章 128: Chapter 128: Rayleigh
Although Alex considered himself much more restrained than before, the pirates and Marines around him did not share that view.
Their eyes practically popped out of their heads in classic cartoonish fashion as they collectively gasped, "He's actually killed another Celestial Dragon!"
"Is he truly this reckless?"
Among the stunned onlookers were the unfamiliar Marines as well as Hatchan and the others. Alex seized this moment, using his energy to capture the scene and store it in his memory, planning to sculpt it into a statue for his collection later. If he ever returned to his original world, he might even show it off to his friends.
The chaos Alex caused reached everyone on the island. Zoro, out wandering, arrived with Jewelry Bonney just in time to witness Alex kill Charloss Saint. Zoro simply smirked, ready for a wild fight. Bonney, on the other hand, stomped her foot in frustration, muttering, "That's it; three Celestial Dragons are dead. Sabaody Archipelago might not exist after this."
Other members of the Worst Generation—Eustass Kid, Trafalgar Law, Urouge, Capone Bege, Basil Hawkins, X Drake, and Scratchmen Apoo—stood at a distance, watching Alex. In their minds, Alex, though bounty-less, had become the most notorious of them all. However, they regretted that this bright new star likely wouldn't last. Having killed two Celestial Dragons, he was bound to face unrelenting pursuit from the World Government, possibly ending in a public execution to restore the Celestial Dragons' authority.
As for Alex, he paid no mind to the thoughts of these so-called Worst Generation members. What he was really concerned with was how to handle the Navy's imminent arrival and how to make his next move as stylishly as possible… no, wait, he meant how to set up the "scene."
The scheming Alex ran scenarios through his hyperactive mind. If he defeated the Admirals too quickly, the final boss would likely intervene immediately, cutting short the fun. He needed a plan to draw things out...
An idea sparked, and he decided on his next move, further suppressing his sensory abilities. With such heightened awareness, he accidentally learned too many secrets about the One Piece world, and having the story spoiled was far from enjoyable.
As footsteps approached, a well-built, white-haired figure joined them. Though elderly, the man's physique was impressively robust, and his aura exuded a unique charisma. Smiling, he greeted Hatchan, "Hatchan, long time no see!"
"Rayleigh!" Hatchan's battered spirit finally found relief at the sight of Silvers Rayleigh. With his help, they might just escape the Navy's clutches.
Rayleigh, after greeting Hatchan, turned his attention to Alex. Learning about the chaos, he had left the slave auction house to see for himself what kind of young man would dare to kill a Celestial Dragon. Even he had never gone so far.
He quickly identified Alex by his striking hair and eye color, but most tellingly, in his Haki perception, everything else was crystal clear except for one blank area—the space around Alex. As the Pirate King's former right hand, Rayleigh knew what this meant: Alex's Haki was so powerful it created an absolute barrier, far beyond his own.
Yet he couldn't believe it. No current power, not even the Four Emperors, Admirals, or Garp or Sengoku, could completely eclipse his perception. Could this be some mysterious Devil Fruit ability?
Hatchan rushed over, asking anxiously, "Rayleigh, is there any secret way to escape the Navy's blockade around Sabaody Archipelago? Alex has killed two Celestial Dragons, and they'll surely unleash a Buster Call on us!"
Rayleigh shook his head. "Don't worry, Hatchan. Even with a Celestial Dragon killed here, the World Government won't destroy the Sabaody Archipelago."
Unlike Hatchan, Rayleigh understood the politics. The archipelago's strategic location, with its coating services that allow passage to the New World, is essential. Destroying it would anger pirates and disrupt the balance, creating the kind of chaos the World Government seeks to avoid.
After calming Hatchan, Rayleigh turned to Luffy and the others, smiling, "I hear you're looking for someone to coat your ship. How about me? I'm the best coating craftsman on Sabaody Archipelago!"
Hearing Rayleigh's words, Nami looked delighted. If they could finish the coating, they could reach Fish-Man Island and then sail on to the New World. The Navy's presence there was sparse, so they'd be able to evade pursuit, and Alex would be safe too!
She eagerly shoved Luffy aside and said to Rayleigh, "Please, sir, we'd be very grateful!"
Later, Alex joined Luffy and the others at a small bar, where they learned Rayleigh's identity and heard deeper truths about the Pirate King's journey. They chose not to uncover the secrets of One Piece or the missing century of history, preferring to discover them on their own—a sentiment Alex shared, given he was suppressing his own perception. After all, the unknown and the adventure are what made it all so exciting.
With their decision made, the Straw Hat crew left the bar, planning to hide on Sabaody for three days before setting off on their next adventure. Alex prepared to join them when Rayleigh stopped him.
"Alex," Rayleigh said, taking a deep drag from his cigarette as he looked intently at the mysterious young man. "I don't think I've seen someone like you before. A person with your strength shouldn't be unknown out on the seas."
Alex understood Rayleigh was growing curious about his origins. But he wasn't concerned; even if Rayleigh was among the top figures in this world, he would never grasp the truth. This world's limitations held back his understanding.
