The chapter number above is the correct chapter number.
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Diarmuid hadn't even found his footing after landing when another slash came down upon him.
It was still fast, precise, and vicious!
"Damn it!" Diarmuid cursed. He swiftly crossed his arms in front of him, sinking his waist low. A pale-purple aura radiated from his feet, anchoring him firmly to the ground.
The next moment, with a sharp clank, a blade accurately struck the intersection of Diarmuid's crossed forearms.
The Haki was breached slightly, drawing blood. The powerful force of the slash pressed Diarmuid backward, but because of the fierce Gravity applied to his legs, he was finally not sent flying again.
The reason this barrage of attacks left Diarmuid in such a sorry state was not just because the attacker was incredibly strong.
It was also because Diarmuid was caught completely off guard, unable to properly adjust his defensive posture.
This time, having endured the attack, he managed to hold his ground without being struck away again. Had he been knocked back, he would have certainly fallen into the attacker's rhythm.
"Oh my, did I fail?" A slightly flippant voice came from Diarmuid's opposite.
Diarmuid, having parried the slash, finally got a clear look at the perpetrator.
Then, his eyes registered surprise and disbelief.
What the hell...
Isn't that Rayleigh?
The Dark King, Silvers Rayleigh, the Right-Hand Man of the Pirate King!?
I thought he was only supposed to appear on the Sabaody Archipelago? Didn't he run away?
Why is he suddenly here?
"Hmph!" Diarmuid coldly snorted. He pushed his arms outwards, forcing Rayleigh's blade aside. His expression turned grim: "Dark King, Silvers Rayleigh? Why are you here?"
Rayleigh's face twitched slightly when he heard that, and he said in a tone of displeasure: "Thanks to you."
Huh?
What do you mean by that?
Diarmuid glanced at the cut on his forearm where blood was flowing freely.
Though rushed, he had definitely used Tekkai and Haki to block the strike. Yet, despite this, Rayleigh's swordsmanship had still broken through, leaving him injured.
This guy's blade is truly formidable!
Undoubtedly, Rayleigh was one of the top-tier experts, his strength in no way inferior to those like Kaido, Charlotte Linlin, or Newgate.
They might eventually determine a winner, but none of them was easy to deal with!
Looking at Rayleigh's state, he was clearly attacking at full power, yet he was completely unharmed, looking refreshed, perhaps having just woken up.
"It looks like you're going to stick your nose into this mess? What happened to retiring?" Diarmuid raised his hand to wipe the blood from his arm and looked at Rayleigh.
Rayleigh looked at Diarmuid somewhat helplessly, then smiled: "It's all destiny, Diarmuid...."
What kind of cryptic nonsense is that?
Diarmuid wasn't the only one surprised. Newgate, who was now free, was also slightly bewildered looking at Rayleigh.
Hadn't they not seen each other for over a decade? The last time they met was when Roger became the Pirate King, during their farewell. Although they didn't speak much to Rayleigh then, so many years had passed in a blink.
He had never heard any news of this guy and assumed he had died in some remote corner.
Why did he suddenly appear and even help him out?
Fortunately, with Rayleigh's intervention, Newgate had adjusted his condition, forcibly suppressing his internal injuries, and was slowly getting back on his feet.
"Mamamama..." Charlotte Linlin noticed the scene while fighting Kuzan and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Seeing Kuzan's gloomy expression, Charlotte Linlin became even more brazen: "Didn't expect that, did you? I didn't either, but this world always gives us surprises, mamamama!!!"
"Hmph!" Kuzan coldly snorted. The cold air around him intensified, his attacks surging ceaselessly toward Charlotte Linlin.
In the sky, Gion was sent flying by one of Kaido's Dragon Tails. As she was thrown back, Gion also watched the situation on the island.
What is Silvers Rayleigh doing here?
Undoubtedly, Rayleigh's sudden appearance was enough to change the course of the battle.
If he and Newgate teamed up to defeat Diarmuid, the Marine's position here would collapse!
"Don't expect me to say thank you," Newgate suddenly spoke.
Rayleigh maintained his laid-back demeanor, a calm smile on his lips, and replied without turning around: "I had absolutely no intention of it. To be honest, if it weren't for the Marines' schemes, I was planning to watch how Charlotte Linlin and Kaido killed you..."
"Hmph!" Newgate grumbled unhappily, but then a hint of a smile appeared on his face. After all, it was a reunion with an old friend...
"Speaking of which, we've known each other for so many years, always fighting, but never teaming up," Newgate said softly.
Rayleigh slowly backed up two steps, his sword remaining vigilant and alert toward Diarmuid, before saying: "After all, we are opponents. Moreover, is there really an enemy in this world that requires the combined effort of me and Newgate?"
Newgate looked down at the cursed sword Kokorowatari stuck in his body, then back at Diarmuid, and said: "Maybe not before, but now, I have to admit, that guy is absolutely tough to deal with..."
"Of course, I noticed. He nearly killed you," Rayleigh replied without looking.
Newgate didn't respond but instead asked: "So, what's the answer?"
Rayleigh's eyes became slightly more serious: "The answer is already quite obvious, isn't it?"
Yes, he had already disregarded his status and repeatedly ambushed Diarmuid when Newgate was in the most danger. The answer was indeed very clear.
Meanwhile, Diarmuid slightly twisted his neck and stretched his shoulders, looking at Rayleigh: "Are you really going to wade into this muddy water?"
