Rayleigh, whom Kizaru had sent to the island ahead of time, was now lying low in the nearby jungle, watching the battle that had just unfolded.
Kizaru's dazzling strike and the sheer precision of his slash drew an involuntary note of admiration from Rayleigh, a master swordsman himself.
"Roger, the Great Pirate Era you ushered in with your life may well come to an end at this man's hands."
Rayleigh thought, his feelings somewhat complicated. Kizaru was clearly not the person Roger had been waiting for. He and his Land of Light seemed more like outsiders: a group of powerful people with advanced ideals and systems, as well as technological and industrial strength.
They had appeared out of nowhere, changing the balance of power on the seas. They had brought peace to the East Blue by their own methods and were constantly training newcomers, preparing to overthrow the World Government and take over the world.
On lonely nights, Rayleigh couldn't help thinking about his former captain. If Roger were still alive, he would probably be very interested in the Land of Light. He would have liked the atmosphere there, though he would have complained about how strict the rules were.
Roger couldn't have become a pirate there, but he might have become a... What was the Land of Light's term for it? A Wandering Samurai, or perhaps a Wandering Ninja?
Rayleigh didn't like either of those terms. He preferred one Kizaru had used during one of their casual conversations: Ranger!
If they had lived in the Land of Light, Roger and Rayleigh probably would have become carefree Rangers!
Thinking of this, Rayleigh couldn't help laughing. But he quickly suppressed his smile and returned to the present. On the battlefield ahead, Hashirama had responded by using the Wood Golem Technique.
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