Chapter 29: A Duel Between Equals

The sun hung low over the horizon as we stood across from each other on the barren island. The wind carried the scent of salt, the waves crashed against the rocky shore, and the sky was vast and endless above us.

I could feel the weight of Shanks' presence, the sheer power of his aura pressing against me like an invisible force. He wasn't a man who needed to prove himself. His every movement, every breath, spoke of absolute confidence.

But I was not intimidated.

I had come too far, fought too many battles, endured too much to feel fear now. We were equals.

I drew Oden, my permanently blackened blade gleaming under the fading sunlight. Shanks watched me carefully, his expression unreadable. Then, with a slow, practiced motion, he raised his sword—a simple yet formidable blade that carried the weight of his legend.

Our eyes met.

And then we moved.

The First Clash

Lightning cracked through the air as our blades met.

The sheer force of our collision sent a shockwave rippling across the island, shaking the very ground beneath us. Rocks shattered, trees were uprooted, and the surrounding waves split apart as the ocean itself recoiled from our clash.

We pushed against each other, neither yielding. Haki crackled around us, intertwining and colliding like two titans locked in an eternal struggle.

Shanks grinned. "Not bad," he said.

I smirked beneath my mask. "You either."

Then, in an instant, we vanished.

Speed & Precision

We reappeared mid-air, exchanging a flurry of sword strikes at a speed that most would struggle to follow.

Each swing was precise, each block perfectly timed.

Shanks' blade met my Black Blade, and neither yielded.

He wasn't just a brute with overwhelming power—his technique was refined, honed through years of battle. But so was mine. I had trained relentlessly, studied the finest sword techniques, and forged my own path.

We were matching each other, strike for strike.

Conqueror's Haki Unleashed

Suddenly, Shanks' aura flared.

A burst of Conqueror's Haki exploded from him, crashing into me like a tidal wave. The sheer force of it sent cracks through the earth, and the sky above seemed to darken for a moment.

But I did not falter.

I answered in kind, unleashing my own Advanced Conqueror's Haki, letting my spirit surge forward with full force.

The world around us trembled.

The air became electric, the ground beneath us shattered, and the sky itself seemed to crack as our wills clashed.

For a brief moment, it felt as if the entire island would collapse beneath the weight of our power.

And yet—neither of us moved back.

We stood our ground, our blades locked, our Haki intertwining and clashing in a violent storm.

Shanks' grin widened. "You really are something else."

I pushed forward. "I could say the same about you."

The Dance of Blades

We separated, only to charge again.

Our movements were faster now, more fluid. There were no wasted attacks, no unnecessary motions. Every strike was calculated, every block perfectly executed.

This was not a fight of dominance—this was a duel of equals.

Steel met steel.

Haki clashed against Haki.

Neither of us held back, but neither of us could gain the upper hand. We were perfectly matched.

The Moment of Recognition

Minutes passed. Or perhaps hours.

Time felt irrelevant as we fought, completely immersed in the battle.

Then, in a single instant, we both stopped.

Our blades were inches apart, each strike capable of dealing a finishing blow, yet neither of us delivered it.

There was no need.

We had both already understood the truth—neither of us could claim victory here.

Slowly, we stepped back. The fight was over, and we both knew it.

Shanks chuckled, rolling his wrist. "I can see why Mihawk mentioned you," he said. "You've really reached that level, haven't you?"

I sheathed Oden, exhaling as the last remnants of our Haki faded into the wind. "Looks like you have too."

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, Shanks extended his hand toward me.

I looked at it, then took it, gripping it firmly.

Ding!

The sudden chime echoed in my mind, and my vision flickered as the Copy System activated. A new panel appeared, displaying Shanks' skills.

Copy System Update: Scanning Target – Shanks

🛡 Skills Available for Copying:

✅ Supreme Conqueror's Haki Mastery – Shanks possesses one of the strongest wills in the world. His Conqueror's Haki can incapacitate armies, damage surroundings without physical contact, and clash with the strongest warriors alive.

✅ Advanced Armament Haki (Unyielding Defense & Lethal Strikes) – Shanks' mastery of Armament Haki allows him to imbue his blade with an unbreakable offense and defense, enhancing the cutting power of his strikes to an extreme level.

✅ God-Level Reflexes & Instinctive Battle Sense – Despite lacking a Devil Fruit, Shanks has sharpened his body and mind to near-superhuman levels. His instincts allow him to counter enemies before they can act, making him nearly untouchable.

✅ Unparalleled Combat Adaptability – Shanks has mastered countless fighting styles, adjusting instantly to different opponents. His ability to switch from offense to defense with perfect timing makes him unpredictable in battle.

I froze for a moment, absorbing the sheer depth of his strength.

This man—this pirate—had honed his skills to an almost godlike level. He had no Devil Fruit, no mythical ability. His power was purely his own.

I released his hand, my mind racing with the possibilities. Which skill should I copy?

Shanks gave me a knowing look, as if he had sensed something unusual, but he said nothing. Instead, he grinned.

"You're strong," he said simply. "And you're only going to get stronger."

I nodded. "So are you."

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, we both laughed.

There was no winner today. No loser.

Only two warriors, standing on equal ground.