Conqueror's Haki and Observation Haki! The Clash of Sword and Fist!

It was really that simple?

Just like that?

Marco was a bit dazed and confused. He actually agreed?

No, it should be said... had things really progressed to that point so quickly?

"However, this place is too small. I can't really let loose."

Hearing Rayleigh's words, the fanatical fighting spirit on Chen Ye's face didn't diminish in the slightest; instead, he grinned, becoming even more excited.

"If the commotion is too big and it attracts those lackeys from the Navy, it would be quite the buzzkill."

Upon hearing this, the appreciative smile on Rayleigh's face deepened.

This young man might be a bit arrogant, but his mind was meticulous. He wasn't just a brainless brute.

"Well said."

He stood up. The moment his seemingly hunched frame straightened, it radiated a momentum that belonged to the old era.

"Follow me. I know a good spot."

With that, Rayleigh pushed open the bar door and walked out first.

Chen Ye followed without a moment's hesitation.

"Hey! Chen Ye!"

Marco snapped out of his daze and hurriedly chased after them, his face filled with a look of terror that clearly said, "Are you trying to get yourself killed, kid?"

After the three of them left, Shakky, behind the bar, stubbed out her cigarette, a playful curve tugging at the corners of her lips.

She picked up a coat and quietly followed them out as well.

Sabaody Archipelago, a massive Yarukiman Mangrove forest area far from the town.

This place was rarely visited, with only massive, tangled tree roots obscuring the sky.

Rayleigh stopped in a relatively open clearing and turned around.

"This will do."

His voice was calm, but the surrounding air seemed to have already begun to stir restlessly.

Chen Ye stood opposite him, dozens of meters away, yet he could feel the oppressive atmosphere of a storm about to break. The blood in his veins began to boil uncontrollably.

Marco, standing to the side, swallowed nervously, ready to transform into a Phoenix to save him at any moment.

Not far away, on the canopy of a massive mangrove tree, Shakky's figure quietly emerged. She relit her cigarette, looking like the perfect spectator, watching the stage below with great interest.

In the arena.

Rayleigh slowly raised his right hand and gripped the hilt of his sword.

Clang!

A clear sound of metal friction rang out as the seemingly ordinary rapier was slowly drawn.

The very moment the long sword was fully unsheathed!

BOOM!

An invisible yet seemingly tangible King's Disposition erupted from Rayleigh, sweeping across the entire area!

Conqueror's Haki!

This Haki was not as sharp or aggressive as it had been in his youth; instead, it was like a bottomless ocean—heavy, vast, and carrying the absolute majesty of one who rules the world!

The air stagnated, and the entire mangrove forest fell into a dead silence!

Even Marco's complexion turned tense in an instant!

Is this... the true pressure of the former Pirate King Roger's First Mate!

However, Chen Ye, standing at the very center of that pressure, remained standing straight!

Facing the Conqueror's Haki that rushed toward him like a tsunami, he did not yield an inch. The fanatical fighting spirit on his face even transformed into a hearty, exhilarating laugh!

"Hahahaha! That's it! This is the feeling I've been waiting for!"

Before his voice had even faded, the ground beneath Chen Ye's feet shook violently!

Crack!

Centered on him, spiderweb-like cracks instantly spread outward!

The battle was on the verge of breaking out!

"Here I come, kid!"

Rayleigh's voice still echoed in place, but he had already vanished!

The next instant, a silver streak tore through the air, accompanied by a sharp sonic boom, appearing instantly before Chen Ye!

Too fast!

So fast that the naked eye couldn't capture it at all!

In Marco's field of vision, Rayleigh seemed to teleport, slashing his sword toward Chen Ye's neck in an instant!

The blade was covered in a layer of pitch-black Armament Haki; wherever it passed, it felt as if even space itself had been sliced open, leaving a faint fissure!

