One Piece: From Picking Up Red Hair's Broken Arm

Chapter 163 Rayleigh's Defeat, Chaton's Setback [5K]

Rayleigh looked at Shano.

Despite giving it his all, he couldn't gain any advantage against this young man who was not even twenty years old.

Isn't this kind of talent a bit too exaggerated?

Even the current Four Emperors... no, even Roger at this age, were far less powerful.

now.

On the surface, the other person's condition seems to be similar to my own.

It was also a bloody mess, covered in wounds, especially on the right side of his neck, where a sword wound went deep into his shoulder blade, revealing the bare white bone underneath.

but……

What is undeniable is that this pause only lasted for a short while.

The bleeding from the gruesome wound had stopped, and the muscle fibers were twitching slightly as if they were alive, healing rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye.

"What remarkable recovery ability..."

Rayleigh's pupils contracted slightly, and his grip on the sword tightened involuntarily.

He had roamed the seas for many years and had seen countless legendary figures in his youth, including many with monstrous physiques.

But the self-healing ability that the boy in front of us is showing is even more impressive.

It was absolutely terrifying!
"What, are you scared?"

Xia Nuo walked over step by step, revealing his gleaming white teeth. "Starting to ramble on again. Could it be that the mighty Dark King Rayleigh has grown so old that he needs the Navy to bail him out?"

"Kid, I'm trying to explain the situation to you..."

Rayleigh frowned. Another reckless guy?

Or perhaps young pirates are naturally arrogant, and it's just that I'm getting old and starting to hesitate...

He hasn't finished speaking yet.

Xia Nuo suddenly grinned at him, and his figure vanished from the spot.

Rayleigh's expression changed, and without the slightest hesitation, a red light flashed in his eyes, and he hurriedly drew his sword and slashed to the left to meet the attack with all his might.

Boom!
Rayleigh's sword was a little too slow, allowing Shano's punch to land heavily on his chest.

He grunted, and was sent flying hundreds of meters by the punch, rolling on the ground like a broken rag doll countless times before finally coming to a stop.

"You've become slow-witted."

Xia Nuo slightly moved his wrists, then approached again with a sinister grin, his aura as solid as ever, showing no signs of disorder.

"I see. Your stamina is depleted so much that you're starting to fall behind my attack rhythm?"

It seems that the strong characters in the world of One Piece all share this common ailment.

Once a person reaches a peak, their abilities cannot be maintained indefinitely and will decline with age.

In terms of attack intensity, the difference may not be that great; they can still unleash wave after wave of terrifying offensives that will shake one's mind.

However, in terms of both physical defense and endurance, it is no longer on the same level as when I was young.

Just like Rayleigh right in front of us.

Although they went all out from beginning to end, with no room for holding back, and the two were engaged in close combat, with every sword drawing blood and every punch landing hard, the intensity of the battle was pushed to the limit.

but……

In the end, the two had only been fighting for less than two hours.

Rayleigh was already panting heavily, and his condition was declining significantly in all aspects. It was hard to say whether he could hold on until dark.

And what about him?
The more they fought, the more exhilarating it became; the more they fought, the more their fighting spirit boiled over!
At this rate, they could fight for at least three days and three nights!

"Your chances of winning are getting smaller and smaller, old man!"

Shano threw another punch, but this time Rayleigh reacted quickly, dodging to the side and blocking it with his sword.

Just as the two were locked in a stalemate, Rayleigh seemed to sense something and looked in another direction with some surprise.

There were seven or eight noteworthy auras approaching, but they didn't come directly to this side. Instead, they lined up in a row at the edge of the battlefield, blocking the way for the navy personnel who hadn't made a move.

"Are your companions there at this time...?"

Rayleigh raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you worried about the Navy interfering? Is it because of them?"

"Really? They've already arrived?"

Xia Nuo grinned; he only realized it after being reminded.

As expected, Rayleigh's Observation Haki was still much stronger than his.

It doesn't matter. He's already used to his weakness in Observation Haki. He'll figure out a way to improve it slowly once he enters the new world!

This insignificant difference won't affect the outcome for now. If the outcome were determined solely by the strength of one's Observation Haki, Katakuri would already be standing on the corpses of countless Nikas!

"more or less!"

Xia Nuo laughed heartily, "Leave the Navy to them, and what about you, Rayleigh! Stop being so afraid of this and that, it's really beneath you! You've already been forced into this situation, so just show me all your trump cards! Let me see how much of your peak ability you still have!"

"You have a lot of confidence in your partner."

Rayleigh withdrew his gaze, a hint of cold resolve finally creeping into his smile: "However, one who doesn't trust his comrades truly doesn't deserve to be a captain, hahaha... Good! Very good!"

He ripped off his tattered shirt, revealing a muscular body covered in scars. His previously somewhat listless demeanor suddenly became strong again!

"Since that's the case, I'll put everything aside today and fight you to the very end!"

hum!
A powerful burst of Conqueror's Haki erupted once more, and Rayleigh's figure vanished from his spot in an instant. Shano's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he rushed forward without hesitation.

--boom!

