Chapter 11: Sparring with Rayleigh
Even though Luo Lin had decided to swim across the Calm Belt, he didn't change course—he still headed for Windmill Village first.
Three days later, he docked at the village harbor without running into the Lord of the Coast. That big guy didn't show up every time, and after getting beaten up by Luo Lin a few times, he appeared even less.
As soon as he stepped off the boat, Luo Lin made a beeline for Makino's bar. He was dying of thirst.
"Makino! Orange juice, quick!"
"Ara~ Luo Lin-san! It's been forever! You haven't come back in over half a year. Luffy keeps asking when you're coming!"
Makino's eyes lit up the moment she saw him. She slid a huge glass of juice across the counter—these past years, Luo Lin had been a regular.
Glug glug glug—
"Ahhh That hit the spot! Been busy dodging Marines, you know"
Aside from Garp, Luo Lin never told anyone in the village about his bounty. To them, he was just a wandering swordsman.
"We got new beer in! Want to try?"
"Nah, that stuff's nasty. Another juice!"
"Coming right up!"
Makino turned to grab it—just then the door slammed open.
"WHERE'S LUO LIN?!"
Four-year-old Luffy burst in and charged straight at him.
Luo Lin grabbed the kid by the back of the neck and lifted him like a kitten.
"What do you want now?"
"Damn it, Luo Lin! Let me go! This is embarrassing!"
Luo Lin dropped him. Luffy huffed and sulked in the corner.
Before age seven, Garp basically free-ranged Luffy in the village. Only after he ate the Gum-Gum Fruit did Garp drag him off to Dadan's.
"I'm just passing through today. Leaving tomorrow."
"Aww, that's too bad! I was hoping you'd stay longer!"
Luffy's ears perked up. He instantly forgot his sulk.
"You're leaving tomorrow?! Then you won't have time to tell me about your adventures these past six months!"
Luffy had been obsessed with sea adventures since birth—that's why, after meeting Shanks, he decided he'd become Pirate King.
"Yeah, next time! This trip I'm doing something huge. I'll tell you all about it when I get back!"
Luffy's eyes sparkled.
"Something huge?! What is it? Take me with you!"
"Of course… not!"
No way—Garp would murder him.
The first two words lit Luffy's face up like the sun. Makino looked shocked.
The last two words crushed him. Makino smiled again, and so did Luo Lin.
See? Smiles don't disappear—they just transfer.
"Stupid Luo Lin! When I grow up I'm going on adventures too!"
"Don't be mad! Here, juice on me today!"
"Yay! Thanks!"
Luffy grabbed the glass with a huge grin.
…
Early next morning, Luo Lin left Windmill Village, checked his map, found the spot closest to Sabaody, and rowed there.
A few days later—he reached the edge of the Calm Belt.
He had planned to swim, but then thought: Why swim when I have a perfectly good boat?
So he just rowed straight into the Calm Belt.
…
Three days later Near the Sabaody Archipelago
Luo Lin tossed the little boat into the water, jumped in, waved goodbye to a Sea King that had been pulling him the whole way, and watched it swim off.
He'd run into a whole pod on the first day. After slaughtering the weird-looking ones, he put his sword to the throat of the last survivor.
"Don't know if you understand me, but pull me to Mary Geoise or I kill you. Nod if yes."
A burst of Conqueror's Haki later—he had himself a Sea King taxi.
He dismissed the creature and rowed toward Sabaody.
This was his first time in the archipelago after more than a decade in this world.
The islands were formed by the massive roots of the Yarukiman Mangrove—79 giant trees, each one an island, numbered 1 to 79.
Behind them rose the Red Line, with holy Mary Geoise at the top and Marineford nearby.
It was the most prosperous, chaotic, and lawless place in the entire world.
To reach the New World, you either went under the Red Line through Fish-Man Island or over it (impossible for normal people).
Luo Lin landed on GR 33—the Soap Bubble Park.
"This place is insane…"
He'd never imagined trees this enormous growing straight up from the seabed.
Spectacular? Yes. Bustling? Absolutely. A total mess? Definitely.
In less than half an hour on land, he saw no fewer than three brawls—all pirates.
"Don't the Marines do anything? HQ is right there!"
That was the weirdest part. In the original story, Sabaody—literally the center of the world—was a lawless dumpster fire. Wanted criminals everywhere, right under the noses of Mary Geoise and Marineford.
A few hours later, he understood: it wasn't that the Marines didn't care—they were simply outnumbered.
Every island had fights breaking out constantly. In the half hour he ate lunch, the same spot saw four separate brawls.
If they arrested everyone, Impel Down would burst.
Wandering aimlessly, he reached GR 13.
"Hmm… feels familiar. Whatever, can't remember."
He only knew Fisher Tiger would cause a huge incident soon, but not exactly when. So he was killing time until chaos erupted.
Walking around, he spotted a lone bar in a quiet area surrounded by grass.
"Weird place for a bar…"
He looked up.
Xia Qi's Rip-off Bar
"Oh. That bar. Never mind then!"
He instantly remembered—this was where Rayleigh and Xia Qi lived!
"Since I'm here, might as well say hi."
