"Haha, as expected of Luffy..." Zoro's lips curved into a satisfied smile. "I can't fall behind either..."
Sanji's cigarette burned down to his fingers, yet he didn't seem to notice. "Moss Head... are we..."
"Being left behind?" Zoro finished his sentence. For once, the two didn't argue. "Then we should work even harder to get stronger!"
Inside the coating shop on Sabaody Archipelago, Rayleigh's wine glass clattered to the floor, the amber liquid splashing onto his faded jeans. The former 'Pluton,' who once dominated the seas, was now staring wide-eyed at the live broadcast, forgetting to push his spectacles back up his nose.
"Th-this... how is this possible..."
Rayleigh's voice trembled slightly, his fingers unconsciously tugging at his graying beard.
The black and red lightning flowing around Luffy on the screen was clearly the mark of a perfected Conquerors Haki Infusion—an advanced technique he had spent a full six months teaching Luffy back then.
Shakky poked her head out from behind the bar, exhaling a puff of smoke. "What? Being outdone by a junior?"
"It's not about being outdone..." Rayleigh snatched the paperback volume of the 'Pirate King' novel from the table, frantically flipping to the Wano Country arc. "The novel clearly states I taught him for two years... two years!" His finger heavily jabbed at the page. "How can Kaido now just with three hits..."
The bullet comments in the live stream continued to bombard:
[User "Red Hair": Rayleigh-senpai, times have changed.]
[User "Buggy": Refund! Refund!]
[User "Hawkeye": Should sword skills also try the quick-learning method?]
Rayleigh suddenly stood up, pacing back and forth in the small coating shop. His shadow flickered long and short on the wall, like an agitated beast trapped in a cage.
"Did I really teach him wrong?" He clutched his remaining hair. "Shouldn't I have started with the basics? Shouldn't I have progressed gradually?" He suddenly stopped. "Or..." A flash of realization crossed his eyes. "Is that kid simply a masochist?!"
This conclusion made Rayleigh even more distraught!
He recalled the bits and pieces from the novel during the two years on Rusukaina Island—the patient theoretical explanations, the meticulously designed training levels, the gentle and considerate...
"Gentle and considerate my foot!" Rayleigh suddenly exploded, smashing the coffee table in front of him with a punch. "I should have learned from Kaido! I should have given that kid three hits the moment we met!"
Shakky calmly poured him another drink. "It's not too late to make up for those two hits now."
Rayleigh slumped back into his chair, staring at Luffy, whose Haki was running wild in the live stream. Although the usage still seemed unrefined in the footage, it was indeed genuine Conquerors Haki Infusion.
"Damn it..." Rayleigh tilted his head back, downing an entire bottle of strong liquor. "So all those 'great teachers produce great students' tropes in novels are lies?" He drunkenly pointed at the screen. "The real secret is... beating them half to death?!"
Just then, his spare Den Den Mushi suddenly rang. Rayleigh groggily picked it up, and Sengoku's furious roar came through:
"Rayleigh! Look at the excellent student you've taught! Now pirates all over the world are imitating Kaido's violent teaching methods! Marine hospital beds aren't enough anymore!!"
Rayleigh was silent for a moment, then suddenly burped into the Den Den Mushi. "How about... you also try letting Garp give you two punches?"
The sound of something shattering came from the other end of the line, followed by the communication being cut off.
....
Luffy slowly landed on the deck, his Haki gradually receding. He confusingly rubbed the large bump on his head. "Huh? It doesn't hurt anymore?" He suddenly remembered something and excitedly turned to Kaido. "I think I can do that electric move now!"
Kaido was silent for a long time, then suddenly burst into earth-shattering laughter. "Wororororo! Good! Very good!" His laughter stirred up waves of air. "Straw Hat, you're even more interesting than I imagined!"
Then Kaido pointed his spiked club at the camera. "My Haki crash course is officially enrolling! Tuition is just one hit!!!"
The atmosphere in the live stream suddenly froze.
This Haki teaching PK also came to an end. The result was that Kaido won, and Rayleigh lost. From then on, Rayleigh's title was no longer 'Pluton Rayleigh,' but 'Mediocre Teacher Rayleigh'!
Kaido's dragon claw, poised to end the live broadcast, hung in mid-air. Rayleigh's voice, amplified through a Den Den Mushi, echoed across the entire sea: "Wait! Haven't you finished demonstrating your 'Three-Hit Teaching Method'?"
The azure giant dragon slowly turned, a dangerous glint flashing in its golden vertical pupils. "Old man... are you sure you want to see the third hit?"
Rayleigh's holographic image stroked his beard, his spectacles reflecting a cunning white light. "What? Is a Four Emperors' teaching holding back?"
The sea breeze suddenly turned biting, and the Merry's sails flapped loudly. Luffy curiously leaned towards the camera. "What third hit?"
Kaido's dragon tail heavily slapped the sea, stirring up monstrous waves. "The third hit..." His voice suddenly dropped, carrying a chilling excitement. "It can make the true ability of your Gum-Gum Fruit... completely awaken!"
These words were like a thunderbolt striking Rayleigh's head. The old Pluton's image flickered violently a few times, his face instantly turning pale. He suddenly remembered the World Government's five old men's obsession with the Nika Fruit...
"Wait!" Rayleigh shouted in an undignified manner. "Kaido, are you crazy?! If he awakens now—"
Kaido grinned menacingly, raising his spiked club, Haoshoku lightning swirling around its shaft. "What? Afraid your 'prized disciple' will be targeted?" He deliberately licked his fangs at the camera. "Now you know why I only used two hits, don't you?"
The bullet comments in the live stream suddenly cleared eerily for a few seconds, then exploded forth:
[User "Whitebeard": Gurararara! This is getting interesting.]
[User "Red Hair": Rayleigh, you messed up, didn't you? It's not time yet.]
[User "Doflamingo": Fufufufufufu... Can't keep the hidden secret contained?]
Luffy scratched his head in confusion. "What are you talking about? My Devil Fruit ability is clearly the Gum-Gum Fruit. If it awakens, won't I just turn into a giant rubber man?"
"Shut up!" Rayleigh and Kaido roared in unison.
Rayleigh was breathing heavily, cold sweat soaking his shirt. He knew too well what this meant. If Luffy awakened now, it would not only draw the full force of CP0's pursuit but also potentially trigger the World Government to initiate "that plan" prematurely...
"I surrender." Rayleigh suddenly took off his spectacles, raising his hands in defeat. "'Mediocre Teacher' it is." He smiled bitterly at Kaido. "You lunatic..."
Kaido snorted, putting away his spiked club. "Not bad, the former Pluton also has his moments of surrender."
....
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