Rayleigh had no time to remain lost in memory.
Shakky rushed over, her expression unusually grave as she spoke to him.
"Rayleigh, you need to get them out of here immediately. An Admiral has arrived."
The moment those words fell, the atmosphere froze. Everyone's expression turned tense.
Rayleigh frowned slightly.
"Which one?"
Shakuyaku met his gaze directly, her voice low and heavy.
"Black Dragon."
Even Monkey D. Luffy stiffened at those words. He might not know the other Admirals well, but this one was different.
The warning from Monkey D. Dragon echoed clearly in his mind.
If you ever encounter Admiral Black Dragon at sea, do not hesitate, run for your life.
Roronoa Zoro and Sanji exchanged a glance, both realizing the severity of the situation.
Nami, Usopp, and Tony Tony Chopper immediately broke into panicked cries.
Even Franky and Brook dropped their usual antics, their faces turning serious.
Hatred surfaced on the faces of Kozuki Toki and Portgas D. Ace.
Ace stepped forward, his voice filled with rage.
"It's him! He's the one who killed my father! I'm going to avenge him!"
Toki glanced at him, her expression cold but resolute.
"No. You have no idea how terrifying Black Dragon truly is. Even with Vice-Captain Rayleigh here, combined with all of us, we still stand no chance against him."
Her voice trembled slightly, though her eyes remained firm.
"My husband was crippled by him. My son was tortured and killed before my eyes. I hate him more than you do. But rushing forward now would only mean death. What we need to do is escape."
Shakky nodded.
"I've already received word. Admiral Black Dragon is in Sabaody, carrying out a massacre. Six Supernovas, along with their crews, have already been wiped out."
"What?!"
Both the Straw Hat Pirates and the Spade Pirates were shaken to their core.
Less than half an hour had passed since Zoro struck down a Celestial Dragon, and within that short time, six entire Supernova crews had already been erased.
Zoro frowned.
"How is that possible? Did they not resist at all?"
Shakky shook her head slightly.
"They resisted. It didn't matter. Eustass Kid, the one with the second-highest bounty among the Supernovas, couldn't even survive a single move. He was killed without mercy."
Ace's body trembled. He had spoken with Kid not long ago, yet now that man was already gone.
Rayleigh suddenly spoke, his tone firm.
"That's enough. Forget coating your ships for now. Leave immediately."
But the moment his words fell, a black feather drifted down and landed lightly on his shoulder.
A familiar voice followed from above.
"Leave? Where do you think you're going?"
Everyone's heads snapped upward.
Suspended in midair was Lloyd.
His arms were crossed, a pair of jet-black wings spreading behind him, gently beating against the air. His gaze swept over them from above, calm and detached, as if observing insignificant insects.
"Rayleigh, it has been twenty-two years since we last met. Now that I am here, you are not even interested in catching up?"
As he spoke, Lloyd slowly descended.
The instant his feet touched the ground, an overwhelming pressure swept outward.
It was not visible, yet it crushed down on everyone like a mountain. Their bodies stiffened, movement nearly impossible.
Rayleigh's expression darkened. He stepped forward instinctively, shielding Luffy and Ace behind him.
"We meet again, Admiral Black Dragon."
Lloyd did not even spare him a glance.
Instead, his eyes shifted to Zoro.
The moment their gazes met, Zoro felt an unprecedented pressure crash down on him. Sweat poured from his body in an instant.
Even Dracule Mihawk had never made him feel this way.
Lloyd spoke softly.
"Roronoa Zoro. You killed a Celestial Dragon."
Zoro gritted his teeth.
"So what?"
"Good."
Lloyd's expression remained unchanged as he lowered his arms.
From his right hand, a dark, narrow light extended outward, condensing into a long black blade.
The Demon Blade, Muramasa.
Zoro immediately drew his swords, taking up his Three-Sword Style stance without hesitation.
The moment he settled into position, Lloyd's figure flickered.
Then another Lloyd appeared directly in front of him.
The one left behind was only an afterimage.
Only Rayleigh could barely perceive that movement.
Clang!
Before anyone else could react, Zoro's swords were already sent flying.
The Sandai Kitetsu snapped cleanly in half.
The Wado Ichimonji and Shusui were driven into the ground, their blades chipped and ruined.
Against Lloyd, even these famed swords stood no chance.
As for Sandai Kitetsu, it was nothing more than scrap.
Lloyd did not even turn back.
He simply stepped forward, walking past Zoro as if he no longer existed.
Behind him, Zoro remained standing, empty-handed, his expression unchanged.
A deep unease rose in Sanji's chest.
He rushed forward.
"Zoro! Say something! What's wrong with you, moss-head?!"
There was no response.
Panicking, Sanji reached out and shoved him.
The moment his hand made contact, everything changed.
A thin crimson line appeared across Zoro's body, starting from his forehead and running diagonally down to his waist.
Then, in the next instant, his upper body slid apart.
Blood erupted violently, splashing everywhere and drenching Sanji completely.
Silence fell.
Then, a scream tore through the air.
"Zoro!!!"
Luffy's eyes turned bloodshot as he roared and tried to charge forward, but Rayleigh held him back firmly, leaving him struggling in helpless fury.
Sanji stood frozen, the metallic taste of blood filling his mouth.
Slowly, he lifted his head.
The hatred in his eyes burned intensely.
His leg trembled, then ignited in flames.
With a powerful step, he launched himself forward like a bullet, his body cutting through the air as he roared,
"Give me your life! Diable Jambe!"
Milestone
100 Powerstones = 1 Bonus Chapter
200 Powerstones = 3 Bonus Chapters
Also,
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