"Such formidable Haki."
Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, the shock in his eyes lingering. "And you've even mastered Conqueror's Haki Infusion? Are you really not even twenty years old yet?"
Xiano strode forward with steady steps, his black hair whipping in the residual waves of Haki.
With each step, the uneven ground beneath his feet automatically parted, cracking open a trench as if paving a path for him.
"Regretting it now?"
He grinned. "Thought you could easily crush a rookie and play the seasoned veteran, only to realize things aren't going as planned?"
"..."
Rayleigh fell silent for a moment before suddenly bursting into laughter. "I did misjudge you!"
He had come to keep his promise, and his intentions weren't so despicable.
As for Xiano's strength exceeding expectations—whether he felt any regret...
Perhaps a little. But in this world, there's no such thing as a pill for regret!
Having chosen to take this step, there was no turning back.
Today, even if it were a Navy Admiral or one of the Four Emperors standing before him, he would still demand justice for Hachi's soul.
"Then let's fight, and let strength do the talking!"
Rayleigh tightened his grip on his sword and laughed heartily. "Let this old man personally test just how far the junior who turned Paradise upside down has come!"
Hum!
The moment his words fell, Conqueror's Haki erupted from Rayleigh's body. His silver hair danced wildly in the shockwaves, while countless thick black-and-red lightning bolts spread in all directions!
Boom!
Two terrifying Conqueror's Haki clashed violently under the sky. In an instant, the once clear and sunny skies above the Sabaody Archipelago darkened, with rolling thunderclouds gathering.
The entire Grove 1 was engulfed in a storm, plunging into darkness.
"Move, all of you, move!"
"Arrest all the troublemakers, no matter who they are!"
Inside the auction house, a large squad of guards, led by their captain, charged out the main gate with furious momentum.
They wanted to see what fool dared to cause trouble at the human auction house with its powerful backing.
But the moment they stepped outside,
the sight that greeted them was like the apocalypse itself.
"This... this is..."
They stood dumbfounded, frozen in place before they could even react. The residual shockwaves of the Conqueror's Haki surged toward them.
Thud!
All hundred-plus guards simultaneously rolled their eyes back, collapsing like harvested wheat, instantly knocked unconscious.
Boom—!!
The clash of Haki grew even more intense.
The ground trembled, the air distorted.
Even the distant giant Red Trees groaned under the pressure, their surfaces cracking with countless fissures.
The front wall of the auction house, bearing the brunt of the impact at close range, completely collapsed, revealing the scene inside—
The vast auction hall.
The audience seats were nearly empty, the spectators having fled.
But the slaves on the platform, shackled with special collars that would explode if they left the auction house's confines, dared not move an inch.
Cowering in the corners on either side of the auction platform, the slaves watched the scene outside with trembling fear.
Among them were rare races like the Longarm Tribe, Fish-men, half-giants, and Snakehead Tribe, as well as beautiful or robust and capable humans.
Dozens of them huddled together, a conspicuous sight that Xiano and Rayleigh noticed immediately.
Their reactions were strikingly similar.
Whoosh!
Almost simultaneously, they reined in their auras and dashed toward the auction platform using Moon Walk.
One went left, the other right—moving so fast they landed on opposite sides of the platform in an instant. Only then did they turn to glance at each other.
"…"
Rayleigh narrowed his eyes but ultimately said nothing, starting to remove the slaves' collars one by one.
His method was simple and brutal: crushing the collars with brute force before hurling them into the open space behind him to explode harmlessly.
Xiano, however, was far more efficient.
A mere brush of his fingers over the collars caused them to unlock automatically without even triggering an explosion.
"We're saved! Finally saved!"
"Thank you, thank you both!"
Tears streaming down their faces, the slaves poured out their gratitude, only for the two men to wave them off, urging them to flee the area quickly.
The vast open space around the auction house was an ideal battlefield, and both men tacitly agreed to continue fighting there. Any civilians lingering nearby would inevitably get caught in the crossfire.
By the time Rayleigh finished his task, Xiano had already been standing quietly in place, waiting for a while.
"If not for the grudge involving Hachi, I think you and I might have become good friends," Rayleigh remarked leisurely, pulling out a bottle of liquor from somewhere and taking a deep swig.
"But fate had other plans. The moment you drew your sword against me, some things became irreversible."
Xiano shook his head, speaking calmly.
After another pause, his right fist slowly clenched, black-red lightning coiling around it once more as his lips curled into a grin:
"Those people have run far enough, and you've had your fill of drink. Enough talk, old man—let's continue!"
"My thoughts exactly!"
Rayleigh laughed heartily, tossing the empty bottle aside. His sword flashed from its sheath, the blade now wreathed in the same blinding black-red radiance.
"God Avoidance!"
"God's Punishment!"
In the next instant, both men vanished from sight.
Clang——!!!
