48 Let's see who's stronger, once and for all.

Alex picked his weapon back up and looked around. He started running around and taking out some leftover marines while he was making sure to toss all the cannonballs overboard so they could escape when the time was right.

Meanwhile, Shanks ducked under a sword before a ball of acid hit him in the leg and started to burn him. He grit his teeth in pain and attacked again. His haki coated the blade for a split second before dissipating and failing again as his sword passed through Maya's body.

Shanks jumped back to avoid Maya's arm that turned into acid and threatened to melt his face off. He grit his teeth and kicked the floor as his eyes started glowing. "I'm fucking tired… of these fucking logias!" Shanks screamed as he slashed the ground in front of Maya, causing her to lose her footing.

Shanks slashed at Maya from a distance and a sword slash flew off his blade and passed through her body.

"FUCK!" Shanks screamed as the glow in his eyes brightened and lightning cracked in the air around his sword.

Shanks kicked off the ground with a soru as he grit his teeth and clenched his jaw. He decided that this was it, his do or die moment. He forgot about the world around him and solely focused his energy on this one moment.

The world around him seemed to disappear and become irrelevant as the only thing he saw as his vision tunneled in was Maya. Shanks roared and the lightning cracked loudly as his haki pressured Maya.

Shanks's blade turned to a dark shade of black as he brought it down with great force. Maya instinctively noticed the danger and tried to dodge, but she was still stuck in place because Shanks had destroyed the floor around her earlier with his failed attacks.

Shanks's blade made contact with Maya's sword before slicing through it like butter and cutting her in the chest. Maya coughed up blood before she face planted on the ground, unconscious.

Shanks fell to his knees and gasped for air. "Haa… haaa… haaaa… I finally… figured it out." He said as he fell to the deck, also unconscious.

Alex saw this out of the corner of his eye and clicked his tongue. "Shit. How come he was able to figure it out but I wasn't?"

Alex sighed and picked Shanks up before running to the edge of the marines deck. Alex used his spring boots and jumped into the air before landing on the pirate's ship. He fell to his knees and lay on the ground beside Shanks.

"Huff…huff… We took out… all the cannonballs… five devil fruit users… and like… 50 marines… maybe more… didn't count." He said with laboured breath.

Rayleigh smiled. "You brats did good. Leave the rest to us."

Alex nodded before drifting off to sleep, exhausted.

When he woke up, the group was already in the middle of the sea without a marine in sight.

Alex smiled. "What happened?" He asked Crocus who was tending to Alex, Shanks and Dragon in the infirmary.

Crocus sighed. "We got away. No one died. But your friend Dragon is pretty hurt. That Bogard guy was tough enough to give Ray a good fight after being tired out from his fight against Dragon, it's a miracle the kid is still alive, he's as much of a monster as you brats."

Alex chuckled. "Yeah… he is."

Crocus smiled. "You should rest more. It's good for you."

Alex nodded and drifted back to sleep.

When Alex finally woke up again, it was only him and Dragon in the infirmary. Alex got out of bed and walked out of the infirmary.

He peeked his head out and the bright light of the sun forced him to squint for a moment.

"You're finally awake!" Shanks called out as he saw Alex.

Alex nodded, he looked down at his hand and one of his fingers turned into a compass that worked, proving they hadn't made it to the grand line yet.

"Where are we?" Alex asked.

Roger laughed. "We're going to gamble!"

Alex looked confused. "Where?"

Shanks replied as he sat on the railing of the ship and swung his legs back and forth. "We're going to meet the mob!"

"Is that so? … Sounds like a good time to me." Alex replied.

Shanks nodded and hopped off the rail. "So, I think it's time to settle this. Let's see who's stronger, once and for all."

Alex sighed. "I hate you. Give me a month."

Shanks giggled. "Scared?"

Alex scowled. "You wish."

Shanks drew his sword. "Then, let's do this."

Alex smiled and grabbed his weapon. "Fine."

The two both soru'd at one another and their weapons clashed, sending sparks flying everywhere. Alex twisted his staff and split it in two.

Shanks slashed his sword sideways and Alex parried the blow with one hand while using his other to attack Shanks.

His staff hit Shanks in the side and Shanks cringed as he was sent backwards by the force. Alex smiled and Lugh's tongue shot out towards Shanks. Shanks sensed the attack with his haki and dodged, only for Alex to meet him, as if he was waiting for that response. Shanks barely managed to block Alex's blow in time before Alex spun and kicked his leg.

Shanks dodged the kick but as Alex's foot moved past Shanks's face the heel of his boot sprung out and hit him. Shanks swung his sword upwards at the same time Alex hit him and his sword sliced through Alex's shirt, leaving a small cut on his right arm.

Shanks's nose started to bleed after the blow and he smiled.