On the beach, two identical figures stood facing each other from a distance, their sword aura still lingering.
Peak Rayleigh casually twirled his sword and rested the blade on his shoulder, a roguish grin tugging at his lips as he looked at his own wheezing self on the opposite side.
"Hey, old man, quit stalling."
"Let's settle this with one final move!"
His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached every person present.
The older Rayleigh took a deep breath, lifting his sword to his chest. In that moment, his aged frame erupted with immense fighting spirit once more.
In a deep voice, he replied:
"Just what I was thinking!"
The moment his words fell—
BOOM!!!
Two monstrous waves of Conqueror's Haki—indescribable in magnitude—rose into the sky like awakened ancient beasts from each of them!
The sand beneath their feet was instantly crushed into a deep crater by the overwhelming pressure. Fierce gales burst out from where they stood, strong enough to make the bonfires in the distance flicker wildly.
"Gurararara!"
The older Whitebeard raised his head and downed a huge gulp of sake, laughing heartily as he gazed at the clashing waves of Haki in the sky.
"What an incredible duel!"
He exclaimed from the bottom of his heart.
"To witness such a pure clash of top-tier swordsmanship and Haki in this era—what a rare sight!"
Peak Whitebeard nodded in agreement, admiration written all over his massive face.
"Indeed. Seems that old geezer Rayleigh's sword hasn't rusted one bit after all."
Marco, Vista, Jozu, and the others watched with rapt attention, afraid to miss even the smallest detail.
"It's coming…!"
Vista, a swordsman himself, tightened his grip on the twin blades at his waist, murmuring to himself.
'So this… is the true strength of the Dark King Rayleigh?'
"This next move should decide the winner," said Jozu in a low voice, eyes locked onto the two combatants.
Everyone held their breath, waiting for that climactic clash.
Peak Rayleigh versus Old Rayleigh—
What a dreamlike battle!
Just when everyone braced for the earth-shattering explosion of their final collision…
An unexpected scene unfolded.
The two towering auras of Conqueror's Haki in the sky suddenly vanished, as if by mutual agreement, without any warning.
As if someone had hit the pause button.
A moment ago, they were on the brink of battle, murderous intent overflowing—and the next, both Rayleighs simply lowered their swords.
"Huh?"
Everyone was stunned.
What was going on?
As the entire crowd stared in disbelief…
The two slowly approached one another. The destructive intent that had filled the air moments ago was gone, replaced by… mutual appreciation?
Then—
Peak Rayleigh reached out and slung an arm over Old Rayleigh's shoulder.
Old Rayleigh followed suit, throwing his arm around the younger version of himself.
The two stood there, arms draped around each other like old drinking buddies stumbling out of a tavern.
"Not bad, kid."
Old Rayleigh patted Peak Rayleigh's shoulder with a grin.
"No wonder—you're my younger self, after all. That fire in your gut… I'd almost forgotten what that felt like."
Peak Rayleigh grinned wide, flashing his teeth.
"You're not bad yourself, old geezer."
He replied without the slightest reservation.
"Your swordsmanship and Haki are way more solid than I expected for someone your age."
"Haha! Damn right!"
"Cut the crap! Come on, let's get a drink! I've got a lot to ask you!"
"Let's go!"
And just like that, under the stunned gazes of the entire crowd, the two Rayleighs—who had just been fighting to the death—walked back to the banquet arm-in-arm, chatting warmly as they debated what to drink next.
...
...
...
The crowd fell completely silent.
After a long pause—
Marco turned his head toward Whitebeard, an utterly speechless expression on his face.
"Uhh… Pops, these two guys are really… something else."
He couldn't even find the right words.
Old and Peak Whitebeard exchanged a glance—and then both roared with laughter.
"Gurararara!"
"Gurararara!"
"Exactly like the two of us back in the day!"
Everyone else laughed as well, the heavy tension evaporating instantly.
"Come on! Let's head back! The party's still going!"
"Yeah!!!"
...
The bonfires blazed on, the air thick with the aroma of roasted meat and strong wine.
After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere reached new heights.
Old Rayleigh, holding a large sake cup, made his way over to Lucian, his face flushed with drink and full of heartfelt emotion.
"Lucian, my boy…"
He drained the cup in one go, then let out a deep sigh.
"You really… gave this old man the surprise of a lifetime."
"I'm impressed!"
He'd lived through countless storms and seen it all—or so he thought. But everything happening now had flipped his worldview upside down.
From the two Whitebeards, to his younger self, to the Straw Hat kid awakened as Nika...
All of it pointed to the unassuming young man before him.
Lucian chuckled and raised his cup in return.
"You flatter me, Mr. Rayleigh."
He replied lightly.
"This is just… a small part of what I can do."
Hiss—!
Old Rayleigh sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes wide with renewed shock.
'Just a small part?!'
What kind of monster was this kid?!
"A terrifying power indeed…"
He smiled wryly and shook his head, then laughed it off.
"But thanks to you, I got the once-in-a-lifetime experience of fighting myself. I have to say… it felt pretty damn good!"
Peak Rayleigh came over with a sake barrel in hand, laughing loudly at that.
"Exactly! Fighting myself was amazing!"
The two Rayleighs locked eyes and saw the same thrill in each other's gaze—two masters finding their equal. Then, in perfect sync, they raised their drinks and clinked them together hard.
Lucian watched them, his smile turning slightly more meaningful.
"Mr. Rayleigh."
He suddenly spoke, his tone turning serious.
"I need you to do something for me."
"Oh?"
Old Rayleigh set down his cup and looked over curiously.
"What is it? As long as I can do it, just say the word."
Lucian didn't answer right away. Instead, he turned his gaze toward the distance.
There, Ace and the Luffy of this timeline were once again wrestling on the ground over the last chunk of roast meat, creating a noisy mess.
Lucian raised his hand and pointed toward the two of them.
"See those two?"
His voice was calm, but carried an undeniable weight.
"I need you, Mr. Rayleigh… to start teaching those two from today onward."