had faced countless opponents, but never had he felt so close to death. The look in her eyes was searing, like staring into the abyss itself.
VROOM!
Shanks released his Conqueror's Haki, the pressure slamming into Imai like a tidal wave.
"You really think you can compete with me?" Shanks asked, his tone deadly serious.
In response, Imai unleashed her own Conqueror's Haki, the sharp, electric streaks of purple clashing violently with Shanks' red. The wind howled, the sea churned, and the ship rocked as the two titanic forces collided.
Shanks' eyes narrowed as he gripped his sword tighter. He lunged at Imai with a speed and precision that could have felled most opponents.
CLANG!
Their blades met, the sheer force of the clash sending shockwaves through the air. The weaker members of Shanks' crew collapsed instantly, unable to withstand the oppressive aura of their haki.
"You should think twice before coming at me with the intent to kill," Imai said, her voice eerily calm. "If I fought seriously, this ship would be in pieces by now."
Shanks' eyes widened briefly before he backed off, sheathing his sword. Even with his considerable strength, he could see she wasn't bluffing.
"You're strong," Imai continued, her tone neutral. "So strong that only a handful of people could stand against you. But if we fought to the death, I'm the one who'd walk away."
Shanks chuckled, breaking the tension. "Fair enough. Let's call it even."
The oppressive atmosphere dissipated as both withdrew their haki. Imai sighed and sheathed her blade.
"It was good to see you again, Shanks," she said, her expression unreadable. "Don't take this as a threat. If anything, I'd rather have a neutral alliance. After all, I've traveled with Luffy."
Shanks grinned. "Fair enough. Oh, and if you ever come across my daughter, tell her to stop causing so much trouble."
Imai raised an eyebrow. "You… have a daughter?"
"Yep. Her name's Uta. Unique appearance and abilities. You'll know her when you see her."
"Noted," Imai said, turning back toward her ship. "Till we meet again."
As Imai boarded her vessel, Nico was there to greet her, her face pale with worry.
"Are you okay? What happened?" Nico asked, shaking Imai's shoulders frantically. "There was this huge wave of power, and the ship shook like there was a storm—"
"Calm down," Imai said, laughing lightly. "Everything's fine. I just had a light spar with their captain. No injuries."
Nico let out a relieved sigh. "So? Did anything interesting happen?"
"Well, Shanks has a daughter," Imai said nonchalantly.
"Are we supposed to find her?"
"Nope. Just tell her to stop causing trouble if we do see her. Now, let's get moving. We've got a journey ahead!"