Rhett led Lady Toki toward the back mountain. When they reached the deep forest, Rhett sat on a rock as if waiting for someone.
"Kuhahaha! This place is hard to find!"
Roger's voice suddenly came from the woods, carrying its usual cheerfulness. He pushed through the bushes and strode out, leaves stuck to his straw hat. He had clearly crashed straight through the forest to get there.
The corners of Rhett's mouth curled up beneath his mask. "What's wrong? You didn't invite me to join your crew back there, and now you regret it? Did you come chasing after me?"
Roger laughed heartily and brushed the leaves off his clothes. He sat down on the rock next to Rhett. "Why would I invite someone who's already on my crew again? Right, Rhett?"
He winked.
"Aren't you going to ask why there are two of me?"
Roger picked his nose casually.
"Rhett is Rhett, whether he's young or old! If you wanted to tell me, you would. If you don't, asking won't help. Isn't that what you taught me?"
Lady Toki stood at a distance, watching this scene in surprise. She had expected the secrets of time travel to raise more questions. But Roger's reaction was so... natural.
"You don't want to know what happens in the future?" Rhett couldn't help asking.
Roger looked up at the stars. "Kuhahaha! Knowing too much takes the fun out of it! I remember you asking me this once before, back when we first met."
He turned to look at Rhett, a knowing light in his eyes. "But... if there's anything I can help with now, just say the word."
Rhett shook his head. "No other reason, Roger. Let's fight. You used to bully me when I was weak. Now I want payback."
He meant it. Rhett had come back simply because he wanted to beat Roger up. By the time Rhett reached his peak strength, Roger's health had already declined badly. At this point in time, Roger hadn't yet reached his absolute peak, but he was very close. After this, Roger would become sick.
"Phantom World!" Thick mist surrounded them, cutting the battlefield off from the real world.
"Kuhahaha!" Roger laughed and stood up. "I knew you were up to something!"
He drew the Ace sword from his waist. It cut through the air with a sharp sound. "Come on! Let me see how much the little brat from the future has grown!"
Even as he said it, Roger's eyes were fixed intently on Rhett. He could feel his Observation Haki being affected inside the blood mist.
The blood mist surged around Rhett. The Black Tide Greatsword slowly left its scabbard. "Don't regret this, Captain."
The words had barely left his mouth when both of their figures vanished from where they stood.
"Little Rhett, don't disappoint me! Take this! Divine Departure!"
Rhett: Opening with Divine Departure. Classic. Divine Departure, I won't dodge. I'm better than the gods. You have your classic move. I have mine.
"Mist God Style: Phantom Strike!"
"CLANG—!!!"
The moment Black Tide and Ace collided, the impact illuminated their eyes, both burning with the will to fight.
The two blades crashed together and held. Two waves of Conqueror's Haki exploded outward. Rhett's was more blood-red in color. Like two suns colliding. The terrifying shockwave instantly uprooted all the surrounding trees and sent them flying into the air.
Rhett could feel the immense force coming through Ace. It was like a tidal wave, powerful and overwhelming. His hands went numb. Roger's strength was far beyond what he had imagined. He truly was the man who stood at the top of the pirate world. But Rhett knew that Roger was also feeling the impact. Because he too stood at the top of the pirate world. He was no longer the little brat hiding in the mist that Roger could catch with one hand.
"Mist God Style: Nine Dragons' Bite."
Rhett suddenly pulled back and leaned backward. The Black Tide Greatsword traced a perfect blood-red arc in front of him. Nine blood-red dragons shot out from the blade. Their whiskers flew. Their claws and scales were fierce. They lunged at Roger with an eastern majesty and ferocity.
"Good move!" Roger's eyes flashed. The Ace sword, wrapped in black-red lightning, swung. "Divine Descent!"
The blade shone like a rising sun. The moment it collided with the blood dragons, a deafening roar echoed through the forest. The shockwave shattered every rock within a hundred meters.
"Hey, hey, hey, isn't that too much? The Phantom World is about to break."
Roger's eyes burned with fighting spirit. The young brat he once knew had grown so much. It excited him and filled him with pride.
The Ace sword in his hand was wrapped in Armament Haki, shining with black light.
"Kuhahaha! Fun! More!" Roger laughed and moved. He appeared beside Rhett like a ghost and swung his sword.
Rhett's body turned to mist and reformed.
He took a deep breath and steadied himself.
"Mist God Style: Blood Prison Dragon's Rise!"
Rhett shouted. The blood mist around him surged and condensed into a massive blood-red dragon wrapped around the Black Tide Greatsword. A terrifying presence filled the air.
The blood dragon let out a deafening roar. Rhett's Conqueror's Haki also pressed down on Roger. In a fight between the strong, you had to gain the advantage in presence.
Roger's eyes focused. He felt the terrifying power emanating from the blood dragon and the pressure of Rhett's Conqueror's Haki.
Roger's body released a shockwave that met the blood dragon's pressure. The two forces of Haki collided violently in the air, creating a deafening boom. It felt as if the entire illusion would tear apart.
"Divine Punishment!"
Roger poured all his Haki into the Ace sword. The blade shone brighter than ever before, as if it could split heaven and earth. He roared and swung. An invisible sword beam shot toward the blood dragon.
"BOOM—!!!"
The blood dragon and the sword beam collided in mid-air with an earth-shattering explosion. The blood dragon's scales cracked. It let out a pained cry. The sword beam also dissipated.
Rhett hadn't expected to end the fight with one move. So he had hidden behind the blood dragon.
"Mist God Style: Blood Sacrifice!"
A wild look flashed in Rhett's eyes. The blood mist around him grew even thicker, as if it would swallow him. He roared. The Black Tide Greatsword exploded with blinding blood-red light. He swung it down at Roger's head with overwhelming killing intent.
"Kuhahaha! Now this is interesting!"
Roger was not one to back down. The Ace sword shone bright red. He roared and swung to meet it.
Their figures crossed again. Sword strikes fell like rain. Black Tide and Ace clashed wildly. Sparks flew. Each impact felt as if it would tear the air apart.
Two of the strongest men in the pirate world were no longer simply comparing strength or swordsmanship. The skill of applying power. An unbreakable will to win. Even the strength of the blades in their hands. Any of these could be the deciding factor in ending the fight. Using a tree branch as a sword only worked when you were completely superior to your opponent.