Normally, the appearance of such Conqueror's Haki in Mary Geoise would have drawn countless eyes.
But now… Mandy and Koala frowned; neither possessed Conqueror's Haki.
Rayleigh's presence alone, even without direct use, affected their movements.
Yet he gave them no time to adapt. Stomping the ground, he advanced like flying close to the earth.
Strong winds from his long sword swept petals into a crimson vortex.
"Underworld Path: Dawn!"
A black-red slash erupted. Mandy hurriedly raised ice walls, then drew her sword to meet it.
The walls tore like paper as their long swords clashed. With a clang, Mandy slid back over ten meters before stopping.
Golden light flashed. Koala appeared behind Rayleigh, leg raised for a light-speed kick.
Rayleigh spun, gripping her ankle midair, swinging her uncontrollably toward Mandy.
Bang! Ice shards scattered, quickly reassembling. Both remained unharmed.
Rayleigh's pupils contracted. His strike paused:
"This is… a Marine's Devil Fruit? How is this possible?!"
Even on Sabaody, well-informed, Rayleigh knew the Marine higher-ups' Devil Fruits. Seeing them here shocked him deeply.
Even one who survived God Valley and reached Raftel doubted his long-held assumptions.
Mandy and Koala hesitated not. Exploiting Rayleigh's distraction, they attacked again, and a fierce battle erupted.
"Times have changed, old man!"
Black leaned on the gilded railing, chuckling. Wine reflected blood-colored Moonlight in his fingertips.
"Isn't it early to be surprised now?"
Rayleigh did not answer, focusing entirely on Mandy and Koala.
Kogarashi pierced the ground. Freezing air spread along the cracks. Shadowed courtyard areas instantly solidified; hundreds of ice prisms launched at Rayleigh.
Using Observation Haki, he dodged and parried with flawless precision.
Koala appeared in his blind spot, hands forming a cannon posture.
"Light Speed Impact: Starburst!"
A condensed light sphere exploded, bathing the courtyard in blinding white. Rayleigh parried with his long sword, colliding with Koala's forearms. She rolled midair, flying backward.
Just as Rayleigh pressed advantage, a chill rose from the ground along his calf, freezing him in place.
Nearby, Mandy wielded Kogarashi, blade wrapped in freezing air:
"Underworld Path: Crescent Moon!"
Rayleigh roared. His black-red crescent moon slash carved a deep pit in the ice. Amid flying shards, silver-white hair fluttered.
He leaped, only to be intercepted by Koala mid-flight. Eight golden afterimages struck from all angles, each kick capable of shattering mountains.
Rayleigh's Observation Haki was fully active. His long sword blocked with unmatched precision.
When the last afterimage fell, he spun, performing a horizontal slash. The blade grazed Mandy's throat, scattering ice crystal debris active elementalization.
The strongest of Logia users excel in large-scale attacks and survival. Active elementalization helps mitigate some attacks in chaotic battle situations.
"Excellent! Truly excellent!"
Black raised his glass, shaking it toward the Moonlight:
"The remnants of the old era can still jump so high!"
…Meanwhile, Mary Geoise was in chaos, and Black's manor engulfed in battle
Marineford.
In Fleet Admiral Sengoku's office, the air was almost suffocating. Desks overflowed with urgent telegrams marked "Top Priority."
Reports came from Red Port defenders, CP, government officials… even the Gorosei called.
Mary Geoise was in disarray, yet the Gorosei did not intervene directly.
Intervene for what? Garin was gone. It was a Slave uprising, unlikely to harm the Celestial Dragons. This differed from God Valley's pirate invasion.
Thus, the five elderly Marines were unflustered.
Vice Admiral Tsuru tapped her fingers on the desk, brows furrowed.
Garp lounged on the sofa, senbei in hand, yet didn't eat.
Aokiji leaned by the window, mask lowered, appearing calm but his mind raced.
Borsalino gently caressed a teacup, minimizing his presence. His golden lenses reflected light, hiding expression.
Sengoku exhaled:
"Mary Geoise spiraled out of control. Revolutionary Army invasion and Slave uprising occur simultaneously. Admiral Iron Wall's communication is cut; his status unknown. Red Port may have fallen."
He still overestimated Red Port. The garrison had long failed; Iron Wall could not hold the elevator from the start.
"Akainu's fleet is in the New World, confronting Big Mom Pirates, unable to return quickly."
Tsuru's voice remained calm.
Sengoku's gaze landed on Kuzan.
"Meaning… the highest combat power deployable now is only Aokiji."
Aokiji exhaled white air, cooling the office.
"Ara la… So you want me to go?"
Sengoku nodded.
"You're the only choice."
Garp crushed his senbei, scattering crumbs, grinning:
"Don't look at me, I'm not going! Tricked me last time; not happening again!"
The last time referred to God Valley. Civilian corpses had shocked him, teaching caution.
Sengoku frowned:
"Garp, now is not the time to be obstinate!"
"I'm not being obstinate," Garp shrugged. "The Revolutionary Army attacks Mary Geoise; do those old men really expect me to go support?"