One piece: The Greatest Swordsman of the Rocks Era! Chapter 106: Rayleigh, It’s My Honor to Serve Captain Roger

Tengetsu Ares withdrew his gaze from the battlefield and looked toward Kaido, whose massive body was streaked with crimson blood.

"You're injured," he said with concern. "You should head back to the ship. Leave the rest to ."

Kaido, grinning from ear to ear, waved him off as though the wounds were nothing. His face burned with excitent and the thrill of combat.

"I'm not gonna miss out on a fight!" he replied, voice booming. "This kind of pain just gets more fired up!"

He was, like Ares, a true battle maniac.

So n were born to fight Ares was one of them. And so was Kaido.

Kaido had already sensed that Ares craved a worthy challenge. With a wild chuckle, he slapped his chest and said, "Don't worry about , Boss Ares. Sure, I'm weaker than you, but compared to most people, I'm still a monster!"

"I won't die so easily. I'll stand atop this sea one day!"

"Go ahead, take on the big guys!"

Despite his beast-like physique and savage appearance, Kaido was no fool. That rugged exterior was just a layer of skin. There was fire and ambition inside him.

Hearing Kaido boast about himself, Ares couldn't help but grin. "You're right, you are a monster."

"Then rember," Ares said, clapping a hand on Kaido's shoulder. "If you're ever in danger, just call for . I'm your big brother, after all."

That line, spoken with warmth and sincerity, made Kaido's heart stir.

Though still a teenager, Ares possessed a maturity and sense of loyalty that commanded respect.

Kaido's lips curled up, and he nodded firmly. "Big bro!"

"Go fight."

"I'll be waiting for the day you beco the world's strongest creature!"

Their blazing eyes t in midair, exchanging not words, but unspoken resolve.

Ares smiled confidently. "You better not fall behind. One day, we'll both stand at the pinnacle of the sea. We'll ride the tides as kings!"

It sounded idealistic even childish.

But then again, they were still just teenagers. Despite their towering, grown-up physiques, their hearts still burned with youthful passion.

This was their ti reckless, ambitious, and fearless.

"Let's fight!"

Ares spat out those words with ironclad resolve, eyes scanning the battlefield, searching for a worthy opponent.

He had no interest in fighting the weak.

Only the strong could satisfy him.

He understood perfectly well only by fighting powerful opponents could he grow stronger. His battle with the Giant Silka had only been a warm-up.

His eyes narrowed as he surveyed the field.

Weapons of every kind clashed. Pirates fought using wildly different styles, but none of it excited him.

His gaze finally landed on the trio at the heart of the Roger Pirates.

Roger. Rayleigh. Gaban.

His sharp brow furrowed as his amber eyes locked onto his target, gleaming with predatory light.

At that mont.

Rayleigh, who was dueling Wang Zhi, felt his skin prickle.

He imdiately sensed Ares's gaze, sharp and charged with bloodthirsty fighting spirit. It cut across the battlefield like a blade.

Rayleigh's pupils contracted slightly as he caught sight of the imposing figure now staring him down.

His heart grew heavier. Even Silka was defeated that quickly...?

No wonder he has a 220 million bounty. That guy is no joke.

Judging from that transformation… it must be a Devil Fruit ability.

It all made sense now and none of it put Rayleigh at ease.

Clang!

Rayleigh's shining longsword t the gleaming greatsword of Wang Zhi in another fierce clash.

Though much smaller in stature, Rayleigh held his ground. His blade didn't budge.

"So, Ares has already taken down his opponent," Wang Zhi said, almost casually. There was no surprise in his voice he knew exactly what Ares was capable of.

Wang Zhi, holding his massive sword in both hands, could also feel the overwhelming power in Rayleigh's strikes.

With a playful smirk, he teased, "So you're Roger's first mate, huh? You're not bad."

"But it looks like Ares has set his sights on you."

"I'll admit, you're strong. But if he's after you... well, good luck surviving."

It wasn't quite a warning. More like a challenge cloaked in irony.

Rayleigh's expression remained unreadable, but inwardly, his wariness toward Ares had soared.

One thing he had learned long ago: never show fear to your enemies.

In another world, there was a saying: "The kind are bullied, the ta are ridden."

He gave a confident smile and calmly countered, "Is that so?"

"My sword can cut through steel. You think that guy can block my slash?"

Shing!

Rayleigh swung his blade. A brilliant arc of sword light burst from its edge, gleaming with raw power.

It forced Wang Zhi back more than ten ters. Blood stread from his torn palms.

"You were holding back?!"

Wang Zhi's eyes went wide with shock.

That strike had been in a completely different league from before.

His heart pounded in disbelief.

He's stronger than .

That was the unmistakable conclusion Wang Zhi reached in that mont.

His hands trembled. Blood from his palms dripped to the ground.

This was his first real exchange with Rayleigh.

"The Roger Pirates really are full of monsters," Wang Zhi said, stunned. "No wonder they've got the guts to reject the Rocks Pirates."

"With strength like yours, you could be an officer on the Rocks ship without breaking a sweat."

"Roger's lucky to have a right-hand man like you!"

His voice carried no sarcasm. Just genuine admiration.

In the world of pirates, strength was the ultimate currency of respect.

But Rayleigh simply smiled.

"No."

Then, with a rare glimr of pride in his eyes, he added,

"It's my honor to have a captain like Roger."

In that mont.

There was sothing radiant about Rayleigh. A quiet, noble pride that commanded attention.

His words stunned not just Wang Zhi, but even Ares, who had been listening from nearby.

Standing beside Wang Zhi now, Ares studied Rayleigh intently, thoughtful.

So this is the man they call the "Dark King" Rayleigh?

He really is sothing else.

Strong…

And I like him.

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