The Crashing Blows

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"Red Hair Shanks is now appearing at the port, closely followed by Benn Beckman, Limejuice, Bonk Punch, and Yasopp! They're coming at us, sir!!!" Exclaimed a marine from the deck, peering through his binoculars.

"Very well, all marines prepare for battles!!" ordered the general commander, Vice Admiral Akagi, as he pressed the Golden Den-Den Mushi's button in his hand, transmitting the wireless signal to its receiving silver-counterpart, "Begin the firing NOW!!!" The fateful messages were promptly relayed to the other four awaiting Vice Admirals in charge...

And the full force of the Buster Call was unleashed.

Explosions erupted from all directions as cannon fire rained down upon the island's castle, engulfing the once majestic capital city in flames and chaos...

Red Hair Shanks, with his unparalleled speed, swiftly flew from the shore towards the marine fleet, his sabre, Gryphon, unsheathed readily to face any adversaries in his path. The aura of Conqueror's Haki emanating from the captain instantaneously caused some marines on the ships to collapse unconscious...

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"CLANGGGG!!!"

The clash of two swords resounded across the vicinity, creating ripples of impact in the air. Vice Admiral Akagi stood his ground, meeting Shanks' intimidating strikes with steadfast concentration. The marines watched in dreads as the two powerhouses engaged in a fierce struggle, their swords colliding with tremendous force.

"What are you doing, bombarding the cities while people are still evacuating?!! Have you no shame as marines?!!" shouted Red Hair captain, his voice filled with righteous anger. His piercing gaze locked with the Vice Admiral's, their Haki-infused blades entangled in a titanic clash. Each strike threatened to overwhelm the so-called Defender of Justice...

Despite his valiant efforts, Masaru Akagi found himself being pushed back by the one-armed man's relentless assault. The red-haired captain's skill and Haki mastery proved to be indomitable.

'Undoubtedly, this guy must not acquire the power of the Guardian Seeds! Even without it, he has already reached this strength level that almost surpasses our ability to oppose him!!'

With a final, powerful swing, Shanks landed a devastating blow, sending the Vice Admiral crashing to the ground. The marines gasped in disbelief, witnessing their esteemed leader falling... Blood stained the deck as Akagi struggled to rise, his body battered and bruised...

The Pirate Captain stood firm, his conquering aura radiating around the air around him while staring down at the fallen Vice Admiral, "The tide of this battle has turned. Withdraw your forces and leave this island!"

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Struggling to find his breath, blood staining his clothes, the Vice Admiral steadied himself, his mind drifting back to the strategic briefings he had with the highest-ranking commander in his working quarter just a few weeks ago...

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In the grand oval room, a statuesque figure stood by the window of the Marines' Headquarter, gazing out at the vast expanse of the sea.

In a placid tone, he began to articulate...

"Red Hair Shanks is a unique pirate. Despite his prodigious skills and ties to Roger's crew, he has chosen to keep a relatively low profile, rarely causing any chaos along his pirate ventures..." He paused for a moment before continuing...

"We have discovered that a few years ago, he lost his dominant right arm while saving a young boy from the Sea King attack in a small village in the East Blue." The tall, muscular man then turned around with a calm countenance, his long-braided goatee swaying gently...

"Can you believe that such a powerful man would make such a sacrifice?"

Vice Admiral Akagi shifted uneasily upon hearing a surprising revelation. His superior glanced at him, "Evidently, he has shown a consistent concern for the well-being of ordinary citizens, no matter where he goes. And that is exactly how we will exploit it in this operation, Akagi..."

Fleet Admiral Sengoku slowly approached him, his presence commanding respect, "I have chosen you specifically to lead this mission because of your skill as a swordsman with your high-level Haki infused in your fighting style. When confronting Red Hair Shanks, most Devil Fruit powers will be nullified by his exceptional Haki prowess, followed by his instant finishing blows. Yet, as an experienced swordsman yourself, you have the potentials to match him in combat for a critical short period..."

