Pirates: Immortal, I Maxed Out Conqueror's Haki First

At the same time, he felt the mutual respect that came from facing an opponent of his own caliber.

He glanced around. Apart from a few people still standing, everyone on the battlefield had either been injured and knocked unconscious or had fought themselves to exhaustion and was now sprawled out, snoring.

Few could endure seven days and nights of intense fighting.

"Let's go together. Those two should be at their limits by now."

Rayleigh called out.

Xia Le nodded. He looked down at his tattered clothes, then tore them off, baring his upper body.

Sunlight fell across bronze skin and sharply defined abs, making for a striking sight.

Then he turned and followed Rayleigh deeper into the island.

The muscles across his back rose like mountain ridges, packed with terrifying explosive power.

His only shortcoming was that he'd joined the Marines recently, so his frame was still a little lean.

When they reached the island's interior, they immediately spotted Roger and Garp lying there, fast asleep.

The many bloody gashes across their bodies showed that their fight had been no less fierce.

"Well then, kid, until we meet again."

"I'm looking forward to our next fight."

Rayleigh smiled.

"Next time, you won't be a match for me, Rayleigh!"

Xia Le grinned.

"Hahahaha!"

"Arrogant brat. You've still got a long way to go!"

Rayleigh shook his head with a laugh, hoisted Roger onto his shoulder, and walked away.

Xia Le likewise hauled Garp onto his shoulder.

The battle was over.

The remaining people on both sides tacitly carried their wounded back to their respective ships.

"Roger's health is in serious trouble."

"This may have been Vice Admiral Garp's last chance to fight to his heart's content."

After the last person had been carried aboard, Bogard leaned against the rail and sighed.

"Mm."

Xia Le paused. He glanced at Garp, whose snores thundered despite the bloody cuts across his chest. The man still wore a smile. Xia Le nodded silently.

"You should get some rest too!"

"Fighting Rayleigh must have worn you out!"

Bogard said.

"It certainly did!"

Xia Le smiled.

The excitement and adrenaline of battle had kept everything else at bay, but now exhaustion surged over him like the sea. He could barely keep his eyes open.

The next moment, his head tipped to one side, and he fell asleep.

Bogard smiled at the sight. He went into the cabin and returned with thick quilts and blankets, which he draped over everyone.

They slept for a full three days and nights.

By the time they began waking one after another, the Warship had docked at G-5 Fortress.

Amid the clamor, Xia Le slowly opened his eyes to Garp's delighted face. Wrapped in bandages, he was stuffing himself with meat and wine.

"Hahaha, brat, you're finally awake!"

"Once we've resupplied here, we're heading back to Marine Headquarters!"

"You did great work this time."

"And Kuzan and those other two brats—you all did well!"

Garp laughed and shoved another piece of meat into his mouth.

Xia Le blinked, then sat down among the others at Kuzan's invitation and began eating heartily.

"Also, Sengoku told me just now that, in light of your performance on this mission, Marine Headquarters has decided to promote you to Rear Admiral."

"As for your post, we'll discuss that after you graduate from the Marine Academy."

Garp's words came out muffled around his food.

"The Marine Academy?"

Xia Le looked puzzled.

"Of course! Did you think strength alone was enough to make a qualified Marine officer?"

"That's only part of it! You need to study and learn enough besides!"

Garp said.

Xia Le was speechless.

"One more thing."

Garp paused, swallowed his food, and spoke in a grave voice.

"Before we return to Marine Headquarters, you need to go to the Sabaody Archipelago."

Xia Le looked at his teacher in confusion.

"We've finished gathering evidence of Kalens's crimes."

"Marine Headquarters wants you to deal with him and the men under his command!"

Garp said.

Xia Le froze for an instant. Then his gaze turned sharp.

"Good!"

P.S. Thanks to Tank Zombie for the monthly ticket!!

An Opponent Who Could Not Be Ignored

The Warship did not linger at G-5 Fortress. Once resupplied, it set sail again for Marineford, home of Marine Headquarters.

Xia Le learned that their main mission in the latter half of the sea route had been to monitor the movements of the two great pirate crews in real time and prevent any unexpected developments.

He understood what "unexpected developments" meant.

It meant Gin's and Luo's pirate crews joining forces. That would be a major destabilizing factor for pirates and the world alike.

As for Garp leading them in pursuit of Roger and eventually fighting him, that had simply been Garp the Hero indulging his own stubborn, romantic streak.

Admirals Sengoku and Zephyr had long since left. G-5 Fortress was now guarded by a Vice Admiral Xia Le did not know.

Standing beside Garp at the Warship's bow, Xia Le narrowed his eyes against the sea breeze.

"Fleet Admiral Kong will personally award you the rank of Rear Admiral at Marine Headquarters in Marineford."

Garp smiled.

"Mm."

Xia Le nodded.

At first, even after Garp had saved him, Xia Le had felt some resistance toward the Marines. But as he grew familiar with the people around him and came to understand them, he had gradually accepted it.

At the very least, the Marines had a fairly mature training system and ample resources to help him grow.

Until he became a world-class powerhouse with the strength to truly control his own freedom, it was a decent harbor.

"You fought Dark King Rayleigh on even terms for seven straight days."

"There must be quite a secret behind your body."

Garp smiled as he tossed a doughnut into his mouth and bit down with a crunch.

Xia Le remained silent.

"Hahahaha, brat."

"I'm not interested in your secret. I only hope that one day, when you've truly grown strong and can no longer find an opponent anywhere in the world..."

Garp paused and sighed softly.

"...you'll know clearly what it is you really want."

"Yesterday is gone. It's history now. What matters most is living in the present!"

Xia Le paused, then nodded gently.

Garp truly treated Xia Le as his own. He taught him strength firsthand and shared what he had learned about life.

Though Garp was rough and careless by nature, he had his thoughtful moments too.

The journey back to Marine Headquarters was peaceful, with no trouble along the way.

Sitting on the deck, Xia Le quietly took stock of what he had gained from the recent battle.

"Conqueror's Haki: LV99 (MAX)."

"Iron Body: LV50."

"Tempest Kick: LV35."

"Shave: LV60."

"Geppo: LV20."

"Finger Pistol: LV45."

The clear level display gave him a firm grasp of his current strength. Alongside maxed-out Conqueror's Haki, his Six Powers had also reached a respectable level.

"Raising them all has strengthened me across the board."

Xia Le marveled.

Even without the boost from Conqueror's Haki Infusion, he was far from weak with the Six Powers alone.

His battle with Rayleigh had transformed his strength, bringing him onto the stage of the world's true powerhouses.

Elsewhere, the Oro Jackson sped across the sea.

"Hahahaha! What a satisfying fight!"

"Only Garp can get my blood pumping like that."

Roger laughed, bandages wrapped around his body.

Rayleigh smiled faintly. White bandages covered him too.

Crocus frowned beside them. "Roger, try not to fight like that again. Your body can't hold out much longer!"

Seven days and nights of battle had taken an enormous toll on the disease-ridden Roger.

"Hahahaha!"

"I met an opponent like that and couldn't resist."

"As for my body..."

Roger smiled, then paused.

"Everyone dies eventually."

Before Crocus could respond, Roger turned to Rayleigh with an amused smile.

"I heard that Marine kid fought you to a draw. Rayleigh, were you taking him seriously?"