Meanwhile, in another part of Loguetown, an intense battle was also unfolding.
"Rokushiki: Shigan!"
Steel-bone Kong's thick, black, Armament Haki-covered fingers clenched tightly, then unleashed their power, aiming a fierce punch at the nearby Rayleigh. The air echoed with a piercing shockwave as Kong's fist struck, showcasing its immense speed and strength.
Rayleigh, facing the attack of the Navy supreme commander, didn't take it lightly. His eyes gleamed with a red light, indicating his full use of Observation Haki. His movements were equally swift, stepping back just in time to dodge the incoming iron fist. Then, he twisted his wrist, swinging his long sword upwards toward the exposed Steel-bone Kong.
As a seasoned Navy Admiral with decades of experience, Kong's combat instincts were unparalleled. Almost simultaneously with Rayleigh's strike, his Haki-covered right foot lifted to intercept the incoming sword.
Their attacks met in mid-air, but before foot and sword could connect, their Conqueror's Haki clashed violently. The collision generated powerful shockwaves between them, with black and red arcs of electricity crackling through the air like serpentine lightning.
The residual force from their Haki clash alone toppled nearby buildings into rubble, causing ordinary Marines, junior officers, and many onlookers gathered to witness Roger's execution to faint on the spot.
"Such strong Conqueror's Haki... No wonder they call you the right hand of the Pirate King, Rayleigh," Steel-bone Kong remarked with a serious expression. He deeply felt the strength of Rayleigh's Haki, almost on par with Roger's.
The clash of their Conqueror's Haki drew attention from the execution platform. Sengoku looked through the buildings at Rayleigh's location with a complex expression, then turned his gaze to Roger. Why did such powerful individuals have to become pirates? Couldn't they have joined the Navy and reformed it from within, despite the government's corruption?
Steel-bone Kong was equally surprised. Having witnessed many geniuses and monsters in his lifetime, he was still taken aback. The Navy had its share of powerful figures like Sengoku, Garp, Zephyr, Tsuru, Borsalino, and Sakazuki.
"Hmm?!"
Steel-bone Kong's foot lifted slightly, indicating that he was losing the Conqueror's Haki clash with Rayleigh. His brows furrowed, eyes filled with a serious intent. To be honest, he hadn't believed that Rayleigh and his crew could rescue Roger under the Navy's watchful eyes. But now, losing ground in the Haki clash with Rayleigh, he had to reassess the threat level of Roger's remnants.
"A stronger Conqueror's Haki doesn't necessarily decide the outcome of a battle!" Kong's resolve remained unshaken. Many factors can influence the result of a fight, otherwise, how would there be stories of the weak defeating the strong?
After the Haki clash, they briefly separated. Rayleigh seized the moment, launching a swift attack, his long sword aiming directly at Kong's face.
Clang——!
Sparks flew as Kong blocked Rayleigh's blade with his arm at the last moment, averting a critical strike.
However——
In an instant, Rayleigh changed his stance, and sword shadows slashed at Kong from all directions.
Clang, clang, clang...!
Amid the dense sound of metal clashing, Steel-bone Kong's body was sent flying like an arrow, crashing toward the central avenue.
Boom, boom, boom——
Kong's body smashed through several buildings, eventually landing heavily in front of Sengoku and Garp.
"..."
Everyone, including Roger, was shocked to see Kong suddenly sent flying. Roger knew how strong Rayleigh was, but overpowering Kong so quickly seemed unbelievable.
Sengoku's face was equally serious. He had fought Rayleigh before, but it was never this intense. As the sound of collapsing buildings faded, a profound silence fell over the battlefield.
"Cough, cough. Sengoku, maybe you should check on Kong. Don't let him die; he still owes me a week's worth of meals," Garp said.
Sengoku's forehead was lined with black veins from frustration, but he didn't argue with Garp at this moment. Instead, he looked gravely towards other parts of Loguetown, sensing strong auras in several places. It seemed the Roger Pirates had somehow been significantly powered up.
"Garp, I'll deal with you when we get back," Steel-bone Kong's voice came from the ruins as he emerged, shaking off the debris.
Before he finished speaking, Kong's body began to change. His already muscular frame visibly grew larger, and his previously graying hair turned black again.
"Life Return of the Navy, huh…" Rayleigh murmured as he watched Kong's transformation. He had intended to use his boost in power to quickly finish the fight, but the resilience of the World Government's Navy supreme commander was proving formidable. Feeling the power surging within, Rayleigh knew they still had a chance.
In response, Rayleigh's sword became coated with Armament Haki, turning into a black blade with black and red lightning crackling around it. Deciding to end the fight swiftly, he prepared to use Conqueror's Haki-infused attacks.
Similarly, Steel-bone Kong raised his fists, which also crackled with black and red lightning.
This was——
Conqueror's Haki infusion!
Rayleigh remained calm. It would be surprising if a Navy supreme commander with Conqueror's Haki didn't know how to infuse it into his attacks. While having Conqueror's Haki didn't guarantee mastery of this advanced technique, top-tier fighters who possessed it were almost always proficient in using it.
After a brief standoff, Kong attacked first.
"Ultra Destructive Punch!"
With a burst of speed propelled by Soru, Kong's Haki-infused fist almost instantly reached Rayleigh's face.
But Rayleigh was ready, raising his sword to block Kong's attack.
With a thunderous clash, the tremendous impact force bent Rayleigh's sword slightly. Rayleigh's eyes narrowed as he assessed the power of the attack. Even a Great Grade Sword could be broken by such strength if not protected by Haki.
While everyone's attention was on the various battles in Loguetown, a figure quietly slipped close to the execution platform.
"I actually got here faster than Shanks! Ha ha ha," the figure laughed to himself.