One Piece: Starting in God Valley as a Slave

Shanks remained silent, unlike Buggy, who could brush off Cracker's soldiers' attacks. Shanks gritted his teeth, struggling within the encirclement of Cracker's biscuit warriors. Although he'd recently broken through in Armament Haki, shattering Cracker's biscuit armor had already drained him. Now, faced with a horde of biscuit soldiers, exhaustion quickly began to take its toll.

Just as Shanks strained to fend off attacks from all sides, a painful cry rang out. Startled, Shanks realized it was Buggy's voice. Surrounded by Cracker's soldiers, Shanks couldn't see beyond the wave of enemies, but knowing Buggy was in danger fueled his desperation. Summoning his remaining strength, he swung his sword in a sweeping arc, repelling the biscuit soldiers around him.

Finally, he spotted Buggy, his dismembered body parts clutched and twisted in the hands of Cracker's soldiers, his head crushed under the foot of another. Tears and snot streamed down Buggy's face in agony.

Seeing this, Shanks's eyes widened in fury, and he shouted, "Let go of Buggy! Come and fight me instead!"

Not far off, Cracker's lips curled into a cruel smile.

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

Cracker commanded the soldiers to intensify their grip, twisting Buggy's limbs to their breaking point. The soldier standing on Buggy's head pressed down harder, making Buggy's cries grow faint.

Shanks, now red-eyed with rage, tried to rush forward to save Buggy but was blocked by a new wave of soldiers. For the first time, he lost his composure. His Observation Haki dulled, and soon his body was covered in cuts, his red hair streaked with blood.

Even though Shanks's situation grew dire, Carl—watching from afar atop the tower—held back from intervening. His eyes gleamed red, reflecting the sight of Shanks battling against the odds.

All Shanks could think of was saving Buggy, ignoring his own wounds. As Buggy's voice faded almost to silence, Shanks's pupils contracted. Suppressed rage erupted within him like a storm.

"Get your filthy foot off him!"

A hum reverberated through the air. In his intense fury, Shanks had finally awakened his Conqueror's Haki. However, most of those present were no weaklings, only a few low-ranking Big Mom Pirates collapsed under its pressure.

The temporary lull in the battle drew everyone's attention to Shanks. Big Mom squinted, her interest piqued, while Roger's face lit up with excitement.

"Just as I thought! He has that potential!" Roger beamed with pride, while the Roger Pirates cheered for Shanks's awakening. Only Bullet seemed indifferent, casting a brief glance before looking away, unimpressed.

In his mind, Shanks was still far too weak to command respect. Katakuri, who had long mastered Conqueror's Haki, merely raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.

But was it really that simple?

Roger sensed the sheer "purity" of Shanks's Haki—a true King's disposition. With time, Shanks would not only catch up but perhaps surpass Roger himself. After all, Roger's own life was nearing its end.

Roger's thoughts drifted to Carl, recalling their last encounter. He had sensed the same caliber of Conqueror's Haki in Carl—a presence so intimidating, it was hard to believe it belonged to a Marine.

Carl, watching from the tower, allowed himself a small, approving smile as he observed Shanks's awakening. He hadn't intervened sooner, hoping the threat to Buggy might force Shanks to awaken his Conqueror's Haki.

His hunch had been correct.

…

Cracker, momentarily dazed by Shanks's Haki, snapped back, his gaze filled with envy and hatred.

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

Abandoning the half-dead Buggy, Cracker ordered his soldiers to rush Shanks. Roger tried to step in, but Big Mom blocked him, sneering,

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

Roger cursed, "You thick-headed woman! I told you I didn't do it!"

As the battle wore on, Shanks's strength was nearly spent. Facing the charging soldiers, he let out a roar, trying to unleash his Haki once more. Yet his newly awakened power was still beyond his control, the shout gave him a brief surge of energy, but nothing more.

At that moment, Carl spoke from afar.

"Break."

A low, humming resonance rippled through the battlefield. To Shanks's bewildered gaze, the biscuit soldiers began trembling in unison, cracks spidering across their forms until they shattered into pieces before they could reach him.

Shanks blinked at the piles of crumbled biscuits, momentarily wondering if he'd somehow unleashed his Haki after all—but surely not at such an incredible scale?

Cracker's jaw dropped, his face twisted in disbelief. Roger and Big Mom both stopped their fight, turning to stare in Carl's direction.

Calmly, Carl twisted Oven's neck with a crack, then held the severed head up, smirking as he tossed it back and forth.

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

In the next instant, Oven's head darkened, hurtling through the air like a cannonball…

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