You Old Bastard, You Really Dared to Make a Move?

"Boom!!"

Luffy's Conqueror's Haki suddenly erupted, Sky Splitter like a raging storm and sweeping across the entire Battlefield!

The oppressive feeling was like a tsunami sweeping in, even the floating clouds in the sky were scattered by the invisible shockwave.

The ground cracked, thick tree roots snapped, and ruins and debris shattered into fragments in the shockwave, plunging the entire Island 13 into a suffocating silence.

Before Hachi, who had collapsed to his knees, Rayleigh suddenly turned around, his pupils flashing red, as if he had seen something that defied common sense.

"Another... Navy Conqueror's Haki?!"

He stared intently at the half- Dragonization figure in the center of the Battlefield, his dragon eyes bloodshot, his domineering Haki exploding like thunder.

Rayleigh felt his heart pounding like a war drum in his ears, and even the Cane Sword in his hand trembled slightly.

Roger's words involuntarily surfaced in my mind:

"Rayleigh, one day, the storms at sea will usher in New Era..."

But that's not now.

Rayleigh took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart, but his fists clenched uncontrollably, his knuckles turning white.

"What's going on with the Navy... how can they keep producing such monstrous geniuses?!"

"These two brothers, one Logia, wielding fire; the other a Mythical Zoan, controlling dragon power, and now both Awakening Conqueror's Haki..."

"In a few years, across the entire ocean... who will be able to stop them?!"

Rayleigh's gaze slowly shifted from Luffy to Ace, finally settling on the expressionless Kuma not far away.

His once peaceful gaze gradually turned as cold as a knife.

"Bartholomew Kuma, Shichibukai... has suddenly appeared in Sabaody..."

"They are most likely pawns of the World Government, used to destabilize the situation in this sea area."

His fingertips traced the hilt of the Cane Sword, a cold glint flashing silently on the blade.

"If I were to intervene now and forcibly kill one of them..."

"Even if Roy intervenes, I might still have a fighting chance."

"Furthermore, I don't believe the Navy would risk everything against me for a potential star who hasn't even fully developed yet!"

Rayleigh's breathing gradually calmed, but his aura grew increasingly dangerous.

Like a lion king that has been sleeping for a long time and is about to awaken, it is poised to pounce on its prey at any moment.

"It seems that some obstacles must be cleared before this New Era truly arrives."

He gazed at the Battlefield shrouded in flames and Haki, his eyes gradually turning cold.

"Otherwise..." Rayleigh murmured, a shadow crossing his face.

When that New Era truly arrives...

"On this vast ocean, there's probably no place left for free Pirates."

Kuma was pleased to see Luffy unleash his Conqueror's Haki to protect his crew, but he had to keep up the act, so he swung his hand and attacked Nami.

The air was compressed to its limit, like a stormy wave crashing towards us!

"Nami!!"

Usopp screamed hoarsely, so terrified he could barely speak.

At the critical moment--

"Whoosh!"

A blazing Flame Line tore through the air, moving as fast as lightning, and aimed straight at the Kuma's head!

Kuma's gaze sharpened, his hand turned to touch himself, and he vanished in an instant like a shadow!

"Boom!!"

The Flame Line pierced through the spot where he had been standing, struck the Mangrove in the distance, and instantly shattered it, sending Shockwave of fire sweeping around.

Usopp seized the opportunity and lunged forward, grabbing Nami's wrist tightly. "Run!!"

The two staggered and Luffy was, their faces pale and their breathing rapid.

Luffy the two and attacked Kuma directly.

"Bang! Bang! Bang--!"

The ground trembled as the Dragon Claws and Paw-Paw Palm clashed violently, each impact accompanied by terrifying Impact and rebound, echoing like Thunderclap throughout the Battlefield!

"Ugh--!"

The rebounding force pierced through the Dragon Claw, causing the scales on Luffy's entire arm to shatter, and blood dripped from the cracks onto the ground.

Even so, the fighting spirit in his eyes burned even brighter, his dragon pupils flashing with a blazing light.

"Give Sanji back...!"

The Kuma remained expressionless, and the air in its palm suddenly compressed.

"Pressure Cannon - Heavy Pressure!"

"Boom--!"

The Shockwave was like a landslide, blasting Luffy directly into the ground and creating a crater more than ten meters in diameter, sending dust billowing into the sky!

"Luffy!!"

Nami's screams were heart-wrenching, tears welling up instantly, but Usopp forcibly dragged her backward.

"The best we can do now is not to cause him any trouble, Nami!!"

In the distance, Ace knelt on one knee, his arms stained with dust and blood, the flames at his fingertips still burning.

His chest heaved violently, his breathing like a broken bellows, yet he still stared intently at the Kuma.

"Phew... that attack just now..."

Ace raised his eyes, his gaze icy, "... barely enough to force him to retreat."

He gritted his teeth, struggled to his feet, and stood in front of Usopp and Nami who were rushing towards him.

His eyes burned like flames as his mind raced through the current battle situation. "This person's strength... is clearly beyond the expected level."

"Logically speaking, Brother Roy should have made a move long ago, but he hasn't shown up yet..."

Recalling Luffy's Awakening of Conqueror's Haki just Luffy, Ace suddenly felt a tremor in his heart, and his eyes suddenly lit up:

"Could it be...?!"

Scorched Earth churned, and smoke and dust filled the air.

In the deep pit, Luffy lay in the broken crater, panting like a broken bellows, his dragon scales shattered and blood trickling down his shoulders.

The Kuma stood at the edge of the pit, staring silently for a moment, a deep sense of satisfaction flashing in its eyes.

"His Conqueror's Haki's Haki... and that heart that values his comrades, and that indomitable will."

"Roy was right after all."

He slowly raised his enormous, fleshy hand, and the air suddenly vibrated violently, the airflow seeming to transform into a raging tsunami, pressing everything around him down with a creaking sound.

"But the you now..."

"Still too weak."

Just as the crushing palm strike was about to land—

"Whoosh!!"

A streak of silver light pierced through the air!

The ground beneath Rayleigh's feet exploded, his overwhelming Haki bursting forth like thunder. His Cane Sword pierced straight down, tearing through the air with terrifying killing intent, aiming directly at the weakened Luffy in the deep pit.

"The World Government won't allow the Shichibukai to kill such a potential monster; at most, they'll severely injure him..."

"I must finish him off myself!!"

The sword, carrying a deadly aura, pierced through the smoke and dust, approaching Luffy's chest like the Grim Reaper's scythe!

"Ursus Shock!!"

The Kuma's eyes turned cold, and its fleshy paw suddenly turned around, unleashing a long-awaited Shockwave!

"Boom!!"

The compressed air cannon slammed into Rayleigh instantly, the powerful Impact sending him flying!

Rayleigh hurriedly swung his sword to parry, the Cane Sword whistling as it vibrated violently, his hand splitting open and blood splattering everywhere.

"What?!!"

Rayleigh's eyes narrowed, and he flipped through the air. Before he could understand why Kuma was protecting Luffy, a very close and cold whisper suddenly reached his ear.

"Whoosh!"

A dark figure appeared silently behind Rayleigh.

His towering figure seemed to emerge from the void, his right fist wreathed in Dark Vortex resembling Cross-shaped Star, and his domineering Haki was so profound that it seemed capable of devouring light.

The voice was deep and cold, like an echo from the abyss.

"Old man..."

"You actually dared to lay a hand on me?"