Waves surged violently as the Oro Jackson rocked back and forth.
Before the Roger Pirates could fully recover from the shock of seeing Douglas Bullet blasted away with a single punch, a nimble figure leapt straight into the sea.
It was the fish-man crewman Sunbell, trident in hand.
Making full use of a fish-man's natural affinity with water, he pierced the surface like an arrow and dove rapidly into the depths. Moments later, he dragged the blood-soaked Bullet up from between the jagged rocks on the seafloor.
"Cough—cough…!"
Bullet was thrown back onto the deck, hacking violently as seawater mixed with blood spilled from his mouth.
His chest was visibly caved in, muscles torn apart. Combined with the inherent weakness Devil Fruit users had toward water, that brief immersion in the deep sea had rendered him completely combat-ineffective.
Buggy rushed over in a panic with Crocus, trying to help him up—only to be shoved aside.
"Get lost…"Bullet growled through clenched teeth, his eyes burning with frustration.
His gaze was locked stubbornly on the sky, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.
Just now… truly… utterly…That humiliation was unbearable!!
...
On the Marine warship's deck, the soldiers had already retreated in unspoken coordination, leaving a wide open space for Gern.
This was an unspoken understanding among them.
Tesoro initially looked puzzled, until the petty officer patted his shoulder and explained quietly,"Compared to getting in the way, Gern would rather we stand back and observe."
Staring at Gern's tall, unwavering back, a burning light ignited in Tesoro's eyes.
For a moment, he could almost see his future self—wearing a mantle of justice, standing shoulder to shoulder with this man.
Especially since Gern had recently taken a liking to calling him 'the Golden Emperor.'
"Golden Emperor, huh…?"Tesoro muttered to himself."That name doesn't sound half bad…"
At the bow, Gern coldly observed the scene, his thoughts stirring slightly.
"After stepping into the rank of a general… my strength really has risen significantly.A not-yet-peak Bullet… was still lacking."
(After all, later on he'd be able to fight Crocodile evenly and make a name for himself across the New World.)
"Since that's the case—!"
At that moment, on the Oro Jackson, Roger stepped forward and slowly drew Ace.
Black-and-crimson Haki wrapped around the blade, warping the surrounding air as if it were igniting.
"Sorry, Roger."
Before he could move—
Rayleigh's figure shot forward like a bolt of lightning!
"You're still a patient, after all—and…"
CLANG!
A clear, ringing sword cry echoed across the sea.
Rayleigh's blade flashed like a black streak of lightning, moving so fast it tore a pitch-black fissure through the air itself.
"You want our captain to step in?"Rayleigh's voice was sharp and cold as steel, his gaze behind the lenses keen as a hawk's."Honestly—you're still far too early for that."
His rapier was wrapped in deep, concentrated Armament Haki. Before the blade even reached him, the sheer pressure made Gern's skin sting.
"Dark King · Flash!"
Gern's pupils shrank.
Instinctively, he raised Black Blade Eight Desolations, coating it instantly in jet-black Armament Haki and bracing it crosswise before him!
CLANG—!!!
The deafening clash of steel exploded outward, a terrifying shockwave rippling in a perfect ring.
"Peak Rayleigh?!"A force beyond resistance slammed into Gern, his arms trembling violently.
Before he could even adjust his stance, Rayleigh's sword pressure erupted.
Gern was blasted away like a cannonball, smashing straight toward the sea!
The impact was so immense that he skimmed across the ocean's surface, carving up massive sprays of water.
Rayleigh stood where Gern had been moments before, his expression calm and icy behind his lenses.
"A Devil Fruit user fighting at sea…"He said coolly."That's quite uncomfortable, isn't it?"
With that, he surged forward again!
"Damn it… seawater!"Gern's heart sank as he slid across the surface.
On the Oro Jackson, Buggy suddenly leaned over the railing, hands on his hips as he burst into laughter.
"Oi, oi, oi! You don't seriously think that 'Heaven-Shaker' can beat Rayleigh on the open sea, do you?!"
He wildly waved his separated arms, his red nose bobbing with laughter.
"That guy's a Devil Fruit user!"
"As long as Rayleigh gives him a light push…"Buggy mimed a sword swing."He'll sink like a lead weight!"
"Buggy," Shanks said helplessly, rubbing his forehead,"when Bullet got knocked into the sea just now… you were shaking."
"Shut up, Shanks!"Buggy snapped, hopping mad—then smugly pointed back toward the ocean.
"Just watch! Rayleigh can chase people down stepping on waves!And that Heaven-Shaker…"He deliberately dragged out the words."As a Devil Fruit user, he's probably so scared of the water he can't even hold his sword steady!"
He even rolled his eyes and mimicked choking.
"Cough, cough… justice? Learn to swim first!"
Laughter erupted across the deck.
Gaban chuckled as well."Buggy, you sure know a lot. Tried it yourself, have you?"
"Sh-shut up!"Buggy's face flushed red, clearly recalling some deeply traumatic memories involving falling into water.
However—
Just as the Roger Pirates assumed Gern was about to suffer miserably on the open sea—
The ocean suddenly exploded with a water pillar tens of meters high.
Rayleigh was blasted straight into the air, coughing up a mouthful of blood!
"Garp's martial arts…?"Even Rayleigh had fallen into a cognitive trap.
Seeing Gern wielding one of the Twelve Supreme Grade Blades, he had assumed a swordsman's path—
Never expecting Gern to be a pure martial arts specialist.
"Give me…SHAKE!!"
A low, rumbling voice echoed from beneath the churning sea.
In the next instant, the entire ocean where Gern was located detonated.
Gern's figure rose into midair, his left palm facing downward. He lifted it sharply and barked in a deep voice:
"Heaven-Shaker · Return to Void!"
BOOOOM—!!!
The moment his palm made contact with the sea's surface, a terrifying shockwave erupted.
The ocean within several kilometers collapsed inward as if pressed down by an invisible giant hand. Water was forced violently aside, revealing the rocky seabed beneath!
Then Gern sharply raised his left hand again.
Vibrational force surged through the seabed itself.
Using vibration to trigger tectonic effects, he forcibly tore massive chunks of undersea rock free—and dragged them upward with sheer power!
RUMBLE—RUMBLE—!!
Rock and vibration intertwined, forming—within mere moments—a small rocky island.
Gern and Rayleigh landed solidly atop the jagged stone.
For a moment, utter silence consumed the Oro Jackson.
"…You've got to be kidding me,"Gaban and Buggy wore identical expressions, eyes wide in disbelief."He just created land out of thin air?!"
"Is… is that really possible?"Young Shanks stared unblinkingly at the sudden island, utterly confused.
"Gern…"Roger's lips slowly curled into a grin.
In just that brief exchange, he had already seen through everything.
"Haki, martial arts, Devil Fruit—perfectly unified. All mastered."He murmured."Rayleigh's going to have a hard time."
On the rocky island—
Rayleigh raised a hand and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze behind the lenses still razor-sharp.
"Creating land at sea…"He let out a low chuckle, admiration coloring his voice."That's a truly terrifying Devil Fruit ability."
"You live up to your reputation as well."Gern angled Black Blade Eight Desolations toward the sea.
Armament Haki still coiled around the blade, its cold gleam reflecting the surging waves.
He slowly raised the blade, pointing it directly at Rayleigh, his voice chillingly calm.
"Isn't that right—"
"Dark King, Silvers Rayleigh?"