Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Inside the Rainbow Mist
"The power of a Devil Fruit... What in the hell is this place?"
Rayleigh couldn't hide his astonishment. One moment they were in the chaos of Sabaody, the next they were somewhere else entirely. He was a man who had stood on Raftel, the last island, yet the Priest's methods were completely beyond his comprehension.
"Bai Ye! Luffy!"
"About damn time! You guys kept us waiting forever!"
Usopp, Nami, and the rest of the crew walked over, relief clear on their faces. It was obvious Bai Ye had moved them into this strange, colorful fog long before he began his live broadcast.
"All will be explained in due time, Rayleigh," Bai Ye said calmly. "But first, there are some loose ends to tie up."
He gestured for the Straw Hats to get some rest and prepare a meal, then turned his attention to the rescued slaves and the reporters he'd brought along.
"I will send you to an island far from Sabaody. The Revolutionary Army will meet you there and ensure your safety."
The former slaves bowed deeply, offering their gratitude to the Straw Hat crew one last time. Before they departed, Bai Ye had a final word for Lisa. "If you happen to cross paths with your queen, Vivi, tell her the Straw Hats say hello."
The reporters were just as eager to leave, buzzing with the explosive story they had just captured. They practically begged Bai Ye to send them back so they could organize their photos and recordings. With a wave of his hand, a swirling, colorful mist enveloped them, and they were gone.
With the immediate business handled, Rayleigh spoke again, his expression grave. He still had serious reservations about the Priest's grand plan.
"Whatever chaos you've unleashed upon the seas, it doesn't change your primary goal: saving Ace. And with all your cleverness, surely you don't believe the Navy and the World Government have shown their full hand. Their true strength is hidden."
He took a step closer, his voice low. "Even if you did manage to draw an Admiral away to Mariejois, it won't be enough. Against the full might of the Whitebeard Pirates and your current strength... it won't change the outcome. There's simply not enough time. Luffy and the others have a foundation in Haki, yes, but advanced training takes years. You have one month."
"We have five," Bai Ye interrupted, his voice cutting through Rayleigh's logic.
He gestured to the shimmering mist around them. "Time in this world flows five times slower than in the world outside."
Rayleigh's eyes widened. Bai Ye's provocations hadn't been a strategy to weaken the Marines' force at Marineford; they were a distraction. The Priest knew it would likely make the Government deploy more hidden power, not less. He was raising the stakes on purpose. The true ace up his sleeve wasn't a political maneuver—it was time itself.
"Five times slower..." Rayleigh repeated, a gleam of understanding in his eyes. He didn't ask how Bai Ye controlled such a world; he just accepted the new reality. The impossible time problem had just been solved.
"That's right," Bai Ye said with a sharp smile. "And for the next five months, I'll need you to drill them, Rayleigh-san. Teach them Observation Haki and the way of the sword. You're a legend. If you can't forge these three into completely different fighters in that time... well, if it were me, I'd be damn ashamed."
For the first time, Rayleigh understood the frustration of the Five Elders. The Priest's smiling face was more infuriating than any direct insult.
As he stewed, a thought struck him. "Observation and swordsmanship? What about Armament? Luffy's Conqueror's Haki is still too raw for advanced applications, but his, Zoro's, and Sanji's Armament is right on the verge of a breakthrough."
He was right. In the world Bai Ye had crashed into, the Monster Trio had awakened their Haki far earlier, in the East Blue, and had been honing it through countless real battles. Their foundation was incredibly solid. Bai Ye knew that with the right teacher, they could make a qualitative leap in just five months.
"For their Armament Haki and physical combat," Bai Ye said, a new, almost mischievous glint in his eye, "I've asked another old timer for help. And as it happens, he's just arrived."
He looked past Rayleigh, towards the edge of their pocket dimension. A new landmass was drifting through the fog, moving toward them. On its edge stood a tall, broad-shouldered figure, arms crossed over his chest.
Even from a distance, Rayleigh recognized the silhouette. He shot a disbelieving look at Bai Ye. "How in the hell did you convince him to help?" he demanded. "You know, the Roger Pirates never had a single easy day whenever that man showed up."
The distant figure threw his head back and let out a booming laugh that shook the very air.
"Hahahaha! Rayleigh! You were always the slippery one! A damn eel I could never quite catch!"
BOOM!
The ground beneath the figure's feet exploded as he launched himself forward.
"It's been too long! Let's say a proper hello!"
A sound like ripping air tore through the mist as the man appeared directly above Rayleigh's head.
"IRON FIST!"
A pitch-black fist, radiating an almost visible aura of power, descended like a meteor.
With no sign of panic, Rayleigh drew his sword in a blur of motion. The blade, already coated in a gleaming layer of black Armament Haki, met the fist head-on.
CLANG!
The impact was immense. A shockwave erupted from the point of contact, shattering the ground around them and forcing even Bai Ye to shield himself with a golden aura.
"Still got a temper, I see, Garp," Rayleigh grunted, his arms straining to hold back the man floating above him.
"But," he added, a predatory grin spreading across his face, "since you're here, I take it you're not planning on arresting me."