Xia Le sighed softly.
"Perhaps!"
Rayleigh smiled.
He could feel the power behind each of his opponent's slashes steadily increasing. By that last strike, the pressure he felt had become immense.
What alarmed him even more was that his opponent's strength seemed inexhaustible, capable of increasing without limit.
"I can give you a chance to leave!"
Xia Le suddenly said.
He seemed unwilling to waste time on Rayleigh. The drumming inside Straw Hat had stabilized a while ago, as though on the verge of breaking through to the next stage, yet it never quite managed to.
Without a doubt, it needed a stimulus.
"Thank you for the offer!"
"But for the sake of these young seedlings!"
"I'm afraid I can't!"
Rayleigh sighed.
After saying this, his gaze became utterly solemn and resolute.
Then he sprang forward, arriving before Xia Le in an instant as he swung his sword.
Xia Le raised his blade, clashing with him once again.
"Then I'll just have to take you down for good!"
He spoke calmly, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes.
"I don't want to waste too much time."
"So!"
In the space of a breath, brilliant arcs of electricity erupted around Xia Le, rapidly growing more violent.
Rayleigh's expression shifted slightly, and he swiftly retreated.
Just as he pulled back, a streak of electricity shot toward where he had been standing.
"I almost forgot you're also the Rumble-Rumble Fruit user!"
"The most powerful Logia fruit, eh?"
Muttering to himself, Rayleigh tightened his grip on his sword.
He knew full well that this would be an exceptionally difficult battle for him. The man before him might even have surpassed Roger, reaching an unprecedented level.
Suddenly, Rayleigh's pupils contracted, and shock spread across his face.
Not far ahead, the man wreathed in lightning changed