🎉🎉HST: Chapter 88/90

Chapter 88: Remnant

The next morning.

After a hearty breakfast, Vivi, who was still a bit drained from last night's "battle," had fully recovered. She stood on deck beside Nami, looking out into the distance.

The Sabaody Archipelago was already in sight. Even before they docked, the lively streets were clearly visible.

Soon, under everyone's eager eyes, the Wind Rider pulled into port. Gecko Moria's large ship docked right beside it.

"Moria, stay and guard the ship. Don't let any shady characters get near it."

Caelan gave the command calmly.

He wasn't just being cautious. Although the Sabaody Archipelago was a bustling hub, its public security was notoriously poor.

The island was a melting pot of pirates, human traffickers, bounty hunters, CP agents, and all kinds of shady figures.

If no one watched the ship, the Wind Rider would probably be stripped for parts and sold off before sunrise.

"Yes! I'll guard the ship with my life. Go enjoy yourselves without worry."

Moria patted his chest, confidently making his promise.

As a former Warlord of the Sea, guarding one ship was hardly a challenge for him.

"Let's go. The news of CP9's destruction hasn't gotten out yet. Let's enjoy this while we still can."

Caelan looked relaxed as he led the girls toward the island's most bustling district.

Once the World Government reacted, visits to the Sabaody Archipelago wouldn't be so carefree anymore.

"Moria-sama, I'll bring you back a gift!"

Perona poked her head out from behind Caelan and called back to Moria with a bright smile.

Moria smiled as he watched them leave.

He returned to his ship and began practicing Haki and physical techniques while keeping watch.

He had no choice. Now that his new boss had picked a fight with the World Government, if he didn't grow stronger, how could he protect his sweet daughter Perona's smile?

…

Caelan, along with his six beautiful crewmates, headed to an auction house and sold off all the spoils they had collected.

The two Devil Fruits and various other valuables fetched a total of 620 million Berries.

Caelan deposited 600 million into the system, and set aside the remaining 20 million for spending on the island.

With that kind of cash on hand, the girls went wild, storming into a high-end fashion boutique with excitement.

Caelan followed behind at a leisurely pace, enjoying the pirate world's impromptu fashion show.

"Caelan, which one looks better? This one, or the blue dress from earlier?"

Perona, wearing a red and white Gothic Lolita outfit, spun around in front of Caelan.

"They both look great."

"But…"

Caelan's eyes lit up as he looked at the newly crowned Lolita princess, but his tone suddenly turned serious.

"But what? Is something wrong?"

Perona looked at him nervously.

"It's hard to get a proper look out here. Come to my room so I can take a closer look."

Caelan said with a completely serious expression.

"You're the worst!"

Perona gave him a playful punch to the chest and quickly hid behind Nami, her cheeks bright red.

She had known this day would come eventually, but she still wasn't ready to face it.

"Caelan, are you teasing Perona again? She's still just a child!"

Nami stood protectively in front of Perona, glaring at Caelan like he was a pervert.

He already had a few of them, and yet his eyes were glued to Perona?

Was their captain secretly a Lolicon?

"Is it possible that Perona is actually five years older than you?"

Caelan stroked his chin and replied teasingly.

"No way. She's obviously not even fully developed!"

Nami glared at him in disbelief, convinced he was just making things up.

"Huh!?"

Perona looked at Nami, stunned, and couldn't help comparing their figures.

Unfortunately, her build was worlds apart from Nami's exaggerated proportions.

As she glanced at the other girls, she realized she was the smallest among them.

In a place that could not be named, Perona took 10,000 critical hits.

"Nami, you're the worst!"

Perona stormed out from behind Nami and flung herself into Caelan's arms, tears brimming in her eyes.

She didn't need that kind of protection!

"There, there. Small is cute too."

Caelan hugged her gently and tried to comfort her.

This was normal. Nami and the others were the weird ones.

Hearing that, Perona sobbed even harder.

"What!? How can this be!"

Nami clutched her head in despair.

"Shhh shhh."

Robin, Vivi, and the other girls covered their mouths, trying hard not to laugh.

As Caelan led the girls around the island shopping and spending freely, Perona gradually calmed down. But she still looked at Nami with a bit of lingering resentment.

However, a man traveling with six eye-catching beauties and flaunting wealth like this naturally attracted attention.

Still, no one dared act recklessly. Caelan's name had already been splashed across the world thanks to Morgans' newspapers.

Nobody was foolish enough to provoke the man who defeated an admiral.

Anyone who dared either had absolute confidence in their strength or zero brain cells.

