"Boom!"
Their blades collided, sending ripples racing outward and sweeping up the wood chips scattered across the ground.
The invisible shock wave cleared away everything around them.
"Whoooosh!"
The wind howled. Their brief battle had already reduced the auction house to ruins.
"Fighting you here isn't exactly a good choice!"
Out of the corner of his eye, Rayleigh saw that Luffy and the others had yet to retreat, and spoke in a low voice.
"You don't get to choose when you're facing me!"
River bared his teeth in a savage grin.
He gripped his sword in his right hand and swung it again and again.
His opponent kept blocking. Every clash unleashed dazzling light and endless ripples.
The aftershocks of their clashes grew increasingly fierce, striking fear into the pirates and Marines around them.
"Luffy, we need to break through now!"
"Otherwise, the aftershocks of their battle will reach us!"
Zoro spoke gravely.
He could hardly imagine encountering two fighters like these so soon after setting foot on these islands. The sheer force of their exchanges alone was enough to make his heart tremble.
The World's Greatest Swordsman and Dark King Rayleigh?
He murmured the words inwardly.
"There's no time to hesitate, you two captains!"
"I'm going in first!"
"The longer we stay here, the more reinforcements the Marines will bring! Things will only get worse then!"
Luo shouted.
River worried him even more. From what Corazon had once told him, he could tell just how terrifying this man was.
He was simply beyond their ability to handle right now.
"Boom!"
Just then, another blast of air and howling wind swept in from behind, nearly knocking them off their feet.
"I don't need you two. I can handle them myself!"
Kid spoke coldly and broke into a run toward the