As sunlight filtered through the leaves of the Yarukiman Mangrove, casting golden specks on Alex, he replied with a smile, "I'm just a traveler, here to witness, change a few things, and maybe gain something along the way. That's all."
Rayleigh let the cigarette burn down to his fingertips before exhaling a puff of smoke and laughing heartily. "Interesting young man. Well, this world no longer belongs to us relics of the past. Let the young make their mark without us meddling."
With that, he headed off to relocate the Thousand Sunny to a safer area for the coating process.
After reuniting with Luffy and the others, Nami asked Alex curiously what he and Rayleigh had discussed. But before he could answer, a loud blast resounded in the distance.
Boom!
A golden flash tore through the sky, and the Yarukiman Mangrove numbered 27 split in two, joining the fate of number 31. Seeing yet another mangrove split, Alex knew it was Kizaru.
Kizaru was probably making a show of power before the rookies, muttering lines like "So scary," and taking down stuff with a single kick. For those who hadn't reached the New World or mastered Haki, Kizaru was an almost unbeatable force.
Alex activated his senses, locating Kizaru and noting his confrontation with Basil Hawkins, Urouge, X Drake, and other supernovas nearby—just two kilometers away, close enough for the real threat to be felt.
Satisfied, Alex saved the scene of Kizaru's standoff with the supernovas to his memory but refocused his attention on the path ahead.
A towering figure nearly seven meters tall stood blocking their way. Though the figure looked identical to Bartholomew Kuma, Alex knew it wasn't the real Kuma but rather a Pacifista—a cyborg created in his likeness.
The Pacifista ignored the Straw Hats, focusing solely on Alex, given his recent act of killing two Celestial Dragons. This shifted the priority away from Luffy and his crew.
Seeing the Pacifista, which resembled Kuma, made the Straw Hats tense up, memories of their last encounter resurfacing. Realizing that the Pacifista's gaze was locked onto Alex, they urgently warned him, "Alex, get out of the way—that's a powerful energy blast incoming!"
They shouted frantically, knowing from experience how terrifying Kuma was; they were sure there was no way to survive a direct hit from that blast.
But Alex, unfazed by the Straw Hats' warning, didn't move. At their current level, they were still too weak to understand what real strength meant, far from the power they'd gain after two years of training.
And besides, Alex was in a completely different league from the so-called "strongest" in this world.
In the blink of an eye, a blinding laser shot from the Pacifista's palm, speeding toward Alex.
"Alex!" The Straw Hats screamed in terror, with Nami and Robin's voices trembling as they imagined the worst. If Alex died here, they'd lose their last hope of bringing their loved ones back.
What happened next, though, left them speechless. As the laser sped toward him, Alex lifted his finger, and the beam that should have exploded upon impact suddenly stopped in midair. It then morphed, twisting into a lightning spear that crackled with power in his palm.
Gripping the spear, Alex prepared to throw it, then launched it with all his might. The lightning spear vanished in an instant, piercing straight through the Pacifista and leaving a one-meter-wide hole in its chest.
But even after tearing through the Pacifista, the spear didn't stop; it picked up speed, carving a massive trench in the ground as it continued to fly. Along its path, anything nearby was scorched and left in ruins, creating a ten-meter-wide channel in its wake.
Not far away, Urouge, Eustass Kid, and others were grappling with their own Pacifistas, feeling immense pressure. But suddenly, a deafening roar and the sound of machines breaking cut through the air, and when they looked up, a massive trench stretched before them, and their enemies—the copies of Bartholomew Kuma—had vanished without a trace.
The supernovas could only gape in shock. "What just happened!?"
Even these reckless rookies, notorious for their fearlessness, were shaken by the devastating attack. However, their pride took over almost immediately, and they rushed angrily toward the direction of the lightning spear, shouting, "Who's the bastard that dared steal our prey!?"
Meanwhile, Luffy and the others, who didn't yet possess Observation Haki, remained clueless about the furious supernovas nearby. They simply stared blankly at Alex and the massive trench before him.
What had just happened? Kuma had been defeated by Alex in a single blow? Was he really that powerful?
Though they knew Alex was capable of amazing feats, this was beyond their wildest expectations. For the relatively inexperienced Straw Hats, the display left a profound impression, especially for Nami, who was shaking so much she could barely stand.
Pointing at Alex, Nami stammered, "Mr. Alex, y-y-y-you..."
Seeing her state, Alex couldn't help but remark, "It wasn't the real Bartholomew Kuma, just a modified copy. Taking it down in one blow isn't a big deal—many people on the sea could do it."
"But... b-but..." Nami continued to stutter, feeling as if her close friend, with whom she'd agreed to live a quiet life, had suddenly revealed himself as a billionaire. She could barely process it, still pointing at the massive trench without finding her words.
Sighing at his future employee's reaction, Alex chided, "Miss Nami, if you're going to work under me, you'll see things far more extraordinary than this. What you've seen here doesn't even qualify as a warm-up, and I'm disappointed by your reaction. I might have to reconsider hiring you."
Noticing Alex's displeasure, Nami immediately composed herself and spoke smoothly, "Don't worry, Mr. Alex, I promise I won't overreact again!"
