"Are you going to be a pirate...?" Smoker asked cautiously.
"No, I'm an adventurer. That's my identity." Shen Yuan replied firmly.
"Then why are you heading to the Grand Line?"
"To see the world, of course! Does going to the Grand Line automatically make someone a pirate? Didn't your mother teach you not to judge people by their title?"
Smoker nodded, then shook his head, his brain nearly short-circuiting.
But if it's for strength... what's a few billion berries in damages?
"Kid, that's a solid argument."
A familiar voice rang out from a distance—gray-haired, spectacles perched on his nose, a white Marine-style coat draped over his shoulders, and flip-flops on his feet.
Who else could it be? Silvers Rayleigh! The right-hand man of the Pirate King!
"Kid, how about a little sparring match?" he asked, eyes gleaming with the fire of battle.
Rayleigh had witnessed the entire earlier fight, and his battle-hardened blood was stirring again.
"Of course. After all, you're Silvers Rayleigh—the Dark King, right hand of the Pirate King."
Rayleigh chuckled. "Did you come just to find me?"
"Partially."
Rayleigh raised an eyebrow in surprise, but then slowly drew his sword, his aura shifting instantly.
Across from him, Shen Yuan mirrored the motion—drawing his sword with eyes glowing faintly red.
"What a dangerous junior." Rayleigh smiled. "Let's see how far you've come!"
A burst of wind followed Shen Yuan's slash!
Rayleigh didn't flinch. He casually swung his sword in a counter-slash. The two strikes collided with a sonic boom, creating ripples of compressed air.
"Fshoo!"
Shen Yuan activated the Supreme Acceleration Boots—a legendary item that augmented his speed in bursts!
Rayleigh's right leg glowed with Armament Haki and shot forward in a kick, whistling past Shen Yuan's cheek.
Shen Yuan seized the ankle mid-air, twisted Rayleigh's balance, and slammed him into the ground with raw force.
But he didn't stop there—he poured Armament Haki into a palm strike, driving it toward Rayleigh's core.
Rayleigh rolled clear, then retaliated with a deceptive sword arc to distract. His glasses glinted as Observation Haki flared.
A flash—another kick, this time connecting with Shen Yuan's arm!
CRACK!
Black and red lightning sparked around the two as their Haki clashed!
"Conqueror's Haki infusion—old man, you're holding back!"
Shen Yuan staggered for a second. Something inside his chest twisted!
He wiped the blood at the corner of his mouth. No longer holding back, he released Advanced Armament Haki—the invisible, flowing version.
At the same time, Tuntian, his black-forged blade, erupted with black mist and whirling patterns.
He swung violently!
Rayleigh's instincts flared, and he parried just in time.
They became two blurs in the air, weaving and clashing—swordplay and Haki flying in all directions.
Even Rayleigh had begun to sweat.
His expression turned grim.
"This kid's Armament Haki... it might even rival Garp's at his peak!"
"Clang! Clang! Ping!"
The duel continued. The fierce sounds of their clash echoed through Rogue Town's docks.
Smoker stood frozen.
A battle of two monsters. Neither one had used Devil Fruit powers—just pure physical mastery and Haki!
"Boom!"
A black slash exploded from Shen Yuan's blade, hurling Rayleigh back!
"Bang!"
Rayleigh slammed into the dock!
"Rankyaku Barrage!"
A volley of flying blade kicks—enhanced Rokushiki Storm Kicks—rained down like cannonfire!
"Ding ding ding—!"
Rayleigh deflected them swiftly, but was a split-second too slow—another slash came!
He widened his eyes and narrowly dodged using Observation Haki.
The shockwave lowered the pier's elevation by meters!
A drop of sweat hit the wood. Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, and his Haki exploded again.
"One Sword Style—Black Flash!"
A lightning-quick slash that blended advanced Haki and speed!
Rayleigh met the blade mid-swing—
"CLANG!"
His sword was sent flying!
Rayleigh's movement slowed. Shen Yuan's heavy punch struck him square in the jaw!
