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Chapter 156 Rayleigh, the King of the Underworld
Chapter 156 Rayleigh, the King of the Underworld
At this moment, Uchiha Hakuha had quietly altered all of Kizaru's senses of sight, hearing, touch, and even Haki perception.
This is the absolute power of the Zanpakuto, Kyoka Suigetsu: complete hypnosis, controlling the opponent's five senses, making everything they see, hear, and feel a falsehood that Hakuba wants them to see.
In Kizaru's perception, the white feather in front of him was still standing in the same spot, looking surprised. He had no time to dodge, and his light-speed kick accurately hit his heart.
In reality, Uchiha Shiraha sidestepped and circled around to Kizaru's blind spot, drawing his sword completely. The pitch-black Armament Haki, like ink, frantically wrapped around the entire blade, so intense that it even made the blade emit a low hum.
Kizaru's light-speed kick missed its target, striking the empty ground with a deafening roar. A crater several meters in diameter was created, sending debris flying everywhere.
However, in Kizaru's perception, Uchiha Hakuha was kicked away and shattered the ground.
Then a searing pain shot through his body, and hissed!
The jet-black Armament Haki perfectly countered the elemental transformation of the Logia-type Glint-Glint Fruit, and the blade sliced through Kizaru's defenses as easily as cutting tofu, embedding itself deeply into his left shoulder bone.
Blood gushed out instantly, staining his yellow striped suit red. The excruciating pain completely shattered Kizaru's nonchalant expression, and his pupils, hidden behind his sunglasses, contracted sharply, revealing an expression of disbelief.
"Well--!"
Kizaru grunted as his body was slammed away by the immense force, crashing into the ruined wall behind him like a kite with a broken string. With a deafening roar, rubble tumbled down, burying half of his body in the debris.
The wound on his left shoulder was so deep that the bone was visible; the bone had been shattered by the overwhelming force, and blood was flowing uncontrollably.
"What's going on??"
Bai Yu sheathed his sword and stood still, not pressing his advantage. His Sharingan remained locked on the disheveled Kizaru, the indifferent smile on his lips unchanged, his tone calm and unwavering: "Admiral Kizaru, your Observation Haki doesn't seem to be working—"
"What's going on? Is this the same ability as Shanks'?"
Kizaru secretly pondered the situation, but then thought it unlikely. Shanks couldn't hurt him, but he didn't know what was wrong with this Uchiha Hakuha.
On the other side of the ruins, Aokiji, who was locked in combat with Artoria, suddenly stopped upon seeing this scene. The ice spikes that had gathered in his palm instantly dissipated, and his eyes were filled with shock. Momousagi, who was confronting Retsu Unohana, even trembled in her wrist, and her famous sword Kinpira almost slipped from her grasp.
Marine Admiral Kizaru was seriously injured by the young man in front of him during the battle!
Artoria and Retsu Unohana did not press their advantage, but quietly returned to Shiraha's back.
Aokiji moved almost the instant Kizaru was sent flying. The chill of the Ice-Ice Fruit was no longer directed at Artoria, but instead transformed into two thick icicles that instantly pierced the ground. Using the ice as a springboard, he slid at an astonishing speed and rushed in front of Kizaru in a flash.
His brows furrowed, a rare hint of seriousness appearing in his usually indifferent expression. He placed one hand on the pile of rubble that had buried Kizaru, and the biting cold instantly froze the loose stones into a solid ice wall. With a gentle tremor, the hard ice wall shattered, steadily lifting Kizaru to his feet.
Momousagi followed closely behind, sheathing her sword and rushing over. She returned the famous sword Kinpira to its sheath, reached out and supported Kizaru's uninjured right shoulder. Her hair was slightly disheveled due to the hurried movement, and her eyes, which were no longer filled with contempt when she looked at Uchiha Hakuba, were filled with deep fear and shock.
With the help of Aokiji and Momousagi, Kizaru managed to stand up straight. The wound on his left shoulder was still bleeding, and the sharpness of the remaining black Armament Haki still clung to his bones, causing him to feel a sharp pain with every slight movement.
He slowly removed his signature sunglasses, revealing a pair of eyes filled with astonishment. His previously nonchalant and lazy demeanor vanished, replaced by a seriousness befitting the face of unknown abilities.
Uchiha Shiraha watched as Kizaru was being met by the two men. With a flick of his wrist, the sword that had just been sheathed was slowly drawn again. The blade gleamed with a cold and dangerous light, and although the sword aura was restrained, it still made the Marines present, as well as Momousagi and Aokiji, feel a heavy sense of pressure.