A metallic clangor split the heavens as fist and sword collided midair. Deafening shockwaves erupted, countless black-red lightning bolts intertwining and devouring everything in sight.
Terrifying shockwaves rippled outward, causing the land for kilometers around to undulate violently like stormy waves.
The entire human auction house was flattened in the aftermath.
"God Avoidance? That's Roger's move, isn't it?"
Locked blade-to-fist, Xiano sneered. "You know it too, Rayleigh… But compared to your Captain, this half-baked imitation won't even come close to defeating me."
"And your technique still lacks polish," Rayleigh countered with a chuckle. "Though for your age, it's terrifying enough… By the way, was that called God's Punishment? What an arrogant name!"
Boom!
The clash ended in a draw, with neither side gaining the upper hand. Continuing the stalemate was pointless.
Their figures flashed past each other before separating, then gathered strength once more and collided head-on.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
For a moment, the vast open space was filled with the unending roar of explosions as the battle gradually escalated into a fierce climax.
————
"What did you say?"
At the headquarters of the Sabaody News Agency, behind the Boss's desk, an old man with gray hair and black-rimmed glasses widened his eyes in shock.
"Xiano? That Xiano is still alive?"
"Yes, Chief!"
The young subordinate in front of him was practically vibrating with excitement as he pulled a photo from his pocket.
"This was taken by one of our frontline reporters at great risk! Just look—there's no mistake! It's Xiano, the infamous Pirate who was declared dead by the World Government two months ago!"
The old chief took the photo skeptically.
The moment he saw the black-haired young man in the image, he couldn't help but shoot to his feet.
And when his gaze shifted to the silver-haired figure wielding a sword, his eyes nearly bulged out of his head.
"Rayleigh?!"
"Huh?" The young subordinate blinked, not immediately understanding.
"Do kids these days not even recognize this old bastard anymore?! That's Rayleigh! The Dark King Rayleigh, right-hand man of the Pirate King Roger!"
Either of these men appearing alone would be headline news—but now they were not only both here, they were fighting each other?!
This was destined to be a world-shaking scoop!
Whether they could climb to the second spot in newspaper sales this year depended entirely on seizing this opportunity!
The old chief's beard trembled with excitement as he slammed his desk.
"Hurry! Activate the highest emergency news protocol immediately! Dispatch all our most advanced Video Transponder Snails! I want a live broadcast across the entire island!"
"And recall every editor and printer on vacation! Even if we have to pull an all-nighter, we're printing an emergency edition tonight!"
"Before Morgans even realizes what's happening, I want everyone near Sabaody Archipelago scrambling to buy our paper!"
"Yes, Chief!"
————
Splash! Splash! Splash!
Most of Sabaody Archipelago was now drenched in torrential rain from the previously gathered storm clouds.
The downpour was slightly lighter in Grove 33.
This area was home to the world-famous Bubble Amusement Park. After dealing with the Supernova who had provoked them at the docks, the girls had unanimously agreed to visit for some fun.
Unfortunately, they had arrived during peak season, and the crowds were overwhelming.
After finally securing tickets and waiting in a long line for the roller coaster, they caught sight of the terrifying atmospheric disturbance caused by Conqueror's Haki in the distance.
That familiar presence…
There was no mistaking it—it had to be their Captain.
"Nooo~!" Nami's heart sank as she nearly burst into tears. "Who the heck is Big Bro fighting this time? With a commotion this huge, my amusement park trip is ruined, isn't it…?"
"Hmm. For Lord Xiano to use Conqueror's Haki, his opponent must be an extraordinary fighter."
Kuina narrowed her eyes before decisively turning away. "Let's go. Plans have changed—we need to check on the situation first."
"Damn it! I knew it!"
Nami fumed, then gave Kuina a pitiful look. "Kuina! We waited in line forever for these tickets! Can't we at least ride one thing before leaving?"
"Quit whining. Let's go!"
Kuina showed no mercy, forcibly dragging Nami as she sprinted toward the exit, the girl's screams echoing all the way.
Nojiko and Robin exchanged a glance behind them but wasted no time, tucking away their tickets before following.
As for the rest of the crew's current whereabouts…
Smoker's first priority was restocking cigars at the tobacco shop, while Agin trailed after Zeff, eagerly heading off to buy strawberry milk.
Jack, unable to shake his unease about the Sunset currently undergoing coating, decided to stay behind at the shipyard to keep watch.
Kuina called each of them, urging them to hurry and regroup at Grove 1.
The moment they stepped out of Bubble Paradise's gates—
"Hey, wait! Look over there!"
Nami suddenly halted, pointing at the massive screen in the center of the square.
Everyone followed her gaze and froze.
"It's the Captain!"
"And the other one—who's that old man?"
Kuina released Nami's wrist and rushed to the screen in three quick strides. Nami, too distracted to complain, rubbed her sore wrist as she leaned in for a closer look.
