The two warriors landed silently on the shore, Observation Haki sweeping outward to ensure no one else was near.
Once they confirmed the area was clear, they faced each other.
The others stayed aboard the Golden Scale, watching intently.
"Flying Thunder God, Arthur."
"Dark King, Silvers Rayleigh."
Experts announcing their names before a duel—
a show of respect between true masters.
"Shall we begin?"
"Gladly."
Whoosh—
Rayleigh moved first. His blade flashed from its sheath, cutting through the air toward Arthur with frightening precision.
Arthur smiled lightly.
"No rush. I'd like to test something on you first."
He clenched his right hand, lightning crawling up his arm.
"Inazuma!"
BOOM!
Thunder split the sky as his arm turned into pure electricity, erupting into a blinding pillar of light that blasted straight toward Rayleigh!
Rayleigh's pupils constricted—
in a flash of speed, he sidestepped, narrowly avoiding the attack.
CRACK–BOOM!
The lightning beam didn't stop—it tore through the forest behind him!
Trees were cleaved cleanly in half.
A five-meter-wide trench stretched nearly a hundred meters long, charred black and smoking.
Where the thunder passed, not a blade of grass survived.
Even Redfield and Crocodile, who had seen countless battles, drew sharp breaths.
Hissss…
They had never seen Arthur unleash such devastating power before.
Was this what he could do when serious?
Carmen's heart raced wildly.
So this is… the true strength of my—
…of my captain.
Her face flushed slightly. The power radiating from him made her feel both awe and pride.
Rayleigh's eyes gleamed with fighting spirit.
"Hah! You'll need more than that to hurt me!"
"Don't worry—I'll make sure you're satisfied."
"Then come, boy! Let me return the favor!"
With a flash of light, Rayleigh closed the distance, his blade arcing downward in a powerful strike.
"Discharge!"
ZzzzZZZZZZZT!
Bolts of lightning exploded from Arthur's body—thousands of electric serpents hissing through the air.
The sheer voltage, easily tens of thousands of volts, forced Rayleigh to halt mid-step.
If he took another inch forward, he'd be fried.
"You're better than I expected, kid."
"Hah!"
Rayleigh shouted, his aura flaring.
His entire body turned pitch-black as Armament Haki coated him like iron.
Then he charged straight through the lightning!
"Good! That's more like it!"
Arthur's battle spirit burned bright.
As expected of the right hand of the Pirate King—
Rayleigh could advance through even this storm.
"20,000-Volt Lightning Armor!"
Channeling the Lightning Release Armor of the Third Raikage through his chakra network—
combined with Enel's Logia power—
Arthur's lightning surged into a blinding aura.
It wasn't just protection anymore—
it was evolution.
Clash!
Rayleigh's sword collided with the lightning barrier, the fusion of Armament Haki and elemental energy exploding in a dazzling burst.
The impact bent the shield inward—
but didn't break it.
Rayleigh's eyes widened.
What…?
Since when were Logia users this durable?!
Even Arthur was surprised.
Heh… so fusing Enel's power really boosted me this much?
Even Rayleigh's Haki can't pierce it?
But his joy didn't last long.
Rayleigh, having realized his opponent's strength, stopped holding back.
He'd only been using seventy percent of his power before—
but now, his aura flared to its peak.
"Let's see how you handle this!"
CRACK!
The next swing shattered the lightning barrier, carving a shallow line across Arthur's chest.
Arthur only grinned.
"Impressive. You really are the Dark King."
Before the next blow could land, his form flickered—
and vanished.
A heartbeat later, he reappeared exactly where Rayleigh had stood.
They had exchanged positions in a blink.
The forest was silent again.
Only the scorched earth and deep gouges in the soil bore witness to the storm that had just passed.
On the Golden Scale, every crewmember was frozen stiff.
Even Waldo and Crocodile, hardened veterans, had their mouths slightly open.
As for Carmen—she could only stare, stunned.
This is what a real fight between monsters looks like.
Each exchange had lasted only seconds, but every movement had been enough to level a city.
Arthur's attacks were blinding and destructive,
while Rayleigh's technique—though simple—carried such mastery and weight that it was equally awe-inspiring.
Just standing before that kind of power made one's heart tremble.
When the dust settled, both men were still smiling.
Rayleigh adjusted his glasses.
"You're strong, boy.
Keep surprising me."
Arthur chuckled.
"As you wish."
He raised his hand, lightning crackling around him.
"20,000 Volts—Raijin!"
The skies turned black in an instant.
Clouds swirled, thunder rolled—
and Arthur's body transformed completely into lightning.
He was draped in white energy bands, armored in crackling thunder.
Like a god descending from the heavens.
"Rayleigh—take this! My strongest spear!"
"Come then!"
Arthur extended four fingers, forming the tip of a lightning spear.
With a sharp crack, he launched forward—
his speed beyond the eye's ability to follow.
BOOM!
By the time Rayleigh's sword came up, Arthur was already upon him.
Blade met spear—
and the world erupted in white light.
The collision lasted less than a second before Arthur pulled back half his power.
Even so, the shockwave sent Rayleigh flying backward, his hands numb, his sword trembling.
He skidded across the ground for dozens of meters before stopping, coughing lightly.
A hush fell over the onlookers.
He… he forced back the Dark King?!
Even if Rayleigh hadn't gone for the kill, it was still a feat beyond imagination.
If word got out, no one would believe it.
Rayleigh coughed a few times, then laughed heartily.
"Hah! I really am getting old.
The new generation truly is something else.
No wonder men like Crocodile and Waldo would follow you.
The New World is going to get a lot more interesting."
Arthur relaxed, letting the lightning fade from his body.
He was calm again—serene, almost detached.
"Then… about my request?"
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