The third time was this advancement quest for [Erudite]. (Continued)

"This unusual spiritual will may not be Conqueror's Haki, but it is every bit its equal..."

"And it has far more practical uses," Adrian replied, calm and composed.

Compared with [Conqueror's Haki].

The [Spiritual Pressure] derived from the Hollow-Hollow Fruit was indeed better suited to Adrian.

Rayleigh smiled and looked toward the slaves. "Why drag these uninvolved people into this?"

"I'm not dragging them into anything."

Adrian extended his right hand. Solid, pale Spiritual Pressure emerged from the tips of his index and middle fingers. With a light flick, it became two sharp blades of light that flew toward Rayleigh's cage.

The Spiritual Pressure blades, gleaming with moon-white light, arrived in an instant. Like hot knives through butter, they silently carved a sideways V-shaped opening in the iron cage, then dispersed just short of Rayleigh into specks of light.

Clang!

The severed iron bars fell from the cage and struck the floor with a deafening clatter.

"You're my only target! Silvers Rayleigh!"

Adrian reached into thin air. Faint ripples spread, and the pitch-black Cursed Sword Kitetsu appeared in his grasp, its coldly gleaming point aimed straight at Rayleigh.

The watching slaves hardly dared to breathe now. Their faces reddened as they held their breath, wishing they could kill themselves on the spot.

"A beautiful black blade, but..."

Rayleigh's expression remained unchanged. He even tipped his head back and took a drink.

"I haven't been a pirate for years."

"Be honest with yourself. Where on these seas could you enjoy such a comfortable retirement, especially a legendary pirate like you?"

Adrian extended his left hand again, caught a longsword out of midair, and flicked his wrist to toss it forward, planting its tip in the ground before Rayleigh.

"Rayleigh, or Shakky."

"To be honest, I'm still very curious whether that proprietress