The shockwave from the clash of swords caused the surrounding mangrove trees to shake violently. The ground beneath Rayleigh's feet cracked inch by inch, but his sword hand remained as steady as a rock.
"You've indeed improved in strength," Rayleigh said, his glasses reflecting white light. "But..."
He suddenly released his force and sidestepped, causing Rhett's heavy sword to lose balance. Seizing the opportunity, Rayleigh struck Rhett's abdomen with the hilt of his sword!
"Cough!" Rhett was sent flying backward.
Rhett stared at Rayleigh standing in the distance.
Damn, even Rayleigh in his prime is this tough to fight?
Are all these old-timers from the past era monsters? Wait, I guess I'm a remnant of the world too. Ah, whatever, Rayleigh, today I'm determined to cut you down.
The onlookers, including Tesoro, were dumbfounded.
"Is this... the power of the Pirate King's first mate?" Lina covered her mouth.
"That old man still loves to show off. That move must have hurt!" Rhett roared.
Rhett swung his Black Tide sword fiercely, instantly unleashing nine sword slashes: "Mist God Style Secret Technique: Blood Prison Dragon's Nest!"
The blood mist in the entire area surged violently, transforming into nine gigantic blood dragons that coiled and soared into the sky.
Each blood dragon was covered in crackling black and red Conqueror's Haki lightning!
Rayleigh finally showed a serious expression: "Hey hey hey, this is way too overpowered. You're really a monster..."
The nine blood dragons descended simultaneously, darkening the heavens and earth!
In that instant, Rayleigh seemed to see Shakky charging into the battlefield. It wasn't just a hallucination—it directly influenced his judgment, making him instinctively believe it was Shakky, causing him to hesitate for a split second.
"Pluto: Amaterasu!"
A golden sword slash turned into a towering pillar of light. When the light faded, all the mangrove trees within a hundred meters were cleaved in half.
The ground collapsed—just another day for the Pirate King, creating an artificial basin.
"What the hell happened?!" a pirate stumbled out of a bar.
"It's Dark King Rayleigh!" someone pointed at the distant golden sword slash and screamed, "He's fighting someone!"
The Marine patrol on Sabaody, a pale-faced captain, grabbed the Den Den Mushi: "Quick! Inform headquarters! There's someone on Sabaody who can face Dark King Rayleigh head-on!"
The two stood at the bottom of the crater, their swords locked.
"Not bad, kid," Rayleigh panted and laughed. "I knew it was an illusion, but I still believed it was real. I don't even know when you poisoned me."
Rhett was also "exhausted," lying flat on the ground, laughing heartily: "You old show-off, whether I poisoned you or not, you couldn't bear to lose face in front of Shakky! Hahaha, but I won!"
Rayleigh sheathed his sword, but he felt something strange and spat out a mouthful of blood. Rhett had forced the mist out of Rayleigh's body.
If Rhett had been serious, Rayleigh would either be dead or severely injured now.
Deep down, Rayleigh was pleased. He naturally knew Rhett hadn't gone all out, but he still taunted: "Let's see if you can withstand ten of my moves first."
"Huh?! Old man Rayleigh, we just fought three hundred rounds!"
"That was me going easy on you."
"Bullshit! Your arm's shaking!"
Under the sunset, an old man and a young man bickered as they walked toward Shakky's bar. The onlookers exchanged confused glances—who actually won?
They saw Rayleigh spit blood and Rhett lying on the ground, unable to hear what was said.
Shakky sighed as she looked at the two men, battered but laughing happily: "You two... scared all my customers away."
"We'll pay! We'll pay!" Rhett waved grandly, turning to Tesoro and shouting, "Old Tesoro! Handle it, handle it!"
Tesoro nodded. In front of outsiders, Tesoro never contradicted his captain's decisions.
Rayleigh took a swig of wine and suddenly asked: "By the way, about the thing you promised Fisher Tiger..."
"Don't worry!" Rhett thumped his chest. "It's just a trip to Mary Geoise!"
