One Piece: Starting With Flame-Flame Fruit

Shakky and Rayleigh stood at the bar's entrance, watching Tony in the distance.

Shakky lit a cigarette and spoke slowly.

"Rayleigh, it's been three years. The boy you saved back then, little Tony, has already started his adventure…"

"Hahaha, the seeds of a new era are slowly starting to bloom. I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of impact this kid will have on the world," Rayleigh responded with genuine joy.

When it came to dominating the Grand Line, he had traveled alongside Roger to Raftel, learned about the Void Century, and uncovered the truth about the world. But he hadn't had the power to change the world.

Roger's time was running out, which is why, in his final moments, he had sparked the Great Pirate Era, hoping someone would carry out the mission he couldn't complete.

For Rayleigh, his journey had already reached its end. The ships of the new era no longer had room for him.

The New World was now under the control of the Four Emperors: the strongest Whitebeard, Beast Kaido, Red-Haired Shanks, and Big Mom. Many people debated who had the qualifications and ability to become the true ruler of the seas.

In truth, the person most qualified to be the next king of the seas should have been Dark King Rayleigh.

Eighteen years ago, Rayleigh was at the peak of his strength, a natural-born leader, the Vice Captain of the Roger Pirates, possessing all three types of Haki, and knowing the history of the world.

But at the height of his power, why didn't he compete for the throne of the Four Emperors? It wasn't because he lacked the strength to fight for it, but because he had grown weary of such struggles.

He had chosen to retire.

It wasn't hard to understand. After the dissolution of the Roger Pirates and having reached the pinnacle of the world, why would he go through it all again? His adventure had been fulfilled, and now, all he wanted was for this era to be passed down.

Tony finished his daily run and returned to the entrance of the bar. As soon as he saw Rayleigh, his eyes shone with excitement.

"Rayleigh, I want to learn Haki. Could you teach me?"

Tony wiped the sweat from his face while keeping an eye on Rayleigh's expression, worried that Rayleigh might not want to teach him.

Rayleigh looked at Tony, a smile spreading across his face as he couldn't help but laugh.

"Hahaha, you're such an impatient kid."

"I was planning to wait a bit before starting, but seeing how eager you are, I'll teach you now."

"However, training Haki is tough work, so you need to be prepared."

"That's perfect! I love challenges!"

Tony's lips curled into a smile as he said excitedly.

Shakky, who was nearby, covered her mouth and laughed.

"Hahaha, you really want to teach Tony so badly, but you sure know how to come up with excuses, don't you, Rayleigh?"

Rayleigh quickly made a "shush" gesture, signaling Shakky not to expose his intentions.

Tony smiled without responding and quickly turned, pretending not to have heard.

He understood Rayleigh's intentions well—he didn't want him to become too arrogant. Instead of indulging in an easy path, it was better to grow in adversity.

Then, Rayleigh piloted a small boat, and they set out to sea. After half a day of sailing through the calm zone, they arrived at an uninhabited island called Rusukaina.

The place was remote, and by the time they arrived, it was already night. Tony looked around the island, feeling a strange familiarity.

That's right, this was the island near Amazon Lily, the place where Luffy had trained to master Haki.

The harsh natural environment made it a dangerous place.

The island had 48 seasons in a year, which meant one season changed every week. It was home to many ferocious beasts, making it an ideal place for intense training.

Rayleigh had passed through this island during his past adventures and stayed there for several years. He knew the island well. The reason he had chosen it for training was because he believed it was the best place to practice Haki. Moreover, it was an uninhabited island, so there would be minimal distractions, and the strength of the island's monsters was just right to help enhance Tony's overall strength.

However, Tony shouldn't underestimate this island. The beasts on it were likely far stronger than his current capabilities, and some of the mutant beasts could even exceed the level of a Marine Vice Admiral.

Without sufficient strength, one might not survive for a day on this island.

"Tony, from today on, you'll begin mastering Haki and further your swordsmanship," Rayleigh said seriously, causing Tony to feel nervous for a moment.

Tony subconsciously swallowed hard.

"Yes, Rayleigh-sensei!"

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T/N:

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