Under the lazy sun of the Sabaody Archipelago, several months passed by in a flash.
During this time, life on the islands continued as it always had. The underworld remained orderly under Caron's firm control, and the villa belonging to Aaron Kyle became more and more lively. The most significant event, however, was the duel between Dracule Mihawk and Silvers Rayleigh.
Rayleigh's swordsmanship was like a calm sea—deep, powerful, and backed by a lifetime of experience. Every move he made was filled with the wisdom of a man who had weathered countless storms. In contrast, Mihawk's sword was incredibly sharp and aggressive. Every swing of his Black Blade, Yoru, carried the intent to slice through anything in its path.
The two master swordsmen fought from dawn until dusk. The clear, sharp clang of their blades colliding echoed endlessly, and the powerful shockwaves from their slashes carved deep, crisscrossing ravines into the ground of the deserted island.
When the battle was over, Rayleigh smiled and handed Mihawk a bottle of wine. "You really are a terrifying young man. In a few more years, this old body of mine won't be able to handle your blade."
Mihawk accepted the wine without a word. He simply tilted his head back and took a long drink.
The battle was officially declared a draw. Two of the world's greatest swordsmen had fought until a deserted island was torn apart, and in the end, they sheathed their swords without a clear winner.
But the two men who fought, along with Aaron Kyle who had watched them, knew the truth. Rayleigh's seemingly casual sword moves held a relaxed confidence; he had plenty of energy left. Experience, it seemed, was a blade of its own. Rayleigh had been holding back the entire time, using his sword more to guide and teach than to fight for his life. The legendary "Dark King," a man from the era of the Pirate King, was still in his prime. The depth of his skill with a sword was greater than that of the younger Mihawk.
Even though Mihawk had fought with everything he had, he could feel an unbreakable wall in Rayleigh's seemingly effortless defense.
After that duel, the already distant Mihawk became even quieter. He started practicing his swordsmanship for longer and with more intensity than ever before. The training ground in the villa's backyard became his personal domain. The whistling sound of his Black Blade cutting through the air was now the most common sound heard at the villa.
So, when Aaron Kyle announced he was going to Ohara again, Gecko Moriah volunteered to stay behind and guard the base. As more and more people gathered at the villa, its security became an important issue. Moriah, with his Shadow-Shadow Fruit and his new understanding of its abilities, was the most reliable person for the job. Although he usually spent his time in the basement researching shadows, Aaron Kyle felt much more relaxed knowing he was in charge.
"Gihahahahaha! Protecting the base is also a kind of training for a strong man!" was how Moriah explained his new role before Aaron Kyle left.
…
A small boat sailed across the Grand Line, moving with incredible speed.
At the back of the boat, Mihawk stood with his Black Blade, practicing his swings against the sea with a serious expression. Each slash cut a deep trench into the water, and the powerful force from his swings pushed the small boat forward, making it accelerate immensely.
Aaron Kyle lay on the deck, lazily watching the clouds drift by. "You know, Mihawk, you're getting some practice and saving us fuel at the same time. Two birds with one stone. You're pretty resourceful."
Mihawk ignored him and only increased the speed of his swings.
"Hey, are you still thinking about your fight with Rayleigh?" Aaron Kyle continued, not bothered by the silence. "That old man is a real monster, just like me. We both fought our way through the old era, you know. He's got a few tricks he didn't show you. If he had really tried to win, your cool coat probably wouldn't have survived."
"I know," Mihawk replied quietly.
He didn't sound discouraged at all. In his sharp, hawk-like eyes, a fire burned brighter than ever. Seeing a taller mountain only made him want to climb it more.
Aaron Kyle smiled and said nothing more. A moment later, the two halves of a giant sea king, perfectly sliced in two, floated to the surface of the water.
"Whoa! Looks like we've got dinner! Thanks for the meal!"
…
A few days later, the war-torn island of Ohara appeared on the horizon. The small boat slowly docked at the shore. The island was completely silent. The town had been flattened by cannon fire, the forests were burned to charcoal, and the charred remains of the massive Tree of Knowledge stood as a silent reminder of the horrible disaster that had occurred there.
