One Piece: Ulquiorra Template

Chapter 73: The Dark King Rayleigh

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Staring at the seemingly unassuming man before them, scruffy, clad in a yellow shirt, hair and beard a mix of black and white, and possessing a build more akin to an average middle-aged man than a legendary pirate, Ian, Fujitora, and the Dark King Rayleigh found themselves in a silent standoff.

Ian's demonic green eyes, even in their surprised state, radiated an icy coldness. Rayleigh's gaze was sharp, like the edge of a blade. Fujitora's, meanwhile, were blank white orbs, unsettling in their emptiness.

Three apex swordsmen, two possessing Conqueror's Haki and one wielding the power of gravity, created an atmosphere thick with tension.

Rayleigh wished the earth would swallow him whole. He'd run into someone he knew, and the other was the infamous Black Devil Vice Admiral, a face impossible to mistake.

"Is that the Black Devil Vice Admiral? The one who defeated two Warlords and fought Mihawk to a draw? They say he's not even nineteen yet!"

Someone in the crowd shouted Ian's name, and the onlookers erupted into chaos. Many fled in terror, while others, drenched in cold sweat, stared nervously at the young Vice Admiral. Among them were several pirates.

Standing beside Ian, Fujitora turned his sightless eyes towards Rayleigh. He recognized the middle-aged man. Silvers Rayleigh, the Dark King, former first mate of the Roger Pirates, the Pirate King's right hand, a man who had once conquered the Grand Line and stood at the pinnacle of piracy.

He had met Rayleigh briefly over two decades ago, on a small island where the Roger Pirates had made a short stop before achieving their legendary status. Rayleigh had even imparted some swordsmanship and gambling techniques to him.

Though pirates, they possessed a stronger sense of justice than most Marines. It was their influence that had shaped Fujitora's own unique sense of justice, unbound by the rigid dogma of the Marines.

After Roger's execution, the crew had scattered, vanishing into the vastness of the sea. He had only learned of Rayleigh's whereabouts by chance, through a newspaper article.

He had discovered that the legendary Dark King, like Crocus, had chosen to reside at one of the Grand Line's entry points, Sabaody Archipelago, watching the unfolding of the Great Pirate Era sparked by Roger's sacrifice. He wondered how far the new generation of pirates would go. It was a fascinating prospect.

"Is that... Issho? What happened to his eyes?" Rayleigh thought, recognizing Fujitora. Something must have happened. Indeed, on his own journey of justice...

Fujitora had witnessed countless injustices and misfortunes, deeming the world too tainted for his eyes. He had blinded himself, honing his Observation Haki to perceive the true nature of people's souls.

The crowd had only recognized Ian, failing to identify the Dark King and Fujitora. Fujitora preferred anonymity, his good deeds performed in secret, avoiding widespread recognition.

While Rayleigh's name, as the Pirate King's right hand, resonated far more than Ian's in the world of piracy, his unassuming appearance and casual demeanor allowed him to blend in with the crowd.

Dressed in simple clothes, unshaven, and relaxed, he was easily overlooked in the bustling tavern. Ian, however, was a different story.

News of his exploits had spread like wildfire in recent months. Though only three incidents, they had caused quite a stir.