On the vast, endless sea, sunlight bathed the ship of the Roger Pirates.
"Got nothing better to do? Let's fight."
Rhett stood opposite Roger, surrounded by crew members whose eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"Place your bets, brothers!"
"Now, allow me, Gaban, to introduce the contestants," Gaban announced with a grin. "On one side, we have the captain of the Roger Pirates, Gol D. Roger! And on the other, our challenger, Rhett, known as the Crimson Mist, also from the Roger Pirates! Will the king maintain his throne, or will the new challenger ascend to the crown? Let's find out!"
Rhett's expression was stern, his eyes burning with fierce determination. He knew exactly how strong the man before him was.
Gripping his black sword, Kuroshio, Rhett summoned a thick crimson mist that gradually enveloped the deck.
"Captain, be careful!" Rhett shouted, leaping forward. His sword, wreathed in corrosive mist, came crashing down with the force of a thousand pounds.
Roger, wearing his trademark grin, sidestepped effortlessly.
"Not bad, little Rhett!" Roger encouraged with a laugh.
But Roger didn't let his guard down. He swiftly shattered the mist blades that followed Rhett's initial strike. Rhett had intended to pin Roger down during his moment of vulnerability, but Roger dodged with ease.
"Can't even land the first hit. Rhett's still got a ways to go," Gaban taunted from the sidelines.
Unfazed, Rhett shot back, "Hey, if you're commentating, stay neutral, you jerk!"
He immediately activated his Mist-Mist Fruit powers, manipulating the fog to condense into needle-like projectiles that shot toward Roger. This was his signature move—"Mist Needles: Thousand Rain."
Roger's eyes narrowed as he darted through the barrage, each movement precise. The needles struck the deck around him, leaving tiny craters.
"Hmph, watch this!" Rhett growled, compressing the mist around Kuroshio until the blade glowed crimson, as if ablaze. He raised the sword high.
"Mist God Style: Crimson Tide!" he roared, slashing downward. A wave of blood-red mist surged toward Roger, tearing through the air with a sizzling sound.
Roger's smile faded as he felt the power of the attack. Planting his feet firmly on the deck, he gripped his sword, Portgas D. Ace, and coated it with Armament Haki.
"Divine Evasion!" he shouted, unleashing a brilliant blade of light that collided with Rhett's crimson wave.
"BOOM!" The clash of their attacks sent a shockwave rippling across the deck, forcing the crew to stumble back, some even falling.
Gaban, shielded by a white mist that allowed him to see the battle clearly, remarked, "Two such powerful attacks—what will the outcome be?"
As the mist cleared, both figures stood revealed.
Rhett was forced back, his feet carving deep grooves into the deck. His arms trembled, and blood seeped from his palms. But his eyes remained resolute, unwavering.
"Rhett's still standing! He's made quite the progress. What are you waiting for? Place your bets!"
"It's not over yet!" Rhett gritted his teeth and charged again.
Roger, watching him approach, flashed a look of admiration before raising his sword once more.
Rhett closed the distance, swinging Kuroshio with fierce momentum, alternating between slashes and thrusts, each strike fueled by his full strength.
Realizing he couldn't win in a direct clash, Rhett retreated into the mist, disappearing from view.
"Here it comes—Rhett's most annoying tactic. Tsk, what a brilliant strategy," Gaban muttered, clearly remembering how much he'd hated facing it.
Rhett's figure flickered in and out of the mist, his crimson haze swirling around him.
He seized the moment, reappearing behind Roger and striking with Kuroshio. Unlike his earlier attacks, Rhett divided his power, following the sword strike with a mist blade—a technique inspired by the fighting style of Lazy Ming and Slippers.
Roger reacted swiftly, parrying the blow with his sword.
Alert, Roger scanned the surroundings, waiting for Rhett's next move. Moments later, Rhett emerged from another direction, thrusting a mist-formed spear toward him.
As the spear lunged forward, Kuroshio swept in from the side.
Roger dodged, and Rhett vanished into the mist once more.
This pattern repeated—Rhett striking from the mist, then retreating—keeping Roger on his toes.
But Roger had sixteen more years of experience in the pirate world. He didn't even need to rely on his Observation Haki to outmaneuver Rhett, though Rhett's mist could obscure it. Roger's Observation Haki was among the best in the entire pirate world.
The gap in their strength was evident. After another fierce clash, Rhett's sword was knocked from his hands, and he was sent flying, landing hard on the deck. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, and frustration flickered in his eyes.
"Haha, little Rhett, you've done well!" Roger walked over, helping Rhett to his feet.
Rhett wiped the blood from his lips, looking at Roger with determination. "Captain, I'll get stronger!"
"Is that so? Hahaha, I believe in you," Roger said, patting Rhett's head with a proud smile.
"Hey, hey, don't look at me like some proud dad, you jerk," Rhett grumbled, baring his shark-like teeth.
The setting sun cast its golden light over the deck of the Oro Jackson. Rhett sat slumped against the railing, rubbing his sore arms while Kuroshio leaned beside him.
Roger plopped down next to him and handed over a bottle of rum. "Want some?"
Rhett took the bottle, downing a large gulp. The fiery liquid burned his throat, making him grimace. "Ugh—this stuff's still disgusting."
Roger laughed heartily, handing him a glass of orange juice with one hand while ruffling his hair with the other. "Kid, you did great today. In a few years, you might actually knock me down. I'm looking forward to it."
Rhett rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right. Your Observation Haki's practically cheating."
Rayleigh approached, his glasses reflecting the golden sunlight. "Don't be discouraged, Rhett. You're only 19. Fighting Roger to this extent is already insane."
Gaban chimed in, "Exactly! Next time, try to make the captain sweat a bit more!"
Rhett, listening to their encouragement, shot back, "You jerk, Gaban! I'll take you on right now!"
Everyone burst into laughter, the atmosphere light and carefree.