章 110: Ask Rayleigh For Sword Skills

The puppet's ship wasn't far from where the fight with Doflamingo, known as Ming Ge, took place. During the confrontation, Arías had already planted a small tracker in Ming Ge's clothing. This tracker, the core component of a tiny, nearly undetectable device, allowed Arías to track Doflamingo's movements and eventually locate his hidden base in the underground world.

Arías soon docked his boat on a deserted island near Nine Snake Island, leading everyone ashore.

"You actually remembered to visit an old man like me!" A white-haired man approached with a wide grin, looking like an ordinary fisherman. It was Rayleigh, the Dark King.

"Rayleigh, I've found some good seeds for you to train. Take a look!" Arías greeted him.

Rayleigh, though aged, had a stronger spirit than before, a change that was almost imperceptible but significant. The years of battle hadn't diminished his strength, but the accumulated injuries had taken their toll. However, Rayleigh now radiated an aura of renewed vigor.

When Rayleigh saw Zoro and the others, it reminded him of a young Shanks. Although he hadn't tested their strength himself, he could tell that Arías had indeed brought him talented individuals.

But Rayleigh wasn't one to be easily taken advantage of. "You think you can get away with this without giving me something in return?" he teased with a smile.

Arías grinned back. "Do you really want to take all your skills to the grave? Wouldn't it be better to have these disciples spread the name of Pluton Rayleigh?"

As he spoke, he nudged Zoro forward. "Call him Master! This is Rayleigh, the right-hand man of the Pirate King Roger, and the world's strongest swordsman!"

Zoro, though prideful, couldn't help but be intrigued by the claim of the world's strongest. The other young recruits felt the same, their respect for the old man growing.

Rayleigh, not swayed by flattery, replied, "Flattery won't get you far, boy. Show me something worthwhile."

Arías considered his options. As long as he kept his core abilities secret, he could afford to share some of the lesser techniques. He demonstrated a technique called the Great Compassion Hand, sending a powerful wave with his palm.

Rayleigh, recognizing the technique's potential, was impressed despite its lack of full power. "I'll take it," he agreed.

Arías then taught Rayleigh the finer points of the technique, and Rayleigh, constantly nodding, found his understanding deepening. "I see… This is truly eye-opening!"

Rayleigh kept his promise, instructing Zoro and the others in swordsmanship. Though Rayleigh's weapon of choice was a Western sword, the techniques were similar enough to be of great value. Even Arías paid close attention, eager to improve his own skills. After all, the dragon at his waist wasn't just for show.

Arías left the young recruits on the island to continue their training under Rayleigh's guidance. While some, like Carina, focused on Qi cultivation and the use of Haki, others, such as Zoro, remained dedicated to mastering swordsmanship.

Arías also took steps to ensure their comfort, sending a group of female warriors to build houses for them on the island. Meanwhile, he took Sonia and Mary with him, returning to Nine Snake Island.

In the privacy of his chambers, after an intense encounter, Arías entered a state of deep thought, contemplating his plans for the new year.

He reviewed the key plots where he could intervene and make changes. Hody was supposed to steal the box, but Hody was already dead. Sanji's rescue by Zeff and the creation of the sea restaurant were now redundant, as Sanji had joined them on his own. Similarly, Monet and Sugar, originally saved by Doflamingo, were now under his protection. The situation with Ginny, who had died leaving only her newborn daughter Bonney, was another matter. Though Bonney's father might have been a Celestial Dragon, there was little he could gain from meddling in this tragedy. Bonney wasn't a significant figure in the grand scheme of things, and killing her wouldn't likely trigger any system rewards.

The thought of healing Ginny crossed his mind. If he could, it might earn him the loyalty of Bartholomew Kuma, whose Devil Fruit abilities were highly coveted. However, curing her would require more than just the Op-Op Fruit's power. Perhaps it was time to focus on recruiting Robin and Franky, as well as intensifying his own training.

He also needed to gather more materials to continue refining weapons, though that could wait. Setting up intelligence stations across the seas was another priority. Sabaody was the closest, and he could learn from Shakky's experience by opening a café there. Establishing similar outposts in the Four Seas would require strong escorts, but that was a manageable task.

The morning sun found him sparring with Yamato, Juelong in hand. His swordsmanship, incorporating elements from Shimotsuki, Pluton, and even Shanks, was steadily evolving. The battle between them was intense, both fighters pushing each other to new heights.

Back on the island, Rayleigh's deserted hideaway had become a lively training ground. Under Rayleigh's guidance, the recruits developed their Qi and awakened their Haki. Arías also introduced them to new techniques. Carina and Nami chose Ghost Shadowing, while Nojiko focused on Bajiquan. Kuina and Zoro remained dedicated to their sword skills, refusing to be distracted by other forms of combat. Usopp practiced his marksmanship with a homemade slingshot, while Sanji, with the help of Hancock, refined his kicking techniques. Chopper, on the other hand, embraced the Great Compassion Hand.

Arías, always looking to strengthen his team, handed Usopp a small black tube. "This will help with your training. Wear it on your arm. It can fire energy bombs, much stronger than your slingshot!"

Usopp, delighted with the new tool, felt it was exactly what he needed.