Boom!
The terrifying Conqueror's Haki erupted from Rayleigh's body, surging like a raging monsoon, as if a sleeping beast had suddenly awakened.
At that very moment, Bai Yu's Conqueror's Haki also exploded.
Boom!
As the two Conqueror's Haki clashed, an earth-shattering roar filled the air. The ground cracked apart, the atmosphere trembled, and streaks of black and red lightning ravaged the surroundings.
One terrifying shockwave after another spread in all directions. Cavendish and the others felt their minds go blank before they were violently blasted away.
"Ugh… Conqueror's Haki…"
From a distance, a pirate from the New World widened his eyes in shock.
"This is rare, even in the New World…"
"A clash of Conqueror's Haki!"
The collision was utterly terrifying.
Especially since both Bai Yu and Rayleigh possessed at least an advanced level of Conqueror's Haki. The impact instantly engulfed all of Island 16 and even spread to neighboring areas.
No one who came close could stand their ground.
"Good boy!"
"You really amaze me!"
Feeling Bai Yu's Conqueror's Haki, filled with an ambition to suppress everything, Rayleigh couldn't help but be impressed.
"I can feel it—it's the will to dominate the world. How resolute!"
"But…"
"You're still too green!"
Rayleigh's eyes narrowed, and the overwhelming force of his Conqueror's Haki, accumulated over many years, was released in full.
Boom!
The power of a top-tier Conqueror's Haki erupted.
Tear!
The sheer force shattered a portion of the atmosphere. Bai Yu was also pushed back, taking several steps to regain his footing.
"So this is top-tier Conqueror's Haki… It's really strong…" Bai Yu muttered, feeling the immense pressure pressing down on him.
Realizing the gap between them, he grinned.
"I see… I still have a long way to go. This is… exciting!"
His entire body trembled with exhilaration.
Gripping his black blade, Shusui, Conqueror's Haki once again surged from him. Black and red lightning crackled around his body as he leaped into the air.
"Blade Slash!"
This was Bai Yu's own sword technique, infused with the raw power of Elbaf's mighty strikes and enhanced with Conqueror's Haki.
Soaring high, he suddenly dived down, his sword cutting through the air toward Rayleigh.
"Is this the strongest of the new generation?"
"I, Rayleigh, acknowledge you!"
Seeing Bai Yu's attack, Rayleigh also infused his blade with Conqueror's Haki and prepared to counter.
Thousands of meters away, numerous pirates watched from a distance, witnessing a terrifying sight.
Before their swords even made contact, the sheer force of their attacks sent a shockwave that shook the entire island.
Boom!
The intense collision of their Haki sent shivers down the spines of the watching pirates. The entirety of Area 16 was reduced to ruins in an instant.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
Cavendish was sent flying backward. As he stabilized himself, he stared at Bai Yu in disbelief.
"Damn it! I can't even withstand the aftermath… How can a newcomer be this strong?! Is this guy really the Demon King?!"
Boom!
Suddenly, the sky tore apart.
Bai Yu and Rayleigh's clash caused the surrounding landscape to collapse, followed by an afterimage being hurled backward.
"…!"
Bai Yu, thrown through the air, flipped mid-air and drove his sword into the ground, sliding back hundreds of meters before coming to a stop.
Meanwhile, the battlefield continued to change.
In the next instant, Bai Yu reappeared, completely unscathed, a short distance away.
Rayleigh narrowed his eyes and sighed.
"I can't believe it… Even when I go all out, I can't even make you cough up blood?"
Bai Yu grinned, feeling his blood boil.
"To avoid killing you instantly, I've only been using swordsmanship and Haki…"
"You little brat!"
Rayleigh burst into laughter, though slightly irritated.
"This old man has seen a lot, but you're something else!"
"In that case… Don't blame me for what happens next!"
Clang! Clang!
The two blades clashed again.
Rayleigh and Bai Yu exchanged dozens of blows, their figures constantly shifting positions. Everywhere they passed, the terrain was torn apart.
Slashes rained down!
Haki erupted wildly!
The onlookers kept retreating, barely able to stay on their feet.
Area 16 was reduced to a landscape of massive fissures, and their battle spilled into other areas. The criminals lurking around the illegal zones were furious.
Can't you fight somewhere else?!
Some of the newer pirates watched in awe, forever scarred by the sight of the sky splitting apart.
For those who had been to the New World, the shock was even greater.
A newcomer capable of fighting a legendary figure before even entering the New World?
"Ahhh! Get back! Another slash is coming!"
Inside a room, Perona floated mid-air, screaming in terror.
Boom!
A stray slash struck the energy shield, causing ripples but doing no damage.
Perona let out a nervous laugh.
"Ahaha… I just thought you guys were too tense, so I was trying to lighten the mood…"
The other girls said nothing.
They all stared at the screen, where Athena was scanning and broadcasting the battle, waiting for the outcome.
Clang! Boom!
After deflecting another strike, Rayleigh took a deep breath.
"It seems… I can't hold back anymore. I need to get serious!"
"Divine Slash!"
Boom!
Rayleigh stomped on the ground, propelling himself forward.
In an instant, he was upon Bai Yu, swinging his blade down with overwhelming force.
Bai Yu barely managed to parry, forced back by the sheer impact.
"Tch… Young people these days are just ridiculous!"
Rayleigh was exasperated.
Meanwhile, Bai Yu teleported to the side, shrugging.
"I couldn't block that one properly, and I had no opening to counterattack. So, obviously, I used my ability to dodge."
"…"
Rayleigh suddenly burst out laughing.
"You're not dumb at all. If you want to live long in this world, you need to be shameless!"
"But if you only rely on Haki and swordsmanship, this fight will be meaningless. Use your full strength!"
More and more spectators gathered.
Rayleigh knew he couldn't hold back any longer—otherwise, Shakky would scold him when he got back.
"As you wish…"
Bai Yu glanced at the time—it was almost noon.
"I'm going to… go!"
Before the words even left his mouth, Bai Yu disappeared.
"What an absurd speed…"
Rayleigh's instincts flared as he sensed Bai Yu appearing behind him.
Without thinking, he activated his Armament Haki.
Boom!
A powerful wave of Haki surged outward, shaking the atmosphere itself.
"…Your Armament Haki is seriously strong!"
Bai Yu sighed, instantly teleporting hundreds of meters away.
Rayleigh didn't hesitate—he swung his sword from a distance.
Tear!
A mighty slash cut through the void, moving at lightning speed.
But Bai Yu simply teleported again.
"Boy, stop running!"
Rayleigh was getting frustrated.
With every breath, Bai Yu changed positions hundreds of times—so fast that even his Observation Haki couldn't keep up.
"I'm just testing if someone from your generation can even land a hit on me while I have infinite teleportation."
Bai Yu whispered to himself.
The reality was clear.
As long as Bai Yu didn't act recklessly or get caught in a special ability, no one could even touch him.
"As fast as I think… I will be that fast."
And with that, Bai Yu decided…
"It's time to end this."
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