He stepped forward slowly, his footsteps echoing crisply on the broken ice and rubble. His gaze calmly swept over the three high-ranking naval officers before him, his tone indifferent yet carrying an undeniable authority: "The three of you, do you wish to continue the fight?"
Aokiji slightly subsided his chilling aura and stood half a step in front of Kizaru, his freezing power ready to erupt at any moment, but he did not attack immediately.
Momousagi gripped the Kinpira at her waist tightly, her expression tense. She knew very well that even if she used all her strength against these three, she might not be able to gain the upper hand. Moreover, Kizaru was already injured, and continuing to fight would only make the situation more uncontrollable.
Kizaru took a deep breath, suppressing the excruciating pain in his left shoulder. His expression, which had been contorted by the pain, slowly calmed down, and he regained his ambiguous smile, though the curiosity and seriousness in his eyes remained undiminished.
He looked up at Bai Yu, his voice less flippant than usual and more serious: "Little guy, what kind of ability was that just now? Your Observation Haki seemed to have failed, and you injured me instantly with Armament Haki before I could react—this is not something ordinary Haki can do."
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Hakuba's smile deepened slightly, and the crimson markings of his Sharingan flashed briefly in his eyes. He did not answer Kizaru's question, but simply sheathed his sword gently, his domineering aura subsided, and the oppressive feeling around him diminished somewhat.
Silence was his only response to Kizaru's curiosity.
The atmosphere fell into a delicate stalemate. There was no more clanging of weapons or the loud noise of Devil Fruit powers exploding; only the gazes of the few people silently confronted each other in the air.
Aokiji broke the silence first. He glanced at the naval reinforcements arriving from the Sabaody Archipelago, then looked at the composed Artoria and Retsu Unohana behind Shiraha, and said calmly, "Let's end today's battle here for now. I don't think you want to cause too much damage here, after all, you still have to go to the New World, and coating is essential."
Kizaru rubbed his still-painful left shoulder. Although the wound was deep enough to expose bone, given the physique and life-saving nature of a Marine Admiral, it wasn't considered a serious injury. He put his sunglasses back on and resumed his leisurely tone, though there was a hint of apprehension in his voice: "Oh dear, we've really encountered a formidable newcomer. The Sabaody Archipelago really can't be destroyed carelessly, after all, it's the best location to enter the New World."
"Same to you."
Uchiha Shiraha responded calmly, his tone undisturbed: "The strength of a Marine Admiral is indeed well-deserved. However, if we were to clash again, it wouldn't end so easily."
Momousagi bit her lip, but ultimately said nothing more. She supported Kizaru, exchanged a glance with Aokiji, and the three of them slowly retreated. Aokiji raised his hand and conjured an ice ladder, then led Kizaru and Momousagi up and leaped away towards the Marine base, leaving behind only a devastated battlefield as proof of the powerful duel that had just taken place.
Watching the three navy figures depart, the sword aura on the blade of Artoria's Ecalibur slowly receded, the golden light fading. She softly asked, "Bai Yu, are you alright?"
"It's alright."
Bai Yu shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the chaotic ruins. "This place is not safe to stay. Let's find somewhere else."
"That's amazing! That must be the power of 'Mirror Flower, Water Moon'!"
Unohana Retsu guessed.
Without lingering, the group quickly left the battlefield of Auction House No. 3, weaving through the scattered buildings and bubble trees of the Sabaody Archipelago, avoiding the naval forces stationed along the way and the crowds of onlookers, and headed deeper into the archipelago.
After a long and winding journey, a retro bar hidden among the bubble trees soon came into view. The wooden signboard had a line of slightly casual text engraved on it: Xiaqi's Bamboo Bar.
Uchiha Shiraha pushed open the wooden door of the bar. The wind chimes rang crisply, and warm yellow light shone out, dispelling the chill and smell of gunpowder from the outside.
The bar was decorated in a warm and casual style. Behind the bar, a smartly dressed woman was wiping glasses; it was Xia Qi.
At the bar, an elderly man with gray hair and casual clothes was leisurely drinking, exuding a powerful aura that had been tempered by time. It was none other than Silvers Rayleigh, known as the King of the Underworld. Hearing the door open, Rayleigh and Shakky looked up at the same time. When they saw who it was, Shakky first raised an eyebrow, then revealed a playful smile, put down her glass, leaned back on the bar, and teased, "Oh, so you just had a fight with a Marine Admiral at Auction House Number Three, and now you've come here."