"Boom!"
Rayleigh was blasted back over ten meters, landing near Smoker.
He stumbled up, wiped the blood from his lips—and then vomited more.
"Gwah!"
Rayleigh clutched his side and panted heavily, clearly exhausted.
Seeing that, Shen Yuan relaxed his stance and sheathed his blade.
> [Defeated Plot Character: Silvers Rayleigh. Level Up to 38.]
With a grin, Shen Yuan opened his system interface.
"System—open status window."
---
[Name: Shen Yuan]
Age: 14
Title: Adventurer
Skills:
• Rokushiki (Lv1)
• Swordsmanship Mastery (MAX)
• Physical Enhancement (Lv11)
• Agility Boost (Lv1)
• Strength Boost (Lv1)
• Speed Boost (Lv1)
• Armament Haki (MAX)
• Observation Haki (Lv4)
---
Physique: 99.6 / 100
Agility: 43.5 / 100
Speed: 50.6 / 100
Strength: 70.6 / 100
Level: 38
---
Over this intense period of combat, all four of Shen Yuan's core attributes had risen significantly.
With most of his Boost-type Skills nearing mastery, his body stats were closing in on their theoretical max.
His combat style was direct and brutal—he specialized in overpowering enemies through sacrifice and force. As such, his Agility and Speed weren't as developed.
Rayleigh pulled out a gourd of wine, took a slow sip, and smiled.
"As expected of Garp's grandson."
Rayleigh took another gulp, wiped his mouth, and exhaled with satisfaction.
"Impressive power... sharp swordsmanship. Tell me, kid, what's your dream?"
Shen Yuan paused. "Me?"
Rayleigh nodded.
"To reset the world's order."
Rayleigh's old face froze—then a small, proud smile formed.
"What's your next destination?"
"The Grand Line."
"How about I tag along for a while? I'm due for a rest on the Sabaody Archipelago anyway."
Smoker's face twisted. Navy, pirate, and now an adventurer together?
"I give up. I give up." he muttered.
"Sure," Shen Yuan nodded. "But you'll be pulling your weight."
Rayleigh laughed. "Fine by me."
Shen Yuan turned away and walked toward the execution platform.
Smoker and Rayleigh followed. Tashigi was finally regaining consciousness and looked around in confusion.
Where was she? What happened here?
The surroundings were ruined—craters, splinters, scorched stone.
Shen Yuan reached the execution platform and stood silently. He wasn't being dramatic—he was scanning for plot characters.
"Bartolomeo, where are you hiding?" he thought, eyes flicking.
Rayleigh raised an eyebrow. "Looking for something?"
Unable to locate him, Shen Yuan gave up and took a final glance at this town—the place where the Pirate King had died, and where many journeys began.
---
Marine Headquarters – Marineford
"What? Smoker and Tashigi are missing?!"
"Fleet Admiral Sengoku, sir... it's likely that Smoker left Rogue Town voluntarily—with Shen Yuan."
"..."
Sengoku exhaled slowly and slammed the desk.
"BOOM!"
"Anything else?"
The officer thought, then added, "Sir, Shen Yuan engaged Silvers Rayleigh in battle at Rogue Town's harbor."
Sengoku's eyes snapped open.
"Who won?"
"It seems... Shen Yuan."
"Hssss..." Sengoku drew a sharp breath.
He had expected it—but hearing it aloud was still a shock.
From earlier reports: first a few scattered brawls. Then the elimination of Navy units. Then—Rayleigh.
It was escalating fast.
"Assassinated a Navy captain. Eliminated Django and the Meowban Brothers—both with 8 million bounties. Then defeated Tashigi and Smoker…"
"But more importantly—he defeated Rayleigh—and chose not to kill him."
"That's crucial. It shows he's not anti-pirate. Shen Yuan is unpredictable—neither fully just nor purely evil. A wildcard... a dangerous one."
"Prepare a bounty," Sengoku ordered grimly. "Garp... this time, there's no sweeping it under the rug."