Luo Tian vs Rayleigh! Shinra Tensei!

"Gurararara! Roger, you've got some nerve! How dare you try to poach my men right in front of me?! It seems you don't hold me in any regard at all!"

Seeing Roger so brazenly attempt to recruit Luo Tian right before his eyes, the suppressed fury of Newgate finally erupted completely.

He felt that his dignity and the honor of his pirate crew had been severely provoked.

Luo Tian was a member of the Rocks Pirates now!

He was a top-tier combatant of the future that both he and Shiki had high hopes for! Where did an outsider like you get the courage to poach talent right in front of his face?!

Furthermore, he and Shiki had been trying to build a relationship with Luo Tian both openly and covertly these past few days, paving the way for a future recruitment; did an outsider like you really think you could just cut in and snatch the prize?!

Setting aside whether you could actually succeed, doing this in front of him was a direct slap to his face!

Whitebeard didn't waste any more words; gripping Murakumogiri, he charged forward and slashed at Roger.

Wherever the blade passed, the very space let out a groan of unbearable strain!

Seeing Whitebeard attack in a genuine rage, Roger's eyes burned with fighting spirit, and he drew his blade to meet him without the slightest hesitation!

"Ha! Just as I hoped! Newgate, let me see if you've made any progress during this time!"

"Divine Departure!"

It was the same "Divine Departure," but this time, Roger held nothing back!

The crimson slash collided violently with the destructive, vibrating power on the edge of Murakumogiri!

"Rumble--!"

Two top-tier forces capable of destroying the island clashed head-on!

At the center of the collision, space seemed to be torn asunder!

A terrifying shockwave of energy expanded wildly in a spherical shape in all directions.

Wherever it passed, the ground was plowed as if by an invisible giant, rocks shattered, and trees were uprooted and turned into dust!

Streaks of crimson sword energy and white shockwaves darted through the air, weaving into a deadly web of lightning!

Facing the world-shattering collision between the two, Luo Tian retreated rapidly to avoid being caught in the aftermath.

"Young man, let's not just stand around; let's have a spar of our own!"

With that, Rayleigh swung his blade, and a condensed silver slash cut through the air like lightning, heading straight for Luo Tian!

Luo Tian's Spatial Perception had long been active, monitoring the entire battlefield.

The moment Rayleigh's shoulder shifted and his sword intent rose, a warning sign had already flared in his mind!

Facing this sudden attack, Luo Tian's eyes turned cold, and the supreme grade sword "Black Dragon" at his waist let out a soft hum as it instantly left its scabbard!

Swish--

A deep blue torrent of slashes, carrying a spiraling, piercing force, roared out to meet Rayleigh's silver line of ice!

"Chii--!"

The two powerful slashes collided violently in mid-air!

After a brief stalemate, the silver line and the deep blue torrent simultaneously exhausted their energy and dissipated into the air.

In this sudden exchange, neither had gained a clear advantage; it was a draw!

However, Rayleigh had launched a surprise attack while Luo Tian had responded in haste; in a sense, Luo Tian's reaction and defense had not fallen behind.

Rayleigh felt a flicker of surprise.

He had not expected that his probing strike would fail to gain the slightest advantage against Luo Tian, only to be easily neutralized by the young man's exquisite adjustments.

This young man's understanding of swordsmanship and his ability to adapt far exceeded his estimations.

Having finished his probe, Rayleigh's body sprang forward like a compressed spring suddenly released, rushing toward Luo Tian!

The blade in his hand was completely covered in pitch-black, solidified Haki, and wherever the edge passed, the air was silently sliced open.

Would Luo Tian allow Rayleigh to get close so easily?

Luo Tian utilized Space Leap, teleporting instantly to appear in mid-air.

At the same time, the blade of "Black Dragon" was instantly imbued with Haki and covered in a layer of spatial energy.

"One-Sword Style: Dragon Roar!"

Luo Tian twisted his waist in mid-air, exerting force, and slashed downward with a backhand strike!

A lifelike black dragon opened its fangs and claws, pouncing fiercely toward Rayleigh, who was rushing from below!

Facing the pouncing black dragon, Rayleigh chose neither to dodge nor to block, but instead thrust his sword straight out, moving forward with unstoppable momentum.

A point of cold light arrived first, followed by a sword strike like a dragon!

"Chii--!!!"

The tip of the blade pierced the black dragon's forehead, then, with irresistible force, tore the entire energy-based black dragon apart from the inside, piercing through and shredding it!

Luo Tian frowned slightly, feeling a sense of awe, though he did not panic.

He truly lived up to his reputation as the Dark King, Rayleigh.

Luo Tian raised his right hand!

"Banshō Ten'in!"

A terrifying gravitational force that ignored distance surged from his palm, locking precisely onto Rayleigh.

"Oh no!" Rayleigh shouted involuntarily.

He felt as if his entire body had been firmly gripped by an invisible giant hand.

The next moment, he was sent hurtling uncontrollably toward Luo Tian, who was suspended in mid-air.

If I get caught by him, the consequences will be unimaginable!

This thought flashed through Rayleigh's mind.

He could feel that Luo Tian's right hand was already resting on the hilt of Black Dragon at his waist.

Once he was pulled into that range, a thunderous, overwhelming strike would surely be waiting for him!

"Rayleigh!"

Roger's voice came from afar, carrying a rare sense of urgency.

He had just parried a heavy blow from Whitebeard, and as he turned, he happened to witness this scene.

But Rayleigh had no time to respond.

He let out a low shout, and dark red Armament Haki surged over his entire body like a tide.

But it wasn't enough—the strange gravitational force was still acting upon him, merely slowing the speed of the pull slightly.

"Then try this!"

Suddenly, a layer of flowing aura rose up over the dark red Armament Haki surrounding Rayleigh!

"Ryuo... no, it's an even higher form!" Whitebeard's pupils constricted in the distance. "That bastard Rayleigh, he's been hiding quite a lot!"

"Break... for me!"

Rayleigh roared, his muscles bulging as his Armament Haki erupted with full force, instantly breaking free from the shackles of the gravity!

It didn't end there; utilizing the momentum of his flight toward Luo Tian, he coated his blade in the excess Ryuo Haki and slashed diagonally at Luo Tian.

Luo Tian stood in mid-air, expressionless, slowly raising his right hand with his five fingers slightly spread!

"Shinra Tensei!"

When Rayleigh was less than a meter away from Luo Tian, a powerful Spatial Repulsion erupted with a boom!

Rayleigh was alarmed: Damn it—

The next moment, the powerful repulsive shockwave slammed into Rayleigh like a massive barrier.

"BOOM—!!!"

Rayleigh's body flew backward at high speed, tracing a long arc through the air before finally crashing heavily into the sea a kilometer away!

"WHOOSH—!!!"

The waves churned, and white spray surged into the sky.

The entire battlefield fell into a deathly silence.

The crew of the Roger Pirates had their mouths agape, their expressions shifting from shock to disbelief, and finally to bewilderment.

"Vice... Vice Captain Rayleigh... was..."

"He was blown away?"

"You've got to be kidding me!"

"That Luo Tian... who on earth is he?!"

After the brief silence, the scene erupted into a cacophony of noise.