Chapter 203

**Chapter 203: Carl Makes His Move**

Shanks remained silent, unlike Buggy, who could at least brush off the biscuit soldiers' attacks thanks to his Devil Fruit. Trapped within the ever-closing circle of Cracker's army, Shanks gritted his teeth. His body screamed in protest—shattering Cracker's biscuit armor had already drained him, and now, exhaustion clawed at his limbs as he struggled to keep up.

Then, a cry of pain rang out.

Shanks flinched. He recognized that voice instantly.

"Buggy!"

He swung his sword in a desperate, sweeping arc, forcing back the biscuit warriors pressing in around him. As the dust settled, his eyes widened in horror.

Buggy's dismembered body parts were trapped in the hands of Cracker's soldiers—his arms twisted at unnatural angles, his legs stretched painfully. Worst of all, his head was pinned beneath the crushing weight of a soldier's foot, his face contorted in agony, tears and snot streaming down his cheeks.

Shanks' heart pounded violently in his chest.

"Let him go!" His voice rang with fury. "Fight me instead!"

From a short distance away, Cracker's lips curled into a sneer.

"Don't worry," he mocked. "You're next. But first, I'll make sure you watch that red-nosed fool die."

At his command, the soldiers increased the pressure. Buggy's limbs twisted further—almost to their breaking point. The foot on his head pressed down harder, silencing his screams into a strangled gurgle.

Something inside Shanks snapped.

He lunged forward, but more soldiers swarmed in to block his path. Desperation clouded his focus, his Observation Haki flickering and failing. As his form weakened, cuts began to appear on his body, crimson streaks staining his red hair.

Far away, Carl observed from atop a ruined tower. His red eyes gleamed, reflecting the battle below. But he did not move to intervene. Not yet.

Buggy's cries grew weaker.

Shanks' breaths came out ragged. He clenched his shaking hands into fists.

Then—

"Get your filthy foot off him!"

The air itself seemed to tremble.

A powerful, unseen force erupted from Shanks. The battlefield fell silent for a split second before a deep, thrumming hum resonated through the air.

Conqueror's Haki had awakened.

The weaker Big Mom Pirates crumpled to the ground, unconscious. Even among the stronger warriors, a few wavered, momentarily dazed.

From her vantage point, Big Mom narrowed her eyes in interest.

"Ho… so that brat finally let it loose?"

On the Roger Pirates' side, their captain grinned from ear to ear.

"Just as I thought! He has that potential!" Roger's laughter rang across the battlefield, while his crew cheered.

Only Bullet remained indifferent, barely sparing Shanks a glance before looking away. "He's still weak," he muttered, unimpressed.

Katakuri, who had long mastered Conqueror's Haki himself, merely raised an eyebrow in mild acknowledgment.

But was it really that simple?

Roger knew better.

What he had sensed in Shanks was different—a **purity** in his Haki, an unshakable will. Given time, this boy wouldn't just catch up to him… he might even **surpass** him.

*He really could be the one to find the answer…*

That same thought flickered through his mind when he had first encountered Carl.

Carl's Conqueror's Haki had carried the same weight—a presence so **intimidating**, it was hard to believe it belonged to a Marine.

Now, from atop the tower, Carl allowed himself a small, approving smirk.

He had refrained from interfering, hoping that the threat to Buggy would be enough to push Shanks beyond his limits.

**And it had worked.**

---

Cracker, stunned for a brief moment, snapped out of his daze, his expression dark with jealousy and rage.

"Why should **you** awaken Conqueror's Haki? You don't deserve it!"

Enraged, he abandoned the half-dead Buggy and sent a fresh wave of biscuit warriors at Shanks.

Across the battlefield, Roger made a move to intervene, but Big Mom blocked his path with a sneer.

"Trying to save that kid? Give me Oven back first!"

Roger groaned. "You thick-headed woman! I **told** you I didn't do it!"

But Big Mom wasn't listening. The clash between the two titans continued, leaving Shanks to face the full might of Cracker's forces alone.

Panting, barely holding himself upright, Shanks could feel his body giving out. He **roared**, trying to summon his Haki again—but it was still too raw, too uncontrolled. It surged through him in a burst of energy but failed to strike down his enemies.

And then—

A **voice** cut through the battlefield.

**"Break."**

The word was spoken softly, yet it carried with it an overwhelming power.

A strange, low hum resonated through the air.

Shanks could only stare as the approaching biscuit warriors **shuddered** in unison. Cracks spiderwebbed across their forms—

**And then they shattered.**

The battlefield froze.

Cracker's eyes went wide in disbelief.

Roger and Big Mom stopped mid-fight, turning toward the source of the voice.

High above them, standing atop the ruined tower, Carl let out a quiet chuckle.

Calmly, he twisted Oven's neck with a sharp crack. Then, he **tossed** the severed head up and down in one hand, smirking.

"Looks like I've been caught," he murmured. "I wanted to watch this dogfight a little longer."

Then, in one swift motion—

Carl **hurled** Oven's head through the air like a cannonball.

And the battlefield **erupted** into chaos.