Meanwhile, on Whole Cake Island.
Rayleigh had already infiltrated the Whole Cake Chateau.
His footsteps were light as he moved through the castle corridors like a ghost.
With his Observation Haki fully activated, he sensed every living presence around him.
Suddenly, chaotic footsteps echoed from ahead.
"Hurry! Someone has invaded the castle!"
"Block all passages!"
Rayleigh stopped and smiled faintly.
He had originally planned to sneak quietly into the Treasure Chamber to steal a rubbing of the Red Poneglyph, but being discovered forced his hand. No more pretending—he was laying his cards on the table.
He ceased hiding.
Red Haki Lightning erupted around him!
The Chess Soldiers charging toward him had no time to react before being struck by this Conqueror's Haki impact. Their eyes rolled back, foam spewed from their mouths, and they fell like wheat before a scythe.
Rayleigh strode forward, and wherever he passed, the surrounding lives collapsed unconscious.
Using his Observation Haki to perceive the entire castle's structure, he quickly located his target.
Arriving at the Treasure Chamber entrance, he observed the massive stone door before him, noting its diamond-like hardness.
"Interesting."
Rayleigh marveled softly as he slowly drew the saber at his waist.
The moment the blade left its sheath, a powerful Sword Intent shot skyward!
Red Haki Lightning coiled around it, the entire sword emitting a low hum.
Rayleigh gripped the hilt with both hands and raised it high.
With one slash—
BOOM—!!!
A deafening roar!
The massive stone door, with hardness comparable to diamond, shattered like glass under that single strike!
Debris flew everywhere, dust billowed!
Rayleigh sheathed his sword and strode inside.
A dazzling glow of treasures greeted him.
Mountains of gold, chests of gemstones, rare artifacts, and priceless artworks.
The entire Treasure Chamber was packed to the brim with these riches.
Rayleigh's gaze swept over the treasures, and he couldn't help but sigh:
"I'd love to take all of this... but there's no way to carry it."
He shook his head, refocused, and began searching for his true target.
Soon, he found it.
In the very center of the Treasure Chamber stood a massive red stone stele.
The same material, the same color, the same ancient aura as the one on Fish-Man Island.
The Road Poneglyph.
Rayleigh hurried forward, pulling out pre-prepared rubbing paper from his robe. He swiftly began copying the text.
Once the rubbing was complete, he carefully stored the paper. Taking one last look at the mountainous piles of treasure, he shook his head.
"Time to go."
...
Near the waters of Whole Cake Island.
The battle between Roger and Linlin had lasted nearly an hour.
The two had fought from ship to sky, from sky to sea, leaving trails of rampant Haki and energy shockwaves in their wake.
Just then—
"Roger! I'm back! Let's retreat now!"
Rayleigh's voice called from the Oro Jackson.
Roger deflected Linlin's attack with his sword and glanced toward his ship.
Rayleigh had already returned and was waving at him.
Roger laughed bitterly:
"You two bastards! Come help me! I can't handle this woman!"
He was truly in a bind. Linlin was enraged, and due to his own physical condition, he didn't dare go all out.
Rayleigh and Gaban exchanged a glance.
They were well aware of Roger's physical condition.
Both took a step forward simultaneously, leaping into the air!
Rayleigh crossed his arms in front of his chest, raising his saber high as Haki instantly enveloped it!
"Single Stroke Slash!"
A massive silver slash tore through the air, howling as it shot straight toward Linlin!
Gaban followed closely behind, his twin axes unleashing a rapid barrage of strikes!
Within a single second, eighty Haki-infused slashes poured down like a torrential rain!
Roger once again unleashed his technique.
"Divine Departure."
The three of them joined forces, their attacks converging on Linlin from different directions simultaneously!
Linlin's pupils contracted sharply, but she did not retreat.
"Come on! I'm not afraid of you!!!"
She unleashed all her Haki, frantically enveloping the Emperor Sword Napoleon.
"Might Country—!!!"
With a single swing of her sword—
Boom—!!!
The four attacks collided in mid-air!
A massive pillar of energy shot into the sky, tearing the clouds to shreds.
Linlin's figure was sent flying backward from the center of the explosion, landing back on the deck of the Queen Mama Chanter.
Roger, Rayleigh, and Gaban also retreated, landing on the Oro Jackson.
The three of them hadn't used their full strength—they only wanted to repel Linlin and leave the area as quickly as possible.
A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of Linlin's mouth. She clutched her chest, gasping for breath.
"Damn it!"
She was injured.
Thanks to the extraordinary constitution of her "Steel Bone Balloon," her defenses were astonishing, and she hadn't sustained any fatal wounds.
However, the combined attack from the three of them had still inflicted significant internal injuries.
"Hahaha!" Roger stood at the bow of the ship, waving to her. "Linlin! No need to see us off! We'll meet again if fate allows!"
The Oro Jackson set sail, swiftly moving away.
Linlin stomped her feet in fury, causing the entire Queen Mama Chanter to tremble.
"Damn that Roger!"
But she didn't give chase.
She knew it would be pointless.
All three of the Roger Pirates' top fighters were present, while she was alone on her side.
Outnumbered, if she pressed the matter further, she would only end up at a disadvantage.
Just then—
"Mom!"
Katakuri hurried to her side, his expression grave.
"The castle has sent word—Rayleigh infiltrated the castle!"
Linlin's face instantly turned ashen.
"What?!"
Katakuri continued his report, "He entered the Treasure Chamber and stayed inside for a few minutes. It's still unclear exactly what was taken…"
Linlin clenched her fists until they creaked.
Damn it! This was Roger's diversionary tactic!
"Turn around! Full speed back to Whole Cake Island!"
"Yes, Mom!"
The Queen Mama Chanter spoke in a human voice, its massive hull immediately turning around and sailing at full speed toward Whole Cake Island.
This ship, given a soul by the Soul-Soul Fruit, could sail autonomously without any crew.
...
Whole Cake Castle.
Linlin stormed into the Treasure Chamber, her expression dark as she stared at the stone door that had been shattered into pieces.
Inside the Treasure Chamber, treasures were piled high like mountains, and everything appeared normal.
"Linlin, you've finally returned."
Long Bread approached. He was Linlin's longtime subordinate and one of the founding members of the Big Mom Pirates.
"Just now, Rayleigh broke into the castle and entered the Treasure Chamber. He made a rubbing of the Red Poneglyph Stone Tablet we had stored here.
As for the other treasures, nothing seems to be missing."
Linlin took a deep breath, forcing herself to calm down.
"Damn it! That was something I worked so hard to obtain! And Rayleigh actually made a copy of it!"
Long Bread nodded, his expression grave:
"Linlin, that Red Poneglyph must hold some great secret.
Otherwise, the Roger Pirates wouldn't go through so much trouble just to copy it."
Linlin sighed and plopped down onto a pile of treasure.
"It's a shame we can't understand the writing on it at all. Even if we kept it, it would just be a pretty stone.
But that Roger guy... can he read those words? Or did he bring someone who can?"
Long Bread shook his head: "Not sure. But one thing is certain - Roger must be looking for something.
And that Red Poneglyph is the key to him finding it."