Rayleigh hurtled through the air, smashing through more than a dozen trees before crashing to the ground.
"Huff, huff, huff, huff!"
After struggling to his feet, Rayleigh panted heavily, large beads of sweat rolling down his cheeks.
His chest heaved like a bellows. Clearly, this battle had pushed his aging body almost to its limit.
Whoosh!
An arc of electricity shot toward him from afar, reaching him in the blink of an eye.
Before he could dodge, a heavy punch struck his face and knocked him to the ground.
"It seems your arrival hasn't changed anything!"
"Rayleigh!"
Xia Le smiled faintly.
He opened his right hand, arcs of electricity flickering between his fingers and gathering into a brilliant light.
Lying on the ground, Rayleigh watched the searing electricity hovering right before his brow. His eyes flickered as he continued to gasp for breath.
The enormous drain on his stamina had left him dizzy.
He had to admit that Xia Le had indeed grown stronger. As Rayleigh aged and Xia Le grew more powerful, the gap between them had only widened.
"A man has to do certain things to keep his conscience clear. Don't you agree?"
"Xia Le!"
Rayleigh suddenly smiled.
"Now that's interesting."
Xia Le smiled.
"But as I said, Straw Hat has dragged everyone down!"
"His companions, and you too!"
The electricity blazed as it formed a Lightning Spear. Its sharp tip lowered until it was less than a centimeter from Rayleigh's brow.
"Heh!"
Rayleigh smiled again.
Even with death so close, he seemed entirely unafraid.
"Goodbye, Rayleigh!"
"What a shame that someone like you should meet his end here!"
Xia Le sighed softly.
He thrust the Lightning Spear in his hand downward.
But in the next instant, a powerful force stopped the Lightning Spear dead, preventing it from