……

The rain was getting heavier and heavier, constantly pounding on the muddy ground and splashing up murky water.

Tea Pig slowly withdrew his gaze from the earth-shattering collision in the distance and turned it to the seven figures waiting on the high slope.

If we only count people, there are only seven.

In the very center was a black-haired girl with a high ponytail, holding a sword hilt. When she saw him looking over, she met his gaze expressionlessly.

"It seems I've been underestimated."

Tea-Ton had long since finished his cigar. He smiled and took the teacup from his adjutant, took a sip to moisten his throat, and then said unhurriedly:

"Golza, I'm getting old and my memory isn't so good anymore. Can you help me remember what level the bounties of the Fallen Pirates' officers were again?"

"If we remove the few cases that dragged the team down, the average bounty is already over 100 million, which is quite a terrifying level in the first half."

The young lieutenant immediately replied, "The one with the highest bounty is the girl in the middle, the first mate Kuina, exactly two hundred million Berries."

"Two hundred million Berries, that's terrifying."

Chaton exclaimed in exaggerated surprise, "No wonder he dared to stand in my way with just a few little guys. Golza, you mean such a powerful pirate..."

boom!
Before he could finish speaking, Cha-tun's figure suddenly vanished from the spot.

In the next instant, he appeared in front of Kuina, his jet-black right leg, like a battle axe, slashing straight at the girl's head with a sharp gust of wind!
"—It will take me a few seconds to defeat him!"

Keng!
The gleaming blade precisely blocked the Armament Haki-hardened leg axe. Sparks flew, and the ground beneath Kuina's feet collapsed with a deafening roar, spiderweb-like cracks instantly spreading more than ten meters backward.

This shows how powerful Cha-ton's attack was.

But Kuina remained motionless.

She pressed her left hand against the back of the blade, tensing the muscles in her arms, and expressionlessly blocked Chaton's slash in mid-air.

Ok?
Chaton was stunned. How could this be? He didn't eat Devil Fruits or practice swordsmanship. He relied solely on his physical strength and martial arts skills to get to where he is today. This kick seemed ordinary, but it was enough to instantly smash the head of a Supernova-level pirate.

So, when faced with this girl, he couldn't even repel her?
He refused to believe it, and in mid-air, he shifted his position and lashed down with his right leg like a whip, this time with even greater force.

clang!
The scene seemed exactly the same as before; the girl in front of him remained calm and steadily caught the attack.

"...Uh, Mr. Kakei?"

Under the astonished gazes of his adjutant and countless naval soldiers behind him, especially after noticing that there was a camera Den Den Mushi pointed in their direction.

Cha-tun's face turned pale and then red, finally becoming completely gloomy.

He slowly retracted his right leg, landed back on the ground, and distanced himself from Guina by several meters.

"interesting……"

Tea Pig narrowed his eyes, the habitually smiling expression on his face vanishing completely, replaced by a chilling fighting spirit:

"It seems I really underestimated you, 'Rain-Slaying Swordswoman' Kuina. A bounty of two hundred million is completely unworthy of your strength."

"You are better than me."

Kuina said calmly, "But unfortunately, your strength is limited and you can't break through me. Don't expect to get involved in Lord Shano's duel. I can stop you by myself."

After saying that, he looked at his companions and said, "You guys just keep an eye on the rest of the people. You don't need to get involved."

"Honestly, he just likes to eat alone. He's been corrupted by Boss Xia Nuo."

Smoker shook his head, a cigar dangling from his lips, but still obeyed the order. "Got it. Who told you to be the first mate?"

The others smiled and spread out even further.

Gr1 has become the focus of attention throughout the Sabaody Archipelago. Not only the Navy, but also some pirates with their own ulterior motives and even bounty hunters with greedy hearts are sneaking out on the edge of the battlefield.

They would never let anyone pass by and interfere with the captain's duel.

"Huh? Only one person left? That's a bit much!"

Rain dripped down the brim of his hat. Chaton slowly raised his hands, and Armament Haki, as dark as ink, wrapped around them until it covered his entire arm.

His aura also suddenly surged, and the water beneath his feet was shaken away by the invisible force of his energy, creating a vacuum zone.

"You actually dared to boast that I'm only slightly better than you? You've really been underestimated. In that case, I'll get serious and show you my true abilities!"

Swish!
Cha-ton disappeared again.

This time, he was even faster than before, almost becoming a black afterimage, closing in on Kuina in an instant! His fists slammed out like cannonballs, each strike causing the air to tremble and distort, possessing a terrifying force capable of shattering large ships!
Bang bang bang bang—!
Kuina's gaze sharpened, and the Wado Ichimonji in her hand transformed into a dazzling silver light. The blade and the shadow of her fist clashed fiercely, sparks flying in the rain!

She kept retreating, each step carving deep furrows in the muddy ground.

Clearly, it was quite difficult for her to completely withstand Chaton's all-out attack.

But Guina's eyes remained calm, even carrying a hint of excitement.

