Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, Lancelot's body began undergoing transformations at a visible rate!
His taut muscles swelled as if inflated, brimming with explosive power that seemed ready to burst through his clothes.
Moreover, his hair grew wildly as if injected with potent hormones, cascading like a black waterfall down to his waist before stopping.
Simultaneously, Lancelot's once calm face twisted into a ferocious and terrifying visage that sent chills down the spine.
Yet compared to these physical changes, what proved even more breathtaking was the evolution of his Sword Intent.
Previously, the Sword Intent radiating from Lancelot resembled a freshly drawn blade—razor-sharp and indestructible, seemingly capable of severing anything in existence.
But now, this Sword Intent had undergone a complete metamorphosis, descending upon the mortal realm like a sovereign—majestic, imposing, and unyielding.
Yes, at this very moment, Lancelot had truly become the Emperor of Swords!
The Sword Intent enveloping him not only retained its former razor-edged quality that could cleave through any obstacle but also gained an overwhelming, domineering aura that towered above all living beings.
"Wha...?"
Just then, Rayleigh felt a mountain-like pressure bear down on him, the immense force threatening to crush him to the ground.
His expression turned grave, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead, yet his resolute eyes never showed the slightest hint of retreat.
Recalling the past, when facing Whitebeard and the imposing Shiki, Rayleigh had stood fearless and charged forward without hesitation.
How could he possibly retreat now in the face of such minor difficulties?
Yet, he couldn't remain entirely composed.
Taking a deep breath, Rayleigh made the first move.
With a powerful push off the ground, he shot forward like a cannonball, his speed swift.
His movement was as rapid as lightning streaking across the night sky, leaving no time for the eye to follow. In the blink of an eye, Rayleigh had closed the distance to Lancelot.
At the same time, the longsword in his hand carved a sharp arc through the air, producing a piercing sound as it cut through the wind.
The blade gleamed with a cold, deadly light as it swept horizontally toward Lancelot.
The strike was so powerful that if it landed, it'd likely cleave Lancelot's body in two!
Noticing this, Lancelot narrowed his eyes, a glint of vigilance flashing in his pupils.
As Rayleigh swung his sword, the blade reflected a chilling, soul-shaking gleam—like the scythe of Death itself, inspiring dread.
It was clear that the sword in Rayleigh's hand was no ordinary weapon. But how could Lancelot feel even a trace of fear?
At this moment, he was at the peak of his power as a Great Swordsman.
Without a second thought, he raised Shusui horizontally, intercepting the path of Rayleigh's forceful strike.
"Clang!"
A clear, resonant metallic clash echoed.
In the next instant, the two swords collided, like two ferocious beasts locked in combat.
An energy surge erupted between the two.
The tremendous recoil from this force sent Rayleigh stumbling backward.
Only after retreating over thirteen meters did he barely manage to steady himself.
Meanwhile, Lancelot remained standing firmly in place, his sword held steady, his expression as calm as still water—as if the intense clash had been nothing more than a trivial warm-up for him.
He gazed quietly at Rayleigh, his eyes revealing an indescribable composure and tranquility.
"Wha... What...?"
Witnessing the scene before him, Rayleigh stared wide-eyed, an involuntary gasp of astonishment escaping from the depths of his heart.
In that very moment, a subtle crack began to form in his once unshakable confidence.
For the longest time, he had always taken immense pride in his formidable strength.
Even when facing Kaido or Charlotte Linlin, he wouldn't have felt the slightest fear. But now, confronted by this seemingly carefree Marine named Lancelot, he couldn't help but feel his confidence waver.
Rayleigh stared at his opponent in disbelief, his mind racing with thoughts.
He muttered to himself, "Could it be... that this guy Lancelot is truly this powerful? To so effortlessly block my full-force attack head-on, and even force me into such an embarrassing retreat over such a distance!"
"While there have been strong individuals in past battles who managed to repel me—like the renowned Whitebeard Edward Newgate, the legendary Pirate King Gol D. Roger, and the equally famous Shiki—even slightly lesser figures like Kaido or Big Mom Charlotte Linlin possess the ability to push me back. However, it's rare for someone to repel me as effortlessly as Lancelot just did."
In Rayleigh's memory, only a handful could achieve such a feat.
Perhaps only Roger and Whitebeard at their peak could make him feel this deeply powerless, even Shiki, who was on their level, might not have been able to put him in such a passive position.
After all, in terms of pure offensive power, Shiki still fell a step short of those two.
Noticing the grave and serious expression on Rayleigh's face, a faint, confident, and slightly provocative smile tugged at the corner of Lancelot's mouth.
With a light shout, he declared, "Now, you take a strike from me!"
Before the words fully faded, his right hand had already tightened around the hilt.
In the next moment, Lancelot raised his sword high, the gleaming blade pointing straight toward the sky.
Instantly, a powerful aura burst forth from him, distorting the surrounding air with its intensity.
Then, with a swift motion of his right arm, the raised sword descended like lightning.
Accompanied by a sharp whistling sound, a fierce, overwhelming slash tore through the air, charging toward Rayleigh with mountain-toppling force.
The moment this slash appeared, it was like the most brilliant meteor streaking across the night sky, instantly capturing everyone's attention.
The entire world seemed to stand still, with only this slash becoming the absolute protagonist.
Even the sunlight shining down from the sky appeared dim and lackluster, completely overshadowed by the dazzling radiance emanating from this slash.