Lloyd walked forward as if nothing had happened, completely ignoring Sanji's attack from behind.
Sanji's kick struck Lloyd's back.
A sharp cracking sound echoed.
Lloyd did not move an inch. Instead, Sanji collapsed to the ground, clutching his leg with a pained expression.
Sanji had yet to truly master Armament Haki. His Diable Jambe, which he took pride in, was nothing more than a joke in front of Lloyd.
Lloyd had not even used Armament Haki. He had taken the blow purely with his physical body.
To Sanji, it felt like kicking something far beyond steel. Even steel could be broken by his kicks. What he struck felt closer to solid Seastone, something utterly unyielding.
Lloyd finally stopped. He turned his head slightly and glanced at Sanji lying on the ground.
Luffy's face twisted with fury and desperation.
Nami knelt on the ground, crying uncontrollably. The others stared at Lloyd with undisguised hatred. Brook and Franky charged forward without hesitation.
Luffy clenched his fists.
He hated Lloyd more than anyone else present, but he also understood something they did not.
They stood no chance.
The gap between them and Lloyd was no longer something that could be measured. It was like comparing two entirely different worlds.
Seeing Brook and Franky rush ahead, Luffy shouted,
"Brook! Franky! Come back!"
His voice cracked, and tears welled up in his eyes.
Brook and Franky halted mid-step after hearing him.
Flames suddenly ignited across Ace's body, flickering violently.
Seeing Luffy pushed to this state, how could Ace, as his brother, remain still?
Their emotions teetered on the edge of collapse.
Silvers Rayleigh let out a soft sigh.
With a metallic ring, he drew the sword at his waist. Without looking back, he spoke,
"Shakky, take them and leave."
The moment he finished speaking, a terrifying surge of Conqueror's Haki erupted from his body. Crimson lightning crackled wildly around him.
He fixed his gaze on Lloyd.
"Admiral Black Dragon, I will be your opponent."
Rayleigh's sudden outburst stunned everyone, even Luffy.
"Uncle Rayleigh…"
Rayleigh did not turn around.
"Luffy, I told you before, the Roger Pirates owe your father a debt. Now is the time to repay it."
But was that truly the only reason?
Only Rayleigh himself knew.
He had long believed that Luffy was the man Roger had been waiting for.
If forced to choose between Luffy and Ace, he would save Luffy without hesitation.
He believed that Gol D. Roger would make the same choice.
Lloyd let out a low chuckle. He ignored Sanji completely and turned his attention to Rayleigh.
"Are you worthy?"
Anger flashed across Rayleigh's face.
"Do not underestimate me!"
In an instant, Rayleigh vanished from where he stood and reappeared before Lloyd. His blade, coated in Conqueror's Haki, slashed down with overwhelming force.
The ground exploded on impact.
Sanji was blown away by the shockwave, his body tumbling across the battlefield.
Lloyd raised Muramasa and blocked the strike effortlessly.
"Not bad, Rayleigh. You have improved."
Despite his age, Rayleigh still possessed strength worthy of an Emperor. There was no doubt about it.
But time had taken its toll.
He was missing an arm, and his stamina was no longer what it once was. Sweat quickly formed on his forehead, a clear sign of the strain.
A dark vortex appeared in Lloyd's free hand.
Rayleigh's pupils shrank. He immediately pulled back and retreated.
But no matter where he moved, Lloyd was already there.
Their figures blurred across the battlefield, appearing and disappearing in rapid succession. The clashes were relentless, each collision tearing the ground apart and leaving behind deep, endless ravines.
Luffy and the others stood frozen.
Only now did they truly understand what it meant to stand at the peak of the world.
Brook supported Sanji as they moved back. Franky followed behind, carrying Zoro's body, now split into two.
Shakky shouted,
"Stop staring and move!"
Her voice snapped them back to reality.
Even they understood that staying meant certain death.
Without another word, they followed her and fled into the distance.
Lloyd noticed everything, yet he remained completely unconcerned.
He casually deflected another slash and looked at Rayleigh, who was breathing heavily.
"Rayleigh, you are old."
Rayleigh gritted his teeth.
"Not everyone is a monster like you."
Lloyd smiled faintly.
With a single beat of his wings, he created distance between them.
Rayleigh's next strike cut through empty air, causing him to stagger slightly.
When he regained his footing, his expression grew even more serious.
He had realized something terrifying.
From beginning to end, Lloyd had been playing with him.
That was the truth.
An aging man with one arm could only do so much, even if he stood at the level of an Emperor. Holding Lloyd off for this long was already his limit.
Lloyd landed lightly on the ground not far away. One hand rested in his pocket, while the other held the Demon Blade Muramasa. His posture was relaxed, almost careless.
In contrast, Rayleigh struggled to steady his breathing. Every strike he had delivered had been with full force, draining him rapidly.
Lloyd twirled his blade and glanced at Rayleigh's missing arm.
"Rayleigh, do you know something?"
His voice was calm.
"Twenty-two years ago, when I saw you run back to find Roger, I wanted to kill you."
Rayleigh snorted.
"Someone as cold as you could never understand the bond between Roger and me."
Lloyd pressed a hand to his forehead and shook his head lightly.
"Such foolish loyalty can be touching."
He paused, then added with a faint smile,
"I only hope that boy Shanks does not inherit it."
Rayleigh's expression tightened.
"What is your relationship with Shanks?"
Lloyd's smile deepened.
"He is my foolish brother."
Rayleigh froze.
"What did you just say?"
The revelation struck him like lightning.
"How is that even possible?"
He stared at Lloyd in disbelief.
Outside of a select few, no one knew this secret.
And Lloyd had chosen to reveal it now.
Which could only mean one thing.
Rayleigh's death was already decided.