After a moment of contemplation, Rayleigh decided to speak.
Their relationship was relatively good, and Rayleigh had even guided Aeridar in the training of Conqueror's Haki, essentially acting as his unofficial mentor. If Rayleigh were to withhold this information, it might not necessarily make them enemies, but it would certainly cause a rift. If he shared it now, Aeridar would owe him a favor, making it much easier for Rayleigh to ask for help or intercede for someone in the future.
"Poneglyphs are divided into two types: the ordinary deep-blue ones, and the blood-red ones."
Rayleigh glanced briefly toward the forest before turning back, his voice calm. "The blood-red ones are known as Road Poneglyphs. They record the coordinates to the final point, 'Laugh Tale'."
Pausing to take a swig of liquor, Rayleigh continued, "There are only four in the entire world. Each Road Poneglyph records a different location. When one finds these locations and links the four points on a map, the intersection reveals the final island, Laugh Tale!"
Hearing this staggering secret, Aeridar and Mina's eyes widened. Their breathing quickened, filled with disbelief.
"Road Poneglyphs! The final island, 'Laugh Tale'!"
Aeridar muttered to himself. He couldn't believe he was already so close to that "Dream Island," the "End of the Grand Line," the "Last Island." Although his dream wasn't to find the 'One Piece' and become the Pirate King, his intense desire for collection gave him immense curiosity regarding the Pirate King's treasure.
"Roger isn't waiting for you!"
As if seeing through Aeridar's thoughts, Rayleigh spoke bluntly without hesitation.
Hearing this, Aeridar gave a dry laugh and said dismissively, "That sort of thing doesn't matter. Only those with true power deserve to possess the 'One Piece'!"
"Rayleigh! I'm starving! Is there anything to eat?"
Just as Rayleigh was about to respond, Luffy's voice suddenly drifted out from the forest. The three turned to look and saw Luffy emerging in filthy, dust-covered clothes, shouting without a care in the world.
"Eh~ we have company!" Seeing Aeridar and Mina, Luffy froze.
"Yo, Straw Hat. Long time no see!" Looking at the stunned Luffy, Aeridar gave a casual wave.
"It's you!" Luffy snapped out of it, pointing at Aeridar with shock. "The guy from Marineford who almost killed me!"
One kick had nearly ended his life. Luffy had a vivid memory of that overwhelming, crushing strength.
"You bastard! You're the one who almost killed Jinbe and Iva-chan!"
The next moment, Luffy's expression changed. His eyes turned bloodshot as he glared at Aeridar.
"GEAR 2!!!"
Luffy extended his arm, using it as a pump to accelerate his blood flow. Instantly, his skin turned a vibrant red and white steam billowed out, as if he had injected a massive dose of adrenaline.
Swoosh—
With a faint whistle of displaced air, Luffy vanished from the spot, appearing in mid-air as if teleporting.
"Gomu Gomu no—Jet Pistol!!!"
His arm extended and retracted at extreme speeds, striking like an invisible air bullet.
BOOM!
The rock Aeridar had been sitting on shattered instantly, debris flying everywhere, but Aeridar was nowhere to be found.
Rayleigh glanced sideways and reached out a large hand. When he opened his palm, five or six stone fragments lay quietly in his center.
Mina, sensing the flying debris, flickered like a phantom. The shards seemed to pass right through her body, striking the cliff wall over a dozen meters away. It was a phantom produced by high speed—it looked like a hit, but it was merely an afterimage.
"Interesting." Rayleigh couldn't help but take a second look at Mina. When did that little girl from back then develop such speed?
At that moment, Luffy, having missed his mark, dropped from the air and immediately swung a leg out.
"Gomu Gomu no—Jet Whip!!!"
His leg stretched out incredibly long like a literal whip, whistling through the air and sweeping across a range of dozens of meters.
Rumble!
Several large trees were snapped clean off, toppling over and kicking up a choking cloud of dust.
"Your Observation Haki has improved quite a bit!" Aeridar hovered in the air, looking down at Luffy from above.
"I've been through hellish training! GEAR 3!!!"
Luffy stared fiercely at Aeridar. His skin returned to normal as he bit into his right thumb and blew air into it with all his might. In an instant, his entire right arm expanded rapidly, resembling the limb of a giant.
"Gomu Gomu no Elephant Gun!!!"
Jet-black Armament Haki coated the massive arm, turning it into a metallic giant's fist that crashed toward Aeridar with a howling wind.
"Heh~ A Gear 3 technique under the influence of Armament Haki? Impact Fist!"
Aeridar grinned. His raised arm transformed into a limb of black iron as he struck downward.
CLANG!!
A massive sound like a temple bell rang out, vibrating the very air. A terrifying shockwave erupted, forming a ring of pressurized air that forced the grass and trees below to bend.
"Get down!"
Aeridar pressed his arm down, exerting a sudden burst of power. Despite the massive difference in size, it was like an ant flipping an elephant; the small fist directly overpowered the giant fist.
BOOM!
Luffy felt an irresistible, peerless force surge through him. He was slammed heavily into the ground, smashing a giant crater into the meadow and kicking up a massive shroud of dust.
"Cough, cough... dammit!" Luffy crawled out of the crater, his arm returning to its original state as he glared up at Aeridar.
"Straw Hat, don't think that just because you've trained for a bit you can beat me. You're still far off!" Aeridar ignored Luffy's glare and mocked him.
"Don't look down on people! I hate guys like you who act all high and mighty!" Luffy shouted back.
"Aside from my comrades, I only respect the strong!" Aeridar's expression became solemn. "Straw Hat, if you want me to respect you, show me your true power. Words won't convince me!"
"Then just watch! Muscle Balloon!!!"
Luffy raised his right arm, which was already coated in hardened Armament Haki, bit into it, and blew a massive amount of air inside. His entire right arm swelled like an inflating balloon.
A massive amount of air was compressed into his body, causing his physique to expand. White steam rose up, enveloping his entire form.
The next moment, a strange figure stood before Aeridar.
Most of his body was covered in a deep reddish-black Armament Haki, leaving only his head and chest exposed. However, his chest was traced with intricate arabesque patterns of Haki. With his hair standing on end and his massive frame shrouded in steam, he looked like a deity descended to earth.
GEAR 4: BOUNDMAN!!!