The skirmish ended in less than thirty minutes. Silence returned to the coast of Amazon Lily as the moon hung high over the jagged rocks. On the shoreline of Nine Snake Island, everyone watched in a heavy silence as the Beasts Pirates' ship sailed away. They had taken Wapol and all his men, and the vessel was now nothing more than a fading silhouette on the dark horizon.
A collective sigh of relief swept through the Kuja warriors, but Luffy stood near the water's edge with a frustrated look on his face. He turned toward the silver-haired man standing nearby, his voice tight with confusion.
"Uncle Rayleigh, why did you let them go? Why didn't you stop those guys? You saw it too! That old man was crying so much because they took his brother!" Luffy shouted, his fists clenched at his sides.
When Wapol had been defeated and dragged away, his older brother had tried to intervene. The hunched old man had been completely powerless, forced to watch as the pirates took his sibling into custody. Rayleigh's usually relaxed and calm expression vanished, replaced by a stern, cold look. He looked down at the young pirate and spoke with a sharp, rebuking tone.
"Luffy, don't you get it yet? Have you already forgotten what happened back at the Sabaody Archipelago?" Rayleigh asked.
Luffy's face went pale instantly. The memory hit him like a physical blow. At the Sabaody Archipelago, they had faced Admiral Kizaru, the most terrifying enemy the Straw Hat crew had ever encountered. If Rayleigh hadn't intervened at the last second, they all would have been captured or killed.
"This is the reality of the Grand Line: the strong survive and the victor is king. Yes, I have the power to stop those two if I really wanted to, but have you thought about what would happen next?" Rayleigh took a long swig from his flask of sake. Seeing Luffy's expression turn gloomy, his voice softened just a little. "I don't like admitting it, but I'm an old man now. You saw the Marineford War. Even a hero like Garp was helpless against Kaido's influence. An old relic like me is no different."
Rayleigh turned his attention to both Ace and Luffy.
"Ace, Luffy, right now the major events of the world are none of your business. Your only job is to train. You have responsibilities to carry, but you can only do that once you have enough power to back them up," Rayleigh stated firmly.
Neither brother said a word. They stood in the sand, clenching their fists so hard their knuckles turned white. Rayleigh knew he had said enough on that topic, so he decided to change the subject to something more practical.
"Did you two notice it?" he asked. Both brothers looked up, confused. "I'm talking about how Jack of the Beasts Pirates took down Wapol with a single strike."
Before they could respond, Elder Nyon stepped forward from the shadows. Her face was etched with worry. "I never imagined the Beasts Pirates would grow to be this powerful," she whispered.
Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress, looked at the old woman with a raised eyebrow. "Elder Nyon, what are you talking about? Stop speaking in riddles," she demanded.
Rayleigh stepped in to explain. "Let me tell you, Snake Princess. And you two, Ace and Luffy, pay attention. Do you know why I've only taught you the basics of Haki? You've both awakened it, but I haven't shown you the advanced techniques yet. It's because the raw strength of your Haki is far more important than any fancy trick. Think of it like a martial artist. Even the best fighter in the world needs a strong body. If your body is weak, your techniques will fail. Without a powerful foundation, your Haki simply won't support high-level combat."
He gestured toward the sea where the battle had taken place.
"Wapol could coat his entire body in Armament Haki. On this sea, that is considered a top-tier ability. Very few people can reach that level. Those who do are the 'silver medalists' of the pirate world—strong, but not at the peak. However, what Jack showed was different. His Armament Haki looked like burning flames. That is the level of a 'gold medalist.' In the crews of the Four Emperors, that is the kind of strength you only see in a First Mate. Right now, you aren't even in his league."
Rayleigh paused to let the information sink in.
"They are just one step away from the absolute top. If they can master the infusion of Conqueror's Haki, they will leap over the gate and become Emperors themselves. It's a difficult path, but it proves the Beasts Pirates aren't the same crew they used to be. My reports say Kaido's First Mate, King, has already mastered Conqueror's Haki. As a Lunarian, his power is likely even greater than Jack's. This means Kaido now has at least two subordinates with the power of a First Mate, on top of his own monstrous strength."
Rayleigh's tone became incredibly heavy.
"The Beasts Pirates are starting to resemble the Roger Pirates in terms of raw power. If you want to become the Pirate King, Kaido is a wall you will eventually have to climb. Do you truly understand the scale of what you're up against?"
The atmosphere felt like lead. The gravity of the situation weighed on everyone present. But then, Luffy looked up, his eyes burning with an unbreakable resolve.
"I don't care, Uncle Rayleigh! I won't lose! I'm the man who's going to be the Pirate King!" Luffy shouted.
Rayleigh's eyes widened in surprise before a small smile crept onto his face. Hancock's eyes practically turned into hearts, staring at Luffy with pure adoration. Ace looked at his younger brother and let out a short, bark-like laugh.
"Don't go forgetting about me, Luffy! The Whitebeard Pirates are the ones who will make sure the Pirate King title stays with us!" Ace declared.
The tension broke. Rayleigh let out a relaxed sigh, feeling the spark of their ambition. "Fine then. Now that you know what kind of monsters are waiting for you in the New World, don't you dare get lazy for even a second."
"I got it! I'm gonna work harder than anyone!" Luffy promised. He looked around and saw the remains of their meal. "Okay, we're done eating. Let's go train right now!"
"Wait, Luffy! You're still covered in bandages!" Hancock cried out, reaching for him.
"It's fine! It's just a little scratch!" Luffy yelled back as he started running toward their training clearing.
As Ace and Luffy disappeared into the forest to resume their sparring, and Hancock chased after them, Elder Nyon stayed behind. She looked at Rayleigh, her expression turning grave again. Once she was sure the others were out of earshot, she spoke in a low voice.
"Rayleigh, why didn't you tell them the truth? You know as well as I do that the level of Armament Haki Jack displayed isn't something a normal person can just achieve through effort," she said.
Rayleigh didn't seem bothered. He took another sip of his sake and listened to the sounds of crashing trees and shouting coming from the woods. "Ace and Luffy aren't exactly 'normal' people, Nyon. And the friends they've chosen aren't normal either."
Elder Nyon nodded slowly, processing his words. "I still find it hard to believe. That little brat Kaido... to think he became an Emperor ruling the sea just like Rocks did all those years ago."
"What's this, Flameweed? Are you getting sentimental in your old age?" Rayleigh teased.
Elder Nyon huffed, her face turning red with annoyance at the old nickname. "I'm an old woman, I'm allowed to remember things! Anyway, did Peony send the message for you to come here?"
"Well, with Ace, Luffy, and the Snake Princess here, I didn't think I'd actually have to fight. I wanted them to use this as a learning experience. I didn't expect the Beasts Pirates to show up out of nowhere. I'd bet my last Berry that Kaido is after Wapol's Devil Fruit ability for some reason."
Rayleigh scratched the back of his head, looking troubled.
"It's a real headache. The sea is getting louder and more restless every day. I just hope we're moving fast enough..."
He turned his gaze toward the horizon, where the moonlight shimmered over the endless waves. The world was changing, and the storm was only getting started.
------------------------
For Advance chapters visit : patreon.com/Mythic_Muse