A Fighting Style That Risks Everything / A Great Leap in Strength

Xia Le swooped down from above, his knuckles cracking as he clenched his fist. The sky behind him suddenly changed color, and a violent aura surged.

"Good, Xia Le! I won't let you get away with this!"

Bullet leaped high with a savage grin and threw a punch to meet him.

Lightning streaked through the air as the two collided.

"Fist Bone: Meteorite!"

Xia Le roared.

Black-Red Lightning erupted. Bullet's pupils shrank, and his entire body went rigid as the punch struck him head-on.

Then—

A crack sounded from inside his body, and he plummeted to the ground like a meteorite.

Behind them, Roger, Rayleigh, and the crew all jolted. Their eyes widened as they stared at the black-haired youth who had descended from the sky and now stood before the massive crater Bullet had made.

One hit!

He had taken down Bullet, who was no pushover, in a single blow!

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A Fight Without Regard for His Life

In the enormous crater, Douglas Bullet lay sprawled on his back, the whites of his eyes showing and blood smeared around his mouth. He did not move. He was completely unconscious.

No one could have imagined that a fighter like Bullet would be knocked out in an instant by an unknown young marine.

The sudden turn of events left the entire Roger Pirates crew silent and stunned.

Douglas Bullet was eighteen years old and known as the Devil's Heir. Since setting out into the world, he had never known defeat until he met Roger. After losing to him, he had joined the Roger Pirates and remained with them to this day.

Strongly built and seasoned by countless battles, he was a young fighter with limitless potential ahead of him.

Yet today, he had suffered a crushing defeat he himself had never imagined.

"Hoo!"

Xia Le let out a long breath and raised his eyes toward the group ahead.

The mustached man at their head was undoubtedly the future Pirate King Roger. At his sides stood the golden-haired Dark King Rayleigh and Scopper Gaban.

Xia Le saw no sign of Kozuki Oden. He guessed the samurai from Wano Country was still aboard Whitebeard's ship.

Now the Roger Pirates crew looked at him with surprise and gravity.

Without question, these world-class fighters had begun to take him seriously.

"Hahahaha!"

"Roger! Don't underestimate the young marines!"

Garp's laughter rang out. He leaped high, shot over Xia Le's head, and crashed toward the crowd ahead.

"Garp."

"You really have found yourself a fine prospect!"

Roger moved, drew Ace from his waist, and swung.

At the same moment, Rayleigh and Gaban exchanged a glance beside him.

"I'll take that kid!"

Rayleigh's voice was grave.

Gaban nodded, his expression serious as he searched the others for an opponent.

They were Great Pirates renowned throughout the world. Naturally, they recognized the technique the black-haired youth—about Bullet's age—had used: the advanced application of Conqueror's Haki known as Conqueror's Haki Infusion.

It was a technique only those born with the qualities of a king, like Roger, had any chance of mastering.

In the eyes of every Roger Pirates crew member, Xia Le's one-move defeat of Bullet proved he was formidable. None of them could afford to overlook him.

Boom!

Roger and Garp clashed. Gales surged, sand and stones flew, and the trees around them bent wildly.

At that very moment, Dark King Rayleigh bent his knees and sprang forward.

His speed was incredible. He crossed more than a hundred meters almost instantly and appeared above Xia Le.

"Marine boy!"

"Let me, Rayleigh, see just how strong you are!"

Wind struck Xia Le's face, and the shout rang in his ears.

He looked up into Rayleigh's grave, determined face, alight with fighting spirit.

Xia Le froze for a moment, unable to understand that expression. He could clearly sense Rayleigh's excitement and his resolve to go all out, as though facing the strongest opponent alive.

Was that really necessary?

I'd only been a marine for a little over a month. I hadn't even had proper training—I was still a trainee!

A blade flashed before Xia Le's eyes, and he narrowed them.

He tried to dodge, but quickly realized Rayleigh's exquisite swordsmanship and astonishing speed far surpassed his own. An unseen force seemed to be at work as well, sealing off every move he might make.

Had he predicted everything I was about to do?

Observation Haki?

Xia Le sighed.