Rayleigh curved his lips into a smile: "Well, can you give me a chance?"
"As you wish..." Diarmuid responded softly.
Then, black Armament Haki slowly coiled around his forearms, and a sharp, severe look appeared in his eyes.
Rayleigh was on high alert. He had been lying among the dead, observing the battle, and he knew very well that Diarmuid was truly strong. He absolutely could not be underestimated and must be approached with caution.
After three to five breaths, a sharp light flashed in Diarmuid's eyes. His body instantly lost weight, and with a burst of Soru, his figure vanished from Rayleigh's sight.
Rayleigh's heart moved. He sharply slashed his long sword forward. In an instant, a flurry of blade shadows erupted in front of him. The sword flurry looked chaotic, but a closer look would reveal that it completely sealed all openings in front of him!
But there was no solid sensation in his hand. Rayleigh's heart jumped. He already realized what was happening and hissed: "Whitebeard!?"
That's right, Diarmuid hadn't attacked Rayleigh. Instead, his target was Whitebeard!
Although Newgate was severely injured, he was not completely helpless. When Diarmuid's figure appeared in front of him, he seemed ready, slamming a punch forward.
Bang!
The two fists connected. To Newgate's surprise, he didn't feel any excessive power from Diarmuid's punch.
Then, he realized that Diarmuid was indeed feinting...
That bastard! He wants to retrieve the Kokorowatari stuck in me!?
Suddenly, like a flash of lightning, Newgate's thoughts were broken. A bright light flashed in his eyes, and he understood.
Just as Diarmuid's other hand was about to grab the hilt of the Kokorowatari, Newgate, a fierce man indeed, abruptly took a step forward. This action made Diarmuid miss the grab completely. At the same time, Newgate's step forward closed the distance between him and Diarmuid. The hilt of the Kokorowatari slammed hard into Diarmuid's body. Then, leveraging this force, the blade was fully driven into Newgate's body, leaving only the hilt visible on his chest.
Simultaneously, a powerful tremor force exploded from Newgate's body, violently blasting Diarmuid, who was pressed against him, away.
Rayleigh was dumbfounded at this point. What is Whitebeard doing?
Stabbing himself further?
After blasting Diarmuid away, Newgate's face became pathologically flushed again, and blood mixed in his breath. Driving the Kokorowatari completely 'into' his body came at a price; his injuries had worsened.
But Newgate quickly suppressed the pain, a grin forming on his lips: "Without that blade, you can't use that move, right? Abyssal Devourer!?"
Diarmuid now steadied himself. His eyes stared intently into Newgate's. After a long silence, he said softly: "You're not wrong."
The weakness of the move Abyssal Devourer had finally been seen through.
In this world, where could one find a flawless technique?
Newgate was certainly worthy of being a top-tier powerhouse. Diarmuid only revealed a slight opening, and Newgate understood.
He was right. Although Abyssal Devourer originated from Diarmuid's ability, the power was too perilous and indiscriminate. If one came into contact with the Abyssal Devourer, even Diarmuid himself would be harmed by the corrosive force created by the gravitational collapse.
Therefore, theoretically, the execution of Abyssal Devourer required a medium, and that medium had always been the cursed sword Kokorowatari.
Diarmuid could attach the collapsing force to Kokorowatari, but he absolutely could not attach it to his own fists, forearms, or anything else.
Thus, Newgate was correct. Without the blade, Diarmuid could not use Abyssal Devourer!
This was why Newgate was willing to worsen his own injuries rather than allow Diarmuid to regain the Kokorowatari.
Because, in Newgate's eyes, Diarmuid with Abyssal Devourer and Diarmuid without Abyssal Devourer were two entirely different concepts!
Without Abyssal Devourer, Diarmuid was still very strong, but within the bounds of a normal person.
But if that guy controlled the Abyssal Devourer, he was truly an unstoppable force, especially against top-tier experts like Rayleigh, who rely on Haki and swordsmanship—it was utterly invincible!
Swordsmanship?
One slash from him could ruin your blade.
Haki?
Newgate knew very well that Haki was completely ineffective against the Abyssal Devourer!
In fact, this was why Diarmuid had shrugged off Rayleigh earlier and tried to snatch back the Kokorowatari first. Because he knew very well that as long as he got the Kokorowatari back and activated Abyssal Devourer, the Dark King would immediately be checking in to the River Styx. Why bother showing off?
He just hadn't expected Newgate to be so astute and so ruthless toward himself!
Seeing Diarmuid admit it openly, Newgate was filled with emotion. How could I have never thought of such a simple thing before?
He had been agonizing over trying to research a way to block the Abyssal Devourer.
Now that he thought about it, wouldn't simply seizing Diarmuid's blade during the fight have solved everything?
But he quickly smiled again. Was Diarmuid's blade really that easy to take?
This time, it was likely because Diarmuid was so confident that he could deal with Newgate that he became so careless, right? After all, if it weren't for that unexpected appearance of Rayleigh, Newgate would likely have been defeated by him already.
It could only be said that Diarmuid's carelessness in leaving his blade in Newgate's body wasn't his fault; the blame lay with Rayleigh for showing up so inexplicably!
Watching Newgate and Rayleigh slowly encircle him in a pincer formation, Diarmuid grinned: "Surely, you don't think I'll be butchered by you just because I can't use Abyssal Devourer, do you?"