Robin quietly took note of this as well: Alex didn't like people who were easily startled, even when what they had just seen was incredibly shocking.
But it was understandable; they wanted to improve, and that was definitely a good thing.
Since Alex had swiftly taken down three Pacifistas and caused such a massive disturbance, he naturally drew the attention of everyone on the Sabaody Archipelago.
Numerous Marines rushed to his location, as did the other supernovas of the Worst Generation. Alongside them were Admiral Kizaru, Sentomaru, other Pacifistas, and even the Dark King Rayleigh, who came to support the Straw Hats after noticing Kizaru heading their way.
The fastest, Admiral Kizaru, arrived first. He'd been facing off with the supernovas, trying his best to slack off and coast on the World Government's payroll, when he noticed the destroyed Pacifistas. Using his Observation Haki, he quickly realized the attack that had decimated three Pacifistas had come from Alex, and he was instantly annoyed.
Pacifistas were as expensive as a battleship to produce, and losing three of them while he was around would certainly hurt his performance review.
He worked hard to slack off and earn his salary bit by bit—didn't he deserve a break?
Frustrated, Kizaru abandoned his usual casual attitude, appearing before Alex, his foot glowing with a blinding golden light as he aimed a kick at Alex's face.
But before he could make contact, Rayleigh intervened, blocking Kizaru and saying, "Don't nip the buds—they're just beginning to bloom."
Alex let out a sigh of relief as he retracted the purple sphere in his hand. He had almost forgotten to hold back; if his purple had hit Kizaru's face, even Kizaru's elementalization would have failed to save him. The sphere, which could erase anything it touched, had no regard for regeneration abilities or elemental transformations.
With Kizaru held back by Rayleigh, Alex temporarily left him be, planning to deal with him later. Instead, he focused on the other supernovas charging toward him. They caught his interest, and he thought they might be perfect for Devil Fruit research materials.
Alex thought they would eagerly cooperate with his research, just as the Tailed Beasts had done.
The supernovas rushed toward Alex and quickly spotted him standing on the edge of the trench he'd created.
There was no doubt in their minds that the attack had come from this white-haired man.
Though Alex's earlier display of power was terrifying, the supernovas, unaccustomed to true adversity, were unafraid. They figured that even if they couldn't beat him, they could escape as they had with Kizaru.
Eustass Kid stepped forward, using his Devil Fruit ability to magnetically draw nearby weapons and tools to his arm, forming a massive mechanical hand. Pointing it at Alex, he sneered, "So you're the one who took my prey?"
With a long sword on his shoulder, Trafalgar Law looked at Alex with a similarly displeased expression. "Hey, you took our nearly defeated prey—that's not making things easy for us."
Meanwhile, the cautious Capone Bege watched from the sidelines, observing the situation.
Jewelry Bonney, X Drake, and Scratchmen Apoo also stayed back, ready to jump in if needed.
Among them, Basil Hawkins stood out. The moment he laid eyes on Alex, he was gripped with fear. As Alex mentally designated them as research subjects, Hawkins' predictions shifted drastically.
Chance of defeat: 100%! Chance of evasion: 0%! Chance of escape: 0%!
What was happening? Who was this man?
Remembering his earlier strange predictions, Hawkins glanced at Alex, sensing that Alex was somehow the source of those unsettling signs. Alex wasn't just a strong opponent; he was at the level of an admiral!
Without hesitation, Hawkins turned and ran, not even pausing to warn his comrades.
In stark contrast, the fearless Urouge stepped forward, his body swelling as he activated his Devil Fruit power. He could absorb damage, using it to increase his size and strength until he towered over ten meters, even taller than the original Kuma.
With a ferocious grin, Urouge taunted Alex, "Pipsqueak, you dare take my prey? I'll crush you!"
He charged forward—and promptly flew back.
Alex's punch, crackling with black lightning, sent Urouge hurtling through multiple buildings until he finally lay motionless in the debris.
The other supernovas watched in stunned silence. Scratchmen Apoo broke the quiet, muttering, "What kind of strength is that? Who is he, and why haven't we heard of him before?"
Kid then charged forward, swinging his enormous metal arm. "Now, that's a challenge. I'll take you down before the Four Emperors!"
Gathering strength, Kid transformed the metal into a high-density block and hurled it at Alex with incredible speed.
Gasping for breath, Kid grinned confidently. "Heh, no one's ever stood up after that move!"
He turned away, aiming to strike a cool pose by not looking back at the blast, but Trafalgar Law quickly warned him, "Behind you!"
Kid spun around, only to see that his projectile hadn't even reached Alex. It had stopped just a meter away, floating in mid-air, unable to advance.
What kind of power was this?
Then Kid watched in disbelief as Alex lightly flicked his finger, compressing Kid's metal cluster into a coin-sized object. Kid's expression shifted to shock as he felt a magnetic force emanating from Alex, far more powerful than his own.
Alex smirked and said, "That's not how you use magnetism. Let me show you… Railgun."
In the next moment, the tiny coin, glowing with blinding energy and unstoppable momentum, hurtled toward Kid at speeds many times the speed of sound!
°°°
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