Shanks is like a fairy from Peter Pan
as long as people believe in him, he can't lose
Somehow this has to be a Fairy Tail joke too especially with "NotShanks/Gildarts" but friendship literally empowering/being magic in it too lmao.
Belo Betty has that inspiration fruit, the one that rouses people into fighting too, Luffys fruit seems to be empowered by making others laugh and believing in Nika too?
Honestly if Shanks has some kind of power where the more he is adored/revered, the stronger he gets, that would be NUTS! Also pragmatically hilarious given what we know now too lol. It would be a great meta joke on how hes Odas favourite/self insert too.