A shrill clash of steel rang out beside Kyle's ear, making his head buzz.
The cold blade that had been about to pierce him was knocked aside, stopping less than an inch from his face.
Kyle forced his blurry, blood-loss–blurred eyes open.
What he saw was the back of a young man wearing a straw hat.
That hat…
That profile…
"E… Ace?" Kyle murmured weakly.
How could Ace be here? The timeline made no sense.
The straw-hatted man didn't turn around. With a casual flick of his wrist, he sent a massive force through his sword.
The Black Shark swordsman was blown back. His grip split open, his blade flew from his hands and clattered to the ground.
"Oi, you okay?" the man asked, finally turning back with a wide grin.
Sharp features. Bright eyes. That fearless, dominant presence.
Kyle's heart skipped.
No—wait—
That wasn't Ace.
That was his father.
Gol D. Roger.
The future Pirate King.
An invisible pressure spread from Roger's body. The pirates around them felt it instantly—a primal terror, like being stared down by a legendary beast.
The Black Shark captain swallowed. "W-who the hell are you?!"
Roger ignored him and looked at Kyle instead, eyes full of interest. "Not bad, kid. You took on all these guys by yourself?"
Before Kyle could answer, hurried footsteps echoed from all sides.
"The Marines!"
"G-Branch Marines!"
Dozens of Marine soldiers poured into the harbor, rifles raised. Several officers with lieutenant commander rank took the front.
"All pirates, drop your weapons and surrender!"
The Black Shark captain snarled. "Damn it—kill them first!"
He swung his anchor at Roger.
Roger laughed.
With one slash, the anchor was cut cleanly in half.
Then Roger moved.
Like a storm.
Every swing of his blade sent pirates and Marines flying. Blood sprayed. No one could even follow his movements.
Kyle stared, breathless.
This… is the Pirate King?
Then dizziness overtook him.
Just as Roger was being surrounded—
A golden blur cut into the battlefield.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
A man with blond hair and glasses joined the fight.
"Rayleigh!" Roger laughed.
The Dark King.
Roger and Rayleigh stood back-to-back, carving a path through Marines and pirates alike.
Kyle's last clear thought hit him like thunder.
Roger and Rayleigh… this is fifty years before the main story!
As smoke and blood filled the harbor, Kyle finally lost consciousness—his final vision being Roger's wild grin and Rayleigh's shining blade.