A Return Set Beneath Mangroves at Sunset, a Lone Boat Sails to War and Lurks Near Marineford!

The sunset over the Sabaody Archipelago dyed the bubbles drifting across the sky the color of molten gold.

In the backyard of Shakky's Rip-off BAR at 13th GR, Luffy sat slumped on the ground, his back against a mangrove trunk. Undried tear tracks still marked his face, but the despair and devastation in his eyes had been replaced by a resolve reforged in fire.

Rayleigh sat opposite him with a bottle of liquor in hand. Looking at the boy before him, who was exactly like Roger in his youth, he slowly said, "Luffy, with your current strength, you simply can't make it through the New World. Marine Admirals, the Four Emperors-there are still far too many top-level fighters on these seas."

Luffy raised his head and clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening from the force. "I know... I'm too weak. Zoro, Sanji, Nami... every one of my friends was slapped away to who knows where because I was weak. If I stay this weak, I won't be able to protect anyone, let alone become the Pirate King."

"Then what do you want to do?" Rayleigh took a sip and asked calmly.

Luffy drew a deep breath, sprang to his feet, and bowed deeply to Rayleigh. His voice rang out with unquestionable determination. "Mr. Rayleigh! Please teach me Haki! I want to get stronger! Stronger than anyone!"

Rayleigh looked at him, a trace of approval flashing in his eyes, then burst into laughter. "Good! Just what I'd expect from the man Shanks chose! I promise I'll teach you to use Armament Haki and Observation Haki, and help you get familiar with your Conqueror's Haki."

He paused, held up two fingers, and continued, "But mastering Haki isn't something you can do overnight. I'll set a timeframe for you: two years. In those