No words were needed between them. With a single glance, both men understood each other. Pini and Youki immediately dove toward Rayleigh below.
Rayleigh's Observation Haki picked up their movements instantly, yet his expression remained calm. Their approach caused him no pressure at all.
They were still just young men, only beginning to show their potential.
He had faced countless enemies over the years. Now, the only ones still active were the Four Emperors of the New World, along with Garp. As for Shanks, he was still that boy who had once sailed under Roger.
It could be said that Rayleigh had crossed blades with nearly every major powerhouse on the seas.
There was Chinjao, who rose to fame in the New World during the same era. Whitebeard, Edward Newgate, Roger's equal. The Golden Lion, Shiki, who had been obsessively fixated on Roger. Kaido, once just a reckless brat following Charlotte Linlin. Linlin herself, who had once been somewhat beautiful. Then there was Garp, the Iron Fist, and Zephyr, the Black Arm. Aokiji, who once followed Garp in pursuit of Roger. Bundy World, known as the World Destroyer. And Douglas Bullet, the battle maniac who once sailed with them.
Most of those figures were now dead, missing, or locked away in Impel Down.
Yet he remained.
That was not only because of his strength, but also because of his judgment.
Rayleigh had encountered every kind of opponent. Unlike those who thrived on battle, he did not let excitement cloud his mind. He remained calm, always calculating the most efficient way to fight, and more importantly, the fastest way to defeat those weaker than himself.
As Pini and Youki descended at high speed, Rayleigh adjusted his stance slightly and released two swift slashes. In the next moment, he shifted his footing and drew his sword back, as if charging a devastating strike.
Seeing the incoming slashes, both Pini and Youki instinctively dodged. However, without realizing it, they ended up aligned perfectly in a straight line.
Pini, enhanced by wind and lightning, was slightly faster and took the front position without noticing. But Youki, behind him, immediately sensed something was wrong.
Rayleigh had manipulated their positioning using only two slashes, forcing them into alignment without them realizing it.
"Watch out! We're lined up!"
Youki reacted instantly, shouting as he forcefully halted his momentum. Raising both arms, he brought his hands together as if compressing an invisible force between his palms.
Pini caught the warning and noticed Rayleigh's charging posture. That strike would be devastating.
But he could not dodge.
If he moved, Youki behind him might take the full force of the attack. He did not dare look back, knowing even that brief distraction could be fatal.
For a moment, he even forgot to use Observation Haki.
His thoughts stalled. Instead of retreating, he pushed forward. Wind gathered in his left hand, lightning surged in his right, and he aimed to interrupt Rayleigh directly.
Rayleigh, however, had no intention of exposing a real opening.
It was all calculated.
These two might lack experience, but they had already defeated several powerful pirates, including Chinjao. Their Devil Fruit abilities carried immense destructive power.
Rayleigh was not Kaido. He had no intention of taking attacks head-on.
So he limited them instead.
Youki was preparing a large-scale attack from the rear, but Pini's position prevented him from using it freely. Any full release would risk hitting his ally.
Facing Pini's rushed attack, Rayleigh responded with ease. His greatsword remained drawn back as if still charging, while his movements subtly kept both opponents aligned.
Youki, positioned higher, saw through the tactic immediately. Watching Pini's reckless move, he snapped.
"Idiot! Where's your Observation Haki?!"
Pini clenched his teeth.
The pressure from Rayleigh was far greater than what he had felt from Chinjao. Still, that was no excuse.
He forced himself to calm down.
Activating his Observation Haki, he locked onto Rayleigh's presence and noticed his gaze, sharp and unwavering behind his lenses, releasing a subtle but constant pressure.
"So this is another way to use Conqueror's Haki… Not a sudden shock, but continuous pressure that messes with your mind…"
"Damn old man…"
Regaining control, Pini immediately broke formation, flying off in the opposite direction from Youki.
Rayleigh remained where he was. Since they had seen through his positioning trick, there was no reason to continue it.
Without hesitation, he swung his greatsword forward. The arc brushed past Pini and aimed directly at Youki.
Freed from obstruction, Youki struck without delay. The compressed Wind Blade in his palm was released downward.
A violent buzzing filled the air as the Wind Blade clashed with the sword strike.
At the same time, Pini landed, crouching low as brilliant white lightning gathered in both hands.
In the next instant, he thrust forward.
Rayleigh did not wait to observe the result of his attack. The moment Pini landed, Rayleigh had already noted it. Using the blinding flash of lightning as cover, he kicked off the ground and appeared beside Pini in an instant, his greatsword sweeping in a deadly arc toward his head.
A thunderous explosion followed.
Behind them, Youki's Wind Blade collided with the sword strike, erupting violently. Its remaining force tore a deep trench across the ground, cutting straight toward the ship.
As a lightning user, Pini was accustomed to blinding flashes. He clearly saw Rayleigh's sudden movement.
The blade cut through nothing but his afterimage.
What truly shocked him was Rayleigh's speed.
During his fight with Chinjao, he had struggled against his sudden movements. But Rayleigh was even faster, and he was not using the Six Powers.
There was no time to think about it.
For the first time, Pini used his own technique, a fusion of Soru and lightning. Leaving behind a crackling afterimage, he reappeared beside Rayleigh.
They were here to experience the power of Conqueror's Haki coating, not to get cut down from a distance.
At close range, Pini noticed something that instantly ignited his anger.
Rayleigh had not even used Armament Haki on his sword.
"Bastard! You're not even using Armament Haki? Who the hell are you looking down on?!"
Fury surged through him.
Lightning burst from his left hand toward Rayleigh's blade, while his right fist, coated in Ryuo, drove straight toward Rayleigh's face.
Either drop the sword…
Or coat it properly.
Fighting two against one for this long, and still holding back?
Who exactly did he think they were?
^_________^
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