Chapter 133 A Key Arrival
With Satoru barely standing, his energy completely spent after unleashing his devastating Void Style, the battlefield stood in an uneasy stalemate. The ice cracked and crumbled beneath the weight of the collective exhaustion and destruction. Both sides—navy and pirates—had sustained heavy losses, and neither could afford to continue fighting without devastating consequences.
Kaido, now regaining some semblance of awareness, struggled to move, his body unresponsive. Big Mom, seeing her ally incapacitated, cast a wary glance toward Satoru, whose power she had underestimated. Meanwhile, the navy generals, Yellow Ape and Aokiji, circled protectively around their comrade, prepared for whatever retaliation might come.
Amid the tension, the haunting sound of cracking ice was interrupted by the arrival of a new figure—a ship bearing the unmistakable emblem of the **Red-Haired Pirates** came into view.
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The red-haired pirate captain, Shanks, stepped forward with his usual calm confidence, his sword loosely sheathed at his side. His aura of unshakable authority rippled across the battlefield, silencing murmurs and stoking tension.
"It's so scary, I didn't expect the redhead to come," Kizaru muttered, his casual tone betrayed by the unease in his eyes. His joking demeanor could no longer mask the gravity of the situation.
Kaido and Big Mom stiffened. They knew Shanks wasn't an ally, but neither could they ignore his words or actions. He had come to this battlefield for a reason.
"Redhead, what are you doing here?" Big Mom's voice boomed across the icy expanse, her eyes narrowed suspiciously.
Shanks turned his gaze toward her and responded calmly, his voice laced with an air of finality.
"I'm here to end this war."
His words carried weight beyond mere language. The force of his **Conqueror's Haki** swept across the battlefield like a tidal wave. The weaker combatants—navy and pirates alike—collapsed under its oppressive pressure, leaving only the strongest standing.
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Kaido's sluggish gaze shifted to Shanks, but he remained silent. Big Mom glared at Shanks, reluctant to back down but unwilling to risk further losses.
Meanwhile, the navy held their breath. Kizaru glanced at Aokiji, his usual sarcastic smirk replaced by a look of quiet calculation. "It's a rare thing, Kuzan, for us to agree with a pirate."
Aokiji nodded. "We might not have a choice. Continuing this fight will only result in mutual destruction."
Shanks took a step forward, his eyes meeting Big Mom's. "You've lost too many people already, Linlin. Kaido can barely stand. Do you really want to lose more, just for the sake of pride?"
Big Mom's fingers tightened around her weapon. The temptation to attack lingered in her mind, but logic, for once, won out.
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As Shanks addressed the pirates, Hawkeye Mihawk observed the scene from a distance. His sharp eyes caught every movement, every shift in posture.
"Still the same Shanks," Mihawk murmured, his voice carrying an undercurrent of respect. The red-haired pirate had grown stronger—there was no mistaking it.
Shanks turned his attention briefly to Mihawk, offering him a slight nod. There was an unspoken agreement between them, one of rivalry but also of mutual understanding.
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Shanks' gaze swept over the battlefield one last time, landing on Satoru, who was slumped between Kizaru and Aokiji. He nodded slightly, acknowledging the effort that had brought them to this impasse.
"I hope you can sell me this favor," Shanks said, addressing the battlefield as a whole. His voice carried authority, but also a rare sincerity.
Neither side wanted to be the one to give in, but the situation had become untenable. Slowly, weapons were lowered, and the tension began to dissipate.
Big Mom glared at Shanks but eventually turned away, signaling her crew to retreat. "You've bought yourself some time, redhead. Don't think this is over."
Kaido, still sluggish, growled in frustration but allowed himself to be carried away by his subordinates.
The navy watched in silence as the two pirate crews retreated, the war temporarily brought to an end by the intervention of one man.
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As the battlefield emptied, Shanks turned to the remaining navy. His expression was unreadable, but there was no hostility in his gaze.
"You've earned your survival today," Shanks said simply before turning and walking back toward his ship.
For a moment, the navy stood in stunned silence. Then, Aokiji spoke. "He saved us, didn't he?"
Kizaru shrugged. "Maybe. Or maybe he just didn't want to fight three Four Emperors at once. Who knows with him?"
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As the sea calmed, the true weight of what had happened began to settle in the minds of all present. The battlefield had been scarred, and lives had been lost. But for now, there was peace, however temporary it might be.
And Satoru, despite his exhaustion, knew one thing: this was far from the end.