He pushed the door open.
"Yo! A handsome young man! What'll it be?"
"Uh… orange juice, please!"
"Coming right up!"
The woman behind the counter looked about thirty-something, wearing a red crop top and tight pants, cigarette between her fingers, chin resting on her hand as she studied him.
Definitely Xia Qi.
"Something wrong, kid?"
Luo Lin had been staring.
"Nah, nothing!"
He chugged the juice.
"What an interesting young man~"
Later that evening:
"Miss Xia Qi, anywhere around here to sleep?"
"Accommodations? Pretty far—mostly GR 70 and up."
"Ah, forget it then. Anywhere works. Thanks for the juice! I'll come again tomorrow!"
He paid (no rip-off this time) and left.
The next evening, he returned.
"Oh, it's yesterday's kid! Juice again? Forgot to ask your name yesterday."
"Yep! Portgas D. Luo Lin, from the East Blue!"
"Hmm… I remember a 50 million bounty 'Devil's Guardian' with that name."
"That's me!"
"What brings you here? Planning to become a pirate?"
She'd seen his wanted poster, but he'd grown so much she hadn't recognized him at first.
"Nah, not yet. Just heard this is the center of the world and there are mermaids underwater. Wanted to see the sights!"
"Is that so?"
They chatted idly.
"Xia Qi! I'm back!"
A deep, warm, powerful voice came from outside.
Then in walked an old man in a tank top, shorts, flip-flops, and a cape.
"Rayleigh! Welcome home!"
Luo Lin turned when he heard the name.
Rayleigh looked at him at the same time.
Their eyes met mid-air—sparks practically flew.
Luo Lin tensed: Pluton Rayleigh… even old, those eyes are sharp as hell.
Rayleigh was equally startled: Kids these days are this strong?
Neither had hostile intent—it was just instinct.
"Looks like we have quite the guest today."
Xia Qi was shocked too. She knew exactly how terrifying Rayleigh was—the World Government and Marines knew where he lived and still left him alone.
Yet this kid had triggered Rayleigh's presence? Unthinkable.
She introduced them.
The two ended up sitting together—Rayleigh drinking sake, Luo Lin juice.
Ten days later, they were basically buddies.
"Luo Lin my boy, real men drink alcohol!"
"Nah, it tastes bad. Sweet juice is where it's at!"
Rayleigh kept trying. Luo Lin refused. Anyone who'd sell himself for booze money clearly wasn't normal.
"Fine, fine. But seriously—you come here every day just for… juice? Don't you have anything to do?"
"Of course I do. Just waiting for the right moment.
Actually—there is one thing I'd like to ask you, Uncle Rayleigh."
"Oh? An old man like me can help?"
"I want to spar with you!"
This was one of his goals—he needed to know exactly how strong he was now. System comments weren't enough.
And Rayleigh was perfect: Roger's vice-captain, someone who could still trade blows with Admirals even in old age.
"You sure? I don't really feel like fighting."
"I'll buy you all the booze you want!"
"Deal!"
Luo Lin: …
They found an empty clearing.
Xia Qi watched from a safe distance, dying to see how strong this kid really was.
"Ready, Uncle Rayleigh?"
"Anytime, kid. Don't forget the booze!"
"Wouldn't dream of it. Here I come!"
Luo Lin erupted with a massive wave of Conqueror's Haki and charged.
"Hoh? Conqueror's Haki?"
Rayleigh and Xia Qi both straightened.
Rayleigh answered with his own.
The two auras collided in mid-air, tearing clouds apart. Grass flattened, trees cracked.
The clash exploded.
Luo Lin slid back three steps.
Rayleigh took two.
Rayleigh was stunned.
What the hell happened in the seven years the "Devil's Guardian" vanished? How did a little boy reach this level?
Conqueror's clash—Luo Lin was slightly behind.
But the spar wasn't over.
Luo Lin drew Shinrai, coated it in Armament Haki, and used Soru.
Rayleigh drew his own blade and met him head-on.
Pure swordsmanship and physical skill—simple, clean strikes.
Except for the flying slashes that carved the earth and the explosive clang of steel on steel.
Shockwaves shredded the ground and trees, kicking up massive dust clouds.
The fight became a blur.
People on nearby islands noticed and stared from afar.
"What the hell is that?!"
"Two people fighting?!"
"No way humans can cause that kind of destruction! Are they monsters?!"
Fifteen minutes later, Rayleigh was breathing hard—age was age. Past sixty, stamina wasn't what it used to be.
Finally, Rayleigh sent out a huge flying slash.
Luo Lin answered with his own.
The two slashes collided in mid-air—BOOM!
A massive explosion rocked the ground and threw up a wall of dust.
Luo Lin prepared another strike, but Rayleigh's voice rang out.
"Alright, alright! That's enough! Just a friendly spar!"
"Oh, sure. You're still insanely strong, Uncle Rayleigh—I was about to collapse!"
"Don't give me that crap."
Luo Lin laughed awkwardly.
Rayleigh shook his head in wonder.
"What a monster… Roger at your age wasn't even close to this strong.
Are all the new generation kids this terrifying now?"
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