Compared with those at the pinnacle of the world, his fundamentals were still sorely lacking.

He snapped his head up, his gaze turning sharp. He clenched his right fist, and Black-Red Lightning coiled around it.

There was no way he could block Rayleigh's strike.

Then I'll die trying to land one of my own!

Slash!

The blade swept through Xia Le's neck without resistance. The force of the slash carried on past him toward the distance, making Kuzan, Sakazuki, and the others duck.

What?

Confusion and shock crossed Rayleigh's eyes.

The boy had not even tried to dodge? In Rayleigh's Observation Haki, he had simply stood there and taken the blow.

Could he not dodge it?

Was he really that weak?

He had looked like someone trying to evade and fight back but unable to react at all—a genuinely weak opponent facing Rayleigh.

But how could someone that weak use Conqueror's Haki Infusion?

Rayleigh stayed on guard.

Sure enough, in the next instant, an overwhelming aura surged toward him. A fist wrapped in Black-Red Lightning drove forward with the force of a mountain collapsing.

Rayleigh raised his blade before him and caught the brutal punch.

Clang!

The blade shuddered. The violent impact rushed toward his face, whipping his short golden hair backward.

At the same time, his feet dragged back against his will.

He slid dozens of meters before stopping.

Rayleigh's face grew graver. A vast trench stretched behind and to either side of him. That single punch had gouged a gap thousands of meters long through the ground of the island.

This guy!

Xia Le's expression was just as grave as he stared Rayleigh down.

After their first exchange, he fully understood the gap between them.

Rayleigh's Observation Haki, his sharp sword techniques, their unpredictable angles, and his wealth of experience were advantages Xia Le could not match.

Rayleigh's strength and physical ability also far surpassed his.

One stroke. It had taken only one stroke to kill Xia Le, leaving him no chance to evade.

So this is what a top fighter is like?

My blood's boiling!

Xia Le roared inwardly.

He felt not the slightest fear. Instead, boundless fighting spirit welled up in him.

In this fight, he could rely on his maxed-out Conqueror's Haki and his immortal body.

Their gazes met, and each saw the spark of fighting spirit in the other's eyes.

Then, in the next instant—

Whoosh!

Both vanished. Rayleigh swung his blade and cut diagonally through Xia Le.

This kid!

He isn't defending himself at all!

Rayleigh was shaken. He had never seen anyone fight this way.

Stranger still, no wound ever appeared on Xia Le's body. Rayleigh suspected it was some bizarre Devil Fruit power.

Then Xia Le came at him with punches and kicks.

His fists and feet carried Black-Red Lightning and Conqueror's Haki Infusion. Every strike hit harder, and Rayleigh could ignore none of them.

The moment they engaged, their battle reached a fever pitch. Its intensity stunned everyone.

Xia Le's fighting style was frenzied and alarming.

To onlookers, he seemed to have abandoned all defense, fighting as though he cared nothing for his life.

But Xia Le knew that against Rayleigh's Observation Haki, vast experience, and masterful swordsmanship, he had no chance to dodge or adapt.

Every stroke would kill him.

So he focused entirely on attacking.

The results were plain.

Before long, even a top fighter like the vice-captain of Pirate King Roger's crew had blood at the corner of his mouth. Meanwhile, the numbers on Xia Le's system panel kept climbing.

A Great Leap in Strength

The two fought fiercely, trading blow after blow.

One fought with his fists. Every part of his body was a weapon he could coat in Haki to increase his power; he could even unleash devastating attacks without making contact.

The other fought with a sword. Each stroke came from a treacherous angle, closing off every path of escape. His blade was as swift as a flash and heavy enough to cleave mountains, sky, and sea.

The ferocious battle threw the area around them into chaos and startled the others fighting nearby.

"Who is that marine kid? He can hold his own against the vice-captain?"

The pirates were aghast.

"Xia Le's gotten that strong?"

"He's fighting Dark King Rayleigh to a standstill!"

The marines were stunned too.

Aboard the Dog-Head Warship, Saron leaned over the rail, watching with excitement. The injuries to his lower body had not fully healed, so he had not joined the fight.