But surprisingly, there were signs of life on this dead island. Several large ships were docked at the old port. In the large lake in the center of the island, a group of enormous Giants was carefully using special nets to pull things from the dark water. Piles of waterlogged books were brought up from the lakebed. After being dried and processed, they were carefully packed by another group of people and moved onto the ships. The entire process was quiet and orderly, like a very serious ceremony.
On the opposite side of the lake, two figures were quietly watching. One of them had a very large head and was sticking his tongue out, which made him look quite intelligent. The other wore a dark green cloak and had a serious expression. He held a bouquet of white flowers.
"It's been a while, Vegapunk," the man in the green cloak said, his voice deep and strong.
"It's you, Dragon!" Vegapunk turned around. "I didn't expect to see the Giants here. We have to save as much of Ohara's knowledge as we can! It's a treasure for all of humanity. It can't be lost here!"
"I agree," Dragon nodded. He gently placed the flowers on the ground and bowed deeply toward the center of the lake. When he straightened up, he looked at the busy Giants before his eyes finally rested on Vegapunk.
Vegapunk's face was full of sadness. "Those fools in the World Government… they can destroy the people who carry knowledge, but they can't destroy knowledge itself!"
A small smile appeared on Dragon's face, but it was quickly replaced by a serious look.
Just then, a lazy voice came from behind them.
"Yo, looks like everyone's here!"
Dragon's body immediately tensed. His dark green cloak moved as if blown by a strong wind, and a powerful, invisible aura rose from him, ready to become a raging storm at any moment.
Vegapunk's huge head wobbled. "Dangerous reaction," he mumbled to himself. "Extremely high energy level..."
Not far away, two figures were slowly walking toward them. The man in front wore a black coat and had a playful smile on his face. His golden eyes looked like they could see right through a person's heart. The man behind him carried a huge Black Blade on his back, and his hawk-like eyes were as sharp as a knife.
However, when Dragon saw who it was, the storm inside him instantly disappeared. The tension on his face softened, and he even looked a little happy.
"Mr. Aaron Kyle!" Dragon said, walking forward quickly, his guard completely down.
"Yo, long time no see, Dragon," Aaron Kyle replied, casually raising a hand. "Still planning on shaking up the world?" His gaze then shifted to the man with the giant head, looking him up and down with interest. "And this is…?"
Vegapunk pushed his glasses up. His eyes were wide with shock and confusion. He watched as Dragon, the leader of the Revolutionary Army, casually greeted a notorious pirate with a bounty of 4,100,000,000 Berries. He felt like his brain was about to overheat. How could the leader of the Revolutionaries and the 'Wave Guiding King' Aaron Kyle possibly know each other?
"Mr. Aaron Kyle, let me introduce you," Dragon said, turning to the side. "This is Dr. Vegapunk, the world's greatest scientist." He then turned to Vegapunk. "Doctor, this is Mr. Aaron Kyle."
Dragon didn't say who Aaron Kyle was, but everyone there already knew.
"So you're Dr. Vegapunk. It's an honor to meet you," Aaron Kyle said with a smile, holding out his hand.
Vegapunk hesitated for a moment before shaking it. The pirate's hand was warm and strong, and he didn't feel any hostility, only curiosity.
"Aaron Kyle-san…" Vegapunk said the name, his voice full of questions. "I've studied past users of the Wave-Wave Fruit. They could only control simple vibrations and waves. But you're different! Your use of the fruit follows a scientific logic! You're a genius! From a scientific standpoint, it's a miracle! It breaks the known laws of energy conservation. How do you do it? How do you convert and control waves with different properties? Sound waves, light waves, electromagnetic waves… they all have different frequencies and travel through different mediums. How do you switch between them so easily?"
The unstoppable curiosity of a scientist had taken over. Before Aaron Kyle could say a word, Vegapunk had fired off a long list of questions. His eyes were shining with excitement, as if he wasn't standing in front of a wanted criminal, but a fascinating subject for research.
"Well…" Aaron Kyle scratched his head and answered with a straight face. "It's probably like a 'peng' and then a 'duang,' and then it just happens."
Vegapunk was speechless.
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