Sengoku's expression grew more serious as he continued, "Our mission is not to engage in an all-out fight with the Red-Hair Pirates. We only have to ensure that the Guardian Seeds' powers do not fall within their grasps." Then, he placed a firm hand on Akagi's shoulder, his gaze intense while giving an order, "Provoke him and survive his initial attacks. And that's when you strike..."

The Vice Admiral looked up with a tinge of confusion evident on his face. "Sir?" He questioned, seeking clarification...

"...a deal!" finished The Fleet Admiral.

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Gasping for another breath, Akagi struggled to regain his composure as he faced the daunting Red Hair captain. The chaos of the Buster Call surrounded them, the island on the brink of destruction. With each word, Akagi fought through the pain and mustered his resolve...

"This ultimate attack, Red Hair, once initiated, is an unstoppable force. It already surpassed my individual control. However..." He paused, his voice strained... "Let us establish a truce for now, recognising the stalemate between our sides. Neither of us can obtain the Guardian Seeds! That is the reality we face!"

Red-Hair Shanks narrowed his penetrating stares... "What kind of nonsense is this? How can you call leaving an entire island in ruins a stalemate?"

Akagi took a deep breath, his eyes locked with the fiery-haired captain's, "The Buster Call is necessary to eradicate any traces of the Guardian Seeds, preventing you or any other pirates from searching for them in the future! But if you accept this and leave it be, we the marines, will guarantee the safety of every single citizen of this island on our Refuge Ship! What do you say to that, Red Hair?!"

Despite the pain coursing through his body, Akagi stood tall, his voice steady... "Furthermore, even if you were to kill me right here, how would you stop the other Vice Admirals and their fleets scattering around the island? Instead of focusing on the inevitable doom of this island, let us prioritise the lives of its people!"

The abrupt, piercing gaze of the Red Hair captain shook Akagi to his core. Its scrutiny momentarily caused the Vice Admiral to stumble back and speechless... "Do not dare speak of prioritising lives when it was you who initiated this devastation!" Shanks's voice resonated with furious radiating aura that seemed to suffocate the air around them...

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Then, the pirate captain's gaze swept across the shore, taking in the stranded island citizens who had barely eluded the demolitions ravaging their towns... Their panics and desperations were tangible as they found themselves trapped with nowhere else to go, unable to reach the Refuge Ship at the eastern port within the limited time frame.

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The sight tugged at his heart, a pang of deep empathy coursing through him for the innocent people, whose lives had been turned upside down, losing everything dear and familiar in a matter of hours...

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He exchanged a knowing glance with his first mate, Benn Beckman, who also had a marine firmly held at gunpoint. Their unspoken agreement hovering in the air, a shared understanding of their next course of action...

With a long, heavy sigh, the captain addressed the Vice Admiral sternly, "Ensure that you uphold every single promise you made, or I won't show any restraint this time!" He resheathed his sabre, signaling the end of their clash, before he made an announcement...

"We will CEASE our fight with the marines and allow them to timely rescue all the people aboard the Refuge Ship! In the meantime, prepare the Red Force to SET SAIL!!"

"ROGER, CHIEF!!!"

"There she is! What an impeccable timing!" Yasopp's voice rang out with elation, a wide grin spreading across his face as he pointed towards their cherished vessel. In a burst of excitement, he leaped high and landed gracefully on its deck, followed by the rest of the Red Hair crew.

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As they stood together, their eyes were drawn to the unfolding demise of Rinascita Island... Cannon fires rained down randomly from all directions, leaving behind only a trail of ruins and wreckages... Shanks' expression grew somber as he took in, for the first time, the horrific sight of the true Buster Call.

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Amidst the solemn atmosphere, Limejuice approached the red-haired captain with a troubled expression on his face... He hesitated for a moment before voicing his concern, "Chief, I don't see Doctor Law anywhere. It seems he didn't accompany us from Raduno Town..."

Shanks' eyes widened with alarm as his gaze followed Limejuice's indication towards the direction of the town. Explosive fires and billowing smoke filled the sky, serving as stark evidence of complete annihilation in their wake...

The realization hit him hard, "Where is he??!!!" .

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