Chapter 336: Interested

Within the 60GR section of the Sabaody Archipelago, deafening explosions echoed one after another.

Clang!

A jet-black flying slash struck Sanguinius’ ornate golden power armor. The embedded specialized Honkai Particle Void Shield emitted ripples across its surface.

Boom!

The resulting shockwave instantly erased the port area around Sanguinius, leveling the surroundings of 60GR.

“If this is the extent of your abilities… there’s no need to continue this test.”

Still immaculate in his golden armor, Sanguinius’ gaze grew colder.

Boom!

“Truly, age has caught up with me… I can no longer even cut through armor.”

As the words left his mouth, a torrent of crimson-black Conqueror’s Haki surged from Rayleigh, creating a shockwave that caused loose stones beneath his feet to shatter into grains of sand, which now swirled in the air.

“A power rooted in sheer will?” A glimmer of curiosity flashed through Sanguinius’ eyes as he murmured.

Whoosh!

In an instant, Rayleigh’s form vanished, leaving only a streak of darkness in his wake due to his incredible speed.

In the blink of an eye, he traversed over a hundred meters, appearing at Sanguinius’ side. The pitch-black blade in his hand turned into a cold gleam, aimed directly at Sanguinius’ neck.

“So, it’s this armor… He’s surrounded by some sort of invisible defensive field.”

As his black blade neared Sanguinius’ body, it felt as though it had plunged into quicksand—no matter how much effort Rayleigh exerted, it was as if the blade was caught in an unseen mire, his every struggle rendered futile.

But Rayleigh didn’t halt his actions. Crimson-black energy, fluid as molten liquid, began to coat the blade. “Conqueror’s Coating!”

Gripping the blackened blade tightly, he pressed onward, forcing it to clash with the invisible void shield.

Clang—!

The sharp sound of metal on metal reverberated through the air. The ground beneath their feet crumbled under the pressure, sending unseen tremors deep into the earth. Around them, visible cracks spread out like a web in all directions.

The sky churned with winds and clouds, while the ocean waves roared as if echoing the battle’s intensity.

“….”

Without a word, Rayleigh pulled back after his strike failed. Staring at Sanguinius—who remained unscathed and whose golden armor still shone as brightly as ever—Rayleigh’s eyes filled with astonishment.

Although the fight hadn’t reached a life-or-death struggle, Rayleigh had already resorted to using Conqueror’s Coating. For someone past their prime, whose body was gradually losing its youthful vigor, this was his strongest attack in a typical fight.

Anything beyond this would demand risking his life, causing irreversible damage to his body.

After all, at nearly eighty years old, Rayleigh’s durability wasn’t what it used to be.

What terrified him more was that despite his slash, Sanguinius’ invisible defensive field seemed entirely unaffected.

“The embedded Honkai Particle Void Shield in this armor operates on a generation array. Unless your attack can surpass its peak defensive capacity in a single moment, you won’t cause any effective damage—so long as its energy source isn’t exhausted.”

Holding the Crimson Blade of Desolation, Sanguinius stood motionless, his voice indifferent as he spoke to Rayleigh.

“So much has changed with time. May I ask, where are you and your army from, and who exactly are you?”

With both hands gripping his black blade, Rayleigh offered a bitter smile as he replied.

“The Sacred Selene Empire.”

A nation like the Germa Kingdom, combining military technology with politics? An empire… yet one he’d never heard of?

“Rayleigh, is it? The combat data has been recorded.”

Before Rayleigh could fully contemplate this mysterious empire, he noticed the change in Sanguinius’ gaze.

Gone was the mild-mannered demeanor. Now, there was a frigid arrogance—an expression that reminded Rayleigh of the vile scum often seen loitering around the Archipelago.

Though Sanguinius spoke with decorum, his haughty disposition and dismissive view of everyone (pirates, marines, and natives alike) mirrored the Celestial Dragons.

“The battle ends here.”

The pure intent behind those words—the unshakable determination to kill—struck Rayleigh deeply. That unrelenting, predatory stare reminded him of a seasoned hunter about to claim their prey. His Observation Haki triggered an acute sense of impending doom, and his body broke out in a cold sweat.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Rayleigh immediately cloaked himself in Conqueror’s Haki, enveloped his entire body in Armament Haki, and activated his Observation Haki to its fullest.