Facing this lethal strike capable of cleaving a mountain range, Chen Ye's body leaned backward at an inconceivable angle, his entire upper body becoming almost parallel to the ground!

Ssh!

The sharp blade, carrying a keenness that could sever anything, brushed past the tip of his nose by the narrowest of margins!

A few strands of black hair were shorn off by the sword wind, drifting slowly to the ground.

With the first strike missing, Rayleigh's offensive did not stop for even a moment.

With a flick of his wrist, the horizontal slash transformed into a downward cleave—fast as lightning and heavy with immense power!

Yet, it was as if Chen Ye had eyes in the back of his head. He pushed off hard with his feet, his body sliding several meters to the side like a ghost, once again evading the death-dealing blade!

Boom!

The blade struck empty air, but the terrifying sword aura carved a bottomless, massive trench into the ground!

"Oh?"

A flash of surprise crossed Rayleigh's eyes.

This young man's evasion carried a hint of precognition, as if he could see... the brief future!

This was no longer simple Observation Haki. It seemed this kid had trained his Observation Haki to the point where he could briefly glimpse the future!

However, kid!

"You won't win against me just by dodging!"

Rayleigh let out a soft shout, and his sword style shifted once more!

In an instant, the sky was filled with silver sword light, like a gale, like a torrential rain, completely enveloping Chen Ye from all directions!

Every streak of sword light represented a strike capable of ending a life!

Yet, Chen Ye was like a fallen leaf in a raging storm, twisting and turning within the tempest of blades. Every single time, he evaded all attacks by a hair's breadth, appearing completely at ease!

At the same time, the system notification sound in his mind was refreshing frantically, like a waterfall!

[Ding! Legendary swordsmanship "Pluton Slash" detected... Analysis beginning...]

[Ding! Top-tier Armament Haki Infusion technique detected... Analysis beginning...]

[Ding! Top-tier Conqueror's Haki detected... Analysis beginning...]

[SSR Peak Rayleigh card analysis progress rising rapidly... 50%... 65%... 80%...]

This is it!

Chen Ye felt ecstatic!

This was the feeling he had been looking for! To dance on the edge of a battle with a legendary figure, squeezing out every ounce of the legend's power, and then making it his own!

"My turn, Mr. Rayleigh!"

He let out a roar!

After narrowly dodging another slash, Chen Ye stopped evading. He clenched his right fist, his arm muscles bulging, and aimed for the opening in Rayleigh's sword stance, unleashing a fierce punch!

Hum—!

His fist was covered in a layer of visible white light, and under the force of this power, the surrounding air actually began to crack like glass!

The power of the Tremor-Tremor Fruit!

Rayleigh's eyes widened in shock. From that white glow, he felt a terrifying power capable of turning everything upside down!

He didn't have time to change his move, so he could only push his Armament Haki to the limit, holding his sword horizontally across his chest to block!

"Break... for me!"

Chen Ye's fist did not strike the blade directly.

Instead, it stopped abruptly just a few centimeters away from the sword!

The next moment, that concentrated, unreleased vibration power erupted!

Crack!

A crisp sound rang out!

The space in front of Rayleigh shattered like a mirror, forcefully cracked open by that single punch!

The terrifying vibration power surged through the cracks in space, slamming violently against Rayleigh's blade!

Clang—!

A deafening sound of metal clashing echoed throughout the entire forest!

Rayleigh felt an irresistible force surge from the blade, numbing his hands. He was sent flying backward uncontrollably for over a dozen meters, his feet carving two deep furrows into the ground before he finally managed to steady himself!

He lowered his head to glance at his beloved sword.

On the blade, there had actually appeared a trace of a crack... so faint it was almost imperceptible!

Rayleigh suddenly raised his head, and for the first time, the look in his eyes as he stared at Chen Ye revealed true shock!

He couldn't be mistaken!

This brat...

Not only could he predict his attacks, but he actually possessed such bizarre and domineering destructive power!

Where on earth did this Monster Newcomer come from?