One Piece: Starting With Flame-Flame Fruit

"Wait, are you serious?!" Tony thought, an exasperated curse almost slipping from his lips.

Holding the blade tightly, he assumed a combat stance, preparing for the fight.

Rayleigh, holding his wooden sword casually in his right hand, was unfazed by the weapon Tony held. With a calm voice, he said, "Alright, then. Let's begin."

Suddenly, Rayleigh sprang forward, his legs powering into a dash, and the wooden sword sliced through the air towards Tony.

Tony, however, was ready. He focused, his Sharingan eyes locking onto Rayleigh's every movement.

The power of the Sharingan was remarkable. Where Tony once struggled to see Rayleigh's speed, now he could predict every strike with precision. Even in the absence of true power, Rayleigh's speed seemed sluggish to Tony's enhanced perception.

With a calculated step, Tony effortlessly dodged the wooden sword, which swung past him like a slow-motion blur.

"Hmm?"

"Is this a coincidence...?"

Rayleigh raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled. Using the momentum from his last swing, he swiftly turned, delivering a spinning kick aimed directly at Tony's stomach.

But Tony nimbly jumped aside, dodging effortlessly once again.

A smile tugged at the corner of Rayleigh's mouth.

He lowered the wooden sword and stood still, pausing for a moment. At first, he had been skeptical. When he first swung at Tony, he didn't notice anything unusual. But after a second test, he was certain.

Tony had learnt Observation Haki!

"Tony, I don't think I've ever taught you how to use Haki," Rayleigh said, a hint of admiration in his voice. "You figured it out on your own?"

"Heh, I told you, Rayleigh, today I'm not going down so easily!" Tony grinned. "But... this isn't Observation Haki."

"Not Haki?" Rayleigh was even more confused now. Tony had managed to avoid all his attacks. In Rayleigh's experience, only Observation Haki could offer such an ability.

Before Rayleigh could process it, Tony rushed forward. With Ryūjin Jakka in his left hand, he raised his right hand and spread his fingers. As he chanted an incantation, a mysterious Kido spell flowed from his mouth.

"Bakudo #4: Slithering Rope!"

A glowing rope shot from Tony's palm, wrapping around Rayleigh, binding him tightly.

"???"

Rayleigh was stunned. He had no idea what just happened. Tony's abilities were becoming more and more baffling.

"Gotcha!" Tony shouted triumphantly, leaping into the air. Without hesitation, he swung Ryūjin Jakka, aiming to strike down.

But Rayleigh simply chuckled, unfazed. His arm, coated in Armament Haki , became like an impenetrable armor as he shattered the glowing rope holding him. In an instant, his hand gripped Tony's incoming blade.

"This sword... it's something else!"

"I know a bit about world-renowned swords, but this one… it's on a whole other level. It's not inferior to any of the greatest swords in the world."

"Tony, how did you get this blade?"

"And these abilities... they're incredibly mysterious. I can't even begin to understand them."

Tony's heart swelled with pride. Rayleigh was taking him seriously now.

Rayleigh thought , 'He had used Haki, a clear sign of recognition. Over the past three years, Tony had never pushed Rayleigh to show his full strength until now.'

Tony's grip tightened on Ryūjin Jakka, trying with all his might to pull it free. But Rayleigh's grip was unyielding.

Incredible!

So this is the strength of the Pirate King's first mate...

No longer hesitating to hold back, Tony clenched his fist, calling upon the power of his Flame-Flame Fruit!

"Flame Fist!"

Boom! A blast of intense fire erupted from Tony's fist, surging toward Rayleigh with explosive force, flames bursting and splashing in every direction.

Despite his newfound power, Tony could only muster a fraction of the Flame-Flame fruit's true strength. Compared to Ace's legendary Flame Fist, which could destroy entire pirate crews with a single strike, Tony's version was far less potent. He guessed it would only destroy one pirate ship with this blast.

Rayleigh was momentarily taken aback by the sudden wave of flames, something he had never expected from Tony. For the first time during their sparring, he felt a hint of danger.

In a split second, Rayleigh released his grip on the sword and dodged, narrowly avoiding Tony's fiery assault.

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T/N:

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