"Yes."
Shanks was the first to run back into the circle, his gaze resolute.
Reid and Buggy followed suit, stepping back into the ring.
"This time, Buggy, you're up first."
Rayleigh stood before Buggy, his eyes sharp, then casually pulled a biscuit from his pocket and took a bite.
"Mr. Rayleigh, you're eating right now?! Please go easy on me..."
Buggy's face twisted in fear. That piercing look sent chills down his spine.
"When you're hungry, you eat. None of your business. Don't worry, I'll go light on you. Tekkai (Iron Body)."
"Ah—"
As expected, Buggy was beaten to a pulp—bloodied, bruised, and utterly miserable.
"Damn... He used Armament Haki right away. I can heal him, but the pain is still real."
Reid couldn't help but shudder, almost unable to watch. The scene was downright brutal.
"Mr. Rayleigh used Armament Haki right off the bat... But I won't be scared. As long as Reid's here, I won't die."
Shanks gritted his teeth, forcing down his fear.
"R--Reid... bro... help me..."
Buggy's face was swollen worse than a pig's, his voice thick and slurred.
Reid glanced at Rayleigh.
"Mm." Rayleigh nodded with a smile.
Reid walked over to Buggy. Up close, the extent of the damage was even more horrifying.
"This is too cruel..."
Placing his hand on Buggy, Reid activated his ability. In seconds, Buggy's injuries vanished, leaving him slumped on the ground, gasping for air.
"Hah... hah... That was too close. Almost died there."
Buggy wiped the sweat from his face, trembling with lingering terror.
"Buggy, if you don't want to get hit, then focus. If you can dodge my attacks, you'll improve."
"Rayleigh, are you trying to kill me?!" Buggy snapped, forgetting the honorific in his anger.
"Relax, with Reid here, you'll be fine."
Rayleigh adjusted his glasses, smirking.
"But did you have to use Armament Haki?! My body can't take that kind of beating!"
"If I don't go hard, none of you will take this seriously. The future won't be kind. No more talking—you won't die. Again."
"Wait! Rayleigh, didn't you just finish beating me up? Why am I still first?!"
"With Reid here, everyone gets ten rounds in one go."
"WHAT?! Rayleigh, that means getting pummeled ten times in a row!"
Buggy gulped. Was this a death sentence?
"Begin."
Rayleigh's iron rod came down.
"Ah—! It hurts...!"
After ten brutal rounds, Buggy was numb—both physically and mentally shattered.
"Rayleigh... that's ten... It's Shanks' turn now..."
Buggy whimpered, his face swollen beyond recognition again.
"Hm, a little improvement. At least you're not completely hopeless. Reid, do your thing."
"Got it."
As Reid walked over, he couldn't help but sigh. This is brutal.
Once healed, Buggy immediately regained his usual cocky demeanor.
"Heh, of course! Who do you think I am? Me, Buggy! Ahahaha!"
"Don't get ahead of yourself. This is just the beginning."
Rayleigh shot him a glance before turning to Shanks.
"Shanks, show me your resolve."
"Hah! Shanks, get ready to become a punching bag!"
Buggy gloated from the sidelines, eyes gleaming with schadenfreude.
"I'm ready. Bring it."
"Heh, here it comes."
Rayleigh's Armament Haki-coated rod struck hard—no mercy given.
"Ah—! Oww...!"
Shanks clutched his head, scrambling away, but before he could recover, Rayleigh's rod was already upon him again.
"Ah—!"
Shanks flailed desperately, a pitiful sight.
"So fast... Wait, did I just see a faint trail? Could it be...?"
Reid's eyes widened, his heart pounding.
"Shanks, you must feel it. Every attack carries a trace of Haki. Even non-Haki users emit a certain presence. You must sense this energy in advance—while also accounting for air vibrations, breathing, heartbeat, scent, wind currents, even emotional fluctuations. All of these are clues for your judgment."
Rayleigh's tone was stern. The moment Shanks had knelt before him, he knew the boy's determination was real.
"Understood. I'll focus. Mr. Rayleigh, don't hold back."
"Hahaha! Even if you begged for mercy, I wouldn't give it. Here I come."
Whack! Rayleigh's Armament Haki struck again.
"Take this!"
Rayleigh swung his staff down with full force.
"I'll dodge it! ...Ah—!"
Shanks focused with all his might, but he still couldn't evade in time.
"Again!"
Shanks shouted.
BAM!
Rayleigh's strike came once more. Shanks leaned forward, but the blow still landed squarely on his back.
"Oww... That hurts..."
Rayleigh instantly flashed behind Shanks and swung again.
"Hm? He dodged it?"
Rayleigh was slightly surprised. He hadn't slowed his movements or given Shanks any time to predict—his attacks were fluid, his positioning completely unpredictable.
"No way! Shanks actually dodged? That had to be a fluke!"
Buggy shook his head like a rattle drum, refusing to believe it.
"That's it! When Rayleigh swung his staff, I really did see a faint trace of energy. It was subtle, but it was there!"
Reid's heart raced with excitement. This discovery filled him with confidence.
"Well done, Red-Hair. You're improving."
"Heh, Mr. Rayleigh, that was just a lucky guess. Doesn't count. I noticed you always appear behind us after attacking—same with Buggy and Reid."
"Oh? Is that so? My mistake, then. Apologies."
As soon as the words left his mouth—