Is stood still.
His gaze locked onto the incoming pirate.
No movement.
No panic.
Just calm.
"Hahaha! Scared stiff already?"
The pirate mocked as his blade came down.
Slash—
Psssh!
Blood splattered across the deck.
But—
It wasn't Is's.
The pirate froze.
His blade stopped just inches from Is—
Because a paper spear had already pierced straight through his body.
"Crackle…!"
Smoke rose from the wound as the burn attribute took effect.
"AAARGH—!"
He screamed, struggling helplessly.
Is didn't even flinch.
With a simple motion—
Shhk!
He pulled the spear out.
The pirate collapsed—
Falling straight into the sea.
Rayleigh and the others paused mid-charge.
"…A Devil Fruit user?" one of them muttered.
"And strong… This isn't what we heard about Celestial Dragons."
"So not all of them are useless trash after all…"
A burly pirate stepped forward, gripping a hammer.
"I'll test him—"
"Stop."
Rayleigh raised a hand.
"You're not his match."
Before anyone could react—
A pressure exploded outward.
Conqueror's Haki.
Boom—
Several pirates behind Rayleigh collapsed instantly.
"That's… Conqueror's?!"
"From a Celestial Dragon?!"
"This guy… is definitely different."
Rayleigh's lips curled slightly.
Now he was interested.
Whoosh—
His own Conqueror's Haki surged out in response.
Two invisible forces collided.
The air trembled.
But—
Is's Haki was clearly weaker.
He had only awakened it recently.
Even so—
It didn't shake him at all.
As the pressure faded—
Rayleigh drew his sword.
"Let me handle you."
He leapt forward—
Blade descending toward Is.
But—
FLASH—
A figure intercepted him mid-air.
CLANG!
Steel met steel.
Madara stood there—
Scythe in hand.
A shockwave burst outward, rippling the sea below.
Rayleigh narrowed his eyes.
Madara grinned.
"If you want him…"
"You go through me first."
With a sudden surge of force—
BOOM!
Rayleigh was knocked back—
Landing on his own ship.
Madara dropped beside Is.
Rayleigh steadied himself.
"…Fast. And strong."
His eyes sharpened.
"Good…"
"This is exactly what I wanted."
He threw off his coat—
Muscles tensing beneath his shirt.
Madara glanced at Is.
"I'll handle them."
"Been bored long enough."
Is didn't object.
If Madara wanted a fight—
Let him have it.
Rayleigh's blade turned black—
Armament Haki.
Whoosh!
He vanished.
Reappearing mid-air—
Striking down again.
Madara didn't move.
He simply looked up.
And in that instant—
His eyes changed.
Black turned crimson.
Tomoe spun rapidly—
Then—
Mangekyō Sharingan.
A skeletal, blue aura erupted around him.
Susanoo.
BOOM!
Rayleigh's strike landed—
But stopped.
Blocked.
"…What the hell is this?"
He frowned.
"Another Devil Fruit…?"
Before he could think further—
The skeletal arm moved.
A massive punch—
Crashing down.
BANG!
Rayleigh raised his blade—
Blocking instinctively.
But the force—
Sent him flying sideways.
Meanwhile—
On the other side of the battlefield—
Roger had already crushed the Marines.
The Vice Admirals were down.
Completely.
He sheathed his sword with a grin.
"Well then—"
"Start loading."
"Take everything useful."
"Aye, Captain!"
The crew moved instantly.
Roger stretched slightly.
"Gaban—let's go check on Rayleigh."
He laughed.
"That ship carrying the Celestial Dragon…"
"Bet there's some top-quality wine."
"First come, first served!"
He dashed forward.
Gaban sighed—
But followed anyway.
The battlefield—
Was splitting into two fronts.
And now—
The real monsters—
Were about to collide.
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