Rayleigh also responded with a smile. "As expected of the Marines' rising star genius vice-admiral, you do not even take Gaban and me joining forces seriously."
Raleigh waved his hand dismissively and said, "What can be done? It has already come to this."
"Vice Admiral Sakazuki and my brother are joining forces to eliminate that fool Wendell Wickliffe. Admiral Sengoku is battling Whitebeard, and your captain is being held back by Vice-Admiral Garp." Raleigh paused.
"Currently, the only ones who can turn the tide are you two: Rayleigh and Gaban. As long as we can keep you two occupied, the Marines can hold out until we win."
Rayleigh and Gaban exchanged glances.
Whether this young Marine vice-admiral was telling the truth or not, it seemed best to deal with him first and figure out the rest later.
Having made up their minds, the two men simultaneously launched their attacks.
A sword and two axes, all coated with Conqueror's Haki, struck at Raleigh from both the front and back.
Raleigh wielded his sword with one hand, slashing toward the charging Rayleigh while completely ignoring the threat from Gaban behind him.
Clang!
The sound of clashing weapons echoed as Raleigh and Rayleigh reached a stalemate.
Seeing Raleigh completely defenseless, Gaban did not understand why.
However, he still put all his strength into his axe swing, aiming to defeat Raleigh in one blow.
BOOM!
A bolt of lightning from the storm clouds unexpectedly struck Gaban's giant axe, forcing him back several steps.
Rayleigh's pupils suddenly dilated!
The Marines still had reinforcements!
Rayleigh pushed his sword forward before quickly retreating.
He immediately extended his Observation Haki into the thunderclouds.
Under his full-powered Observation Haki scan, Rayleigh quickly located the source controlling the lightning.
A strangely shaped ship floated within the thunderclouds, carrying a small figure covered entirely in electricity.
Beneath his ship, an extremely powerful attack was brewing.
Noticing he had been discovered, Enel revealed a triumphant smile.
"Discovered me, have you? Unfortunately, it is a bit too late."
"Ten Million Volts!"
In an instant, the previously calm thunderclouds erupted into chaos.
Countless electrons condensed into numerous lightning bolts that danced wildly within the clouds.
A single lightning bolt in Enel's palm acted like a marker as he threw it toward the Oro Jackson below.
The agitated electrons in the cloud layer seemed to find their target all at once, competing to strike the Oro Jackson.
Rayleigh and Gaban's eyes widened in shock.
This was nothing short of an unprecedented disaster!
While Enel's lightning was not fatal to either of them, it posed a deadly threat to their ship.
BOOM!
Lightning bolts rained down instantly.
Their blinding flashes made it impossible for the crew members to keep their eyes open.
Rayleigh and Gaban took turns using various techniques to intercept the falling lightning as much as possible.
Every crew member aboard, from Bullett to Shanks and the others, did their absolute best to help the Oro Jackson survive this disaster.
With the ship violently shaking, the attack that could have sunk the vessel was finally overcome.
Even so, the Oro Jackson's condition was far from good.
Large cracks and decks charred black by lightning strikes left the ship in desperate need of repairs.
The younger crew members, like Shanks and Buggy, wore clothes that looked burned and their hair stood completely on end.
Rayleigh and Gaban exchanged another look.
They decided that Gaban would hold off Raleigh, while the faster Rayleigh would charge into the clouds to eliminate Enel first.
Their Oro Jackson could not withstand another attack like that.
Gaban charged toward Raleigh, gripping his twin axes tightly.
Without a word, he swung one axe horizontally at Raleigh's torso.
Raleigh naturally understood Rayleigh's intention, but he was not worried about Enel being captured.
As long as that kid did not do anything foolish, few could catch him within the thunderclouds.
After all, Rayleigh had not eaten a Devil Fruit that allowed flight.
Relying solely on the Moon Walk technique made it difficult to capture Enel, who could fly freely aboard the Ark Maxim.
...
Gaban, the third-in-command of the Roger Pirates.
Mentally recalling the information about the man before him, Raleigh made his move as Armament Haki surged through his hands.
Clang!
The tremendous impact force made Gaban's face reveal an expression of shock.
'This guy's strength is abnormal!'
During his earlier fight with Rayleigh, he had not shown this level of power.
This miscalculation of Raleigh's strength caused Gaban's great axe to be pushed aside by Raleigh's Mikazuki Munechika, leaving his chest exposed.
"Perfect opportunity!"
Raleigh reversed his grip and thrust his sword straight at Gaban's chest.
"Not so easy, Marine!"
Gaban blocked with his other axe in front of his chest.
Clang.
Raleigh's blade struck Gaban's great axe, the violent force sending Gaban flying backward.
"Gale Blades."
Watching the already airborne Gaban, Raleigh used his ability with his left hand to launch over a dozen razor-sharp wind blades toward Gaban's body.
At the same time, his gaze fixed on Shanks below.
Shanks, who had been watching the battle, suddenly met Raleigh's eyes.
In that instant, his blood seemed to freeze.
His heart raced extremely fast, his scalp tingled, and his body no longer obeyed his commands.
"Shanks, run! That guy is looking at you!"
Buggy suddenly shoved his friend.
He then drew his dagger and shouted at Raleigh.
"You... you bastard! Do not even think about hurting Shanks!!!"
"This... this great Buggy is not afraid of you!!!"
Looking at Buggy, whose legs were shaking like leaves, Raleigh could not help but show a strange expression.
He genuinely had not expected that, despite his fear, Buggy could step up at a critical moment.
After being pushed by Buggy, Shanks regained control of his body and looked at Buggy with deep gratitude.
"Buggy, thank you."
Sensing something was wrong, Bullett silently positioned himself in front of Buggy and Shanks, blocking all the pressure coming from Raleigh.
"Douglas Bullett."
This was Raleigh's first time seeing Bullett.
Compared to his future self, the current Bullett was undoubtedly quite youthful.
Judging by his aura, the current Bullett possessed roughly the strength of an ordinary vice-admiral.
Although quite powerful for his age, it was not enough to join in battles between top-tier fighters.
Even in conflicts between high-level experts like Gaban and Raleigh, Bullett could not intervene.
But without a doubt, Bullett was a combat genius.
If he had not been imprisoned in Impel Down for so many years, with his talent, he could have even fought for a Yonko position.
"The battle is not over yet! Where are you looking, Marine!"
The repelled Gaban seemed to have lost face, charging forward again with his twin great axes.
His ferocious gaze appeared determined to chop Raleigh into pieces.
Turning his head, Raleigh tightly gripped his sword, Mikazuki Munechika, with both hands.
His expression turned serious as he focused on Gaban.
"Single Sword Style: Meteor Slash!"
Raleigh and Gaban's figures flashed across the sky.
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