...
Watching Luffy's figure completely disappear at the edge of his vision, the sentimentality in Rayleigh's eyes quickly faded, replaced once again by the calm and majestic demeanor of the legendary "Dark King."
He raised his hand and gently wiped the lingering moisture from the corner of his eye with the pad of his thumb. Then, with a flick of his wrist, his long sword was already drawn.
Without any buildup or flashy movements, Rayleigh simply swung his sword in the opposite direction from where Luffy had gone—toward the oncoming surge of pursuing Marines—in what appeared to be a casual motion.
"Shwa!"
A condensed, moonlit-silver sword beam shot forth like solidified moonlight, slicing silently across the ground.
"Rumble…"
The earth was cleaved open as if by an invisible giant blade. A fissure more than dozens of meters long instantly appeared right in the path of the charging Marines!
Where the sword energy passed, the rocky ground was smoothly split in two. The cut surfaces shimmered faintly, displaying the terrifying cutting power and exquisite control contained in that single swing.
The pursuing Marine troops were terrified out of their wits by this sudden strike. The soldiers at the front skidded to a halt, while those behind couldn't stop in time and crashed into each other, creating utter chaos.
Everyone stared in horror at the chasm-like crack that now stood before them like an insurmountable divide, and at the white-haired old man standing sword in hand on the other side.
Rayleigh slowly lowered his sword tip to point obliquely at the ground. His gaze calmly swept over the shaken Marines. His voice wasn't loud, yet it carried unquestionable authority and rang clearly in every ear:
"My disciple… is setting sail today."
He paused slightly, the corner of his mouth seeming to curve into the faintest hint of a smile as he added:
"I advise you all… it's best not to cross this line. Otherwise, you bear the consequences."
There was no roar, no overwhelming killing intent—but beneath that calm tone lay absolute confidence and overwhelming strength. Combined with the shocking crack in the ground, it fully demonstrated the deterrent power of the "Dark King."
The front-row Marine soldiers trembled in their legs, their hands shaking so badly they could barely hold their weapons. Forget crossing the line—they didn't even have the courage to lift their heads and meet Rayleigh's gaze.
This legendary pirate, simply by standing there, had become an impassable wall.
Taking advantage of Rayleigh holding back the main Marine force, Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji weaved through the complex terrain of Sabaody Archipelago.
And during these two years while the Straw Hat crew had been scattered across the world, the friends they had met and helped now stepped forward one after another, providing strong support to ensure their smooth reunion.
Perona, the "Ghost Princess" they had encountered on Thriller Bark—who could control ghosts—used her Negative Hollows to disrupt some of the Marines' pursuit routes.
The colorful okamas from Kamabakka Kingdom, each possessing unique skills, formed passionate barriers, blocking and confusing the enemy in their own distinctive ways…
With the assistance of these "unconventional allies," Luffy and the other two escaped their pursuers without major incident and finally reached their destination.
They saw it—the Thousand Sunny, quietly anchored with its figurehead facing the sunlight! What excited them even more was that on the deck, all their long-missed crewmates had already assembled!
"Luffy! Zoro! Sanji! Over here!" Nami waved her arms excitedly.
"Super! We've finally been waiting for you guys!" Franky struck his signature pose.
"Yohohoho! This really brings back memories!" Brook played his violin.
Robin stood to one side, a gentle and relieved smile on her face.
Looking at those familiar, dear smiling faces, the brilliant smile that had been on Luffy's face since leaving Rayleigh never faded—in fact, it grew even wider, revealing a full set of big white teeth.
Nothing made him happier than reuniting with his crew!
After two years of trials and training, the Straw Hat Pirates had finally, at this moment in Sabaody Archipelago, fully reassembled!
However, the warm moment of reunion did not last long.
"Whirr whirr whirr!"
Sharp whistling sounds rang out as several cannonballs trailing white smoke screamed in from distant Marine warships, aimed straight at the just-departing Sunny!
"Enemy attack?!" Usopp cried out in alarm.
Just as the cannonballs were about to strike, an elegant yet domineering figure piloted a magnificently decorated pirate ship at astonishing speed, cutting in between the Sunny and the incoming shells!
On the bow deck stood a woman of stunning beauty, noble and cold demeanor, her figure graceful and commanding—
It was none other than the Warlord of the Sea, the "Pirate Empress" Boa Hancock!
She didn't even turn her head. She simply raised her slender hand casually toward the incoming barrage and softly spoke:
"Slave Arrow!"
Pink heart-shaped beams shot out like raindrops, precisely striking every single cannonball.
The hit cannonballs instantly lost all momentum. Their surfaces became coated in a gray-white stone shell, falling straight into the sea like ordinary rocks—without even exploding.
...