Chapter 131: Brett's Training
Night had fallen over the waters near the Sabaody Archipelago. Under dim moonlight, a massive dark shape floated silently on the ocean's surface—even darker than the surrounding sea.
On the creature's back, two figures clashed in rapid succession, their forms intersecting and separating in a deadly dance.
One of the combatants stepped back, breathing heavily. "Damn, kid. Your progress is getting ridiculous."
Moonlight caught his distinctive features—white hair, white beard, elegant gold-rimmed glasses, and a scar running across one eye.
Silvers Rayleigh.
His opponent's body crackled with electricity as he launched forward. "Still not enough to match you, though! Electric Current —Oni Gashoken!"
Brett's lightning-wreathed fist tore through the air, creating a thunderous boom as it displaced the atmosphere. The attack blazed toward Rayleigh with devastating force.
But the Dark King merely raised his right hand. Black Haki coated his palm, invisible fluctuations rippling around the darkness.
Crack.
Brett's fist struck Rayleigh's palm—and Brett's entire body was launched backward like a cannonball.
'His Armament Haki is ridiculous!' Brett thought as he flew through the air, genuinely surprised. Even his full-power strike couldn't penetrate Rayleigh's defense.
"Moon Step!"
Brett suddenly kicked against the air itself, the atmosphere producing a sharp crack as his foot found purchase. His body shot forward again, defying gravity.
The World Government considered the Six Powers classified techniques, so no one had taught Brett these skills. But the principles were simple enough—step on air with sufficient force and speed to achieve flight. If Luffy could do it in Gear Fourth and Sanji had figured it out on his own, Brett saw no reason he couldn't master it too.
He'd been training Moon Step specifically to address his mobility weakness when not using his Devil Fruit powers. The results spoke for themselves.
Mid-flight, Brett extended his right arm. "Thunder Dragon Dance!"
ROAR!
Brilliant lightning erupted from his arm, then detached as he flicked his wrist. The electricity spread and transformed into several silver dragons as thick as tree trunks, each attacking Rayleigh from different angles. The night sky blazed with their combined radiance.
'This isn't even my Devil Fruit ability—just raw electrical current generated by my body!'
"You keep calling this taijutsu," Rayleigh said with amusement, "but I don't see any martial arts here."
Rayleigh's right arm darkened with Haki, then he casually waved his hand.
Slash!
Time seemed to freeze. Then the menacing thunder dragons were torn apart like paper, and the wind pressure from Rayleigh's gesture sent Brett's hair whipping wildly.
"It's just a matter of using willpower to control high-speed cellular friction," Brett explained as he landed gracefully. "That generates the electrical current."
He opened his mouth wide. "Heat Breath!"
Blazing flames poured from his throat, instantly transforming the cool night air into a sweltering inferno.
Rayleigh formed a blade with his bare hands and swept it through the air.
The roaring pillar of fire split cleanly in half, flames flowing obediently to either side of him.
"Not so fast!"
Brett shouted as mist began emanating from his body. The vapor spread quickly before dissipating, but the air itself began to churn violently.
"Wind!"
Gales suddenly whipped across the ocean, generating massive waves. The fierce winds caught the flames Rayleigh had deflected, forcing them to curve back toward the Dark King from multiple directions.
BOOM!
Converging winds from different angles collided with the redirected flames, compressing and combining into a towering pillar of fire that shot skyward.
"Hot, hot, hot! Partner!" The massive creature serving as their battleground suddenly spoke up. "Even with Haki covering my shell, I still hate fire!"
"Sorry, Alexander," Brett said sheepishly.
Their sparring couldn't take place on the Sabaody Archipelago, so they'd needed a mobile platform. Alexander the Warrior Shrimp had volunteered his services. Rayleigh's Observation Haki range was extensive enough to ensure they wouldn't be discovered at sea.
"Hahaha! But this counts as training for a warrior too!" Alexander laughed boisterously. "Training only makes me stronger!"
'Same as always,' Brett thought fondly.
"So flames and wind generation also come from cellular friction?" Rayleigh emerged from the dissipating fire pillar, his clothes slightly singed but otherwise unharmed.
'Still no good.' Brett had expected this outcome. As someone who'd reached the pinnacle of strength without Devil Fruit powers, Rayleigh's Haki was simply overwhelming.
"The human body is amazing, right?" Brett replied with a grin.
Rayleigh's mouth twitched. "Are we done here? If so, I'm going back to sleep."
"Hold on—at least let me try my finishing move."
Brett took a deep breath. The electrical discharge around his body intensified beyond anything he'd displayed before. Thick lightning coursed from inside out, transforming him into a living bolt of electricity.
"This is my limit! Take it, Rayleigh!"
---
Later, Brett lay sprawled across Alexander's shell, completely drained. "Still way too far behind."
"Got crushed without mercy," he muttered.
"Quit acting, kid," Rayleigh said from where he sat cross-legged, taking swigs from a bottle. "You weren't going all out either, were you?"
Brett just laughed, neither confirming nor denying it.
"Your Armament Haki hardening is nearly complete," Rayleigh said suddenly. "The intensity is sufficient. Further refinement would take too long for diminishing returns."
Brett turned his head, hope lighting up his features. "Rayleigh, are you saying—?"
"You can start learning advanced Haki techniques."
Rayleigh smiled.
Brett's expression fell slightly. "I was hoping you meant Conqueror's Haki infusion."
Rayleigh rolled his eyes. "Haven't you been trying that already? How's that working out for you?"
Brett sighed heavily.
"Conqueror's Haki infusion requires extraordinary mastery and control over all three types of Haki!" Rayleigh explained. "Your physical abilities are already monstrous, but your Haki still has a long way to go."
"I figured as much."
Brett sighed again, then sat up and stretched. "Anyway, I'll keep troubling you, Rayleigh."
"I'm curious to see how far you can go myself."
Rayleigh smiled back.
Watching Brett grow stronger day by day filled Rayleigh with amazement. 'This kid's physical talent probably surpasses even Charlotte Linlin and Kaido.'
Overwhelming physical capabilities—strength, defense, speed, stamina, and recovery. Brett was a genuine monster among monsters.
In just one year, his power had increased tremendously. Even without Haki, Brett's raw physical abilities alone would make him a formidable presence on the seas.
And this kid was still hiding another power.
'When he perfects his body and masters advanced Haki, what level will he reach?'
Rayleigh found it difficult to imagine.
'Maybe he could surpass even Roger?'
The thought came unbidden to his mind.
"Well, see you tomorrow," Brett decided, getting ready to head back. "Looking forward to tomorrow's training."
The current year was Sea Circle Calendar 1513—seven years before the Straw Hat boy would set sail. Brett had just turned nineteen.
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