He leaned closer to Rayleigh and whispered, "But bro... when are you and Shakky going to have a kid? I can't wait to be an uncle!"
"Bang!"
Rayleigh and Shakky both struck at the same time, sending Rhett crashing into the floor.
Enel picked his ear, watching his captain being double-teamed: "Should we go in and save the captain?"
Tesoro calmly lit a cigar: "Let's wait until he's done being beaten."
Under the night sky of Sabaody, the crew of Crimson Dawn sat around a makeshift bonfire with Rayleigh and Shakky.
Fisher Tiger grilled fish, completely changing his impression of Rhett. Back on Fish-Man Island, Rhett had been domineering, but now this man, who could shake the heavens and earth in a fight with Rayleigh, was shamelessly fighting over the last piece of grilled meat with Rayleigh.
"Hey! Old man! That's mine!"
"Respect your elders, kid!"
"You didn't show any respect when we were fighting!"
Shakky smiled softly as she watched the scene, whispering to Fisher Tiger: "Don't worry, with them... the plan for Mary Geoise will succeed."
Rhett took a swig of wine and turned to Fisher Tiger: "Hey, Brother Tiger, I've got a question."
Fisher Tiger, cloaked and grilling fish, looked up: "What is it?"
"Why are you risking your life to save those human slaves?" Rhett asked bluntly. "From what I know, Fish-Man Island doesn't have a great opinion of humans."
The bonfire crackled, casting light on Fisher Tiger's resolute face. He put down the fish and spoke in a low but firm voice:
"Brother Rhett, after the old king led us to victory in the revolution, I too didn't have a good impression of humans. But when I was captured as a slave, I learned that pain knows no race."
"During my time as a slave in Mary Geoise, I saw human children kept as pets, mermaids stripped of their scales alive, and people of all races crying in the same cages." Fisher Tiger clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white. "In the face of the Celestial Dragons' tyranny, all races are equal—equally miserable."
Rayleigh silently poured Fisher Tiger a drink.
"Those children..." Fisher Tiger took the cup, flashes of Hancock and her sisters in his eyes. "They called me 'Brother Tiger,' sharing their last piece of bread with me, a fish-man..."
He downed the drink. "Such a world shouldn't exist. I know my abilities are limited, but I want to do what I can."
Rhett stared at the bonfire for a moment, then suddenly grinned: "Interesting! But you should know, the world isn't black and white. It's a complex gray. Not every human is worthy of trust, and not every fish-man deserves pity. What I mean is, trust shouldn't be based on race but on a person's actions!"
Fisher Tiger was momentarily stunned, then laughed and clinked cups with Rhett: "Brother Rhett must have his reasons. I'll remember that!"
Rhett jumped up and slung an arm around Fisher Tiger's neck: "Don't be so fragile, kid. Nothing's more important than staying alive."
Fisher Tiger nodded solemnly: "Brother Rhett, I'm ready to bear it all."
Tesoro frowned, sensing something amiss: "Captain, you're not planning to storm Mary Geoise alone, are you?"
"Smart!" Rhett grinned. "You guys stick to the original plan and draw the Marines' attention away."
Enel's body crackled with lightning: "Are you kidding?! This god—"
"It's an order." Rhett's gaze suddenly sharpened, leaving no room for refusal.
Shakky blew out a smoke ring: "Little Rhett's right. Crimson Dawn's flag is too conspicuous. The Marines and the World Government have too many eyes on you. Even this feast was only possible because Rhett and Rayleigh cleared out the spies."
Rayleigh silently slid over a nautical chart: "The Marines are holding exercises at G-14 base in three days. Your ship should make a trip there."
Tesoro quickly understood: "Creating an alibi... I got it."
Lena's eyes reddened with urgency: "But Lord Rhett would be going alone..."
"Who said I'm going alone?" Rhett suddenly grinned mischievously and slung an arm around Rayleigh's neck, "We've got this retired Dark King geezer as backup~"
Rayleigh: "..."