"Is that Caelan, the one who beat an admiral? He's so flashy."

A pirate named Curry glared at Caelan strutting through the city, his eyes full of envy.

He wouldn't dare to live that bold even in his dreams.

"Living so extravagantly is bound to dull his edge."

A bounty hunter named Jobra stared at Caelan's luxurious lifestyle, grinding his teeth in frustration.

"What's the point of whining behind his back? If you've got guts, go say it to his face."

A businessman named Daz strolled over with a sinister smirk.

He knew all about Curry and Jobra's backgrounds. Curry's family had a stash of millions, and Jobra's wife was still very attractive.

If these two idiots went off to die, he could snatch both the money and the woman.

Then he'd curse Jobra's wife a hundred times a day, every day.

Just thinking about it brought a creepy grin to Daz's face.

"Get lost!"

Curry and Jobra yelled at Daz in unison.

They weren't that dumb. If they provoked a guy like Caelan, they'd be minced meat.

Wait, they'd just trashed him with their mouths. What if he heard them?

The two glanced at each other, and chills ran down their spines.

Without another word, they bolted like rabbits.

At the same time, news of Caelan's arrival on the island quickly spread throughout the Sabaody Archipelago, causing a huge stir.

Any group with even a shred of power quickly ordered their subordinates not to provoke Caelan under any circumstances.

Only one middle-aged man turned his attention to Caelan.

The remnant of the previous era, Silvers Rayleigh!

(To be continued.)

Special thanks to Jaz for sponsoring this extra chapter 🎉🎉🎉

Chapter 89: Dark King Rayleigh

Rayleigh once again swam across the Calm Belt barehanded and came ashore completely naked.

As soon as he returned to Shakky's bar, he heard the news about Caelan.

"The young man who defeated Aokiji has arrived at the Sabaody Archipelago. Is he planning to enter the New World?"

Rayleigh took a glass of strong liquor, downed it, and closed his eyes in deep thought.

He recalled that the fish-man Hachi who once saved his life had died at Caelan's hands.

Though Hachi was at fault, Rayleigh was still human, and emotions sometimes took precedence.

Rayleigh opened his eyes, his mind made up.

He had no intention of killing him. After all, he wasn't entirely in the right.

"You're a pirate, and he's a bounty hunter. What's your excuse?"

"Hachi died by his hand, and now you want to teach him a lesson?"

Shakky rolled her eyes at Rayleigh and spoke teasingly.

As a couple who had been together for years, she could see through Rayleigh with a single glance.

"Hahaha, you saw right through me."

"I just want to test him a little. I won't go too far."

Rayleigh scratched his head awkwardly.

"He's the guy who defeated an admiral. You think you can go easy on him? Sure…"

"You're asking to be beaten up. I don't have the money to buy you back!"

Shakky blew out a puff of smoke and looked at Rayleigh seriously.

Caelan was a famous bounty hunter who had captured countless pirates. A legendary pirate with a bounty in the billions was exactly his kind of target.

If Rayleigh really got caught, Shakky wouldn't be able to buy him back even if she sold everything she owned.

"Hahaha! These old bones of mine won't break that easily."

Rayleigh patted his abdomen and laughed, then turned to leave and search for Caelan.

"Wait. Take this with you."

Shakky tossed a box at Rayleigh.

"What's this?"

Rayleigh looked at her with a confused expression.

"Two hundred million Berries. If he beats you down, this might save your life."

"If you don't take it, don't blame me if I find someone else."

Shakky rolled her eyes again and spoke with some annoyance.

As a former member of the Rocks Pirates, she could tell that Rayleigh wouldn't be able to beat Caelan. Every era produces its own monsters. The new always tramples over the old to rise.

There was no doubt in her mind that Caelan was that monster of this generation.

She was usually stingy, but she was willing to spend big this time. After being with Rayleigh for so many years, she had no desire to change partners.

"I… this…"

Rayleigh pointed at himself, at a loss for words.

He was the right hand of the Pirate King. Yet his own woman didn't have faith in him. That was kind of pathetic.

But the tigress in front of him wasn't to be messed with. In the end, Rayleigh reluctantly picked up the box and set off to find Caelan, sulking.

Before long, Rayleigh found Caelan's location. Rather than appearing directly, he hid in a corner and watched Caelan from a distance.

"This kid really has it good."

Seeing six gorgeous women of different styles surrounding Caelan, Rayleigh couldn't help but sigh.

"Just one woman is enough to tire me out."

Rayleigh chuckled to himself, feeling a bit of sympathy.

Six juicers working together... just imagining it was terrifying.

