Dark King Rayleigh! His Blade Still Sharp!

"Hey, hey, hey."

"Could you all act normal for once?"

"Straw Hat Luffy, I want to ask you about someone!"

Roya walked up to Luffy.

"Oh no, oh no!"

"Luffy's going to be captured by a Marine Admiral!"

"What do we do?!"

"Everyone, attack together!"

Nami, Robin, and the others shouted.

It was as if, faced with such a powerful Marine Admiral, they had all gone deaf and had not heard a word Roya said.

However, at that moment.

A wave of Conqueror's Haki came rushing straight at Roya from not far away.

"Hm?" Relying on his Observation Haki, Roya reacted at once and unleashed his own Conqueror's Haki to collide with it.

As the two different waves of Conqueror's Haki clashed.

An even more terrifying aura formed, suppressing Luffy, Law, Kid, and everyone else once again.

"So, you've appeared?" A faint smile curled at Roya's lips.

Roya had already roughly guessed who the owner of that Conqueror's Haki was.

Then.

Whoosh, whoosh...

A white figure streaked in like lightning, followed by a dazzling flurry of sword light.

Even Roya was forced back again and again by the fierce sword flashes.

After a brief moment.

When the sharp sword light ceased, a white-haired old man appeared before Roya. He had a scar over one eye, wore a tattered cloak, and held a keen longsword in his hand.

Law and Kid, along with the Supernovas watching from afar, were all stunned when they saw the old man.

"This is... Dark King Rayleigh!"

Everyone was shocked.

When Luffy's group saw the old man, their faces all broke into delighted smiles.

"Rayleigh!" Luffy shouted excitedly.

That was right!

The newcomer was none other than Dark King Rayleigh!

The Conqueror's Haki from before, as well as the sword strike that had forced Roya back, had both been Dark King Rayleigh's work.

"Luffy, take your companions and leave first. We'll meet again somewhere safe. And you little ones too."

"I'll hold this place down!"

After speaking to Luffy and the others, Rayleigh turned to look at Roya.

"The Marines' Fourth Admiral! Your strength truly is formidable. No wonder even Kaido was no match for you."

Rayleigh smiled as he looked at Roya.

"Dark King Rayleigh!"

"You truly live up to your reputation!"

Roya smiled as well, and the two exchanged a round of mutual flattery.

At the same time, Roya drew his sword.

As for Luffy and the others, under Dark King Rayleigh's cover, they all began to flee.

Roya had no intention of making things difficult for Luffy's group. The reason he had agreed to come to the Sabaody Archipelago this time was to exchange a few moves with Dark King Rayleigh. Now that his goal had been achieved, there was naturally no need to trouble Luffy and the others.

"I've long heard that Dark King Rayleigh's Swordsmanship is exceptional. It just so happens that I'd like to see it for myself." Roya gripped his sword and coated it with Armament Haki.

"It's been a long time since I last used a sword. I seem to be a little rusty."

Rayleigh also raised his longsword and offered a polite remark.

Then.

Roya suddenly charged forward, his sword point aimed straight at Rayleigh.

Faced with Roya's ferocious attack, Rayleigh grew serious and blocked at the fastest speed possible.

Clang!

With a crisp ring, Roya's and Rayleigh's swords collided.

Although neither of them used Conqueror's Haki, the clash of Armament Haki alone sent a powerful shockwave through the surrounding environment.

Roya said nothing.

Instead, he pulled back his sword and attacked Rayleigh once more.

This time, Rayleigh shifted from defense to offense.

Just like that.

The Swordsmanship duel between Roya and Rayleigh officially began.

The two fought back and forth, their clashes constantly releasing massive shockwaves that damaged the surrounding area.

"Rayleigh is so strong!"

"Good thing Rayleigh showed up, or we never would have escaped!"

As Luffy's group ran for their lives, they looked back at the battle and kept exclaiming in amazement.

"So this is a battle between the strong?"

"They're too powerful. If we hadn't left, their fight would definitely have caught us in it."

Even Law and Kid could not help frowning as they sighed.

The other Supernovas also fled frantically. They had all witnessed the Fourth Admiral Roya's strength. Even with Dark King Rayleigh holding him back, they could only give up on watching this battle of the century if they wanted to survive.

However.

After dozens of exchanges.

Roya had failed to gain even the slightest advantage. Instead, Rayleigh had suppressed him slightly.

Of course.

It was not that Roya could not defeat Rayleigh. Rather, during this battle, Roya had not used any of his other powers and had only been competing through Swordsmanship.

After all, Roya's purpose was to witness and learn from Dark King Rayleigh's Swordsmanship, using it to improve his own training. If he used other abilities, it would be rather unfair.

As expected of Dark King Rayleigh, the right-hand man of the One Piece. His strength was truly formidable!

Roya could not help but marvel at and praise Dark King Rayleigh's strength.

"Roya! You really are strong! This old man is beginning to feel his strength failing him!" Rayleigh said.

That was indeed the case.

Although Rayleigh held a slight advantage in this Swordsmanship contest, Roya could clearly sense that Rayleigh's stamina had begun to decline.

Even so, Rayleigh could still edge him out through Swordsmanship alone.

It was hard to imagine just how powerful Dark King Rayleigh had been in his youth, at the height of his strength.

"This is exhilarating, Dark King Rayleigh. Continue!" Roya said excitedly.

"Good! It's been a long time since this old man last felt so invigorated!" Rayleigh laughed as well.

Rayleigh had only acted to save Luffy and the others. Now that they had already run far away, and since Rayleigh had not sensed any intense killing intent from Roya.

Thus.

The two began another earth-shaking Swordsmanship contest.

A long time later.

The two separated from their entanglement.

At the same time, the system's voice rang out.

[ Ding! Swordsmanship Training sensed the powerful threat from Dark King Rayleigh. It never expected a remnant of the old era to still possess such formidable Swordsmanship. Swordsmanship Training swore to strive harder and surpass every Swordsmanship master in this world. Swordsmanship Training speed increased tenfold once again! ]