As a transmigrator, Xie Wen apparently did not get to enjoy any "plot buffs." Rayleigh had not "let his guard down for a moment" like Garp when Shiryu sliced his kidney, or perhaps Xie Wen simply did not have an Admiral to distract Rayleigh for him.
In any case, Rayleigh had long since sensed through Observation Haki that both Xie Wen's presence and the threat he posed had surged in a short time. Without hesitation, he used Conqueror's Coating and swung both fists to meet Xie Wen's White Calm.
Although Xie Wen did not possess Conqueror's Haki, streaks of black lightning still appeared between White Calm and Rayleigh's fists.
After a brief stalemate, Rayleigh, who had hurriedly met the attack while still flying backward, was cleaved hard into the ground by Xie Wen. As he smashed a human-shaped crater into the earth, a long, narrow sword mark extended far out from it, severing quite a few mangrove roots along the way.
Xie Wen had no time to celebrate knocking Rayleigh down. The instant he landed, he held White Calm in front of himself.
At the same moment, Rayleigh burst out of the ground and slammed a fist wreathed in Conqueror's Haki into White Calm.
"Heh!"
Although he had to retreat several steps before dissipating the force of that punch, Xie Wen wore a smug smile.
That was because the moment Rayleigh used Conqueror's Coating, his presence became clear again.
Apparently, Conqueror's Coating and Observation Haki Killer could not be used at the same time.
"Not bad, kid. I never thought I'd end up tripping over a little gutter here."
Rayleigh glanced at the wound the Salted Fish Long Sword had cut into his fist and praised him again.
Counting carefully, he had already suffered three unexpected setbacks at Xie Wen's