Sailing at Sea: The Breath of the Day at the Start

Two figures flickered continuously within the huge circular pit.

The attacking side cannot reach the dodging side, resulting in all attacks landing on empty air.

The earth trembled repeatedly, and the entire circular crater became larger, deeper, and more devastated under this attack.

After Ron's attack missed once again.

"Is that all the strength you have, kid?"

Rayleigh's voice rang in Ron's ears.

His eyes narrowed, and the transparent world fed back many details into his mind. Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately reached out, clenched his fist, and punched to the side.

But the power and speed of that attack increased instantly, exceeding his perception.

Just like Garp back in Impel Down, he used a higher level of Observation Haki to foresee Ron's movements and seized the initiative at an even faster speed!

The kick passed under Ron's fist, landing on Ron's abdomen from bottom to top, sending him slanting into the air.

"cough……"

Ron coughed up a mouthful of bitter saliva in mid-air, and then plummeted straight to the ground like a meteorite.

Rayleigh retracted his raised foot.

He stared at the figure plummeting downwards, his eyes behind his glasses filled with curiosity and surprise.

Where did this young man come from? Why have I never heard of him on the high seas before?

Logically speaking, with his abilities and age, he should have been famous throughout the seas by now...

Watching the black-haired boy who had been hit by her slowly get up from the ground, dust himself off, and look completely indifferent.

Rayleigh was somewhat shocked.

How could a boy of about ten years old have such a physique and such a level of Armament Haki and Observation Haki?!

He couldn't understand.

Because this was simply too incredible, beyond his comprehension.

Of all the top experts he had known and witnessed on this vast ocean over the past few decades, none of them could reach such a monstrous level at the age of this young man!

Aside from that naturally monstrous Big Mom...

Could it be that this kid is just like her?

Born with an exceptionally strong physique?

After standing up, Ron took a deep breath, then pushed off with his feet, his body almost touching the ground, and rushed to Rayleigh at an extremely fast speed.

He punched him in the face.

But it stopped right in front of Rayleigh's face, the powerful gust of wind from the punch sending Rayleigh's long, silver, curly hair flying backward.

"Aren't you going to fight anymore?"

Ron frowned.

"I'm not playing anymore. This old man doesn't have as much energy as you young people."

Rayleigh looked at Ron, whose clothes were tattered and covered in dust.

"Besides, I don't plan to get my clothes dirty, since I'll have to wash them myself later."

As he spoke, Rayleigh turned and walked towards the edge of the pit where the two of them were.

Ron wasn't quite done playing.

But since Rayleigh doesn't intend to continue, there's nothing we can do but give up.

He dispelled the Armament Haki that had been entwining him and followed Rayleigh out of the pit.

Their coats were blown off.

While looking for a coat.

Ron asked Rayleigh, who was standing in front of him, "When you fought me just now, Mr. Rayleigh, how much of your strength did you use? Was it even one-tenth?"

He could sense that Rayleigh's life force was definitely more than twice his current level, and both his Armament Haki and Observation Haki were much stronger than his own.

Although he still had some sword skills he hadn't used yet, the sword skills of this Dark King Rayleigh were probably even superior to his own.

As for why he was able to fight him several times, it goes without saying that he went easy on him—no, he went easy on him.

Upon hearing his words, Rayleigh's eye twitched slightly.

One percent?

Are you overestimating me or underestimating yourself?

Don't you know your own capabilities?

That's about one-tenth of what I was at my peak...

Rayleigh was unaware that Ron had challenged him precisely because he was clueless about his own abilities.

During his last two years as an intern at Marineford, he met Garp a few times, but they never fought each other, and the other naval officers never fought him either.

Even flying squirrels avoid him.

Ron had fought Tina a few times, but she was too weak. He just couldn't muster any interest and could only barely control his strength to be about the same as hers.

The only time they actually fought was when he sparred with Momousagi Gion.

An unexpected incident occurred during that competition...

Rayleigh found his white coat, and as he bent down to pick it up, he asked Ron:

"Kid, who taught you to be so arrogant?"

"Cap."

Rayleigh's eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at him: "So you're Garp's disciple?"

"No, he only taught me how to train Armament Haki because of one condition."

Ron told the truth.

Rayleigh nodded and said nothing more.

……

71. The definition of a pirate, the classification of Haki levels (8/8 Please subscribe!!)

On the way back to Sabaody Archipelago in his small boat, Rayleigh looked at Ron and asked, "What are you planning to do next? Since you don't intend to become a Marine, do you want to become a pirate?"

"I think I'll probably become a traveler who travels around the ocean."

Ron casually remarked, lying on the small boat with his hands behind his head, eyes closed, enjoying the sea breeze.

"A traveler, huh..."

As Rayleigh gazed at Ron, who was thoroughly enjoying himself, a memory of the past involuntarily surfaced in his eyes.

Back when I first set sail with that guy named Roger, weren't we just like travelers...?

After Rayleigh came to his senses, he looked at Ron and smiled, "Whether you're a pirate, an adventurer, or a traveler, you're essentially just a guy pursuing freedom on this sea."

"But this sea is not free now."

"If you want to pursue freedom, you must break free from the things that bind this ocean."

Ron's heart stirred slightly, and he opened his eyes to look at Rayleigh.

"If you want to become a true traveler, you will inevitably become the opposite of those who create these constraints. Whether you want to or not, this is how the world is now. Not everyone who yearns for freedom will become a pirate. Rather, it is those who oppose constraints and rules and resist those constraints who will be called pirates!"

Rayleigh, rowing with both hands, looked at Ron and laughed heartily, "If your goal is truly to travel on the open seas of freedom, then I will be waiting for you on Sabaody Archipelago when you become famous throughout the seas."

…………

After returning to the Sabaody Archipelago.

In the pub.

Ron had a drink with Rayleigh and took the opportunity to ask him some questions about Haki.

Rayleigh, sipping the shampoo he had been offered, readily answered his question.

"In my opinion, Haki, whether it is Armament Haki, Observation Haki, or Conqueror's Haki, has about four stages."

"Your Armament Haki has probably reached the second stage, while your Observation Haki is still at the first stage."

"The first stage of Armament Haki is wrapping, the second stage is hardening, and to reach the third stage, one must be able to let Haki flow freely within the body. I once heard a crew member from Wano Country on the ship say that in their country, this power of Haki is called Ryuo."

"I don't think this name is quite accurate for describing the domineering aura, but it's quite suitable for describing the third stage of the domineering aura."

Rayleigh said while drinking, "There are very few people on the entire sea who can reach the level of Ryuo in Armament Haki. As for the fourth stage... only a handful of people on the entire sea have ever reached it."

"Mr. Rayleigh, have you reached the fourth stage?"

Ron asked curiously.

Rayleigh shook his head: "No, but I know someone who has achieved it."

"Who?"