But when he looked again, Caelan had vanished.

"Old man."

A calm voice rang in Rayleigh's ear, and his expression changed immediately.

Caelan had suddenly appeared in front of him, looking completely at ease.

"What speed!"

Rayleigh stared at Caelan, his body tensing instinctively.

Even though he had let his guard down and hadn't activated his Observation Haki, Caelan had not only discovered his presence but also approached him unnoticed. This proved his speed and Haki were top-tier.

No wonder he could defeat an admiral. He was the real deal.

"Do you know who I am?"

Rayleigh raised his head and released a powerful aura.

"Yeah, Rayleigh right?"

Caelan looked unimpressed, his tone casual.

He had recognized the man in front of him right away.

Trying to act tough in front of him? Not happening.

Rayleigh had been choked off by Caelan's response. The imposing aura he had built up vanished instantly.

Couldn't this kid let a man finish his introduction?

Before Caelan could say anything, exclamations erupted from the crowd. Even the women nearby looked stunned.

"Dark King Rayleigh?! The Pirate King's right-hand man?"

The women stared at the strong older man facing Caelan, voices filled with disbelief.

It was understandable. The name of the Pirate King was legendary, and even his crewmates were famed throughout the world.

Among them, Rayleigh was said to be Roger's closest comrade and the second strongest in the Roger Pirates.

A pirate of such mythic status was undoubtedly a top-tier powerhouse.

The expressions of the women became serious. If someone like this had come for Caelan, another fierce battle might be about to break out.

"Run!"

The nearby onlookers were already panicking and fled in all directions.

The people living on the Sabaody Archipelago weren't fools.

If they didn't run now, they'd be caught in the crossfire.

"Well, are you scared now?"

Seeing everyone's reaction to his name, Rayleigh couldn't help but look at Caelan with smug satisfaction.

"Judging by their reaction, aren't they the ones scared of you?"

Caelan pointed at the fleeing crowd and smiled playfully.

"Run! Caelan's going to get serious!"

The fleeing onlookers shouted in panic. Rayleigh's era was long gone. These people couldn't even confirm his identity. But Caelan? His recent feats were terrifying.

Rayleigh sighed inwardly.

"Young man, let's just get this over with!"

Rayleigh calmed himself and addressed Caelan evenly.

Caelan stretched out his arm and made an inviting gesture.

From the moment he sensed Rayleigh with his Observation Haki, he knew what the old man was thinking.

In the East Blue, he had wiped out the Arlong Pirates, and even killed Hachi, who had once saved Rayleigh's life.

Two months ago, he might've stood no chance. But now? He had been reborn through battle. He feared no one.

Rayleigh's fighting spirit was ignited by Caelan's fearless stance. For a moment, it felt like he had returned to his youthful days.

(To be continued.)

Special thanks to Jaz for sponsoring this extra chapter 🎉🎉🎉

Chapter 90: Vs Rayleigh

Boom boom boom!

A surge of purple-black Conqueror's Haki erupted from Rayleigh, ruthlessly crushing everything around him.

Even the passers-by who had fled to the edge of Grove 27 weren't spared. One by one, they collapsed, unconscious under the overwhelming pressure.

Even the women who had undergone rigorous training under Caelan felt a suffocating pressure pressing down on them.

Caelan curled his lip. A powerful burst of Haki erupted from his body in response.

Two immense auras clashed in the air. Purple-black lightning sparked and burst, sending shockwaves rippling across the entire Sabaody Archipelago.

The fainted passers-by twitched violently on the ground like haunted marionettes before slipping into deeper unconsciousness.

The two waves of Haki clashed fiercely, neither side yielding an inch.

Seeing no progress, both men tacitly withdrew their Conqueror's Haki.

"Conqueror's Haki at a Yonko's level. What a terrifying force…"

Rayleigh looked at Caelan and sighed.

The strength of Conqueror's Haki depended on a person's presence and willpower.

Rayleigh had accumulated his over decades of life-or-death battles with legendary pirates. That was how he achieved the Haki he had today.

Caelan, a newcomer who had only been sailing for less than two years, had already reached the level of a Yonko.

Rayleigh thought back to Caelan's battle record and couldn't help but feel puzzled.

Aside from defeating Aokiji, his opponents were only a few Warlords of the Sea.

Was decades of his own experience really inferior to this kid's handful of fights?

Fortunately, Rayleigh noticed Caelan's Haki usage was still rough around the edges. That gave him some comfort.

Rayleigh drew his sword, now crackling with purple-black lightning, and charged at Caelan.

"That's more like it."