On the screen—
Xiano and Rayleigh moved so fast they were nearly invisible, only the clash of black and red lightning visible with each exchange.
Every strike sent terrifying shockwaves rippling outward, tearing up the ground layer by layer.
More and more people gathered before the screen—locals, tourists, even Pirates stopping by for coating.
Among the crowd, those with sharper eyes gradually recognized Rayleigh's identity, gasps of disbelief spreading.
"The Dark King Rayleigh…?"
Hearing the name, Robin's expression darkened. "To think a legend like him still walks this earth… and now he's clashing with the Captain…"
Just then—
The broadcast flickered, static briefly distorting the feed.
When it stabilized, the camera had switched to Grove 1's harbor.
There, on the sea—
Several Marine warships were rapidly closing in on the port.
One stood out among them—larger than the rest, its white sails emblazoned with a massive black character: "Pig".
The reporter's voice-over crackled through the broadcast:
"Breaking news! Things are heating up, folks!"
"As you can see, not only have local Marine forces mobilized—but warships from Marine Headquarters have also arrived at Grove 1 and are advancing as we speak!"
"Leading them is none other than Vice Admiral Kaji, who was promoted to Admiral Candidate just months ago!"
…
Marine Headquarters' warships?
Staring at the screen, the group's faces twisted in shock.
Even if Marineford was relatively close by… how could they have arrived so quickly? They'd only just noticed the disturbance themselves!
"A coincidence?" Nojiko frowned.
"Doesn't matter."
Kuina's grip tightened on her sword as she glared at the warships on-screen. "What matters is that Lord Xiano is still fighting—and clearly enjoying himself. We can't let these bastards ruin his fun."
An Admiral Candidate, huh?
Kuina smirked coldly. Compared to Doflamingo, this might be a more challenging opponent.
"Move out! Full speed ahead—our job is to hold off these Marines for Lord Xiano!" she commanded sharply.
"Understood!"
This time, everyone activated Moon Walk, racing at full speed toward the battlefield.
…
1st Grove.
The harbor was bustling as the naval fleet docked, with rows of marines standing in formation under the heavy rain.
Strangely, however, these marines didn't immediately march toward the human auction house. Instead, they remained motionless in place.
It seemed they were waiting for something.
"Hohoho, what an unexpected delight."
Chaton stepped ashore, a cigar clamped between his teeth. He lifted his gaze, peering through the rain at the two figures locked in fierce combat in the distance.
"Tsk tsk, to think I'd stumble upon such a windfall…"
Had his luck finally turned?
Just over an hour ago, he'd come up empty-handed at Grove 52.
The troublesome Supernovas had already fled, and just as he was about to leave for headquarters, disheartened, he stumbled upon this scene.
Xiano—who they'd been searching for in vain for an entire week—was now right before his eyes!
And he was fighting none other than the Dark King, Rayleigh.
Chaton took a deep, satisfied drag from his cigar, a genuine smile spreading across his face.
Fight, fight. The two of you, keep at it a little longer. The fiercer, the better.
"Mr. Kaji?"
The young lieutenant beside him spoke up nervously, his voice hushed. "Shouldn't we report this to headquarters and request reinforcements? This is a major incident…"
"Idiot, do we even need to say anything? The Sabaody branch has probably already informed headquarters."
Chaton exhaled a slow, deliberate smoke ring. "An Admiral should be on their way soon. Who'll it be? Mr. Borsalino, or someone else… Tsk, doesn't matter. They won't make it in time. Can't you see? Those two are going all out with every move. A fight like this won't last much longer."
"And when it's over… that's when I step in to reap the rewards."
Chaton shot a sidelong glance at the lieutenant, grinning. "Don't underestimate the strength of an Admiral candidate. Rest assured, dealing with two exhausted men will be child's play for me."
...
BOOM!
Xiano and Rayleigh clashed once more, fist against blade, sending visible shockwaves rippling through the air.
Dust and debris scattered as both landed, panting heavily, neither making another move.
Over an hour had passed since their battle began, and their conditions had drastically changed from the start.
Rayleigh's silver-white hair was drenched in rain and sweat, clinging to his wrinkled forehead.
Kneeling on one knee, his sword buried deep in the ground, his chest heaved violently. His gray robes were torn to shreds, revealing large patches of bloodied, battered skin beneath.
"Hah…"
After glancing down at his chest, Rayleigh gripped his sword and forced himself to stand, a bitter smile on his face.
"You brat… Not just your Haki, but your physique and strength are terrifying. It's been ages since I've been this battered since retiring…"
"Also, seems like some annoying pests have arrived."
Rayleigh adjusted his breathing, his eyes flicking toward the harbor.
"They think staying at that distance means we won't notice them? Hmph. Quite the numbers, and one troublesome one among them… Should we call it quits, kid? I'd rather not fight to mutual ruin only for the marines to swoop in and take advantage."
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