Rayleigh put down his wine glass, a glint of light flashing in his cloudy eyes. He carefully examined Bai Yu and the other two, lingering especially on Bai Yu for a moment, sensing the lingering Haki within him. He then looked at Artoria and Unohana Retsu, and couldn't help but chuckle, his tone full of helplessness and approval: "Kid, you're really audacious. Sabaody Archipelago is heavily guarded by the Navy, and yet you went and attacked Kizaru, Aokiji, and Momousagi right away, even injuring Kizaru. I bet Fleet Admiral Sengoku is already furious at Marine Headquarters."
Bai Yu walked to the bar and sat down, while Artoria and Unohana Retsu sat down on the chairs next to him. He looked at Rayleigh and Shakky in front of him and a faint smile appeared on his lips: "You guys are really well-informed. Is there a live TV broadcast over there? How did you get the news so quickly?"
Uchiha Hakuba paused for a moment before continuing, "Let's test the strength of the Admiral. The New World is still very dangerous."
"A test?"
Xia Qi chuckled and handed Bai Yu a glass of chilled drink. Her eyes sparkled with amusement: "This is the first time I've ever seen a test that injured a Marine Admiral. You little rascal, you're even more arrogant than Roger was back then."
Rayleigh shook his head, picked up his glass, took a sip, and looked intently at Bai Yu: "The trouble in the Sabaody Archipelago has only just begun. You injured Kizaru, and things won't be peaceful here from now on, but—"
Shifting his tone, Rayleigh's eyes held a hint of appreciation: "To be able to severely injure Kizaru single-handedly, your strength far exceeds my expectations. These two young ladies are also top-tier experts. It seems your group is destined to stir up a storm on this sea."
Bai Yu took the drink Xia Qi handed him, his gaze fixed on the colorful bubbles floating outside the bar window, his tone calm yet firm: "Whether it's storms or troubles, the path we must take will eventually be taken."
Xia Qi and Lei Li exchanged a glance, both seeing understanding and amusement in each other's eyes. They said nothing more, simply keeping Bai Yu and the other two company quietly, letting the warm yellow light envelop the small bar, temporarily isolating it from the smoke and strife of the outside world.
Uchiha Hakuba calmly focused his gaze on Rayleigh, and without any beating around the bush, directly revealed the true identity of the old man before him.
"Silver Beard Rayleigh, the right-hand man of the Pirate King Roger, the legendary first mate of a pirate crew!"
As soon as she finished speaking, the air in the bar seemed to pause slightly. Xia Qi paused in wiping the glass, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes before she regained her playful smile.
Rayleigh paused slightly in his hand holding the wine glass, his cloudy yet sharp eyes lifting again to scrutinize Bai Yu as if he were seeing him for the first time.
"Oh?" Rayleigh put down his glass, chuckled, and said with a hint of surprise, "I didn't expect someone to recognize me at a glance, and to be so blunt about it. You seem to know more about the past of this sea than I thought."
"I need your help."
Bai Yu didn't waste any time with pleasantries and went straight to the purpose of his trip: "Our ship needs a coating to get to the New World, the Sabaody Archipelago. Only you can do a perfect coating and safely take us to Fishman Island."
Upon hearing this, Rayleigh calmly took a sip of his drink, his gaze sweeping over Bai Yu and his group. He put down his glass, tapped the bar lightly, and readily agreed: "Coating is fine, I'll take care of it. However, your ship needs to sail to the designated secluded bay first. I'll handle that there, and I'll cover for you with the navy. I guarantee there won't be any problems."
Uchiha Hakuba nodded slightly, his tone softening: "Thank you."
"It was just a small favor."
Rayleigh waved his hand, then suddenly seemed to remember something, looking at Bai Yu with a hint of inquiry in his eyes: "But I'm very curious, you're so young, yet your strength is so terrifying, and you know my location so well, how is that? ————
Bai Yu picked up his glass, took a sip of the chilled drink, and said calmly, "Shanks, I have a certain degree of acquaintance with Red-Haired Shanks."
"Shanks?!"
"That's right." Bai Yu nodded.
Rayleigh instantly became talkative, his previously calm and composed expression vanishing, replaced by a deep sense of nostalgia and tenderness. He patted the bar and smiled, beckoning to Shakky, "Shakky, bring a few more bottles of good wine. Today I'm going to tell these kids some interesting stories about that red-haired brat from Roger's ship!"
Shaki shook her head helplessly, but still took out several bottles of fine vintage wine from the wine cabinet as instructed, placed them on the table, and pulled up a chair to sit down herself, clearly happy to listen to Rayleigh reminisce about the past.