BOOM!
A violent shockwave tore through the battlefield, scattering the dust.
Isuka snapped out of her daze.
She looked up just in time to see Rayleigh, silver hair flowing, break through the invisible barrier and appear before Luoyu once more.
His blade shrieked as it came down.
The slash was mere inches from Luoyu.
Isuka's heart clenched.
She wanted—needed—to see how he would respond.
But before the thought could finish, a radiant golden light burst from Luoyu's body.
The deadly blade was stopped cold.
By a massive golden hand.
No—
By the serene, compassionate face of the Kannon behind Luoyu.
He hadn't moved.
Hadn't even lifted a finger.
Just stood there, sipping his drink.
Was this really the legendary Dark King Rayleigh?
And Luoyu was brushing him off like a summer breeze?
Isuka's worldview was crumbling.
She racked her brain for anyone else who could do this.
No one came to mind.
"Ain… did Admiral Luoyu even fight back?" she whispered.
Ain hesitated, then gave a wry smile. "I'm not sure that counts as fighting back. Just… watch."
Isuka turned back.
Luoyu finally moved.
Just a flick of his wrist.
Rayleigh's eyes narrowed.
He leapt back instantly, leaving a blur behind.
A moment later, invisible wind blades erupted like a hurricane, shredding the afterimage.
The falling debris was pulverized into ash.
Isuka's spine went cold.
She'd thought that casual gesture meant nothing.
She was wrong.
It was a death sentence.
If she'd been the target, she wouldn't even know how she died.
She suddenly recalled every word she'd said to Luoyu.
Had she offended him?
Would she survive the next conversation?
This wasn't just power.
This was domination.
Could Fire Fist Ace really be stronger than this?
Even Ain's "just a little stronger" felt hard to believe now.
Her thoughts scattered as Luoyu spoke a single word.
The gentle Kannon behind him transformed into a towering, wrathful Vajra.
The air itself froze.
A crushing pressure descended like a falling sky.
Isuka felt like a fish on a cutting board.
And Luoyu still hadn't moved.
Not even a twitch.
This wasn't just strength.
It was a complete rewrite of her understanding of battle.
If this fight continued…
What would be left?
A rookie who could stand toe-to-toe with the Dark King.
Could Ace really compare?
"Nope. I'm done. You fight dirty, kid. Standing there while bullying an old man like me—I can't take it!"
Rayleigh's voice rang out from the dust.
He reappeared a hundred meters away, beside Shakky.
His blade returned to its sheath as he took a swig of liquor and laughed.
"You really are as monstrous as the rumors say. That Conqueror's Haki of yours… I've only seen it twice before."
"Once from my captain. And once from the Pirate Emperor himself—Rocks."
In the world of pirates, Haki clashes weren't rare.
But most were just Armament Haki projected outward—like the Admirals at Marineford blocking Whitebeard's shockwaves.
Even Sentomaru had used it at Sabaody.
But true Conqueror's Haki?
That was different.
It was rare. Wild. Uncontrollable.
And only one in a million could wield it.
"Rocks?"
Ain and Isuka blinked.
They didn't know the name.
But if Rayleigh compared him to Roger…
He couldn't be ordinary.
"You're flattering me, Rayleigh," Luoyu said, sipping his drink and dismissing the Vajra behind him.
"I'm just an ordinary new Admiral. Garp sent me to ask for your help tracking down CP9. I trust you won't mind?"
Ordinary?
Isuka and Ain stared at the ruined coastline.
At the man who had just stood there and parried the Dark King.
If this was "ordinary"…
What did that make them?
Even Rayleigh and Shakky looked a little stiff.
Luoyu's humility was a weapon in itself.
Rayleigh sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Garp's still the same. Never could tell the difference between pirates and Marines."
"Used to sneak onto our ship just to drink with Roger."
"Now he's sending his protégé to ask us for help."
"Didn't you extort Kaido recently too?"
"You're even wilder than Garp was in his youth."
"Guess that old man finally found someone worthy to carry the torch."
"Fine. Just this once—we'll help you."