Not Now
Rusukaina is an island located in the Calm Belt, teeming with wild animals. A kingdom once existed there, but it was destroyed in war.
This island is extremely dangerous, inhabited by a large number of wild animals, and located in the Calm Belt, so it can almost be considered 'isolated from the world'.
What makes this small island special is that it has forty-eight seasons.
A new solar term will change every week.
There is almost no safe place on the entire island, except near a huge radish-shaped plant.
Rusukaina's coordinates are located northwest of Amazon Lily; the two are not far apart.
This is also where Rayleigh trained Luffy. In addition to rare and exotic animals, the island also has a large amount of natural resources, so there is no need to worry about survival. However, occasionally, female warriors from Kuja would bring some supplies to the two of them. Although Rayleigh had tried his best to stop Boa Hancock from interfering, he could not resist the woman's feelings for Luffy.
Rayleigh believed that an overly comfortable environment would hinder Luffy's growth, and Rusukaina was the 'place' he specifically chose.
More than a year has passed since the Summit War, and Luffy's improvement has been considerable.
Originally, as one of the Worst Generation members, Luffy's potential was recognized as the most outstanding... because the Straw Hat Pirates' departure time to Sabaody Archipelago was the fastest among all the Supernova, which also illustrates the point.
Rayleigh was well aware of what had happened in the outside world over the past year... but Luffy knew nothing about it.
"Hehe."
On a towering tree, Rayleigh, his cheeks flushed, sat high on the trunk, swaying the branches below. Luffy, surrounded by a horde of beasts and attacked by a large number of ferocious animals, unconsciously smiled.
Upon closer inspection, Luffy did not retaliate against the beast that attacked him; he simply closed his eyes and kept dodging.
This is precisely the 'course' for practicing the Observation Haki.
Luffy has grown from complaining incessantly at the beginning to being calm and composed now.
It was as if it had a premonition of attacks coming from all angles and in all areas, and sensed them in advance.
Sometimes, even when there's no angle to dodge, Luffy won't overly harm the beasts that get close. He'll simply cover his fist with Armament Haki and knock them away. These beasts are so large and powerful that they're difficult to overpower with physical strength alone without Armament Haki. The main problem is that there are too many of them, and their attacks are incredibly dense. It's not a simple one-on-one or one-on-ten situation... To create space and opportunity in an instant by taking advantage of Observation Haki, one must use Armament Haki.
Rayleigh smiled because he felt gratified.
As Luffy's mastery and improvement of Observation Haki and Armament Haki increased, he naturally became more proficient in controlling and utilizing Conqueror's Haki as well.
Compared to his youthful appearance during the Summit War, Luffy now possesses a certain foundation in the three types of Haki.
As an older generation member, Rayleigh upholds Roger's ideas and wishes, helping young people so that they can 'enjoy' their lives in this era.
This truly was their era.
Bululu.
Just then, the Den Den Mushi in Rayleigh's arms rang.
He took it out and answered the call.
Are you with Luffy?
A familiar, heavy voice rang out.
This immediately sobered Rayleigh, and his gaze sharpened.
Even the wine bottle he had just put to his lips drooped down.
It's Shanks.
"What's wrong?"
Rayleigh sensed something.
"We've already left Totto Land ... and we're on our way to find you. Be careful, the God Slayer is coming for you." Shanks, judging from Rayleigh's tone that the latter hadn't yet fought the God Slayer, immediately said, "He's not after you, but Luffy."
"He wants to kill Luffy."
"..."
Rayleigh remained silent, his brow furrowed.
After a moment, he said seriously, "Is it because of you?"
Rayleigh knew about the feud between Shanks and Oboro.
In his view, someone like Oboro wouldn't be able to tolerate a brat like Luffy. After all, even if Luffy is 'somewhat famous' right now, he can't possibly pose a threat to the Hell Pirates. To say that the Straw Hats' previous grudges with the Hell Pirates would make the God Slayer travel thousands of miles to hunt him down is giving Luffy too much Luffy... or rather, it lowers Oboro's status a bit.
Rayleigh had previously told Shanks that if a major battle broke out between Oboro and Shanks, he would not intervene and would not help Shanks.
The Hell Pirates should be eyeing Kaido, Shanks, and the Five Elders instead.
How could it be Luffy?
The only thing Rayleigh could think of was that he knew Shanks Luffy, including the special nature of the Straw Hat... and that it was all for revenge against the Red Hair Pirates.
"How could it be because of me? Someone like him..."
Shanks said with a self-deprecating smile.
"The possibilities surrounding Luffy... you and I are both well aware of them, and he... is aware of them too."
"..."
Rayleigh.
"I gave the straw hat to Luffy because I believe he has a better chance than me to change the world. When the great war that will sweep the entire world comes, Luffy will definitely not be absent."
"As for Oboro, he doesn't want Luffy to interfere with his plans. He is the one who will overturn this world, and it can only be 'modified' according to his wishes, so... Luffy will definitely die."
"What he brought to this world was not peace, but Asura, just like the name of his One Piece crew."
"I realized it a long time ago."
Shanks began to explain in detail.
"That's why I'm doing everything I can to destroy the Hell Pirates... They are the biggest threat at sea right now."
"The reason why the Five Elders can still sit still is not only because of the person behind them, but also because they have been commissioning Vegapunk to update and evolve the Pacifista into the next generation... They need time. Once the new weapons are developed, the power of the World Government will be greatly enhanced. At the same time, the Seven Warlords system will no longer be needed to balance the various forces. They are very confident."
"They can wait, but... I can't."
"The God Slayer feels too dangerous to me... I disagree with the Five Elders. I advised them to gather all their strength to stop the Hell Pirates, but their arrogance and conceit over the past few centuries have blinded them and made them too conceited."
"With each passing day, the variables brought about by the God Slayer become increasingly uncontrollable."
"The Five Elders have no idea what the key issue is."
Shanks then expressed his own opinion.
"..."
Rayleigh paused for a moment, then said, "I understand. I'll Luffy away now."
"..."
However, as soon as he finished speaking, Rayleigh's body stiffened.
He turned his head instantly and looked up at the sky above the sea. He saw a large ship, gleaming in the sunlight and as red as blood, slowly approaching.
"What's wrong?"
Shanks' tone was tense when he saw Rayleigh remain silent.
"This is troublesome..."
Rayleigh sighed. "He's arrived..."
"..."
"The fact that I Luffy Rusukaina is a closely guarded secret, unknown to outsiders. It's impossible for the Kuja to leak the news, and it's impossible for anyone on your side to tell anyone... How did he find his way here?"
"The Totto Land has changed hands, Charlotte Linlin has been killed, and the so-called divine power of the God Slayer... he must have gained many of the abilities of the Big Mom Pirates."
Shanks reminded him.
"Let's leave it at that for now. No matter what happens, I will do my best to protect Luffy and get him away first."
Rayleigh smiled calmly.
"Shanks..."
"..."
"I'm listening."
"If... I mean if... if I die, Luffy... also doesn't survive, take my advice: disband your One Piece crew and go to Mary Geoise... Perhaps, everything still needs to wait, the era that Roger and I saw... is not now."
"..."
There was silence on the other end of the Den Den Mushi.