Clang!!!

So fast! Faster than anything he’d encountered before!

One moment, Sanguinius stood in place; the next, his white wings flared, and Rayleigh’s vision was overwhelmed by golden brilliance. The crimson-gold blade was now mere inches from his body.

Though Rayleigh’s Observation Haki revealed Sanguinius’ next moves, his aging body could not keep pace. There was no time to adjust his stance.

A sharp pain shot through his hands as his joints cracked under pressure. The incredible force was like a mountain crashing down, unrelenting in its might. His blackened blade bent unnaturally, and its hilt smashed into his chest.

Boom—!!!

Rayleigh’s body was hurled backward.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

He pierced through multiple layers of sound barriers, creating a long trench in the earth as he tumbled. With a final resounding impact, he crashed into the depths of the 60GR area, carving out a massive elliptical crater in the ground.

Already unstable due to the earlier devastation, the mangrove grove of 60GR now suffered a catastrophic collapse as its roots were shredded, and the entire island structure began to disintegrate.

Boom!

Sanguinius, cloaked in radiant gold, dove toward the ground, leaving behind a hurricane-like trail as he landed with the force of a meteorite. His impact further demolished the island.

Chasing after Rayleigh, Sanguinius appeared above him in an instant and brought down his sword.

A deafening blast followed as a ferocious shockwave tore through the area.

Bang!!!

A colossal white spray erupted from the ocean, resembling a high-explosive naval bombardment. The displaced water formed massive waves that surged outward.

Falling into the sea, Rayleigh coughed up blood, leaving a stark trail of crimson in the blue waters. Mixed with the blood were fragments of internal organs—a harrowing sight.

At that moment, Rayleigh felt it vividly: he was going to die.

The thought echoed in his mind as his broken body cried out for rest. But the reality was far crueler—his Observation Haki warned him that Sanguinius’ presence was also now in the ocean.

He’s not a Devil Fruit user?!

Sanguinius’ angelic image and divine-like demeanor would make anyone suspect he was a Devil Fruit user. But no—he was entirely unrestricted by the sea’s curse.

With a surge of astonishment, Raleigh barely had time to process his thoughts. Enduring the searing pain coursing through his body, he gritted his teeth, tightly gripped the blood-slick hilt of his black blade, and swung it fiercely!

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The black blade moved like a phantom, delivering dozens of rapid strikes in an instant. Each swing carried a menacing arc of black energy that cut through the air with terrifying precision.

The sword energy carved paths through the ocean, displacing massive amounts of seawater. Air rushed into the void left behind, creating an eerie, wailing sound. Even the seemingly unbreakable roots of the Yarchiman Mangrove Trees were sliced as smoothly as butter.

Yet, Raleigh’s formidable swordsmanship and Haki—far beyond what most could comprehend—were rendered useless against Sanguinius. His attacks failed to surpass the energy threshold of the Void Shield. Each slash dissipated as if sinking into an endless sea, leaving no mark.

“Great Wing Tempest!”

Sanguinius spread his pristine, angelic wings. A hurricane erupted in an instant, centered around him, pulling seawater into a massive spiral. In moments, a towering waterspout formed, connecting the ocean and the sky.

Caught in the vortex, Raleigh struggled against the overwhelming force. Surrounded by the deafening roar of the ocean and the howling winds, he lifted his gaze with difficulty.

His silver hair billowed wildly, and his battered body screamed in protest. The relentless drag of the cyclone, combined with the toll of maintaining his full-body Armament Haki, pushed Raleigh to his limit. His aging frame could no longer withstand the stress.

“Roger… Newgate… Looks like I’ll be seeing you soon.”

This grim thought flashed through his mind, accompanied by a wave of helplessness. His body—his once-proud fortress—was now betraying him.

As he looked up at the radiant figure hovering above, framed by the spiraling storm, Raleigh finally admitted a chilling truth: this being… might not be human.

Throughout their battle, Sanguinius had used no traditional Haki techniques. Instead, his power was derived from something entirely alien—a force Raleigh could neither name nor comprehend.

Sanguinius gazed down at the steadfast swordsman who, even in the face of death, showed no fear. His expression remained impassive as he spoke in a calm, resolute voice:

“It ends now.”

