From a distance, Marco's heart nearly leapt out of his throat.
He watched with wide eyes as all traces of amusement and restraint vanished from Rayleigh's face. In his once-clouded eyes, the fiery spirit of the Dark King reignited—blazing, arrogant, and overwhelming.
It wasn't killing intent.
It was something far more intense: a warrior's utmost seriousness, the kind reserved only for equals.
"Interesting brat..."
Rayleigh's low voice rang out, each word carrying the weight and resonance of steel.
"You've managed to catch this old man's interest."
"As a gift in return—let me show you how we truly fought back in the days we ruled the seas!"
The moment his words fell—
BOOOOM—!!!
A surge of Conqueror's Haki exploded from Rayleigh, ten times stronger than before. It was no longer just an invisible pressure—it transformed into black and red lightning, visible to the naked eye, raging skyward from his body!
The entire Yarukiman Mangrove grove trembled under the sheer force. Countless smaller lifeforms instantly rolled over, white-eyed and unconscious.
Up in the canopy, Shakky's face turned more serious than ever. She crushed her cigarette slightly as she held it—lips tight, fingers tense.
She hadn't expected Rayleigh to go this far.
This was the true strength of the Pirate King's right hand—the power that had made the entire Navy Headquarters lose sleep.
Rayleigh slowly raised his sword.
The violent red-black lightning, as if finding a channel, surged toward the blade—coiling around it in a frenzy.
"Conqueror's Haki infusion!"
Marco gasped aloud, the color draining from his face.
This was how true legends fought—infusing Conqueror's Haki into their attacks as if it were Armament Haki, turning every strike into a blow of sovereign will. The power scaled exponentially.
"Watch closely, brat!"
Rayleigh's figure vanished again.
But this time, in Lucian's Observation Haki foresight, what he saw wasn't just a flash of swordlight…
It was a bolt of crimson-black lightning ripping the world apart.
Fast.
Blisteringly fast.
So fast, his very thoughts almost couldn't keep up.
Lucian's pupils contracted. He pushed his half-synchronized Tremor-Tremor Fruit power to its limit, white seismic halos enveloping both fists, arms crossed in a block.
CLAAAANG!!!!
A sound like thunder tearing through the sky roared out.
Black-red lightning crashed into white seismic halos!
The clash lasted only a second—before Lucian felt an unstoppable, crushing force flood through his guard and into his arms.
It wasn't just strength and sharpness.
It was will—an intent to crush everything before it.
Crack!
The bones in his arms let out a desperate, splintering scream.
His whole body was flung like a cannonball, feet off the ground, blasted backwards by the sheer force.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Three consecutive impacts.
Lucian's body plowed through three massive tree roots, each over ten meters thick. Still, the momentum didn't stop.
He finally crashed into the fourth tree's base—deep, hard, sending up a cloud of dust.
The grove fell silent.
"Lucian!!"
Marco let out a heart-wrenching roar. No longer caring about anything else, blue flames ignited around him. He was just about to fly in.
Rayleigh lowered his sword slowly, brows furrowing.
He could sense it—he had held back the killing intent in that final strike. But the sheer force and will within it would be enough to break the spirit of anyone who lacked resolve.
'That kid might be…'
But just as everyone thought it was over—
From within the shattered wreckage, a blood-soaked, dust-covered figure swayed… and stood up.
Lucian wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. His arms hung at strange, broken angles—clearly fractured.
But his face… showed no pain.
Only a radiant, triumphant smile.
He did it.
'As expected… even with half of Peak Whitebeard's strength, my power was enough—but my body still isn't durable enough to withstand a direct clash with someone at this level.'
'I need to reinforce my body. Power alone isn't enough—I need a physique like Kaido's if I want to stand toe to toe with true monsters.'
'Still… this is enough!'
Because in the moment he was sent flying, the voice he'd longed to hear finally rang out in his mind:
________________________________________
[Ding! Host has endured extreme-level legendary energy impact!]
[SSR·Peak Rayleigh Analysis: 95%… 98%… 100%!]
[Analysis complete!]
[Congratulations! Peak Rayleigh fully unlocked and charged! Time-space traversal now available at will!]
________________________________________
BOOM!
A warm current surged through every cell in Lucian's body.
It wasn't healing—it was evolution, an ascent in life essence to a higher level.
________________________________________
[Ding! Full Compendium Unlocked – Legendary Character Reward: Power of the Dark King (Fragment) acquired!]
Effect: Massive permanent increase to swordsmanship and Haki talent.
________________________________________
In that instant, Lucian could feel it—his entire being was different.
His understanding of swords. The way to channel Conqueror's Haki through his attacks. Countless profound insights poured into his mind like a flood breaking through a dam—and were absorbed instantly.
His previously unstable foundation—strained from overexerting his powers—now solidified.
Even advanced.
He could feel it.
He was stronger.
Truly stronger—his own strength, not borrowed.
In stunned silence, Lucian stepped out of the debris.
His injuries were gruesome. Yet he walked forward, step by step, as if nothing could touch him.
He stopped in front of Rayleigh, suppressing all traces of battle aura, and bowed deeply.
"Thank you for the lesson, Mr. Rayleigh."
"I've learned a great deal."
His voice was hoarse—but filled with sincere gratitude and respect.
Rayleigh looked at him, more shocked now than during the battle itself.
'This kid… is he even human?'
'He took a full Conqueror-infused blow head-on—and stood up?'
'And his aura… it's even stronger now than before?'
Rayleigh slowly returned his sword to its sheath. As the blade clicked into place, the overwhelming sovereign presence vanished—replaced by the relaxed bearing of a laid-back coating craftsman.
"You…"
Rayleigh studied Lucian carefully, as if trying to see through him.
"I'm certain now—I didn't imagine it."
"You carry Newgate's power. That quake that fractures space… it's unmistakable."
He paused, voice tinged with confusion—even to himself.
"Who are you really? Why do you have the Tremor-Tremor Fruit's power?"
"A monster like you… there's no way you've gone unnoticed in these seas."
His gaze sharpened, cutting like a blade.
"Speak. You went through all this—even risked your life to fight me. What are you really after?"