The piercing sound of clashing metal exploded in Kyle's ears, making his eardrums ache.
The cold, glinting longsword was forcefully blocked, stopping just inches from his face.
Kyle struggled to open his eyes, which were blurry from blood loss and exhaustion. The sight that greeted him was the back of a young man wearing a straw hat.
The style and color of the straw hat, along with the familiar side profile, made a name flash through his mind.
"A... Ace?" Kyle's whisper was dry and hoarse, filled with disbelief.
What is he doing here? The timeline doesn't add up!
The straw-hatted young man didn't turn around. With a flick of his wrist, a powerful force was transmitted through his weapon.
The swordsman from the Black Shark Pirates, who was already on the retreat, felt an irresistible force. The web between his thumb and index finger split open, and his longsword flew out of his hand, clattering to the ground. He himself was sent staggering backward, his face filled with horror.
"Hey, are you alright?" The straw-hatted man finally turned around and grinned, revealing a set of straight, white teeth.
In the sunlight, his young, chiseled face was full of confidence and vitality, but his eyes were as sharp as a falcon's, as if they could see through a person's heart.
This smile... these eyes...
Kyle's pupils suddenly contracted!
My apologies, Captain, I didn't recognize you at first!
No, wait! It's not Ace! It's Ace's... dad!
Gol D. Roger! The "Pirate King" in his youth!
An invisible aura emanated from Roger. It wasn't an intentional display of pressure, yet it made the surrounding pirates, who had been fierce and menacing, shiver in unison. It was as if they were being stared down by some primordial beast. They subconsciously took a few steps back, their eyes filled with fear.
"You... who are you?" the captain of the Black Shark Pirates, the burly man with the anchor, roared, trying to sound tough. He could feel that this straw-hatted kid was a tough nut to crack.
Roger ignored him and instead looked at the battered Kyle with interest, as well as the devastated battlefield behind him. "Not bad, taking down so many pirates by yourself? You've got some skills, kid!"
Just then, the sound of rapid and orderly footsteps came from the outskirts of the port.
"The Marines! The Marines are here!"
"It's the G-Branch Marines! Run!"
The remaining pirates cried out in alarm. Their already wavering formation instantly became even more chaotic.
Large numbers of Marine soldiers in standard uniforms poured in from all directions, their black gun muzzles aimed at the chaotic area in the center of the port.
The leading officers had the rank of commander on their shoulders. Their expressions were stern, and they were clearly the elite of the Loguetown Marine G-Branch.
"All pirates, drop your weapons and surrender immediately! Otherwise, you will be killed without mercy!" a Marine commander shouted, his voice echoing over the port.
The arrival of the Marines made the already tense situation even more complicated. A ruthless glint flashed in the eyes of the Black Shark Pirate captain. He knew that it would be impossible to escape easily today.
"Brothers! Let's fight them! Kill these two meddling kids first, then break out!" he roared, swinging his huge anchor and charging towards Roger and Kyle. The remaining pirates also clamored, trying to put up a desperate fight.
"Bring it on, Gahahahaha!" Roger laughed loudly. Facing the incoming anchor and the swarming Marine soldiers, his face showed no signs of panic.
His weapon was not a famous sword, just an ordinary rapier, but in his hands, it unleashed astonishing power.
The sword flashed, so fast that its trajectory was invisible.
The heavy anchor, upon contact with the sword's edge, was split in half as if it were rotten wood, the cut surface as smooth as a mirror!
Then, Roger's figure moved like a ghost through the crowd. Every swing of his sword carried an unstoppable, domineering force.
The pirates and Marine soldiers at the front were sent flying by the sharp sword energy before they could even see his movements, blood splattering everywhere.
His swordsmanship was grand and open, seemingly simple and direct, but it contained an indescribable rhythm and power. Each slash seemed capable of splitting mountains and cracking rocks.
The adrenaline rush faded like a tide, replaced by endless fatigue. Kyle leaned against the wall, enduring the sharp pain from the wound in his ribs and his body's weakness, his eyes fixed on Roger's fight.
Is this... the future Pirate King?
That casual yet domineering presence, that ultimate control over power, was a realm he had never seen before.
Compared to Roger, his previous fight against those small-fry pirates was like child's play.
Every swing of Roger's sword, every dodge, was deeply imprinted in Kyle's mind.
"Is this... Haki?" Kyle murmured to himself.
Although he couldn't accurately describe what it was, he could clearly feel that Roger's attacks contained something that transcended mere physical strength.
The continuous fighting, blood loss, and prolonged hunger finally pushed Kyle's body to its limit.
A strong wave of dizziness washed over him. The scene before him began to spin and blur. The sounds of Roger's fighting, the Marines' shouts, and the pirates' screams all seemed to come from a distant place, becoming increasingly unreal.
"Damn it... my body... won't move..." Kyle gritted his teeth, trying to stay conscious, but his eyelids grew heavier and heavier.
Just as the Marine soldiers regrouped, shrinking Roger's space of movement and trying to surround him, a golden figure cut into the chaotic battlefield like a bolt of lightning piercing the night sky!
"Clang! Clang! Clang!"
The clear sound of swords clashing rang out, accompanied by the screams of several Marine soldiers.
The figure was as fast as a stream of light. The rapier in his hand danced, creating a brilliant golden curtain of light. Each flicker accurately and elegantly took the life of an enemy.
His swordsmanship was different from Roger's domineering style. It was more agile and skillful, but just as deadly.
"Rayleigh!" Roger laughed heartily when he saw the newcomer, and his attacks became even more ferocious.
The newcomer was none other than a young "Dark King" Silvers Rayleigh! He had medium-length golden hair, wore a pair of small round glasses, and had a calm expression, but his eyes shone with a sharp light.
Rayleigh's arrival instantly changed the tide of the battle. He and Roger, one on the left and one on the right, were like two indestructible blades, easily tearing through the Marines' encirclement.
"Really, Roger, you always make such a big scene," Rayleigh said, effortlessly parrying a Marine commander's slash while still having the leisure to joke.
"Gahahahaha! It was on the way!" Roger replied nonchalantly, and with a backhand swing, he sent several more pirates flying.
Kyle's consciousness was already drifting on the edge of lucidity and unconsciousness. He vaguely saw Rayleigh's figure, and the last bit of strength in his heart seemed to be drained.
A young Roger... Rayleigh... This is fifty or sixty years before the main storyline!
The remaining grunts of the Black Shark Pirates had long been scared out of their wits by this sudden turn of events. They were either dealt with by Roger and Rayleigh or had dropped their weapons and fled.
Although the soldiers of the Marine G-Branch were well-trained, they were outmatched by the two future legendary pirates, and their casualties continued to mount.
Roger and Rayleigh, one in front and one behind, protected the almost unconscious Kyle between them. Back to back, they faced the enemies pouring in from all directions.
The setting sun cast their shadows long. The port was filled with smoke, and the smell of blood was pungent.
This was a chaotic battle, but it was also the prelude to a legend.
An era belonging to the Pirate King seemed to be quietly raising its magnificent curtain at this inconspicuous port in Loguetown, accompanied by an unexpectedly transmigrated soul.
Kyle's eyelids finally closed completely. His last consciousness was fixed on Roger's heroic laughter and the light shining from the blade of Rayleigh's sword.
-------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get access to early chapters by joining my Patreon!
Find me at My : pat*eon*com/RuneA