Ten days later, above the waters near the uninhabited edge of the Sabaody Archipelago, two figures burst out from the sea and landed firmly on the shore.
Lucien hovered a foot above the ground. His T shirt and beach shorts clung to his lean frame as he spat out a mouthful of seawater. In an instant, both his clothes and flip flops dried as if heated from within.
The outfit he wore was no ordinary attire. The T shirt, beach shorts, and sandals had transformed into living Hoz, capable of shifting their appearance at will. Whether it was children's clothing, women's clothing, or men's fashion, they could assume any form. They could even repair themselves automatically. Perfect tools for theft, infiltration, or slaughter.
Lucien had remained on Fish Man Island for ten days. During that time, he had coerced and tempted Shirahoshi into partially awakening her power as Poseidon, the Ancient Weapon. She could now summon Sea Kings at any moment, though she still could not command them directly. Even so, the Sea Kings listened to her voice without hesitation.
Fish Man Island had effectively become Lucien's personal backyard.
He now carried a book at his side. Within its pages existed a mirror that connected to Whole Cake Island and other locations. Charlotte Mont d'Or remained inside the book world at all times, ready to provide support. The combination of the Book Book Fruit and the Mirror Mirror Fruit formed a mobile fortress that could respond instantly wherever Lucien wished.
"Go in."
The book opened, and Jinbe stepped inside without resistance.
Lucien expanded his Observation Haki. In a single breath, the entire Sabaody Archipelago fell within his perception. Powerful presences mixed with weak ones, scattered across the mangrove roots and groves.
"He really can hide well," Lucien muttered.
He opened the book again, took out a pack of cigarettes, placed one between his lips, and ignited it with a spark generated from his fingertip. Then he retrieved a Transponder Snail.
"Poseidon is in that area."
He had not sensed Silvers Rayleigh earlier. Veterans of Rayleigh's caliber could suppress their aura with Observation Haki, making them nearly invisible unless they chose to reveal themselves. Otherwise, someone like Rayleigh would shine like the sun among candles.
"Master, Poseidon is in Red Tree Area 23," came the respectful voice from the snail.
Lucien ended the call and vanished.
Moments later, he appeared in Red Tree Area 23. An auction house was in full swing. Without thinking, he already knew the reason. Rayleigh had likely sold himself again to fund gambling and drinking.
This auction house belonged to Donquixote Doflamingo.
The noise from inside suggested the auction had reached its climax.
Boom.
The main entrance exploded inward, obliterating the lively atmosphere. The entire venue fell into stunned silence as smoke and splintered wood scattered across the floor.
Lucien floated forward with a cigarette in his mouth, heading not toward the stage, but directly backstage.
"Savior…"
"No… it cannot be…"
"Oh God, it is him."
Whispers filled the hall. The aftermath of the Summit War at Marineford still lingered in the world's memory. At present, no name carried more weight than the so called Savior.
Lucien ignored them.
The backstage wall exploded, revealing rows of iron cages containing slaves waiting to be sold.
He disappeared into the smoke.
Inside one of the innermost cages stood Silvers Rayleigh, a slave collar around his neck. His normally relaxed expression had turned heavy.
"So he came himself," Rayleigh murmured.
Outside, panic erupted.
"We need to leave," a merchant stammered.
The crowd surged toward the exits in terror. If Lucien had come personally, there would be bloodshed. The shockwaves alone could kill them.
An enormous explosion tore through the building. The entire auction house lifted off its foundation as debris flew into the air. Screams echoed across the mangrove roots.
Rayleigh shot out of the wreckage, coughing blood. He tore through several Red Tree groves before slamming into the ground, carving a deep trench across the pavement.
Lucien descended from above and swung his leg.
A massive Rankyaku sliced through the earth, splitting the ground and racing toward Rayleigh like a blade forged from the horizon itself. The attack tore across the sea before dissipating.
Rayleigh emerged from the dust, picked up a broken branch, and infused it with Armament Haki. The simple wood hardened into a blade.
Lucien remained silent. A wolf tooth club materialized in his right hand, its spikes gleaming coldly. Armament Haki coated it in dense black hardening, heat radiating outward in violent waves. The weapon crystallized into a black red mass that steamed with murderous intent.
The ground beneath him shattered as he vanished.
He reappeared directly in front of Rayleigh, swinging the club with brutal force. Rayleigh countered with his Haki coated branch.
At the moment of impact, Rayleigh felt as though an island had crashed into him. The branch shattered instantly. The club slammed into his chest.
Crack.
Bones splintered. Rayleigh's chest caved inward as blood sprayed from his mouth. He shot backward like a cannonball, carving a second massive trench across the mangrove roots until he reached Area 28. Streets collapsed, and over a hundred civilians were caught in the destruction.
Area 23 had already become a fan shaped wasteland.
Lucien descended once more, flames flickering around him with golden lightning dancing along his body. He approached the fallen Dark King.
Rayleigh struggled to stand, pale and drenched in blood. Even a legend could not withstand such overwhelming force.
Lucien vanished again.
Rayleigh leapt aside, moving thirty meters in an instant. Yet Lucien appeared simultaneously, his amethyst eyes glowing faintly as Future Sight through advanced Observation Haki predicted every movement.
The wolf tooth club swept sideways.
Rayleigh raised both arms to block.
They shattered on impact.
The club crushed into his chest again, blasting him into another ruin carved into the archipelago. This time he did not rise. He lay broken, barely conscious.
Two strikes.
Lucien had not even activated every enhancement at his disposal.
He hovered before the fallen pirate. A sharp thorn extended from his tailbone, swaying behind him like a living spear.
A flicker of red passed through his amethyst eyes as Future Sight activated again.
A spoon shaped blade flew toward him.
Lucien tilted his head and avoided it effortlessly. His hand shot forward, seizing the attacker by the throat and lifting her into the air.
Shakuyaku struggled, her face turning red.
"How is that possible…"
Lucien did not answer.
The thorn pierced into Rayleigh's ruined chest. Demon blood flowed into his body. At the same time, Lucien's fingers reshaped into a sharp spike and stabbed into Shakuyaku's neck, injecting the same substance.
Minutes passed.
When it was over, Rayleigh and Shakuyaku stood obediently before him, their former resistance erased, their memories cleansed and rewritten.
Sabaody Archipelago had just lost its Dark King.
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