This guy, although he is not good-looking and does not have the aura of a strong person, is indeed worthy of the name of an admiral candidate. His strength is far beyond that of an ordinary vice admiral and is even stronger than Doflamingo!
What's even more remarkable is that the opponent excels in pure close-quarters combat. Fighting against someone whose style suits her perfectly, especially while protecting Lord Xia Nuo behind her, she was practically burning with passion!

"It's my turn to attack!"

Kuina gave a sharp shout.

Chaton's pupils contracted, and before he could react, he saw Kuina's sword stance suddenly change!
"Steel-Slicing Flash - Twin Dragons Emerge from the Sea!"

She suddenly took a step forward, the blade drawing a sharp arc, and a gust of wind suddenly arose!
Two powerful tornadoes instantly materialized, intertwining and tearing Chaton's attack apart! Chaton was forced to retreat, but Kuina's pursuit followed closely behind!

"Moonstep!"

She leaped into the air, her figure as swift as lightning, instantly closing in on Cha-tun, her blade aimed straight for his throat.

Chaton hurriedly raised his Armament Haki arms to block, but the force of this slash far exceeded his expectations, sending him flying backward and crashing heavily into the naval formation behind him!
boom--!
Smoke and dust billowed up, and the naval soldiers scattered in terror. Chaton slowly rose from the ruins, a trickle of blood escaping from the corner of his mouth.

He looked down at his slightly trembling arms, and an unprecedented solemnity finally appeared in his eyes.

At the same time, Kuina floated down from mid-air and landed steadily.

"It seems you finally understand that what I just said was not an exaggeration."

She pointed the blade diagonally at the ground, flicked it casually, and rainwater slid down the blade. Then, she slightly raised her head, tilted it gently towards Cha-tun, and beckoned with her hand:
"Come on, let's continue."

……

Gr, number 40.

This is the heart of the entire Sabaody Archipelago tourist area.

In the busiest street square, the largest screen of the Chambord newspaper office stands.

To be precise, it was three screens pieced together horizontally, displaying an image that was clear enough for everyone in the central square to see.

The square was already packed with people. The Chambord newspaper even sent an experienced reporter to provide commentary on the screen and promote the upcoming issue of the newspaper.

now.

Upon seeing the defeated Chaton on the screen, a murmur of discussion erupted across the vast square.

"My God, they actually stopped them?"

"That female swordsman is really amazing!"

"A candidate for Navy Admiral can't even beat the vice-captain of the Fallen Pirates?"

"Idiot, do you even know how to watch? It's just a back-and-forth fight, but the candidate for general is definitely stronger!"

"No matter what, this guy can't take down the Fallen One by himself, right? Doesn't the Marine Headquarters have any other reaction? Where are the Marine Admirals? Send them over quickly, or the entire Sabaody Archipelago will be turned upside down by these two!"

"Who knows? They're probably already on their way!"

Some people didn't care about the Navy Headquarters' actions and simply expressed their dissatisfaction with the Sabaody News Agency:

"Hey, the fighting here is pretty exciting too, but it's just a secondary battlefield, why show it for so long!"

"What's going on at your newspaper! Quickly switch the camera back to the main battlefield!"

"Exactly! We'd love to see who's stronger, Rayleigh or the katana master... Wait, that's strange. Come to think of it, why does that Shano seem to always use his fists? We've never seen him draw his sword."

"That's true, now that you mention it..."

The person next to him had just started to speak when he was interrupted by a voice coming from above:

"Everyone, please calm down, please calm down!"

The middle-aged reporter in charge of commentary and promotion stood on the stage, pressing down with his right hand, struggling to reassure the audience, "Please rest assured, our broadcast is experienced and professional!"

"Because the two players on the main battlefield are too evenly matched, and the stalemate has lasted for so long without a clear winner, we're showing everyone what's happening on other fronts first. Once the situation on the main battlefield changes and the outcome becomes clear, the live stream will definitely switch back immediately..."

Noisy!
The screen suddenly flashed with static, and when it became clear again, the people fighting in the center of the picture had changed back to the silver-haired old man and the black-haired boy.

"Just as I said, now is the time!"

The middle-aged reporter reacted quickly, immediately changing the subject and laughing heartily as he spread his arms wide:

"Come on, everyone, it seems the suspense of who will win or lose is finally about to be revealed. Let's refocus our attention on this ultimate showdown!"

……

Snapped!
A raindrop the size of a bean landed precisely on the screen.

A hand from a reporter on the front lines frantically reached out, wiped the lens clean, and then adjusted the angle of the Den Den Mushi, turning the image upwards.

Passing through a fragmented, distorted landscape resembling a dreamlike space, and amidst the gaps in the torrential rain, the camera zooms in and finally reveals the sky.

Rayleigh's battered body was plummeting rapidly from the sky, his silver hair disheveled in the gale, and blood continuously spilling from the corner of his mouth.

His sword had already left his hand and was falling at an even faster speed, the gleaming blade slicing through the rain and plunging straight into the ground.

His pupils seemed slightly unfocused, yet they clearly reflected the figure of a young man standing in the rain, his body wreathed in black and red lightning, high above in the sky.

(End of this chapter)