Caelan raised his massive greatsword, covered in Armament Haki, and charged forward with excitement.

Neither used long-range air slashes. For true swordsmen, such techniques were fancy nonsense. Real swordsmanship was in close-range clashes.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of metal clashing echoed continuously as their blades collided. Sparks flew from every clash between Caelan's greatsword and Rayleigh's saber.

They exchanged blows multiple times each second.

The surrounding street had already been reduced to rubble from the shockwaves. Not a single structure was left intact.

The ground beneath their feet was completely shattered by sword force.

"So strong! Both Caelan and that Dark King Rayleigh have reached the level of Great Swordsmen!"

Tashigi stared at the blurred figures crossing blades and felt her heart seize.

Thanks to Caelan's open-handed teaching, she had just recently broken through to the level of an Iron Swordsman, able to cut through anything.

Even so, seeing the duel before her filled her with awe—and a deep sense of powerlessness.

"This fight is even more dangerous than Caelan's battle with Aokiji…"

Robin, Nami, and the others watched with solemn expressions.

Each exchange of blows brought forth powerful sword waves.

Though it didn't look as visually grand as the battle with Aokiji, the concentrated force behind each slash was clearly more lethal.

The surrounding buildings were pierced like tofu, and deep grooves were carved into the earth.

The fight continued for over ten minutes. They had clashed thousands of times.

The entire street was now ruins. Nothing remained intact.

"Your swordsmanship is impressive."

Rayleigh held his sword and looked at Caelan, both surprised and admiring.

As a Great Swordsman himself, he had found no upper hand. In fact, he even felt slightly overpowered.

"Don't stop now. Let's keep going!"

Caelan ignored the compliment and charged in again.

Rayleigh's Conqueror's Haki-coated blade technique was clearly an advanced application—Haki Infusion.

That ability, which allowed Conqueror's Haki to be infused into weapons, could hold off even Caelan's strength. It truly was one of the most powerful techniques in the pirate world.

Caelan wanted more contact to study its secrets firsthand.

"Damn it!"

Rayleigh cursed inwardly as he blocked the incoming strike.

This monster's power was overwhelming. After ten minutes of fighting, his arms were going numb.

He had just spoken up to catch his breath, but this kid didn't even give him that.

If this kept up, he wouldn't last much longer!

After a final flurry of fierce clashes, Rayleigh was forced back a full hundred meters.

"I'm about to get serious now. If you retreat, I'll let this go!"

Rayleigh declared firmly, sweat pouring from his face.

He was groaning inside.

Caelan's strength, combined with his Great Swordsman-level skill, was just too much.

If this continued, Rayleigh's old bones were going to fall apart.

"Wait, weren't you serious already?"

Caelan looked at Rayleigh with a straight face.

The old man was soaked in sweat. Why was he still so stubborn?

Seeing that Caelan wasn't letting up, Rayleigh stopped holding back.

Rayleigh's muscles bulged with strength. He unleashed the strongest sword technique he had learned from Roger himself.

Armament Haki, Observation Haki, and Conqueror's Haki all erupted at once. With sword in hand, Rayleigh charged at Caelan like a bolt of black lightning.

"God Slash!"

Rayleigh was confident no one could face this head-on.

"God Slash? I'm not dodging."

Caelan raised his greatsword, wrapped in hardened Haki, and slashed downward to meet the strike.

He wanted to feel the unique swordplay passed down from the Pirate King firsthand.

Rayleigh was stunned when he saw Caelan charge straight at him without hesitation.

He had hoped Caelan would dodge, giving him an opening to escape using the remaining force.

But Caelan had charged straight in like a fool.

Back when Kozuki Oden had taken Roger's casual God Slash head-on, he had shattered entire mountains.

Now Caelan was facing Rayleigh's full-force God Slash… He was going to die!

Even if he survived, he'd be seriously wounded.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

As the two swords collided, it felt like two mythical beasts were clashing.

A violent shockwave exploded outward. The ground split, rocks crumbled, and a whirlwind of debris enveloped the battlefield.

No one could see what was happening inside.

When the dust finally settled, Caelan's figure slowly emerged.

His clothes were torn, and a long, terrifying sword gash marked his chest—half a centimeter deep.

"What a terrifying sword. That one strike did this much damage…"

Caelan looked at the wound on his chest and exhaled slowly.

Rayleigh's God Slash was indeed powerful. That single attack surpassed even Aokiji's in sheer force.

If he'd taken a few more hits like that, he might've died right there.

After that, he'd be relying on his remaining eleven lives to fight.

(To be continued.)