With those words, schlick!

The crimson-golden blade of the [Redemption Blade] tore through Raleigh’s battered, bloodied form, cleaving it apart with precision.

Back at the 50GR district, Alyssa was locked in conversation with Leiva via the Honkai Cube’s projection.

“Lady Alyssa, ’those strange individuals with peculiar abilities are likely Devil Fruit users. Use seawater and Seastone.’ These are His Majesty’s exact words for you,” Leiva relayed.

“I understand,” Alyssa replied with a nod, casting a sidelong glance at the rubber-bodied Luffy before her.

This strange being—whose entire body stretched and twisted like rubber—was clearly a Devil Fruit user. Seawater was a known counter, but… what exactly was Seastone? Perhaps she’d question some captives later.

“Very well then, Lady Alyssa. Until we meet shortly.”

“Until then.”

With that, Alyssa dismissed the Honkai Cube and turned her full attention to Luffy, her eyes alight with interest.

“The call’s over, then? All right! Bring it on! I’ll defeat you!” Luffy declared, assuming a fighting stance.

What could she say about him? This was classic Luffy. Was it her seemingly harmless demeanor that emboldened him?

Or had his two years of training under Raleigh made him overconfident—far from the more cautious young man he’d been before Marineford?

Even though she had been preoccupied with the call, Luffy had neither attacked nor tried to escape. His resolve to stand his ground was, in its own way, admirable.

“Fine,” Alyssa replied.

Crackle! Zap!

A surge of electricity lit up the entire 50GR district, turning night into day. The dazzling blue lightning streaked across the air, accompanied by a deafening thunderclap.

Boom!

The ground beneath them scorched black from the immense heat generated by the electric charge.

“Huh, so you really are rubber. An insulator, are you?” Alyssa mused aloud, looking at the unharmed Luffy standing in the scorched pit. His clothing and hat bore burn marks, but his body remained unscathed.

“Whoa! Your powers are just like that long-eared guy on Sky Island! Hahaha! You can’t beat me with this, so just give up and move aside!” Luffy exclaimed, the memory of his battle with Enel bringing a grin to his face.

“Don’t concern yourself with that,” Alyssa said dismissively. “Let’s try again!”

BOOM!

Lightning arced once more.

In a flash, Luffy was flung backward, the sheer impact hurling him across the battlefield. His rubber body absorbed much of the force, but Alyssa’s overwhelming physical strength battered him repeatedly.

Like a bouncing ball, Luffy ricocheted across the grassy terrain, leaving deep craters wherever he landed.

Each impact sent tremors through the ground, making everyone in the 50GR district feel as though the earth itself was quaking.

The final strike sent Luffy hurtling into the sea, half his body splashing into the water. A pitiful cry escaped his lips as the saltwater sapped his strength.

“Ahh!” he groaned, his limbs flailing weakly. The chilling sensation of seawater left him unable to resist further. His body felt as though it was falling apart, his vision swam, and his breathing grew labored.

“Mhm, the Empress was right. You fear seawater; it weakens your abilities. Let’s see if I can’t zap you into oblivion now,” Alyssa quipped, wearing an almost childlike grin as she voiced her rather cruel intentions.

Crackle—Zap!

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Capital’s Celestial Spring Hall.

“Your Majesty, the Ninth Legion’s combat data has been uploaded. I’ll ensure Sanguinius accelerates the conquest efforts.”

“Mm, I see…,” Selene replied languidly, sprawling lazily over her study desk. Then, as if struck by sudden realization, she bolted upright.

“Leiva! No slacking off! When I say complete the conquest, I don’t mean you can issue an Exterminatus to wrap things up quickly! Do I make myself clear?!”

“Y-yes, Your Majesty!” Leiva stammered, stifling his urge to protest against her accusations. After saluting respectfully, he promptly ended the communication.

Selene reached for her tea, sipping it as she reclined into an even more comfortable position, gracefully crossing her legs. Her fingers swiped across a holo-display as she reviewed combat footage from the Blood Angels.

Mid-scroll, her gaze caught on a straw hat amidst the chaos.

“Hey! Isn’t that Monkey D. Luffy? Did he just have a match with Alyssa?”

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