Silvers Rayleigh looked at the man in front of him.
He had heard of this junior before.
After all, this man was one of the three greatest combat powers of the Marines.
Rayleigh suddenly exerted force with the broadsword in his hand, directly knocking Kizaru backward.
Seizing the opportunity, Rayleigh kicked him squarely in the chest, sending him flying.
"So, are we still fighting?" Rayleigh asked calmly.
Kizaru shrugged.
Although Rayleigh's kick looked quite fierce, it only made him look a little messy. It did not cause any real damage.
"'Dark King' Rayleigh. The Pirate King's vice captain."
He spoke slowly.
"I really ran into someone incredible today."
As he spoke, Kizaru placed his right hand on his left palm.
A sword made entirely of light was drawn out from his hand.
"Ama no Murakumo Sword."
[You picked up one point of Strength.]
Renji's eyes lit up as he watched from the side.
This was a perfect opportunity to grow stronger.
The attributes dropped by Kizaru while holding back against the exhausted Straw Hat crew were not very useful. Their growth value was pitiful.
But this situation was completely different.
This was a Marine Admiral fighting the former vice captain of the Pirate King Gol D. Roger.
Excited, Renji stepped closer.
"So that means there is nothing left to talk about," Rayleigh said calmly.
He stepped forward and deliberately positioned himself to protect Roronoa Zoro behind him.
"Old man like you should be enjoying retirement somewhere. Why come out here?" Kizaru said lazily.
His Devil Fruit power fully activated.
In an instant he appeared in front of Rayleigh.
"I did not intend to oppose the Marines," Rayleigh said with a smile.
He stepped forward as well.
The broadsword in his hand swung out.
A sword of light and a broadsword clashed between them.
"I was only out for a stroll."
"Who knew I would run into you?"
[You picked up one piece of Devil Fruit growth experience.]
[You picked up one piece of Armament Haki comprehension.]
Their battle was intense.
Even though they had only exchanged a single strike, Renji had already picked up two attributes.
Especially the Devil Fruit growth experience.
Renji directed that experience toward the Glint Glint Fruit he had recently obtained.
In Renji's understanding, mastery of a Devil Fruit could be divided into five stages.
The first stage was when someone had just eaten the fruit. Renji called this the Consumption Stage.
The second stage was when the user became familiar with the fruit. Renji called this the Familiarization Stage.
The third stage was when the fruit could be used skillfully and naturally. Renji called this the Control Stage.
The fourth stage was when the user could creatively develop techniques based on imagination. Renji called this the Development Stage.
The fifth stage was awakening, where the fruit's full potential was ignited.
The Glint Glint Fruit had only recently been picked up by Renji.
Yet a single piece of growth experience from a serious Kizaru pushed it from the Consumption Stage directly to the third stage, the Control Stage.
"What terrifying power," Renji muttered.
These top tier figures of the world were truly terrifying.
If the attribute dropped by someone like them were given to an ordinary person, that single attribute could easily create a Supernova level fighter.
"Since you are only out for a stroll," Kizaru said as he looked at Rayleigh with slight irritation.
"Then do not interfere with other people's work."
Both men exerted force.
They separated instantly.
In the next moment, they collided again at a speed even Renji could barely follow.
In the blink of an eye, the two had already exchanged dozens of sword strikes.
[You picked up one piece of Armament Haki comprehension.]
[You picked up one point of Strength.]
[You picked up...]
The battle between the two was reaching its peak.
Renji, following behind them, was even happier.
The strength he had only just reached at the Admiral level was rapidly rising again.
Strength, agility, and more.
Armament Haki and Observation Haki were all improving.
Boom.
Another exchange.
An attribute dropped from Rayleigh.
[You picked up one piece of Conqueror's Haki.]
Renji's eyes immediately brightened.
This was an incredible reward.
Conqueror's Haki was not only a powerful tool for knocking out weaker opponents.
Renji had also learned from watching Edward Newgate that Conqueror's Haki could be infused into attacks, a technique almost like cheating.
Naturally, the more of it he obtained, the better.
In fact, Renji desired Conqueror's Haki attributes even more than Devil Fruit growth experience.
People who possessed Conqueror's Haki were extremely rare.
Many people who had the potential to awaken it never even encountered Haki in their lives.
That made it even rarer.
Renji certainly was not about to provoke a Yonko just to obtain it.
Attributes were important, but his life was even more important.
"Yasakani no Magatama!"
Kizaru rose into the air.
Countless points of light gathered before him.
Beams of light poured down like rain toward Rayleigh.
"Good timing," Rayleigh said calmly.
The broadsword in his hand moved rapidly.
The rain of lasers was completely deflected.
Renji inhaled sharply.
As expected of the Pirate King's former right hand.
That speed was astonishing.
Even though Kizaru's attacks were not truly at the speed of light due to physical limitations, they were still the fastest Renji had ever seen.
Even at the Admiral level, keeping up with Kizaru was difficult.
Yet Rayleigh was matching him using nothing but his physical body.
"Remarkable," Renji muttered.
Then he moved again.
[You picked up one piece of Armament Haki comprehension.]
[You picked up one piece of Devil Fruit growth experience.]
[You picked up one point of Strength.]
Several attributes were absorbed.
Feeling the changes in his strength, Renji's smile widened.
At this moment, he was extremely satisfied.
Watching a battle between two of the strongest figures in the world while possessing the ability to collect attributes was an incredible opportunity.
Whether for entertainment or personal growth, it was worth it.
"You old man are quite troublesome to deal with," Kizaru said helplessly after seeing his attack blocked.
Rayleigh clearly had not used his full strength yet.
Although Kizaru himself was also holding back, it seemed Rayleigh was hiding even more.
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Big thanks to Jacob Huffman for joining my P@t reon
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